Its a very subjective thing & I really don't think any seasoned bike tour'er can give you a very good answer. But below are the suggestions from Experienced.
In general First 3 hours you will all be pumped up, but fatigue gets you after that. So your break intervals starts, and you need to either break sufficiently or you will bed all tired. Then there is odd period of day you wish you won't count to ride in bike. Typically between 1:30~4:30 PM, with heat/sun light its difficult to concentrate. This is not the same with cars where you have comfort of A/C, nice support to back and no wind blast on our body.
Age and fitness definitely have a bearing on how long you can stay in the saddle. Frequent long trips can also improve endurance. Extended sprints at speeds in excess of 80 KMH can be tiring as well due to the wind blast. Some have back or butt problems from longer rides, some can get headaches from dehydration, some can have wrist pain from arthritis etc.
Factors Effect:
Quality of road - In India unless you are travelling in NH, road conditions wont suit for cruising and not to forget uninvited guests cropping up in the middle of the road from nowhere. Naturally these things will prompt you to travel in snail`s pace.
Traffic Condition - Whether you are riding a motorcycle or driving a car, this is one of most important factor which will affect your driving. With no lane discipline and vehicles ripping away from both sides, you will become defensive and you will always be in a watch out situation.
Driver Fatigue - Often after riding some distance you will be prone to fatigue especially when you are driving through a boring highway. Driving fast, keeping your eye of the road and lack of concentration are the signs of it. Once you are attacked with this bug then its gone. You have to stop, walk out for some distance, just lie around your bike. Obviously it will eat up good amount of your time.
Mental peace - It is important to have a peace of mind when riding. With no sort of urgency, you will always enjoy the ride.
Planning is matters:
Make sure all checklist signed before the ride day. Check list like Bike service, Air, Oil, First Aid Kit, Spare Clutch cables, Tool kit, Luggage Packing, Trip/Route preparation, Riding gear, Food like dry nuts/energy drinks/water, Camera/phone charging and memory cards, goggles/Spare wiser.
Make sure bulk of the driving is early in the morning and in the evenings. Makes for a much enjoyable ride, and you can spend rest of the time at the places of visit. Night drives are strongly discouraged. take enough rest at the end of everyday.
If he is new to touring, let him first set a conservative trip of 150-250 kms and then depending on how it goes, let him increase his time on the saddle or on the ground.
Use a magnetic tank bag/saddle bag and a very light weight small back pack with your essential things. A very light weight back pack on your back is really good,it gives you a feeling of comfort if it were a cold winter night During night journeys.
Ride wisely :
- You can travel many miles in first 3 hours (3 is notional numbers, he must find what is the duration he can stretch without getting bored)
- Subsequent each hour one must plan at least 10 min break. If you don't rest, fatigue gets you. Invariantly your driving suffer, you make rash judgment.
- Combine break period with site visits!
- Try not to plan drive immediately after lunch. Fatigue gets you faster.
- Plan for sufficient time for sleep. If once body doesn't gets required amount of sleep, you won't go far!
- If trip is of more than week or so, keep gap of half day for unwanted things like bike trouble, puncture etc.
- Don't cruise more than ~90 KMH, otherwise wind blast makes you strain fast.
Type of ride :
When it comes to bike touring, each person has his own set of requirements. Some like touring merely to ride & ride & ride the whole day (not necessarily fast) taking in the scenery on the move, whereas some others are more keen on dragging their footpegs, while some others just love to ride a lil and then explore the places on foot etc and get back on the bike. Others just want to shoot pics all thru.
ONE DAY TRIP
1) If the trip is for sight seeing, then don't do more than 350km/day, this will keep fatigue low and allow him more time for local sight seeing.
2) If the trip is for sight seeing and riding, then don't do more than 450km/day, this will keep your energy levels stay for riding and sight seeing. (sight seeing should be in the middle of journey)
3) If the trip is for covering distance, then don't do more than 8 to 10 hrs a day, you can cover a distance of 550 to 700 KM on highways with hourly 10 mins gap.
4) On a speed run, 700+ km can be sustained - but trust me this will slap a rider physically and it's not easy on the bike either. Not to mention that it won't be possible to cover 700km+ in 8-10 hours without seriously compromising on safety.
MORE THAN ONE DAY TRIP
1) If the trip is for sight seeing, then don't do more than 250km/day, this will keep body fit for next day and allows you walk/trek mountains.
2) If the trip is for sight seeing and riding, then don't do more than 350km/day, this will keep your energy levels stay each day for riding and sight seeing .
3) If the trip is for covering distance, then don't do more than 450km/day. can be sustained but only for 3-4 days at the most.
4) On a speed run, 500+km can be sustained for 2 days at the most - but trust me this will slap a rider physically.
Safety first:
Riding gear is mandatory. Make sure all the riders including pillions are wearing helmets!
Avoid riding in the night unless the circumstances don't leave you any choice.
putting strict timings to reach destinations is bad, because without a break your butt may be giving a burning sensation by the time you do 600+ kilometers. So, you must have relaxed timings.
Final Quote:
It is important for you to enjoy the ride than covering a distance. If you really enjoy then I am sure you can cruise whatever distance you can.
ITS NOT ABOUT HOW YOU RIDE, ITS ABOUT HOW YOUR MIND RIDING YOU!
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