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New Bohemia, VA | Well, my Texas trip looks to be a go. On the way down I'll be moving on to Houston on 10 then south past corpus and on to Edinburg and finishing in mcallen and that is the first 36 hours from Monday morning. I'll leave on Friday am and be to Memphis by Saturday AM going via Dallas. Any one along the path I'd be glad to ride a mile or two and have a pop with you. |
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Tourer
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Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | Many blessings for a safm happy and souns trip. Have a great time, Chris, and post lots of pics! Cindy
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New Bohemia, VA | GAgirlTrixie - 2008-11-03 10:19 PM
Many blessings for a safm happy and souns trip. Have a great time, Chris, and post lots of pics! Cindy
Thanks Trix. I'm getting the old travelin' Jones once again. I'll try to grab some pix but for some reason they are an after thought to me, about 10 miles down the road when I think about something I passed and wish someone was on the side of the road taking a picture of me riding by. One day I'll be able to afford a camera crew to ride beside me.  |
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San Antonio, TX | Are you coming to San Antonio? If so when? |
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Cruiser
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Sugar Land, TX (Outside of Houston) | Unless you just have to come into Houston, instead of taking I-10 all the way to the loop inside Houston, turn right onto The Grand Parkway (SH-99) just East of Katy and take it all the way to the Southwest Freeway (US-59). Then just turn right and head to Corpus.
If you go that way and need a refreshing beverage, the Z-Bar (A local Biker Bar) is just past US-59 on the left on SH-99. Go under 59 about 1/2 mile and you will see it on the left.
If you had a date and a time you might stop at the Z-Bar, I could ride out from Sugar Land (a short hop) and meet you for a Cold One or a "Pop" (or "Coke" as we say in Texas - All Sodas are referred to as "I am going to get a Coke"  )
Be Safe
Richard |
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New Bohemia, VA | rmclarty - 2008-11-04 3:25 PM
Unless you just have to come into Houston, instead of taking I-10 all the way to the loop inside Houston, turn right onto The Grand Parkway (SH-99) just East of Katy and take it all the way to the Southwest Freeway (US-59). Then just turn right and head to Corpus.
If you go that way and need a refreshing beverage, the Z-Bar (A local Biker Bar) is just past US-59 on the left on SH-99. Go under 59 about 1/2 mile and you will see it on the left.
If you had a date and a time you might stop at the Z-Bar, I could ride out from Sugar Land (a short hop) and meet you for a Cold One or a "Pop" (or "Coke" as we say in Texas - All Sodas are referred to as "I am going to get a Coke" )
Be Safe
Richard
Thanks to that Richard. Last year it was 10 to 59 and I had a lot of fun doing the cross over thing from right lane to far left to shoot done 59. The thing I like about Texas is that they use their turn-signals and it is not a request is it what is being done, I'm coming over, make room. I can handle that, because in most places there is no turn-signal and they just cut you off.
As it stands now and there is another rider, Dann lives close to houston and was curious when I would come through. Coming from VA to TX and under time constraints to maximize the visit with the son and family, I was pushing to get there. My strategy is to depart about 3 -4am Monday, VA and push through to McAllen in the shortest possible time to be at the son's house by night fall Tuesday, a mere 1,654. I know that if I need to take a break, I hope it is around houston, but it would be close to midnight. If plans change on the road, then I would most certainly enjoy a ride.
Now, on the return trip, it would be daylight as I would pass through San Antoine or Friday on my way back home. I plan to leave Friday and get back to VA on Sunday, after doing the Dragon. Saturday I plan to pass through Memphis and hopefully say hey to songfan and chickenman (pollolittle).
To say one more thing, I move when I ride, not necessarily fast just steady. I grabbing for the next mile. I go to bed looking forward to going to work just for the ride....
As far as pop or coke, I really say "dew", since that's what I bust most of the time. Coke is the real southern term, I was just messin' with the yanks by sayin' pop, yall.
Edited by varyder 2008-11-04 4:38 PM
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San Antonio, TX | Chris,
What roads will you be taking though San Antonio on Friday? I would be nice to meet you somewhere along the way if possible. |
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Visionary
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New Bohemia, VA | It looks to be 37 to 410 to 35 north, and my best guess would be around 10 - 11am. |
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Tourer
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Carrollton, TX | varyder - 2008-11-03 8:54 PM Well, my Texas trip looks to be a go. On the way down I'll be moving on to Houston on 10 then south past corpus and on to Edinburg and finishing in mcallen and that is the first 36 hours from Monday morning. I'll leave on Friday am and be to Memphis by Saturday AM going via Dallas. Any one along the path I'd be glad to ride a mile or two and have a pop with you. Let me know when you will be in the Dallas area so I can hook up with you. I will get Fergy to come also and we will give you a warm Texas welcome. |
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New Bohemia, VA | Those who have mentioned about a meet plans have changed slightly. I'll leave on Tuesday to go down and arrive wednesday pm. on return I'll leave on Sunday and push to do the dragon on Monday to be home in the pm. That tightens things up, I'll get a plan together. Maybe we can high 5 as I pass by...  |
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| Well you be careful buzzin across and back. The Dragons fun on the Vision but it can bite ya. Ride safe....... T |
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New Bohemia, VA | Here comes that travelin' jones once again. To get primed for my trip next week, I'll be putting on around 300 miles Saturday to visit my daughter and the girl granders. #3 turned 2 Sunday, and #4 turns 1 just before Thanksgiving.
If I could figure out a way to make a living riding I would, until then I have stop to go to work and take care of the home...  |
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Visionary
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Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Hi Chris. You said: "I'm heading out on Tuesday going to Texas, pushing 1,600 miles in little more than 24 hours is my plan".
I have been thinking about that a little - based on some crazy rides when I was young and fit. You would have to average 70 MPH for every hour assuming no breaks for lunch, dinner or resting. I know from experience that to average 50 MPH you have to maintain 70+ for each hour.
My question is, how do you figure in traffic fines and time delays to achieve your goal, since you will have to maintain 80+ without breaks?
I once drove my Jaguar XK150 to San Francisco in 15 hours from Vancouver - 1000 miles (before much in the way of freeways) - to do that, I was seldom under 100 MPH and my only worry about cops was from the air, so my wife kept watch out in the sky above while I didn't even bother with the rear view).
Anyone else do something as brave as what Chis is about to try? |
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Visionary
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New Bohemia, VA | donetracey - 2008-11-07 9:25 PM
Hi Chris. You said: "I'm heading out on Tuesday going to Texas, pushing 1,600 miles in little more than 24 hours is my plan".
I have been thinking about that a little - based on some crazy rides when I was young and fit. You would have to average 70 MPH for every hour assuming no breaks for lunch, dinner or resting. I know from experience that to average 50 MPH you have to maintain 70+ for each hour.
My question is, how do you figure in traffic fines and time delays to achieve your goal, since you will have to maintain 80+ without breaks?
I once drove my Jaguar XK150 to San Francisco in 15 hours from Vancouver - 1000 miles (before much in the way of freeways) - to do that, I was seldom under 100 MPH and my only worry about cops was from the air, so my wife kept watch out in the sky above while I didn't even bother with the rear view).
Anyone else do something as brave as what Chis is about to try?
Let me qualify that DET. Last year I rode 1,024 in 19 hours. In that time I was moving with the flow of traffic on Interstates 85 - 65 - 10 - 12 - 10. I left Prince George Va at 4:30am and was at my hotel in Port Allen, La at 11:30pm the same day. I slept from 11:45 to 6am and was on the road at 7:00 am and was in Kingsville, TX at 3:30pm 36 hours later and 1,500 miles. Now I don't care nothing about certificates but I do have my gas receipts with times. And oh by the way, all times was by EST so there was no time zone consideration, just straight hours. But in Iron Butt terms that is a Saddle Sore 1,000 in 24 and a bun burner in 36 hours for 1,500 miles.
With all that said, I was riding my sweet baby '84 GL1200 Interstate. At around Atlanta I lost the clutch due to bad fluid. I stopped and had to figure out a fix which was Dot 3 and a lot of pumping when I had to stopped. It worked from mid-day Wednesday and when the fluid was cool it would work okay until it got hot again. This was in mid-September. I was also talking to my boss at the stops to see if I had a job when I got home since we were in the middle of contract negotiations. So, my stops were longer than I wanted and more frequent than planned and I still made 1,024 in 19 hours. After I made it to Kingsville for the 36/1,500. I doubled back to a bike shop in Corpus who cleaned my fluid and got me straight and then I finished up at aroun 8pm to McAllen where my son lives. So I did 1,654 miles in 40 hours inspite of the problems on a GL1200. When I ride, I ride and when I stop I sleep. I have no concern in making the full 1,654 miles in 27 hours or so, if I please. That is an average of 61mph on Interstate. Anyone want to come along?
Edited by varyder 2008-11-07 9:58 PM
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LaPorte,Tx. | An avg. of 61 mph on the interstate is very easy to achieve. As long as there are no traffic jams in cities or accidents along the way. |
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Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | That assumes absolutely NO stops for anything - including gas. Sorry folks - to average 61 you MUST travel at least 80 mph if you are taking MINIMAL breaks - gas, food, pee. Can't be done at anywhere near legal speed limits. I am guessing your limits are about 65, maybe 70 ?
Don't get me wrong - I am totally admiring Chris for his willingness and sporting attitude - without my sheepskin under my ass, I can't go for more than 2 hours at a stretch on my Vision, and at the end of 8 hours my butt has had enough. You go CHRIS !!! |
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LaPorte,Tx. | donetracey - 2008-11-08 12:26 PM
That assumes absolutely NO stops for anything - including gas. Sorry folks - to average 61 you MUST travel at least 80 mph if you are taking MINIMAL breaks - gas, food, pee. Can't be done at anywhere near legal speed limits. I am guessing your limits are about 65, maybe 70 ?
Don't get me wrong - I am totally admiring Chris for his willingness and sporting attitude - without my sheepskin under my ass, I can't go for more than 2 hours at a stretch on my Vision, and at the end of 8 hours my butt has had enough. You go CHRIS !!!
When I post, I already have done what I've said......! On August 21st of 2008 I went from a small town in central Ill. to Mars, PA. north of Pittsburg. 635 miles in 10 hours 20 minutes. I did not travel over 80 mph at any time. I did take stops as I needed, lunch at a fast food resturant.
On Oct. 6th I left Fort Stockton, Tx. at 06:00 and in my drive way @ 14:45, 540 miles, again avg. 61-62 mph. Stopped when I needed and ate breakfast and lunch......but I must admit about 250 miles of that trip was at 80 mph, because that was the speed limit. |
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Visionary
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New Bohemia, VA | Thanks for the input. I have to qualify myself again and say it will have everything to do with my stamina going down and coming back. I always ride with a ditch method at anytime. If I get tired by the time I get to Atlanta, then I'll stop and rest as long as I need. Last year when I went down on the GL1200 I was pumped and ready to ride. I love riding. I was in the Army for 20 years, 10 as a paratrooper and I'm fairly conditions to tolerate even the most tough conditions. Riding in the back of an uncovered duece and half in the winter at Bragg in a cold rain for 20+ miles will do that to you.
I had the seat of my Goldwing cut and saddled a little lower and covered in leather. It kept me from getting monkey butt. Dispite the comfort of the Vision, it is vinyl and it may give me monkey butt and make it very uncomfortable for me, we'll see. I hope to have cool weather, under 80 degrees going down. Doing my math of last year of having to stop for gas every 140 miles, verses this year every 200 miles, I see a few less stops. When I went to Orlando last December I rode back 730 miles in 12 hours and we stopped to have lunch for about an hour. I was doing the speed limit and even stopped to put on cold gear as the further north I got and as the sun was going down I had to button up. I actually wanted to keep on riding then when I pulled in the drive at 11:00pm. Man, what a ride...
On the interstate, I go with the flow of traffic, sorry to increminate myself, but it is hard to go the speed limit and get run over, it is unsafe especially when they fly up behind you and zip around even in the right slow lanes. That is the way it is through Greensboro, Charlotte, Greenville, Atlanta, Montgomery, and Mobile. Through Greenville last year I was riding with the flow of traffic above the posted speed limit and even the police were passing, not even on a call.
But yes, in normal condition it is the speedlimit. However how someone rides is up to them and the speed limit for the most part is a steady 70mph going down. I'll only know what I will do when I get there. If it takes 40 hours again, so be it. But given the fact the Vision will out ride in stops and comfort I'm looking forward to some great saddle time.
When I stop, I gas and go. If I'm hungry I grab a water and something light, such as a fruit or small sandwich. I just don't see what the trouble is. If it gets to be in the wee hours of the morning and I'm still riding and I think I see creatures in the roadway, I'll stop. I'm not out to kill myself, just want to get there and I love to ride, what a great combo. It looks it may be raining, so this will be even more fun, but hey, I'll pretend I'm in the back of that duece and a half coming back from a jump at Camp McCall.
Again, if anyone wants ride along, catch up and come on...I won't be looking in the rear view for you either....
Edited by varyder 2008-11-08 6:13 PM
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Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Chris, have you tried a sheepskin under your butt? I have one that covers rider & passenger seat and it adds hours to my comfort level and co-pilot loves it. Only drawback is heated seat is negated - but extra comfort outweighs that. I am unlikely to ride many hours where heat is needed.
I am curious about speed limits. Our maximum here is about 70 mph on a few roads - mostly 60-65. VTex mentions 80 mph. Is that unusual, or normal?
You reminded me with your talk of deuce & half - of my days in Royal Canadian Engineers - back in early 1960's - I travelled zillions of miles as a driver in those suckers. They still around? I always felt sorry for the poor bastards on the benches in the back. Especially on frozen, dirt roads - definitely toughen you up. |
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New Bohemia, VA | I'm trying to recall all the speedlimits but most of them are 70 or 75. I know texas was 75 or at least that is what everybody drove at. I was surprised last year, my first attempt at over 400 miles on a motorcycle that it was actually easy. Most heavy traffic areas were moving rather well. I noticed around the big city beltways that no one was stopped, even if they were driving like a mad man. The only thing I could figure that if one car is pulled, traffic jams up and they'd rather keep it flowing. Greenville and Montgomery were heavy haulers, and even then I saw a pair of BMW's going even faster and they moved in and out of traffic like they were linked together. I've never seen that before. I'm not in doing the sheepskin thing yet, but I'll look into it. I can tolerate the monkey butt on the Vision much better than the Wing, which gave me pressure points also. I had to get off and let blood circulate before I lost vital organs. On the Vision, even on the run back from Florida I would raise my leg to let air flow under for a few moments and that seem to work. Vinyl and me don't get a long, leather is the ticket.
The old duece and halfs are still around, just upgraded...
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New Bohemia, VA | Sorry to bore you all with more of this but I'm looking at taking the Geezer Pack off for the trip. I've got a bag that I have to stand up instead I could lay it down across the back seat if it was in the Street config, lowering the center of gravity. Too late to get the overpriced seat bag that Victory sells. Just my thoughts, respond if you care too. |
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Iron Butt
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New York State | Do you have the cover plate for your Vision's rear fender for where the trunk attaches ? |
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New Bohemia, VA | Trekwolf164 - 2008-11-09 8:56 AM
Do you have the cover plate for your Vision's rear fender for where the trunk attaches ?
Yes I do, I've had in the Street Config and absolutely loved it. I call it the S squared. Super Stud Sonic Soarer. With the Tour pack it is the G2 or Geezer Glider. I think I'm going Geezer Glider as I might aquire a few things and I don't do much twisties so the top heavy will not make a difference, oh wait, the Dragon, that's right. Okay, I've got one more day to think about it, G2 or S squared??? Decisions, decisions, that is why I love this bike.
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Visionary
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New Bohemia, VA | It's Geezer Glider and I'll be leaving at a balmy 34 degrees at 4am Tuesday morning. I looks like rain the entire time according to the weather reports but it is still a solid go. I'm glad it is still in the 80's in Texas. I just wonder what it will be like on the return trip. I love riding...
I've got a few phone numbers and I know I've got you as friends along the way. I'm hoping there will be time to see some of you if you're available. I'm pumped and ready to go now.
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Iron Butt
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, FL United States | varyder - 2008-11-09 7:39 AM
Too late to get the overpriced seat bag that Victory sells. /QUOTE]
If you decide to get a "seat back bag" in the future, just get it from Saddlemen. I did & it was only $139 and they make the Victory bag. Course it doesn't have the Vic logo but for the savings, who cares!
Chris, 1st: ride safe 2nd: have fun! |
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Texas
