Posted: 01 July 2012 at 12:25pm | IP Logged

I completed my first SS1000 last night.

Los Angeles to Willows, Ca.  14-58-99-5 and back again.

Here are a few of my observations.

1) Very uneventful and boring ride.  I think the were 3 curves. Not really worthy of a full ride report.  I woke up very early, rode 500 miles and turned around.

2) When it didn't smell like onions, it smelled like cow poop.

3) You can plan gas stops, but you cant plan wind.  I hit the reserve a lot.  

4) I was surprised on how focused I was.  I do not remember any faces in cars next to me. 

5) Although I had a tank bag with my directions and maps in the window, I had a small piece of paper with just a list of exits on it in the corner. This made it easier to concentrate.

6) I bought food at a gas station in Willows, Ca. I left it in the bathroom.

7) Gas receipts are important...not getting the gas cap back on or running after falling gloves or admiring pretty bug splatters on the windshield.  Gas pumps are nice enough to offer a receipt for only about a minute.  

I'm tired, hurting and my body is still vibrating.  I drank the Kool Aid...I'm just waiting for it to take effect.

Posted: 01 July 2012 at 2:07pm | IP Logged

Alan Danger wrote: I'm tired, hurting and my body is still vibrating.  I drank the Kool Aid...I'm just waiting for it to take effect.

You don't sound very enthusiastic about doing another one, but don't give up just yet.  I did a BBG last March in a tad less than 24 hours and said "never agin".  Next day I felt better and a week later I did another one on the way back to Michigan.

BTW......congrats on the SS1000 and welcome to the insanity.

gramps

Posted: 01 July 2012 at 3:45pm | IP Logged

Dont Get me wrong.  Last night, everything hurt...mentally and physically

I'm planning my BB 1500 as we speak.

Posted: 01 July 2012 at 5:48pm | IP Logged

It's gonna be great because you are situated in an ideal part of the country to plan some very interesting rides.  Let us know your planned route or ask questions from these riders.  They have tons of experience and can offer great tips for dealing with long hours in the saddle.

What kind of bike do you ride?

gramps

Posted: 01 July 2012 at 8:06pm | IP Logged

I have a 2007 Honda VTX1300R with a stock seat modified by MCC

Posted: 02 July 2012 at 11:22am | IP Logged

Although I had a tank bag with my directions and maps in the window, I had a small piece of paper with just a list of exits on it in the corner. This made it easier to concentrate.

>>>That's what I do. It seems to make things simpler.

Gas receipts are important...not getting the gas cap back on or running after falling gloves or admiring pretty bug splatters on the windshield. Gas pumps are nice enough to offer a receipt for only about a minute.

>>>And I've found that 10-20% of the time, gas receipts (date & time) are incorrect, so you double-check them before you leave the station.

Randy