Nervous about Trip in late Oct

[uncutshirt]

Hi,

I am a new member and just start to rifde again after about 10 years. I have taken long trips before but I was younger and less to live for...

can anyone give me a sense if it is wise to drive from Chicago to Va during the last week of October. Anything more to watch for besides rain?

- Curt

[Hodag]

rutting deer

[username]

welcome!

i'd do the ride. there's always a chance of a freak snow storm, but it'll melt away in a day. otherwise you should have gorgeous fall weather and maybe even pretty leaves to look at on the trees.

youve got good cold-weather riding gear and good rain gear? your bike is serviced properly? tired have enough tread? wooooooo, hit the road!

BTW, want to have a different username than your member number? we can help you get that sorted out. PM me and i'll 'splain.

[flash412]

Anything more to watch for besides rain?Volvos, SUVs, LEOs and snow.

[BuckeyeClark]

Do you have to travel the Ryan expressway? I went through there in early June and it was an absolute nightmare!!! I would go around at all costs. Stop and go traffic for about 1 3/4 hours.

[SheRidesABeemer]

Stop by the dealer, drop $350 on electric gear. Be warm, be happy. Ride on!

[wmubrown]

Do you have to travel the Ryan expressway? I went through there in early June and it was an absolute nightmare!!! I would go around at all costs. Stop and go traffic for about 1 3/4 hours.

I rode through there last weekend, 3 lanes open the whole way to where the skyway branched off (which I took). There is construction still, and traffic will slow things down a bit, but I never stopped at least. This was Sunday afternoon. On the other hand, get an iPass and take 294. Normally you will sail along. I took that route Thursday heading north - I moved along briskly, the southbound lanes were completely backed up, the whole length of 294. I have no idea why, other than typical rush-hour traffic I guess (it was 6 PM).

[alien_hitchhiker]

I second Gail's advice - electrics. I have learned the hard way to always toss in my electric vest when traveling this time of year. Just like rain gear, I don't always use it but it has saved my butt many times over.

That vest might be the best "accessory" I own. Well, after the purple anodized Maltese Cross rearview mirror made from 45 caliber shell casings.

[knary]

What are you nervous about?

[screwtop]

I'd go for it if I were you. I would echo the helpful hints posted by other forum members thus far.

I always fret a bit myself about long trips, especially the few days preceeding departure, but as soon as I get on the bike my worries seem to vanish. One thing that I did invest in this past spring was the comprehensive roadside assistance program through Good Sam RV organization. That has also given me some extra peace of mind.

Have a safe, enjoyable trip.

ST

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Hi,

I am a new member and just start to rifde again after about 10 years. I have taken long trips before but I was younger and less to live for...

can anyone give me a sense if it is wise to drive from Chicago to Va during the last week of October. Anything more to watch for besides rain?

- Curt


Try to avoid the Dan Ryan...travel through early or late...lol

[uncutshirt]

Thanks for all of the feedback.

I think that I will go. Its an opportunity. Plus, I can expense the food and hotel. How can I pass up this ride?

My wife was nervous too and after she saw everyone's responses she feels much better. Personally, my nerves were from memories of going from Las Vegas to Chicago with $50 and a 1983 Honda Sabre. Could have planned it better... :)

As far as Chicago traffic goes - Friday AM communtes are better than the rest of the week. The Ryan is a nightmare but I'll coast down 294. BTW on 294S there are some nasty steel posts in the left lane around the Indiana state line that nearly sent me for a loop. Hopefully, they yanked those out since June.

I am struggling with the cold weather gear. Its a must but which? I am leaning toward: a Kili jacket and Firstgear pants; Olympia AST combo; Teknic Monsoon combo. I agree on the electric but I want to keep the cost down. New bike - new summer gear - new winter gear - its like putting my son through college.

[aaaaaa]

For me heated gear is a must. At gerbings website they have a chart showing mph vs windchill. Try it yourself. Roll down the car windows when it's 45 degrees outside. Heated socks, gloves, and jacket liner are my minimum to be comfortable when it's in the 30's. And it probably will be. Have a nice ride.
robert

[John Brase]

I'm going to be a bit of a contrarian here. I think electrics are a luxury, not a necessity. It depends somewhat on the bike - naked? Fully faired? In my experience, if you can keep your head and neck, hands and feet warm the body will follow. On my RS my head and hands are in the airstream so I need to pay particular attention to those things. In temps from the high 30's up I wear a baliclava under my helmet, primarily to keep the wind off my neck. I admit to using electric gloves (Gerbings) but if my hands were out of the airstream good non-electric ones would suffice. (I considered adding GS handguards but found the gloves on sale instead.) For the rest of my body I just layer up - long underwear, long sleeve tee shirt, good fleece sweat shirt and a good jacket with liner (mine is First Gear). Legs? Long underwear, jeans, good overpants.

And eat! Don't ride hungry. Food = calories and calories = heat.

John

[aaaaaa]

You're right. There are many ways to keep warm. But it's like you said. It's exposure dependent. How many hours are you going to be out? There's also a convience/comfort factor. The electrics require less layering and don't provide much insulation when turned off. I find them more comfortable than bulk when at the restarunt or restroom. I was very reluctant to pay the price for them initally. That being said, I did get drenched in the rain one day with a mesh jacket (unlined) and the gerbings liner underneath. Soaked to the bone but warm as toast. For me they replace 2-3 layers of bulk. I have to plug them in instead of dealing with 2-3 more zippers.
robert

[knary]

Ask around and see if you can borrow a piece of electric gear for this trip. There are lots of members in the Chicago area.

[kbasa]

In my experience, if you can keep your head and neck, hands and feet warm the body will follow. Actually, books I've read about hypothermia say it's the other way around. If the body senses that your body's core is getting cold, it starts pulling bloodflow in from your extremeties to keep your organs warm. This is why you get frostbite on your fingers and toes, but not on your chest.

By adding heat to the riding equation, you keep your core warm, which helps keep your hands, feet and head warmer.

In truly cold weather, insulation doesn't do anything but slow the rate at which your body sheds heat. By putting heat back into your body, you can ride much longer without being chilled.

FWIW, when I was a kid I would head out on a cold, clear winter day for a ride. A couple times, I got a ways down the road and couldn't remember where I was going. Being cold will lead to confusion and muddled thoughts.

Wikipedia has some interesting information about hypothermia here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothermia) I hope folks find it useful! :buds

[knary]

When the temps drop below 60ºF, I ride with an electric vest. I may not turn it on, but I'm very glad when I do. It beats riding with layers upon layers of clothing and having to constantly remove or add layers as the weather changes (or elevation changes).

[BradfordBenn]

I treat heat management the same way I treat water and hydrating when I ride. I want to keep my heat up when riding in the cold, by the time I am chilled it means I have already started to get cold and it is going to take more effort to get warm.

However riding to VA in October can be done, but warm clothes are a must the wind will just suck the heat out of you.

[Newstar]

I finally took the plunge and ordered my Gerbings for a trip this weekend. We are heading to Southern West Virginia for a long weekend and naturally, this is when a cold front moves in! I expect the temp to be in the low 40's when we leave Friday morning.

My 650GS provides very little wind protection and I hate bundling up like the Michelin Man!

Tracy

[Oznay]

Well,woke up to an inch of that white stuff coverin'everything this mornin'!! :cry