StromTrooper banner

Riding from Pennsylvania to New Mexico

2K views 28 replies 19 participants last post by  Joe S. 
#1 ·
I am going out to see my son in New Mexico at his AFB. I have not seen him since January. wife and I are planning the trip out to be kinda a double vacation. The chance to ride across country on the bike and to get to spend 4 days with him. It is supposed to be 28 hrs of travel time. I am hoping to be able to do it in 2 days. But I think I am going to leave the night before in put in about 4hrs to give me some cushion.
does a 12 hr riding day seem feasible to most of you? for me it is not going to be a problem as I routinely spend all day on my bike on weekend days when she works. But she has never been on the back for more than 5-6 hours in a day. That is my main area of concern. and that my luggage I ordered gets here in time.
no set time limits or game plan really stop to eat when we need to and stop and find a motel wherever we are when we get tired. Get off and stretch and walk around at rest areas and anything interesting we see. I am also sure over that long of a trip we will make up a lot of time compared to what mapquest calculates.
any advice or tips will be greatly appreciated first long distance ride we have gone on like this. I have done alot of all day rides exploring the parks in Pa but have only left the state on the bike to goto NY 3hrs away.
 
#2 ·
Your wife's never been on the bike for more than 5 hours and now a 1,500-1,600 mile road trip is planned and you're wondering about successive 12 hour days with her on and a load of luggage on the bike? I'll be the pessimist, I don't see it happening.

You may do a 9 or 10 hour day but that's not going to equate to 9 or 10 hours of riding, there will be more stops needed than you anticipate and the stops will be lengthier. Add some heat and/or crap weather as you cross tornado and storm filled breadbasket of America, 3 full days may be considered ambitious.
 
#3 ·
You should consider adding a day. Nice that the wife has agreed to travel with you but she may want to take a bus next time. Also consider frequent stops. It is just not as comfortable for the pillion.
 
#4 ·
I can't leave any earlier for the trip because of work. But if we have to spend an extra night on the road on the way down that won't be an issue. whether we show up thursday night or early Friday won't make much of a difference. The trip down will determine how soon I leave to come home. I have also already considered the need to rent a uhaul truck if things do not go as planned and load the bike in it.
 
#5 ·
My girlfriend and I rode from NC to AZ once. We had a schedule we had to meet, which required multiple 500 mile days in a row. She was very accustomed to riding, and had been on a few trips with me, but she was miserable for a good portion of the trip, especially when we got into the hottest parts of the country. She is a great passenger and loves to ride, but that was just too much for her. Because of her schedule she flew back to NC, but even if she hadn't had to get back before me, I don't think she would have wanted to ride back.

Your experience might be totally different, but prepare yourself just in case it isn't....
 
#8 ·
we are kind of committed to it now. I guess if it gets to bad I stop somewhere and stick her on a plane or bus or train or something and continue on by myself. I do thank you all for the input, I will run it all by her tonight and see if she is still up for the challenge. or the possibility of adding a day to the trip each way.
 
#27 ·
This seems reasonable. I did 14hrs in a day on my wee a couple weekends ago, but that was by myself and with just a few things in my topcase and good weather. I also had the ability to stand on the pegs and move back to the passenger seat when my body started to hurt and need to shift. If you did three days there with her I think you could probably do 2 days back by yourself.

Edit: Didn't read your last post. Glad you made it!
 
#9 ·
I'm in the "oh hell no" camp on this. From Jersey to OKC was three full days for the wife and I, and NM is another day further. Especially in the heat, she'll be absolutely miserable.
Four days, minimum, each way. Unless you're trying to get divorced. :)
 
#10 ·
your goal is a bit on the overly ambitious side, for this late in the year

you should have planned it for April/May & allowed yourself more travel time

the heat is already oppressive & the crosswind are energy sapping

you didn't mention which Base, but if it is in Clovis, stop in @ JOE'S BOOT SHOP & pick up a nice pair of ELK SKIN ROPERS(gloves)

ADV riders, barbed wire fence builders & i swear by them

good luck w/ your quest

sw
 
#13 ·
Kirtland AFB Albuquerque. This is when it worked out to be able to go see him. He has been in training and had not had any free time. We have not seen him since the beginning of Feburary. I talked to the wife with what you have all said, she said we have a few days to play with on the way back. She has plenty of sick time to use. So I guess on the ride down we will find out what to do on the return trip. even if we need the whole extra day down and we get there thursday evening it is still fine.
And If it is Miserable I will buy her a plane ticket to get home if she wants.
 
#14 ·
One tip then. Start each day early, as in barely getting light in the east. The more miles you can put in each day while it's cool, and the earlier you can get off the road the better.
If you need a place to stay in OKC PM me with your schedule.
 
#17 ·
Compression shorts or bicycle shorts under your pants are a great suggestion.

Make sure you have a set of thermals for the higher elevations as well... You've got to keep your core temp up.

Also, make sure you both wear ear plugs to eliminate most of the wind noise. It makes a huge difference on a long ride.... Especially when you're slabbing it most of the way.

Oh, and before I forget, thanks to your son for his service. :thumbup:
 
#18 ·
I have a stock seat, but have a gel cushion for her seat. I wear compression shorts for long rides and will tell her too. I plan on leaving early mornings everyday that always seems to be the best riding. Stop for a decent meal when it gets hotter.
 
#21 ·
I'll just note that's its now getting hot in this part of the world (Phoenix). My bike's thermometer showed 111 degrees at 5:50 PM Thursday afternoon.

Stay rested and stay cool/hydrated! That's a long, long way to go in extreme summer weather.
 
#22 ·
either going or returning, a really nice route to run is from ABQQ > RATON, NM

RATON > CIMARON > EAGLE NEST > TAOS(ON US64) > SANTA FE(via THE HIGH ROAD/NM518 & 76) > ABQQ(via THE TURQUOIS TRAIL/NM14)

there is a really nice family restaurant(local chain) in ABQQ called LOS CUATES & the one we like best is on LOMAS west of the state fair grounds

great native NM food @ reasonable/family pricing

have them serve w/ the SAUCE ON THE SIDE, i don't care how tuff you think you are

the restaurant on top of SANDIA PEAK is FINE & $$$

you have to ride the gondola to get there

awesome view on the ride

try to do it just at sunset

early mornings, on the wknds, will treat you w/ HOT AIR BALLOONS wafting up the valley(ABQQ also has a balloon museum/visitor's center)

the PETROGLYPH NAT'L MONUMENT is worth the walk, early/b4 it gets too hot

OLD TOWN ABQQ is not to be missed, as many of the buildings date WAY BACK in tyme

i guess i'm rambling & should close

ABQQ IS A FUN PLACE TO VISIT

glad to see your LOFTY IDEALS/GOALS are joined by a healthy number of WAIVERS

sw
 
#23 ·
I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. Since you are committed to go, invest in a couple of mesh jackets if you don't have them. When it gets hot wear cotton t-shirts under the mesh jackets and get them good and wet about every hour (take lots of extra water). The evaporative cooling will keep you a lot cooler than just riding dry. As mentioned, very early morning starts and being willing to quit when it gets too hot... Hope your trip goes well and you have fun!
 
#24 ·
Just an update. We left Pa Monday night about 6:30 pm and made it to Akron Ohio. On the road again by 7am Made it to Springfield, Missourri. Wednesday Morning we were definitely feeling the effects of it. Tired, sore, and cranky. So we opted for a good sit down breakfast and a little later start. 8am back on the road, things were going good till just past Amarillo Texas, that's where the dust storms and crosswinds really got bad. I guess evening is a bad time to travel this stretch. From there to Moriarty New Mexico was just dreadful. But we made it. Pulled into Albuquerqe at 9:45pm.
2 1/2 days of hardcore riding. We were tired and we are sore. The wife was a trooper and hung in there without complaining. You can tolerate a alot when it comes to seeing your kid for the first time in 6 months. 36 total hours from the time we departed each morning till we parked for the night each time. That's not taking out for lunch and supper breaks and all the required rest stops to stretch out the legs.
Should definitely be at least a full 3 day (probably 4)trip to really enjoy it. Thanks for all the feed back, some of it really helped.
 
#28 ·
Bravo!

I can only assume your kid has the whole list of awesome local stuff to do while here. If you want different ride ideas, drom me a PM, I'll keep my eye out for it. There are some great (short) juants very close to here as well. Hot weekend to ride around here too. You guys are an inspiration! :yesnod:

BTW, my wife got tired of the long 2-up rides so we got her a Wee as well. Now the trips seem to get longer at her beggin'... food for thought.
 
#29 ·
I absolutely agree, its a little overly ambitous but I guess ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
I'd do some scouting around for divorce lawyers before I left and maybe hire a food taster.:green_lol:
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top