All I can say is... WOW! ThumbUp
Yeah, us too!
Nope, nope, nope.... I couldn't have driven this and certainly would not have trusted someone else to drive.
It's like looking at a scarey movie with both hands over your eyes - while peaking through your fingers!
Scarey and awesome - all at the same time!
Fantastic ya'll....Thanks for sharing.
Carla
Glad you're enjoying, and I bet you would do just fine once you were on the road!
The Rockies ARE pretty much all an E Ticket ride.
Yeah, you got a point there!
Was the road you went on Skyline Drive just west of Canon City? If not, then I'd like to find out where you went, it sounds like a blast. Skyline is a short ride up a one way road, with mountains on one side and huge drop offs on the other side for part of the ride. When you get to the top, it drops off on both sides as you ride on the ridge for a while, but has incredible views.
Thanks for the trip report. It's been a blast to follow!!
Yes, that is it. Very short, but impressive road!
Kevin and Mary, I'm new to the community having just purchased my 2016 TG 10 days ago and finding this site. I've been on similar sites in my progression from Sportster to Ultra Classic and now to the TG. Let me compliment you on providing a beautiful service to riders out there who dream of what you and Mary are doing. Your report/blog is more addictive than serial TV (GoT). I've been monitoring the site and report for a week before registering. Not only am I hooked but I've shared the link with several of my friends, who don't own trikes but love to travel. We agree that your blog is like a novel - a page turner that you cannot put down. This 40 day trip has been filled with excitement, adventure, beauty, enlightenment, heartache, tragedy and appreciation for the sights, sounds, smells, of the U.S. and its people. Who needs reality TV - we have Kevin and Mary on the road again and eagerly await the next post. Your reports are allowing people to live vicariously through your adventures and maybe giving them a spark to do the same (ok maybe a shorter trip than 40 days) or giving them a respite from their daily grind at work. For this, I thank you.
Since I'm caught up on this current trip report, I've been looking at your others, and have been viewing the Fall Colors trip in 2014. Besides leaving me in wonderment, I've been left with many basic questions about touring as you do.
1. You appear to ride between 250-450 miles a day and up to 10 hours. How often are you stopping rest your aching hind parts and joints and for how long?
2. What is your secret in consistently riding so long day after day? Has to be more than your sheepskin. My seat is screaming after 90 mins and a stop for 20 mins barely gives relief. Do you have to somehow condition your rear end by riding more and more hours like working up for a marathon?
3. Your reports have started with a picture of the many things you're going to pack into your TG and I'm interested in what is actually in all of those small colored bags. What's your typical packing list?
4. What tools are you carrying in that bag tool bag of yours?
5. Are you and Mary using the trikes intercom to communicate over all those many hours in the saddle?
...and many more questions arise every day.
Thanks again for your reports and I pray for your safety between posts. My condolences on the losses of your father-in-law and dear friend, Larry.
Sorry for length of post - but it was actually cut down from all that I had to say.
--JRod
Congrats on your new Tri-Glide, and welcome to the Forum! ThumbUp
Glad to hear you're enjoying the report. Thank you.
Answers to your questions...and as Fuzzy says there is also more details in the Alaska report and the Bella Coola report-
1. We generally stop every 2-3 hours. Usually for around 10-15 minutes, except the 2nd or 3rd stop of the day when we have lunch and that is usually 30 minutes or so. These stops are mostly for gas, eating, water, changing batteries in camera & video camera more than because we are uncomfortable. BUT, because we do stop and move around, I think that is one of the reasons we don't get uncomfortable.
2. The first thing I did when I got this Tri-Glide (and really any bike) is make sure it is comfortable for all day riding. For a full look at what we've done you can view these two links-
ONE &
TWO where I detail in words and pics what mods we've done.
But specifically, the things we do to make it more comfortable:
-Relocate the Tour-Pak further back so Mary has more room
-Install a backrest for me
-I use a Airhawk seat pad under the sheepskin, Mary is just fine with the sheepskin
-Mary has the Adjustable Passenger Pegs that give her a multitude of foot positions
-I have floorboard extenders and highway pegs that also have heel rests, without those three items I would go bonkers after any length of time
-Get handlebars that put my hands in a comfortable/natural position, so nothing is straining as we ride, I also use ISO grips, they are more comfortable than any others I have tried
-Comfort Lift brackets for the rear shocks that make for a much smoother ride & easier steering
-Find the "sweet spot" for the psi in the air shocks. As little as 2 lbs can make a big difference in how well they absorb the bumps
-Run 22 psi in the rear Tires, that will give a much softer ride than 26 psi
I know some guys that just take aspirin or ibuprofen when they are doing long days. And I have done that on occasion in the distant past. I have found that the combination of the above is very effective at making us both comfortable for full day riding, day after day, no aspirin needed.
I know my response is getting long, but this is important for fully enjoying our expensive TG's...
Most of the time when I am riding there is a fair amount of weight being displaced onto my feet and my back, so that there is not as much on my butt. Getting the "comfort triangle" (feet, hands, butt) set up correctly is very important. It is different for everybody, but I lean on my backrest a lot, and in doing that it puts me in a bit of a reclining position which allows for more weight to be on my feet on the highway pegs or heel rests.
3. Our packing list...oh my!
Two of the bags have vitamins in them.
One has all our cold weather gear and rainsuits.
One has all the charging adapters, USB wires, laptop power cord, etc.
One has all my clothes
Three of them have Marys clothes
Two have food, granola bars, sunflower seeds, gum, etc.
One has E-cig supplies
We also have an overnight bag (toiletries) that unrolls and hands up with pouches in it for easy access. (the black one in the photos)
That's all I can think of right now. We break them up into the smaller bags because they are easier to pack into the trunk & tour pak, taking up all the nooks and cranny's, plus they are easier to find stuff in, in the motel room.
I can't begin to tell you what all Mary brings clothes-wise, but here is my list, and it is the same whether I am on the road for 1 week or 7 weeks.
I take 3 t-shirts & 2 pair of underwear...Target brand of underarmour style (high-tech material). These wash quickly and easily in the motel sink and dry just hanging in the air in a few hours. They also pack up very small. I take 2 pair of Muck Boot socks. Same thing, easy clean and dry in motel.
Pack 1 pair of jeans & 1 pair of short pants, flip-flops, and one long sleeve shirt, & one button up shirt.
4. Rather than list all the tools, here is a photo-
5. We do not use intercom. I've asked her a few times if she wanted to, she says we talk enough already. lol
If I need to talk to her I bump my left elbow on her knee, she leans forward, I lean back a bit and that does the trick. She'll tap me on my left shoulder if she wants my attention.
In his Alaska trip ride report he covers the little colored bags and lots of his other ride secretes, not to mention there is some gorgeous pictures ... make yourself some popcorn, get a drink and enjoy ... it's a long ride report but so worth the time.
That was an memory making trip for sure!
Next time you come to Idaho we will go ride this curvy road. !!!ThumbUp
Trent! You've been holding out on me!!! Where is this road???
Yes, let's ride it 2, 3 or 4 times!
Kevin
