To ride or to drive...

[Basso]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I need some "encouragement."

Me: New rider...about 1000 miles on my bike, most of it doing MSF practice skills and local county highways at 45-60 mph. Not much freeway time.

Bike: M50.
Car: 03 Maxima

Situation...I need to drive to the east coast of NC (1000 miles one-way) this weekend. Drive will be on Thursday/Friday...return will be on Sat/Sunday. Mostly freeway miles.

Problem: I'd like to ride the bike because I'm going to visit my grandmother in hospice care. The ride would be a nice way to get my mind off of her condition. That said, I'm thinking bad idea: I don't have much freeway experience, my longest ride to date is 3 hours, I don't have the luxury of smelling the roses, and if I did show up on a motorcycle my mother might shoot me to make good on her promise: "If you get a motorcycle you will die."
(BTW, she didn't like my response: I'll die even if I don't get a motorcycle)

So which side should I listen to...the ride the bike it will add some fun to an otherwise non-fun trip, or the the just drive the car, you aren't ready for this kind of trip on a motorcyle?

[themeatmanlandry]

Ride the bike.

[Clint]

Well, 500 miles will take about 9 hours with stops. You up for that? If so, go for it! My memories of motorcycling are vividly punctuated by the trips I took. If not for them, I wouldn't remember most of my riding.

[inspiron]

1000 miles is a darn long ride. With just 1000 miles in the saddle, you probably don't have the physical condition required to make a ride like that. In that case, I would take the car.

Riding 500 miles in one day is exhausting. Doing that 4 times in less than a week is not something to be taken lightly. You need to work up to that kind of mileage - just like you can't just buy new running shoes and expect to run the Boston Marathon without any training.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by inspiron

1000 miles is a darn long ride. With just 1000 miles in the saddle, you probably don't have the physical condition required to make a ride like that. In that case, I would take the car.

Riding 500 miles in one day is exhausting. Doing that 4 times in less than a week is not something to be taken lightly. You need to work up to that kind of mileage - just like you can't just buy new running shoes and expect to run the Boston Marathon without any training.

In addition, covering that kind of distance it is likely you will run into some kind of a problem along the way, bad weather being the most likely. Since you are on a pretty tight schedule, an unexpected problem might encourage you to do something on the bike that you shouldn't do(especially for a newbie).

It is with deep regret that I recommend the car.

[Clint]

As long as the poll stays at or above 50/50 you can still opt to take the bike.

[jimr]

Aside from the lack of seat time, and a VERY long ride ,your Grandma's condition will be as you stated " a distraction ". Between worrying about her and your mothers response to your riding, you may not be as focused as you should be to ride. Take the car, enjoy the time with Grandma, ride when you get home.

[tallannie]

on the car....

[Anville]

Being new to riding, I can agree with what is being said about "training" to ride for that long. 200 miles on the bike was enough to knock me out for a whole weekend. It really is physically demanding.

[themeatmanlandry]

It really depends on the person in question and their state of mind/present physical condition.

For me, I started out on a Bandit by riding 4-5 hours a day on every Saturday and Sunday. That'd be anywhere between 2 and 3 hundred miles, depending on how long and where I rode.

Dude, you know best what you are capable of. A person in reasonable shape should be able to hop on a nice comfy cruiser and put in a day with no problems. Just figure out your travel time, build in a respectable time cushion, pack your stuff and get on with it!

It's not like you've been invited to ride in the Spanish GP . . . you're traveling across a few states at your own pace to see some relatives.

Take the bike, a camera, your supplies, and let us know how it went. I'm sure you'll be fine (assuming you're not narcoleptic or something).

[BlaznBlu]

on the car for all the aforementioned reasons. I'm all for riding a bike to clear the mind of other distractions, but not in this scenerio.

[Clint]

I have to wonder how many who say to take the car have the experience to offer advice. I'd hate to see Basso discouraged simply because some of you don't have the nerve to do it yourself. Folks have hopped on bikes and made road trips for decades. Modern reliability and cell phones have all but eliminated the risks not inherently present in motorcycling. Just do it!

[Basso]

I'm not worried so much about being in physical shape for the ride. Since I can pedal a bicycle at 15 mph for 180 miles over 13 hours (4-15 min stops), I figure I can ride a motorcyce over the same time period. Trust me, the motorcycle is much more comfortable than the bicycle and would involve less physical effort.

That said, I am worried about my mental/emotional state. The thing is, why would being in the car be any better? I have the same distractions... I don't know. I'm inclined to drive mostly to keep my wife happy, but it sure would be nice to have a reason to look forward to this trip instead of dreading it.

[tallannie]

C'mon Clint.... it is not nervelessness..... even us without experience of iron-butt-level rides can read the tea leaves here...

-- the man is just out of MSF and has less than 1000 mi total experience
-- even he says he is thinking it is a bad idea.
-- he has to go 1000 mi in 2 days...and then back...
-- to see his grandma in hospice and a mom who will kill him for this..LOL
-- he may be fit for bicycles but a motorcycle on the freeway (something he has almost no experience doing) will strain a whole different set of muscles
-- he is worried about his mental emotional state....

Encouraging him to take his car.... where the safe driving habits are already engrained.... is just good safe counsel....the kind this forum usually gives.

Annie

[Basso]

Originally Posted by tallannie

C'mon Clint.... it is not nervelessness..... even us without experience of iron-butt-level rides can read the tea leaves here...

-- the man is just out of MSF and has less than 1000 mi total experience
-- even he says he is thinking it is a bad idea.
-- he has to go 1000 mi in 2 days...and then back...
-- to see his grandma in hospice and a mom who will kill him for this..LOL
-- he may be fit for bicycles but a motorcycle on the freeway (something he has almost no experience doing) will strain a whole different set of muscles
-- he is worried about his mental emotional state....

Encouraging him to take his car.... where the safe driving habits are already engrained.... is just good safe counsel....the kind this forum usually gives.

Annie

You are of course correct...which is what I pretty much wanted to hear, but I'll still be a bit bummed about driving the car. As to the bicycle/motorcycle thing...I'm guessing that the most difference and therefore strain would be the right forearm. I would probably be tired, but I think I could do it. Then again, can do and should do are two different things.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone!

[D_Klein]

Basso, it's all about your comfort level and your confidence that you can handle the trip. I think that weighing any other pros and cons are slightly trivial. A big part of the reason I ride is to help get my mind off other things due to the increased concentration... but when you're doing a long haul, it's easy for the mind to wander.

[droopy170]

Originally Posted by Basso

That said, I am worried about my mental/emotional state. The thing is, why would being in the car be any better? I have the same distractions... I don't know. I'm inclined to drive mostly to keep my wife happy, but it sure would be nice to have a reason to look forward to this trip instead of dreading it.

Car is more forgiving than motorcycle for temporary lapses in concentration.
200-300 miles one way for a first time maybe, but 2000 miles is an awful lot.


Droopy

[Dave Nadeau]

I vote on the car...even though I wish I could take the time for a 1000 ride. Like Annie said. NEW RIDER!! So for all of you who said ride would you suggest that a new rider take on even half of Iron Butt compition? I think that you are not being fair to the rider of unknown and unproven skills. We all know skills are something that we aquire over a given amount of years. Not in five days. IF he were to do it and got over tired or in over his head he may feel that riding sucks then we loose a go futre rider. Stock seat high miles= Monkey butt for a lifetime!!

[Kodatech]

Take the bike out after work one evening this week. Gas up. Take the highway for a 1/2 our in any direction without stopping. Then Immediately turn around and ride home. If you feel comfortable with that 1 hour stint on the highway, then you should take the bike. IMHO.

Another thing to consider is how much rest will you get between the time you arrive and the time you have to hop back in the saddle. If you think you will be fatigued for the ride back, then I would say take the car.

Freeway riding is quite easy with all of the traffic going at a constant speed and in the same direction. The problem with freeway riding comes with boredom, daydreaming, distractions...things like that. If you stay alert then it isnt a problem. Whichever mode you chose, just be careful.

[Clint]

Bah. By the time I had a thousand miles or two on my Radian, Jolene and I were taking day trips across the state. Superslab is about as safe of riding as you can get, assuming no crazy urban stretches.

Basso, do what you think's best. But don't let the worrywarts keep you from taking a good ride if you feel like you want to.