What limits daily mileage/hours on the road?
Discussion
When I was young it was just tiredness. But now it's leg pain, even on a GS1250, though I never remember having any pain at all as a young bloke on a 250 even on 400 mile days.
Other riders seem to have an issue with the saddle though it's never bothered me.
What limits most people? Is it pain and if so where?
Other riders seem to have an issue with the saddle though it's never bothered me.
What limits most people? Is it pain and if so where?
Just general aches n pains around hip, knees, ankles. Im Mid 50s, arthritis, with a hip replacement, bolts across my lower back, metal bits in feet, ankles, arm, and there is only so many meds you can take whilst riding 
Yes I could ride for 12 hours a day, but im on a holiday, not an endurance event. I dont want any time pressure and might stop off a few places during the day. I feel 200-250 miles a day is enough. Occasionally will do 300 miles if its a fast motorway day just to get to the destination.
Yes I could ride for 12 hours a day, but im on a holiday, not an endurance event. I dont want any time pressure and might stop off a few places during the day. I feel 200-250 miles a day is enough. Occasionally will do 300 miles if its a fast motorway day just to get to the destination.
I'm in my mid 60's but still have no significant issues with 10 hour/500 mile days providing I have my Airhawk cushion. (Current bike limitation, not age limitation.) I don't enjoy such long days but, likewise, I don't fear them either. I do them when I think they're a neseccery evil. I'll do one long motorway day rather than two, mediocre non-motorway days to get to/from great roads.
For enjoyable long days I tend to sitck to about 8 hours and 225 - 275 miles, depending on road type.
For enjoyable long days I tend to sitck to about 8 hours and 225 - 275 miles, depending on road type.
Limited only by hours in the day…but that’s on very comfy bikes with big screens/weather protection. I doubt I’d make it round the block on a sports bike, and I can’t do much more than 70 on a naked for more than a few minutes. Late 60s now so pee stops dictating stops more than fueling.
I’ve done 700 miles in a day on motorways/paiges/autobahns with no issues. Picked up new (comfy) bike a week or two back and 550 miles in foul weather was no problems. Obviously it’d be much less on twisty roads, it again limited by hours in the day, not me or the bike.
For me at least, sitting upright with little or no wind makes it all work…and footboards. I think they make a hell of a difference as your feet aren’t locked in one position like pegs. So unconsciously you’re always moving your feet and legs a little throughout the journey so pain never sets in. I’ve never had to do this stand up or stick legs out malarkey to relieve leg pain with footboards. But an accept not a riding style many folks want, but it sure is comfy to eat the miles.
I’ve done 700 miles in a day on motorways/paiges/autobahns with no issues. Picked up new (comfy) bike a week or two back and 550 miles in foul weather was no problems. Obviously it’d be much less on twisty roads, it again limited by hours in the day, not me or the bike.
For me at least, sitting upright with little or no wind makes it all work…and footboards. I think they make a hell of a difference as your feet aren’t locked in one position like pegs. So unconsciously you’re always moving your feet and legs a little throughout the journey so pain never sets in. I’ve never had to do this stand up or stick legs out malarkey to relieve leg pain with footboards. But an accept not a riding style many folks want, but it sure is comfy to eat the miles.
Depends what type of riding.
On my advanced course at work we did between 220-300 miles a day. Towards the end i was f
ked. It was a dau of high concentration riding well in excess of the speed limit.
I also did 100 miles supporting the Police Unity Tour providing protection for the riders. Average speed id guess was 10 miles per hour. Going up hills im doing 4mph.
That was harder. I felt bad as the others had cycled the 100 miles but I was fked.
On my advanced course at work we did between 220-300 miles a day. Towards the end i was f
ked. It was a dau of high concentration riding well in excess of the speed limit. I also did 100 miles supporting the Police Unity Tour providing protection for the riders. Average speed id guess was 10 miles per hour. Going up hills im doing 4mph.
That was harder. I felt bad as the others had cycled the 100 miles but I was f
ked. Cold is a thing for me.
Sat fairly still on a bike I find it hard to get the clothing right for very long days except in peak summer.
Also various aches start to annoy after some random period, depending on the nature of the riding.
Knees, back, neck.
I'm not sure I actually enjoy more than about 4 or 5 hours riding in a day any more, and that would be with a couple of breaks.
More than 2 consecutive long days really isn't on my wish list any more.
Of course once you stop committing to mega-mile tours, you stop investing in the best kit.
Sat fairly still on a bike I find it hard to get the clothing right for very long days except in peak summer.
Also various aches start to annoy after some random period, depending on the nature of the riding.
Knees, back, neck.
I'm not sure I actually enjoy more than about 4 or 5 hours riding in a day any more, and that would be with a couple of breaks.
More than 2 consecutive long days really isn't on my wish list any more.
Of course once you stop committing to mega-mile tours, you stop investing in the best kit.
Biker9090 said:
Whenever I start to feel my riding is suffering (can usually tell when taking corner exits wide....).
Could be anything from 200-400 miles usually or significantly less if I'm simply tired.
Reminded me of that:Could be anything from 200-400 miles usually or significantly less if I'm simply tired.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-2...
https://slambikers.co.uk/mikeslastride/
I get tired in terms of concentration before I get tired in my body.
So I absolutely know that I have to take breaks and limit my day accordingly.
My levels of concentration fall away and I know I must stop or a near miss or worse is coming.
I did a few European tours with groups and there was a theme of long days and mileage. I moved away from that and decided, in France for example ,250 would be my max, mixture of autoroute and other roads .
That would be a max day for me and not desirable if I am planning.
I pretty much always ride solo now and would never do more than 4 hours riding in the UK in a day . Partly due to road conditions in the UK being the worst I have experienced in Europe.
So I absolutely know that I have to take breaks and limit my day accordingly.
My levels of concentration fall away and I know I must stop or a near miss or worse is coming.
I did a few European tours with groups and there was a theme of long days and mileage. I moved away from that and decided, in France for example ,250 would be my max, mixture of autoroute and other roads .
That would be a max day for me and not desirable if I am planning.
I pretty much always ride solo now and would never do more than 4 hours riding in the UK in a day . Partly due to road conditions in the UK being the worst I have experienced in Europe.
Middle aged riding Adventure bike / Supermoto so they're pretty comfortable
I like to stop probably every hour to have a quick stretch / coffee / admire the view
I'm happy to do 350 miles in a day on A/ B roads - can't do motorways as I start nodding off
The thing that prevents stupidly long days is dwindling concentration - as I get tired I have to ride faster to keep the adrenaline flowing which obviously isn't the recipe for a long life
I like to stop probably every hour to have a quick stretch / coffee / admire the view
I'm happy to do 350 miles in a day on A/ B roads - can't do motorways as I start nodding off
The thing that prevents stupidly long days is dwindling concentration - as I get tired I have to ride faster to keep the adrenaline flowing which obviously isn't the recipe for a long life
Neck pain, leg pain, wrist pain etc. and I don't like the cold/wet but I'm an old git so to be expected.
As a youth, nothing really bothered me and I'd think nothing of riding all day/night.
As a youth, living in Italy, I once rode to Switzerland to see a concert and back straight after (around 800 miles) with only minimal fuel/food/rest stops but now 100 miles is a long way.
As a youth, nothing really bothered me and I'd think nothing of riding all day/night.
As a youth, living in Italy, I once rode to Switzerland to see a concert and back straight after (around 800 miles) with only minimal fuel/food/rest stops but now 100 miles is a long way.
I did about 300 miles over two days at the weekend (approx 4 x 75 miles each way).
On Monday evening about 3-4 miles from home on the last ride I filled the bike up with fuel. Until I get to the end of my road it's dual carriageway or former dual carriageway that's been painted down to one lane with a cycle lane. It's 40 or 30 limits.
There's a cloverleaf slip road a bit less than a mile from the garage and the road rises and dips again for a bridge over an underpass. There's a Scooter with the big food delivery box on the back coming up the slip road so I move over to the right hand lane.
Once I am past the scooter I start moving over to the nearside lane again. As I am moving left a very loud single, a 125 or 300 motorcycle I'd imagine speeds past on my NS. Seems that was the lead bike of swarm of 8-10 small capacity motorcycles. I just stayed in the outside lane and let them pass me on the NS.
I may have let my guard down or been in 'almost home' mode and possibly had my mind elsewhere.
On Monday evening about 3-4 miles from home on the last ride I filled the bike up with fuel. Until I get to the end of my road it's dual carriageway or former dual carriageway that's been painted down to one lane with a cycle lane. It's 40 or 30 limits.
There's a cloverleaf slip road a bit less than a mile from the garage and the road rises and dips again for a bridge over an underpass. There's a Scooter with the big food delivery box on the back coming up the slip road so I move over to the right hand lane.
Once I am past the scooter I start moving over to the nearside lane again. As I am moving left a very loud single, a 125 or 300 motorcycle I'd imagine speeds past on my NS. Seems that was the lead bike of swarm of 8-10 small capacity motorcycles. I just stayed in the outside lane and let them pass me on the NS.
I may have let my guard down or been in 'almost home' mode and possibly had my mind elsewhere.
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