Im going on a long bike trip, any tips on Luggage carrying/Boredom/Clothing ( + more that would help )?

Question

Im going on a long bike trip ( 600 miles ) unfortunatly im on a 50cc Enduro ( i cant get any bigger cause im 16 so dont say "get a bigger engine !! )

does anyone have any tips on bike trips ( such as clothing/boredom/Luggage carrying and anything else you think would be useful

Thanks

Answer 1

I am selling a BRAND NEW full dresser bag (Kouryakyn) part #4140.

Complete with rain cover. Retails for $199.00.  Will entertain any reasonable offer. Only opened so I could see the contents. Left in my storage by a Former Friend

Answer 2

You gotta be kidding.  You could almost go faster and carry more on a 10 speed...  There's no other way you can do this?

OK...  first, check the capacity of the bike.  I'll bet that it's not much over 200 lbs.  Subtract your weight from that, and you'll have an idea of how much you can carry.  You might be able to go a bit over that, but don't try to pack 400 lbs onto the bike, or you'll wobble like a drunken hippo.

I'll assume that this will take maybe 3-4 days.  You can't carry much, so I would put only the bare minimums in a backpack - a couple of changes each of socks and underwear and maybe a sweater and rain poncho.  Unless you have some way to send stuff ahead and pick it up on the trip, this will have to do.  Do you need to carry camping gear?  If so - pack REALLY light - like a backpacking tent, a lightweight sleeping bag, and a ground tarp.  Any more and you're probably overloaded.  If you're planning to cook your meals on the road, you have to figure in utensils, pans, and a stove and food, too.  I bet you're overloaded by now.

You sure you have to do this on this bike?

For entertainment, I'd pack an ipod.  Go to the library and check out a couple of books on CD, and load them to the ipod.  Just be sure that the earpieces don't interfere with the helmet, or with you hearing traffic noises, etc.

And it's still not too late to think about riding the dog...  (IE - go with Greyhound)

Plan each leg of the trip carefully.  What's the range of the bike on one tank of fuel?  My 175 would only do about 75 miles.  You will need to know that you don't have any legs where you won't be able to get fuel.  Don't count on the reserve to save you - that's for emergencies, like if a station you planned on was closed.  Carry some granola bars with you, too.  You may need the energy to push the bike the last few miles to a gas station.

Wow - to be 16 again....  I hope the bike is in good shape!  Will you carry spare parts, tools, etc?  Maybe a spare plug, tire patch kit, etc?