Motorcycle tire info
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The need to travel light is obviously the most important factor to consider when faced with the "what kit?" question.
As the first part of my journey is in North America - the land of plenty, I have decided to depart with what I believe to be the basic necessities and to buy anything extra as and when I need it. One area of equipment I have elected to do without is cooking gear, hoping that a combination of eating out and my propensity for raw food will stand me in good stead. Should this on-the-road gastronomy prove unsatisfactory, I will buy myself a small petrol stove and turn my hand to some field based cuisine. My choice of clothing is basically what I wear on the bike here everyday in the UK with added thermal layers for Alaska and lightweight items for the warmer climes.
On the whole, I am trying to keep my kit simple and avoid too many 'handy' gadgets, in the belief that the less stuff you have, the less there is to go wrong.
[The camping equipment must cope with cold climates] The camping equipment must cope with cold climates Camping Equipment
* Lightweight, one-man tent (Terra Nova 'Solar')
* Three-season sleeping bag (Rab 'Ladakh 600')
* Inflatable sleeping mat (Thermarest)
[All the tools have to fit into this small box!] All the tools have to fit into this small box! Tools
* Sockets: 8,10,12,13,14,17,19,22
* Combination spanners: sizes as above
* Mole grips
* 3/8" drive ratchet
* ¼" drive ratchet
* Extension bars
* Spark plug remover
* Bit holder
* Various bits - flat head, cross head, allen head
* Tyre pressure gauge
* Tyre levers
* Multimeter
* Leatherman tool
Bike Related Items
* Puncture repair kit
* Cable repair kit
* Hand pump (mountain bike type)
* 1 gallon jerry can
* Luggage straps
* Bungee straps
* Cable ties
* Disc lock
* Gaffer tape
* WD40
* Oil
* Grease
* Rags
* Manual
Spares
* Spark plug
* Front and rear brake pads
* Front and rear wheel bearings
* Head and tail light bulbs
* Main fuses
* Clutch lever
* Front brake lever
* Ignition key
* Inner tubes
Clothing
* Leather trousers
* Leather jacket
* Leather gloves
* Thermal inner gloves
* One-piece waterproof suit
* Helmet and goggles
* Thermal long johns and t-shirt
* Scarf
* Lightweight trousers
* T-shirts
* Underwear
* Socks
* Leather boots
* Sandals
* Swimming costume
* Shorts
* Sunglasses
* Balaclava
Personal Kit
* Camera, lenses, film and mini tripod
* Head torch
* Maps
* Plastic map case
* Small calculator
* Notebook
* Diary
* Pens
* Address book
* Reading and guide/phrase books
* Swiss army knife
* Compass
* Watch with alarm
* String
* Sewing kit
* Earplugs
* Rubber bands
* Small padlock
* Length of metal rope
* Matches
* Safety pins
Toiletries
* Travel towel
* Soap
* Shampoo (and conditioner!)
* Hairbrush
* Toothbrush
* Toothpaste
* Mirror
* Universal sink plug
* Lip salve
* Sunblock
* Moisturising lotion
First Aid Kit
* Plasters
* Various dressings
* Various bandages
* Micropore tape
* Tweezers
* Antiseptic cream
* Painkillers
* Re-hydration salts
* Multivitamins
* Insect repellant
* Anti-malarial tablets
* Antihistamine tablets
* Rubber gloves (ooh doctor!)
Documentation
* Passport
* Driving licence
* Vehicle registration document
* International driving permit
* International certificate of motor vehicles
* Travel insurance
* Multiple copies of all the above
* Scanned copies of all the above emailed to myself and friends/family
As the first part of my journey is in North America - the land of plenty, I have decided to depart with what I believe to be the basic necessities and to buy anything extra as and when I need it. One area of equipment I have elected to do without is cooking gear, hoping that a combination of eating out and my propensity for raw food will stand me in good stead. Should this on-the-road gastronomy prove unsatisfactory, I will buy myself a small petrol stove and turn my hand to some field based cuisine. My choice of clothing is basically what I wear on the bike here everyday in the UK with added thermal layers for Alaska and lightweight items for the warmer climes.
On the whole, I am trying to keep my kit simple and avoid too many 'handy' gadgets, in the belief that the less stuff you have, the less there is to go wrong.
[The camping equipment must cope with cold climates] The camping equipment must cope with cold climates Camping Equipment
* Lightweight, one-man tent (Terra Nova 'Solar')
* Three-season sleeping bag (Rab 'Ladakh 600')
* Inflatable sleeping mat (Thermarest)
[All the tools have to fit into this small box!] All the tools have to fit into this small box! Tools
* Sockets: 8,10,12,13,14,17,19,22
* Combination spanners: sizes as above
* Mole grips
* 3/8" drive ratchet
* ¼" drive ratchet
* Extension bars
* Spark plug remover
* Bit holder
* Various bits - flat head, cross head, allen head
* Tyre pressure gauge
* Tyre levers
* Multimeter
* Leatherman tool
Bike Related Items
* Puncture repair kit
* Cable repair kit
* Hand pump (mountain bike type)
* 1 gallon jerry can
* Luggage straps
* Bungee straps
* Cable ties
* Disc lock
* Gaffer tape
* WD40
* Oil
* Grease
* Rags
* Manual
Spares
* Spark plug
* Front and rear brake pads
* Front and rear wheel bearings
* Head and tail light bulbs
* Main fuses
* Clutch lever
* Front brake lever
* Ignition key
* Inner tubes
Clothing
* Leather trousers
* Leather jacket
* Leather gloves
* Thermal inner gloves
* One-piece waterproof suit
* Helmet and goggles
* Thermal long johns and t-shirt
* Scarf
* Lightweight trousers
* T-shirts
* Underwear
* Socks
* Leather boots
* Sandals
* Swimming costume
* Shorts
* Sunglasses
* Balaclava
Personal Kit
* Camera, lenses, film and mini tripod
* Head torch
* Maps
* Plastic map case
* Small calculator
* Notebook
* Diary
* Pens
* Address book
* Reading and guide/phrase books
* Swiss army knife
* Compass
* Watch with alarm
* String
* Sewing kit
* Earplugs
* Rubber bands
* Small padlock
* Length of metal rope
* Matches
* Safety pins
Toiletries
* Travel towel
* Soap
* Shampoo (and conditioner!)
* Hairbrush
* Toothbrush
* Toothpaste
* Mirror
* Universal sink plug
* Lip salve
* Sunblock
* Moisturising lotion
First Aid Kit
* Plasters
* Various dressings
* Various bandages
* Micropore tape
* Tweezers
* Antiseptic cream
* Painkillers
* Re-hydration salts
* Multivitamins
* Insect repellant
* Anti-malarial tablets
* Antihistamine tablets
* Rubber gloves (ooh doctor!)
Documentation
* Passport
* Driving licence
* Vehicle registration document
* International driving permit
* International certificate of motor vehicles
* Travel insurance
* Multiple copies of all the above
* Scanned copies of all the above emailed to myself and friends/family
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Thursday, September 03, 2009
From: John Harrison
Subject: [LDRider] the last 24 hours
To: ldrider@ibdone.org
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009, 10:52 AM
The riders remaining in the event are entering the last 24 hours of the rally.? For most of them, especially the riders trying to get to the top of the standings and the riders that have found themselves struggling to acquire enough points to be a finisher, the last 24 hours will likely be the hardest ride that they have ever experienced.? They will have to dig deep into their energy reserves, their experience, and their souls to find that something that it takes to finish well in this the Iron Butt Rally.?
For those that are out and are not going to be finishers this time, the end of the rally will be difficult in a different sort of way.? Some will have to recover physically, some will have to recover emotionally, and some will have to do both.? But I hope they will rest easy in the knowledge that they gave it their best effort and that they will look forward to giving it another try in the future.???
I am sitting here remembering the last 24 hours of my ride in '01.? The last day of the rally was my 40th birthday.? I could not think of a better birthday present than becoming a finisher of the Iron Butt Rally.? But achieving that was still in serious doubt.? I was coming out of Canada,? about 1500 miles from the finish line in Alabama.? I had a deep cut on my front tire being held together with super glue and my rear tire had no remaining tread and needed to be replaced, both situations were courtesy of the scenic Canadian roads and the famous Alaska Highway.? I was nearly overwhelmed when I realized that I essentially needed to do a BBG on the 11th day of the IBR with trashed tires.? Great.? I had run the numbers on my GPS's and I did not have the time to stop for anything except fuel if I wanted to get back to the finish line on time.? I did not have time to try to find a set of tires.? I did not have time to get them mounted if I could
find them.? But if I could get back to the finish in time, I had enough points for a gold medal finish, so really all I was thinking about was how to make my tires last long enough to get me to the Madison Ramada Inn parking lot.?
As I made the turn south onto I-29, the tail wind turned into a steady cross wind from the west.? I found myself riding with the bike leaned way over into the wind just to maintain a straight line.? I normally hate cross winds, but it occurred to me that not only was I riding on the side of the tire away from the front cut, but I was also leaned over far enough that I was not riding on the worn out center line of the rear tire!? If the cross winds continued and if I stayed on 29 at Fargo and rode south to KC instead of going through Illinois, it would cost me maybe 70 extra miles, but the cross winds from the plains might allow me to ride over half the distance to the finish leaned over, which just might keep me from having to ride on cords, or worse.? I began praying that the cross winds would remain with me for the entire 600 plus mile trip down I-29.? Thankfully, that prayer was answered.? I leaned my K12LT into the cross winds almost the entire
day.? By the time I reached KC, my neck and shoulders were really sore and I was really tired.? But the front tire was holding air and the rear tire was still not showing any cord yet.
The ride from KC to Tennessee that night seemed to last forever.? Even though I did not have enough time, I had to stop a couple of times for a few minutes of rest in order to safely continue.? I won't go in to the depths I sank to, mentally and physically, as the clock ticked down.? But lots of things went through my head.? I thought about the tires as I watched the GPS clock count down my ETA.? How long would they last?? I thought about all the prep I had done for the rally. Was it all for just a DNF? I thought about all the great places I had been, including getting to ride to Alaska for the first time.? What a blessing it had been to get to see all that scenery had been.? I focused on staying alert and feeling for any sign of a tire going soft.? I strained to watch for any road debris that might be waiting to reach up and cut short my quest.? I thought about my family waiting for me at the finish line with my birthday cake.? I thought
about how close I had come to achieving my goals for the rally, but in reality, it did not look like I would make it to the finish in time unless everything fell into place perfectly.
As morning dawned and I approached Nashville, there was an accident that had traffic backed up for miles.? Oh no!? I don't have time for this! I had to find a way around it or I would be time barred.? It took some work to get through it, but soon I found myself south of the Music City with clear sailing.? I would be into the penalty points, but if the tires held, I would finish.? The rally theme song came to mind and I found myself singing 'I can see clearly now, the rain is gone...".? And trust me, the only place I ever need to be singing is inside of a motorcycle helmet at 70 mph.? I found myself double checking to make sure I had the right exit plotted in the GPS, I could not afford to miss it and have to backtrack.? I was both elated and exhausted when I managed to roll into the parking lot of the Ramada with my tires still holding the rims off the pavement and with my time only a little ways into the penalty points.? A bunch of my friends
gathered around me and I remember thinking "don't forget to put the side stand down, don't drop the bike on them".? After getting checked in and scored, I went back to the bike to check the tires.? There was a white strip of cord showing most of the way around the center of the rear tire, with a few threads hanging out.? If I had not had those miserable crosswinds, I don't think I would have made it back.
The baked Alaska that was served by the staff at the finisher's banquet to those of us that went to Alaska was great.? When the points were tallied, I found that I had managed to complete my three goals for the rally: to finish, to get a gold medal, and to get a top 20 placing.? It was the hardest ride I have ever done and the most memorable.? The friends I made during that time remain friends to this day.?
The birthday cake that my wife and boys made for me and brought to the finish line in '01 had a map of the USA on it with a little motorcycle tracking all over the place.? The hugs that came with that cake felt even better than rolling into the Ramada Inn parking lot on worn out tires.? It was a special way to cap off riding my first Iron Butt Rally.
My prayers will be with the '09 riders as they converge on the finish.? I am guessing that some of them may find themselves going through emotions and thoughts similar to what I experienced in the closing hours of the event.? I hope they all make it in safely and achieve the goals that they set for themselves.?
John
IBA#203
Subject: [LDRider] the last 24 hours
To: ldrider@ibdone.org
Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009, 10:52 AM
The riders remaining in the event are entering the last 24 hours of the rally.? For most of them, especially the riders trying to get to the top of the standings and the riders that have found themselves struggling to acquire enough points to be a finisher, the last 24 hours will likely be the hardest ride that they have ever experienced.? They will have to dig deep into their energy reserves, their experience, and their souls to find that something that it takes to finish well in this the Iron Butt Rally.?
For those that are out and are not going to be finishers this time, the end of the rally will be difficult in a different sort of way.? Some will have to recover physically, some will have to recover emotionally, and some will have to do both.? But I hope they will rest easy in the knowledge that they gave it their best effort and that they will look forward to giving it another try in the future.???
I am sitting here remembering the last 24 hours of my ride in '01.? The last day of the rally was my 40th birthday.? I could not think of a better birthday present than becoming a finisher of the Iron Butt Rally.? But achieving that was still in serious doubt.? I was coming out of Canada,? about 1500 miles from the finish line in Alabama.? I had a deep cut on my front tire being held together with super glue and my rear tire had no remaining tread and needed to be replaced, both situations were courtesy of the scenic Canadian roads and the famous Alaska Highway.? I was nearly overwhelmed when I realized that I essentially needed to do a BBG on the 11th day of the IBR with trashed tires.? Great.? I had run the numbers on my GPS's and I did not have the time to stop for anything except fuel if I wanted to get back to the finish line on time.? I did not have time to try to find a set of tires.? I did not have time to get them mounted if I could
find them.? But if I could get back to the finish in time, I had enough points for a gold medal finish, so really all I was thinking about was how to make my tires last long enough to get me to the Madison Ramada Inn parking lot.?
As I made the turn south onto I-29, the tail wind turned into a steady cross wind from the west.? I found myself riding with the bike leaned way over into the wind just to maintain a straight line.? I normally hate cross winds, but it occurred to me that not only was I riding on the side of the tire away from the front cut, but I was also leaned over far enough that I was not riding on the worn out center line of the rear tire!? If the cross winds continued and if I stayed on 29 at Fargo and rode south to KC instead of going through Illinois, it would cost me maybe 70 extra miles, but the cross winds from the plains might allow me to ride over half the distance to the finish leaned over, which just might keep me from having to ride on cords, or worse.? I began praying that the cross winds would remain with me for the entire 600 plus mile trip down I-29.? Thankfully, that prayer was answered.? I leaned my K12LT into the cross winds almost the entire
day.? By the time I reached KC, my neck and shoulders were really sore and I was really tired.? But the front tire was holding air and the rear tire was still not showing any cord yet.
The ride from KC to Tennessee that night seemed to last forever.? Even though I did not have enough time, I had to stop a couple of times for a few minutes of rest in order to safely continue.? I won't go in to the depths I sank to, mentally and physically, as the clock ticked down.? But lots of things went through my head.? I thought about the tires as I watched the GPS clock count down my ETA.? How long would they last?? I thought about all the prep I had done for the rally. Was it all for just a DNF? I thought about all the great places I had been, including getting to ride to Alaska for the first time.? What a blessing it had been to get to see all that scenery had been.? I focused on staying alert and feeling for any sign of a tire going soft.? I strained to watch for any road debris that might be waiting to reach up and cut short my quest.? I thought about my family waiting for me at the finish line with my birthday cake.? I thought
about how close I had come to achieving my goals for the rally, but in reality, it did not look like I would make it to the finish in time unless everything fell into place perfectly.
As morning dawned and I approached Nashville, there was an accident that had traffic backed up for miles.? Oh no!? I don't have time for this! I had to find a way around it or I would be time barred.? It took some work to get through it, but soon I found myself south of the Music City with clear sailing.? I would be into the penalty points, but if the tires held, I would finish.? The rally theme song came to mind and I found myself singing 'I can see clearly now, the rain is gone...".? And trust me, the only place I ever need to be singing is inside of a motorcycle helmet at 70 mph.? I found myself double checking to make sure I had the right exit plotted in the GPS, I could not afford to miss it and have to backtrack.? I was both elated and exhausted when I managed to roll into the parking lot of the Ramada with my tires still holding the rims off the pavement and with my time only a little ways into the penalty points.? A bunch of my friends
gathered around me and I remember thinking "don't forget to put the side stand down, don't drop the bike on them".? After getting checked in and scored, I went back to the bike to check the tires.? There was a white strip of cord showing most of the way around the center of the rear tire, with a few threads hanging out.? If I had not had those miserable crosswinds, I don't think I would have made it back.
The baked Alaska that was served by the staff at the finisher's banquet to those of us that went to Alaska was great.? When the points were tallied, I found that I had managed to complete my three goals for the rally: to finish, to get a gold medal, and to get a top 20 placing.? It was the hardest ride I have ever done and the most memorable.? The friends I made during that time remain friends to this day.?
The birthday cake that my wife and boys made for me and brought to the finish line in '01 had a map of the USA on it with a little motorcycle tracking all over the place.? The hugs that came with that cake felt even better than rolling into the Ramada Inn parking lot on worn out tires.? It was a special way to cap off riding my first Iron Butt Rally.
My prayers will be with the '09 riders as they converge on the finish.? I am guessing that some of them may find themselves going through emotions and thoughts similar to what I experienced in the closing hours of the event.? I hope they all make it in safely and achieve the goals that they set for themselves.?
John
IBA#203
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
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