First rally advise

[Dirk Digler]

Hi everyone,

Beginning of March I’m going to my first rally with 2 friends in Kuruman from Johannesburg. We will use a bakkie and trailer to load our bikes, clothes and tent.

I was thinking of riding my bike all the way instead of loading it on the trailer. The longest distance I have ridden was a return trip from Port Elizabeth to Cape St Francis Bay. I have been riding for almost a year and have been doing breakfast runs to Harties for practice.

I am uncertain if I should ride to Kuruman because of the following reasons:

I’m a new rider
Lack of long distance riding experience
Unfamiliar with the road condition and route to Kuruman

All advice from forum members will be appreciated.

[-Az-]

Lack of long distance riding experience

If you don't start riding long distance, you'll never get experience

Unfamiliar with the road condition and route to Kuruman

Maybe someone here knows the roads but you could google maps it to get started.

Is the bakkie and trailer still going even if you ride? If it is then plan to leave earlier than them so if you need to give up they can meet you on the road and load you up.

Leave early, stop often.

Start building you "bike fitness" now, every weekend do an extra 50km

Make sure you are comfortable, I had a pair of gloves that loved for commuting but on trips longer than a few hours, the seams hurt in the fingers. Simple stuff can make a trip crappy.

Google long distance tips, there are hundreds of sites and the things you need to learn will jump out at you.

[Dirk Digler]

[QUOTE=-Az-;1174721]If you don't start riding long distance, you'll never get experience


Maybe someone here knows the roads but you could google maps it to get started.

Is the bakkie and trailer still going even if you ride? If it is then plan to leave earlier than them so if you need to give up they can meet you on the road and load you up.

Leave early, stop often.

Start building you "bike fitness" now, every weekend do an extra 50km

Make sure you are comfortable, I had a pair of gloves that loved for commuting but on trips longer than a few hours, the seams hurt in the fingers. Simple stuff can make a trip crappy.

Google long distance tips, there are hundreds of sites and the things you need to learn will jump out


The bakkie and trailer will follow. The are 3 of us. One of my friends is going to drive, the other is going to ride but he is way more experienced. He has ridden the route the last 3 years.

Thanks for the tips Az

[colyvon]

Hi Dirk, not sure how far you would be travelling to the rally, but each trip begins with the first km. I've done the trip from Capetown to Centurion and to Johannesburg in one day a few times, just rest a bit now and then, and stay hydrated. Don't ride faster than the road surface and visibility dictates, and you should be fine.

[Dirk Digler]

Hi Colyvon, the trip is from Johannesburg to Kuruman 530KM. How long had you been riding before you did the Cape Town to Johannesburg trip?

[THE MOOSE]

Unless the bike is damaged, it does not belong on a trailer. Fact.

As Az said, if you don't do it, when will you? 530km is not far. The roads are ok in general, expect potholes, slow down from 10km before towns and 10km after for the likelihood of speed trapping. Stop once for leg stretching. Or maybe two times. Have fun, ride safe.

[colyvon]

Hi Colyvon, the trip is from Johannesburg to Kuruman 530KM. How long had you been riding before you did the Cape Town to Johannesburg trip?

Fair enough, I've been riding since 1981, but never more than a 60-70km ride, mostly commuting to work and back. I got involved with the Think Bike marshals in around 2011 and it was soon after that that I did a two day trip to CT and two days back after a marshal stint. Did the first one day trip back in around 2013 and have done two more since. Just for interests sake, I'm 61 and did one of the one day trips back last year, a few months after suffering a massive heart attack. Call me nuts, but the road calls, I'd do it again this year, but I used all my leave and sick leave having multiple bypass surgery in October last year.
Whatever you decide, do it within your comfort zone.

[WBro]

Rule #1: Get permission.
Rule #2: See Rule #1

[Road Rage]

We will use a bakkie and trailer to load our bikes, clothes and tent.

Erm…..don't do that...its not cool

[AMZ]

Erm…..don't do that...its not cool

Ye olde Roade Rage is seldomly right, but in the case he is. 100%. Ride the bike. 500 odd k's is nothing.

[Ashley]

Ye olde Roade Rage is seldomly right, but in the case he is. 100%. Ride the bike. 500 odd k's is nothing.

Have to agree 100%. Have done much longer 1 day trips on a CBX250 Twister when I was till riding mine.