Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Itinerary

The most miles in a day thread got me to thinking I should post this for comment.

I am buying the America as a present to myself for some above and beyond duty stuff, and I planned an 11-day, 2,000 mile, back road itinerary with several 1-day stops at friends and family. I'm 60, in reasonable shape, but worried about my back. The trip won't happen until later this summer. Any comments on prep and equipment?

The itinerary is Frederick, MD to Binghamton, NY to Danbury, CT to Kennebunk, ME to Toronto and back home. Any of you live along the way, wave to me as I go by. I'll be the old guy grimacing and holding my back.

If you are worried about your back there are cheap gel pads you can buy to put on the seat. They might help.Maybe some rain gear.

Welcome John!
We have a large group of members in the CT area. I'd be happy
to meet up and ride aways with you, I'm sure others will as well.

Keep us updated,
Uncle Charlie

John,

I'm one of the guy's who did it and I doubt your back is any worse than mine. Four rods two cages and 8 bolts. I'm actual one and 1/2 inches shorter than I started out.

My back never bothered me one bit in our 3,000 + trip, what did was right between my shoulders and I mean it hurt like a knife being stuck in my back.

I sppoke with a bunch of guys at the rally about this and several suggestions were offered. I would most definiently go to newspeedmaster.com and buy the two and 1/2 risers for your handle bars I went with one inch and I'm paying the price now, they will pull your bars back towards you and allow you a more upright stance and it will take the pressure off your forearms. $70.00

Two, buy some type of throttle rocker or cruise control, believe me the ability to flex your fingers once in awhile and not hold on for dear life to maintain throttle during a long ride will be well worth the investment $5.00-$60.00.

You are never going to ever get away from "Monkey Butt" just the nature of the beast, but you can reduce it. Allot of guys go with a sheepskin cover, some go with a gel pad and one of our members has the air cushion, many just go with a new seat from Corbin, but remember weather it's the stock seat or a new Corbin it is has to be broken in and that takes thousdands of miles and many hours in the saddle.
$0 to $1,500


I personal use "Aspercream" before a long ride and find it really helps dull the "Monkey Butt" and those Icey Hot patches do not do jack but they feel nice, I went through two boxes of them.

It sounds like your trip will allow you time to reaaly enjoy the trip as so as you feel your moving around in the seat alott pull over and let some blood into that butt.

I hope this helps welcome to the site and have a great trip.

P.S. the pain did not start until we were well into the ride 1,000 miles or so and just got worse every day. Plus we did not ride in ideal riding condtions either if it was warmer and drier I would expect a different outcome, because you would not be screaming into your helmet "WHY I"M I DOING THIS, THIS S**K* !!!!

John

John, just to add some to Big Poppy's post. Start taking longer and longer rides. Being in shape and being in shape for a longer bike ride are not completely the same. If you go with a Corbin or other type seat, get a back rest to take some of the stress off your arms, legs and back. I don't "lean" on the back rest, but do rest up against it. Stopping often will help also.

You never know, riding seems to help my back. Anyway, have fun.

popy remined me ...the gel pad I am talking about also has memory foam ontop of it and is in a washable sheep wool like cover. Has a zipper you take the gel/faom part out and toss it in the washer. One of my friend OL uses it on the b!tch pad.

I would also suggest the floor boards they make it easyer to change your rideing possition on long runs.Your dealer should install them free if you buy them at the same time as the bike.Might even throw them in to clench a deal!!

I have my share of spinal degeneration. There are some steps you can take. Some form of back support, kidney belt, weightlifter's belt, etc helps. Nothing works faster than an ice pack. You can even put the ice pack under the kidney belt. Some form of anti-imflammatory pill,Advil,Aleve,something. I'm on a prescription anti-imflammatory called Etodolac, works wonders, talk to your MD.
I've also found that 10 extra pounds can make the back worse. If you're skinny please disregard. And good luck.

The problems with our seats are they are not wide or firm enough(soft seats break down enough to touch the seat base) . They also do not allow enough back and forth movement(to keep you from being locked into one position). Instead of buying a corbin, go to a local seat maker and ask him to build your seat to your specifications.......ANGELIS

All the stuff Brian mentioned. kidney belt, lose any excess weight.

Plus start weight training. You're never too old to build up muscle . Two or three months is plenty of time to tone up. Particularly the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and spinae erector.
(Pay a trainer to get you started if you need to).

2000 miles, 11 days works out to less than 200mi per day. Should be no problem even on the stock seat. All the above suggestions are excellent. Good seat or seat pad, backrest?, quality rain gear(nothing worse than riding with a wet/sore azz), feet postion -floor boards, mid-pegs, hiway pegs, kury switchblades. and something to relieve the pain/ soreness- I like flexall and Ibuprofen.

You know what though, I forgot the most important thing. Trips like this are a blast. I've done several longish roadtrips on my own now and each one has been huge fun. here is a note I posted after my first long solo trip. Let us know how you enjoy it.

jc,
Binghamton, NY is not too far from me. There are a lot of us over near Canandaigua/Honeoye (In fact I will be moving to Honeoye by month's end). Stop up and see us if you like, we have room and cold beverages.

COLD BEVERAGES

not you Pat , never thought you would have cold beverages.

Believe it or not but riding the america helps my back. I have been working physical labor all my life and see the chiro on a regular basis. When I ride home from work it helps stretch and relax my back. Did a 5 hour to Johnstown and the only thing that bothered me was my hearing.