Kelly’s Korner: Tripping Out…From Pimping to Packing, Get Ready for Adventure
Last Updated: February 6th, 2021
This unseasonably warm Arizona weather has this female adventure motorcyclist daydreaming about road trips. It’s been far too long since I did an overnighter or longer – you know, the kind of ride that requires planning and pays off in adventure. I don’t want to tell you the last time I took a long bike ride but I will say it was by myself and 2,400 miles. Before that, there was a trip with friends to central Colorado. Again, too long ago, and this sun and 70-something degrees is killing me while I sit at my desk meeting deadlines, all the while imagining all the riding I could be doing. So, for those of you who are able to take a vacation sometime soon, and particularly if you have yet to take your first bike road trip, let’s go over the basics.
PREP YOUR MOTORCYCLE
How many times have you heard TEAM Arizona echo T-CLOCS (download form here). It’s obvious advice, but advice worth repeating because it’s important: Check the oil, the forks (including fork oil), chain (including lube), tires (tread and pressure), clutch and brake levers, clutch cable, brake fluid, brakes, lights, and any and all other parts you wouldn’t want to fail on you in the middle of nowhere.
Make sure, too, that you have a bag of tools stored under the seat and that you know how to use them. Something will happen out on the road, because that’s how these things work, but at least mitigate the risk so you can come home and tell a great story.
PIMP YOUR RIDE
I cannot handle scratches on my sport bikes. So, taking a cue from my buddy Kwik, I cover my tank in clear Con-Tact Paper for a road trip. That way, I can make use of my magnetic tank bag. This serves two purposes. First, a tank bag gives me more storage, since a sport bike has, well, none. My valuables go in the tank bag and the tank bag goes with me into grocery stores and rest stops and such. Second, many tank bags have a plastic cover. I use this see-through compartment to store maps and MapQuest directions so I can look at them while I’m riding. It’s not smart to assume that a phone will have constant coverage or won’t lose battery life, or that a GPS system won’t fail – always have a backup, especially if you’re riding alone.
The Con-Tact Paper also goes on the tail of my bike, where I store my tailpack. Make sure you strap that puppy down tight. The last thing you need is to take a corner on Wolf Creek Pass, and have your giant bag fall into the back wheel. Bad. Bad bad bad bad bad.
PREP YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT GEAR
Wear the right gear. I mean leathers, gloves, helmet, riding boots. Going back to risk mitigation, a road trip presents plenty of hazards. There’s no reason not to minimize your exposure to them. I wear Z Custom leathers. I’ve crashed in them once and they paid for themselves right then in the form of no hospital visit or worse. Trust me, leathers are sexy.
PACK LIGHT
It’s a road trip, not a luxury cruise. Take a travel bottle of laundry detergent and expect to do sink laundry every night or every other night. Two pairs of socks, a few pairs of undies, one pair of jeans or hiking pants (which roll up small), two or three tops, a jacket, a pair of easy-t0-pack shoes and you’re done. Ladies, if you expect to go someplace nice, take the ubiquitous little black dress and a pair of flats. Done. Keep the curling irons and hair product and fancy makeup at home. This is a time to be free.
Definitely take a book for nighttime reading, a small Moleskine journal for noting memorable moments and a camera. Most of all, take a sense of adventure. Maybe have just a general idea of where you want to go and where you want to stop. That leaves you open to the unexpected and unplanned, which makes for the best trips of all.
If you do get out there, tell me about it at kellyteal13@gmail.com so I may live vicariously through you.
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