Rallies – Not your average Sunday ride.
Article courtesy of Dennis Santopietro of Fix My Hog
| For some, the extent of their riding is on weekends to a local destination and back home after putting on about 200 miles. For others, commuting everyday is the way. For either rider, going on a long trip to a rally can be a whole new ball game.Instead of a 2 hour ride to and from work or a local hot spot, it’s now a 5-8 hour ride per day for 2-3 days. You will now have to deal with changes in the weather and road conditions. Best bet is making sure your riding style changes with the conditions. | |
| One of the best ways to be prepared for a long trip is to take a rider safety course. This should be done well before you go on your journey and make sure you practice and that your practice is perfect. I ride in sunny San Diego or Southern CA for the most part and have not ridden in the rain for a long time. If I plan on stepping out of my comfort zone, I like to review proper riding gear and riding styles for all types of weather. I also have to think about road conditions; smooth, dirt, highway, potholed messes and the styles of riding for each.Learning something new before you need it is always the best case scenario. I now know how to avoid cars that cut out in front of you and try to make a left hand turn; this was learned the hard way 15 years ago by going through its back window. These days I practice what to do when a car pulls out in front of me and slams on the brakes, if rain comes down so fast and furious I can’t see, if a deer jumps out in front of me, if someone blows a red light… It might sound weird or “not cool” but a few hours practicing in a parking lot with some cones can make a huge difference in your riding experience. See the below sites for more rider info: MSF-USA Wheels-In-Motion DMV.org How-to-guides – motorcycle-safety Ride Like A Pro DVDs Enjoy the Ride! | |