Great ride on Sunday. Let me say, finding a riding buddy here that also likes route planning, how much better could it get! This time he had his GoPro and was recording when I had a little wipeout in the mud but providence would have it that he caught a leaf right when it happened and so any evidence is lost! I mean that’s like me not having wiped out at all, right?
My trip to Alaska... Someday 😂🏍️
For several years now, I’ve had this one idea burned into my mind: riding a motorcycle across the US with the ultimate goal of reaching Alaska.
When I turned 40 back in 2020, I decided I was done saying, "Someday I'll do it." So, I started saving up and putting some serious miles on the bike here in Puerto Rico. I rode every type of road imaginable, getting my body used to spending long, back-breaking hours in the saddle.
And when I say miles, I mean miles. I got to the point where I could pull off a 500-mile day. For those who know Puerto Rico, that’s like crossing the entire island back and forth a little over two times. 😂
Once I finally hit my savings goal, I started putting the project together.
What bike should I get?
Where should I start?
Where am I going to sleep?
How long will it take?
The original plan was to fly out to New Jersey, where my mom was living at the time. I’d buy the bike there, keep it at her place, and launch the trip from NJ. During a visit there, I even checked off all the boring but crucial adult stuff: paperwork, insurance, and everything else you need so your grand adventure doesn't get cut short by a forgotten document. At that point, all I needed to do was pick a date.
Then life said: "Hold my beer."
My daughter started a competitive sports journey. In just ten short months, she made the National Team and qualified for both the Pan American Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games. And just like that, the game changed. Because when your kid gets the chance to represent their country, as a dad, you don't hesitate: "Let’s go. I’m all in."
Meanwhile, my bank account was like: "Well... I’m out." 😂
During her first major international tournament, a massive chunk of my Alaska savings vanished. And I don't mean it went to waste. It went into flights, hotels, gear, registration fees, food, and all those expenses that suddenly skyrocket when your kid plays at an elite level. But hey, that's what being a parent is about. Money can be saved again. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for your kids don't wait around.
So, the Alaska project went on the back burner.
By the time I finally decided to dust off the plan, the budget I spent years building was gone. And just to make things more interesting, my mom moved out of New Jersey and back to Puerto Rico. Yep... Mom is back on the island. So, what was I supposed to do with a bike waiting for me in NJ? 😂 Another change of plans.
And then, there’s the little issue of my back. My spine in 2020 is definitely not the same spine I have today. 2020-me could ride 500 miles and then ask what was for dinner. Current-me hits 200 miles and goes: "Are we absolutely sure we need to keep going?"
So right now, I'm sitting down and completely rethinking the whole strategy. This time around, I'm looking at a cheap used bike. Moto-camping. Less gear. Minimalist packing. A budget phone that does the job without costing as much as the motorcycle. And most importantly, a much more realistic budget. I’ve finally realized that I don't need the perfect trip. I just need to make the trip happen.
The goal remains exactly the same: get to Alaska on two wheels. What changed is the path to get there.
And there is still one more stop before I know exactly what's going to happen. My daughter has another commitment with the National Team this September in Houston, Texas. So first... Houston.
After Houston, I'll see how much money is left, how my back holds up, and what remains of the original plan. Because at this rate, after all these years of saving for a motorcycle, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up doing the whole trip on a bicycle. 😂
But hey... Alaska isn't going anywhere. And as long as the itch is still there, the dream stays alive. Maybe it won't be this year. Maybe it won't be on the bike I originally envisioned. Maybe I'll have to sleep in a tent, eat whatever I can find, and wake up the next morning with my lower back calling a family meeting to protest. But someday, I'm pulling out of that driveway. And when I finally do, I hope I can look back and say: "Finally... we are on our way to Alaska."
So, I have a question for the guys here who are 40 or older:
What would you do?
Would you say: "Stay in Puerto Rico. Take care of your family. Be responsible. You have nothing to prove."? (If that's your take, honestly, I think it's a smart choice).
Or would you say: "You’ve taken care of your responsibilities. Your family is good. Now go. Ride to Alaska."? (If that's your take, I think it's a smart choice too).
Maybe that’s what getting older is actually about: realizing that sometimes there is no wrong answer. There’s only the answer that allows you to protect the people you love, while still being able to look back in a few years and say: "I'm damn glad I did it."
Riders over 40... What’s your move?
En español (original)
Mi viaje a Alaska... Algún día 😂🏍️
Durante varios años, he tenido una idea grabada en mi cabeza: conducir una motocicleta por los Estados Unidos con el objetivo de llegar a Alaska.
Cuando cumplí 40 años, en 2020, decidí que no quería seguir diciendo: "Algún día lo voy a hacer". Así que empecé a ahorrar dinero y a poner muchas más millas en la moto aquí en Puerto Rico, conduciendo en todo tipo de carreteras y acostumbrándome a pasar largas horas en el sillín.
Y cuando digo millas, me refiero a millas. Llegué al punto en el que podía conducir alrededor de 500 millas en un solo día. Para aquellos que conocen Puerto Rico, eso es como cruzar la isla un poco más de dos veces. 😂
Una vez que finalmente ahorré la cantidad de dinero que había planeado para el viaje, comenzó a tomar forma el proyecto:
¿Qué motocicleta iba a usar?
¿Por dónde iba a empezar?
¿Dónde iba a dormir?
¿Cuánto tiempo podría durar el viaje?
El plan original era empezar en Nueva Jersey, donde vivía mi madre. Compraría la motocicleta allá, la mantendría allí y comenzaría el viaje desde Nueva Jersey. Durante una visita, aproveché para revisar todas las cosas aburridas pero importantes: papeleo, seguro y todo lo demás que necesitas cuando no quieres que tu gran aventura termine debido a algún documento olvidado. En ese momento, prácticamente todo lo que necesitaba hacer era elegir una fecha.
Entonces la vida dijo: "Espera un minuto".
Mi hija comenzó un viaje deportivo que, en solo diez meses, la llevó a formar parte del equipo nacional y a clasificarse para los Juegos Panamericanos y los Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe. Y así, el juego cambió. Porque cuando tu hijo tiene la oportunidad de representar a su país, como padre dices: "Vamos. Estoy totalmente dentro".
Y mi dinero decía: "Bueno... estoy fuera". 😂
En la primera gran competencia, una gran parte de mis ahorros desapareció. Y no me refiero a que se desperdiciara. Se convirtió en viajes, hoteles, equipos, tasas de inscripción, comida y todas esas cosas que descubres que de repente cuestan mucho más cuando tu hijo representa a su país. Pero eso es parte de ser padre. El dinero se puede ahorrar de nuevo; las oportunidades para tus hijos no siempre se repiten dos veces.
Así que mi proyecto de Alaska se detuvo.
Cuando finalmente decidí traerlo de vuelta, el presupuesto que había construido a lo largo de los años ya no estaba allí. Y, solo para hacer las cosas más interesantes, mi madre se mudó de Nueva Jersey de vuelta a Puerto Rico. Bueno... Mamá está ahora en la isla de nuevo. Entonces, ¿qué se suponía que debía hacer con una motocicleta en Nueva Jersey esperándome? 😂 Otro cambio de planes.
Y luego está el pequeño problema de mi espalda. Mi espalda en 2020 no es la misma que tengo hoy. Esa espalda estaba dispuesta a conducir 500 millas y luego preguntar qué había para cenar. La versión actual podría llegar a 200 millas y decir: "¿Estás seguro de que tenemos que seguir adelante?".
Así que ahora me estoy sentando y repensando todo el asunto. Esta vez, estoy mirando una motocicleta usada. Acampar. Menos ropa. Menos cosas. Un teléfono móvil que hace su trabajo sin costar tanto como la motocicleta. Y, lo más importante, un presupuesto mucho más realista. Porque finalmente me he dado cuenta de que no necesito el viaje perfecto. Solo necesito hacer que el viaje suceda.
El objetivo sigue siendo el mismo: llegar a Alaska en una motocicleta. Lo que ha cambiado es el camino para llegar allí.
Y todavía hay una pequeña parada más antes de que sepa exactamente lo que va a pasar. Mi hija tiene otro compromiso con el equipo nacional en septiembre, en Houston, Texas. Así que primero... Houston.
Después de Houston, veré cuánto dinero queda, cómo se siente mi espalda y qué queda del plan original. Porque a estas alturas, después de todos estos años de ahorrar para una motocicleta, no me sorprendería que terminara haciendo todo el viaje en bicicleta. 😂
Pero oye... Alaska sigue ahí. Y mientras todavía quiera llegar allí, el viaje sigue vivo. Tal vez no sea este año. Tal vez no sea en la motocicleta que imaginé originalmente. Tal vez tenga que dormir en una tienda de campaña, comer lo que pueda encontrar y despertarme a la mañana siguiente con la espalda pidiendo una reunión familiar. Pero algún día, me voy a ir. Y cuando finalmente lo haga, espero poder mirar hacia atrás y decir: "Finalmente... estamos de camino a Alaska".
Así que tengo una pregunta para los hombres (y moteros) de aquí que tienen 40 años o más:
¿Qué harías tú?
¿Dirías: "Quédate en Puerto Rico. Cuida de tu familia. Sé responsable. No tienes nada que demostrar"? (Si esa es tu respuesta, honestamente creo que es una decisión inteligente).
O dirías: "Te has ocupado de tus responsabilidades. Tu familia está bien. Ahora vete. Viaja a Alaska"? (Si esa es tu respuesta, creo que también es una decisión inteligente).
Tal vez de eso se trata realmente envejecer: dándome cuenta de que a veces no hay una respuesta incorrecta. Solo existe la respuesta que te permite cuidar de las personas que amas y seguir siendo capaz de decir, dentro de unos años: "Me alegro de haberlo hecho".
Chicos mayores de 40... ¿Qué harían?
Having fun playing tag games on Adventure Rider in the southeastern US regional forum which has numerous threads.
Come join in the fun hunting them down.
I know this is somewhat of a controversial topic, but I am on a mission to find the best option for helmet friendly ear buds. I already use a pair of Sony Linkbuds, which work well for the most part, but they press into my ear on long rides. Also, albeit a rare occurrence, they can fall into the ear hole of the helmet. It’s inconvenient, but not the end of the world.
For about a year now, I have been looking into the Shokz bone conducting headphones, and finally dropped the $195 after tax to try them out. I also work in a pretty loud environment, so buds or PPE are always in my ears. With my PPE plugs in, and the volume turned all the way up, I could barely hear the Shokz. They worked pretty okay on the bike, but they didn’t feel comfortable unless the helmet was sitting a certain way. I ended up chalking it up as a loss for Shokz, and returned them.
Looking for a cheaper alternative, I found Plugfones. They are essentially PPE plugs with a corded/bluetooth headphone system stitched inside. I almost ordered them from online, but ended up spending an extra $10-$15 ($90 total) to just pick them up at my local Menards. Menards should have been a giant red flag as an audiophile, but I was willing to try them out. They ended up being the most tinny sounding pieces of shit I have ever put in my ears. I immediately packed them up, and am returning them to Fucktards.
I know the take on just wearing earplugs, and NOT using audio plugs. I get the argument. I know it isn’t 100% safe, but it’s how I enjoy riding. It’s never caused me to be in an accident. I would actually say that it forces me to be MORE aware of my surroundings. If deaf people can ride, I can jam to some Violent Femmes and the like at a reasonable volume while I make the 3 hour ride to visit my mom. I am also not interested in the Cardo speaker setups. I’ve read nothing but bad things about the audio quality in those things. Not looking to argue, just looking for input.
TLDR Shokz are too quiet, Plugfones are absolute garbage, and the Sony Linkbuds are too bulky. Just looking for good quality audio with a helmet/ear friendly design. Also not looking for any in-helmet solutions either. Anyone have any recommendations? Thanks for your time in reading this behemoth of a bitch post. Happy riding
Heavy rain, cold winds, sudden sunshine—and then the mountains rising in front of you. 🏔️
The Himalayan 450 doesn’t just take you places; it takes you through the elements. From chasing clouds to chasing mountain views, every turn makes the journey worth it.
Ride through the weather. Ride into the wild. 🏍️🏔️
Hey guys curious if the mainland is as dangerous as they say.... Baja is going to add days of riding since I will be leaving from Pheonix area. I'd prefer to do the mainland but here in Canada all the advisories say avoid all unnecessary travel?
However on iOverlander there seems to be alot of people who have travelled that way.
Any insight is welcomed.
Doing a 1,200km (750 miles) in 4 days, trying to do as much dirt/gravel/forest as we can find along the road. This time not sleeping outdoors like we used to do in Spain, Sweden, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark.
Because due to the weather, sleeping in a tent is impossible for me. So no camping gear makes the 50cc's a lot lighter.
Top speed is 50kph (30mph); going steep uphill is 15kph (9mph) or pushing.
An early morning escape on the Himalayan 450, chasing cool air, empty roads, and the first light through the Tamhini Ghats. 🏍️🌄
Had a blast running parts of the CO BDR, then up through the gorgeous Dolores River canyon! This was about 2wks ago
So Im planning my first multi day tour and realised that my city commute helmet probably isn't cutting it for 8+ hours riding days. What is the actual difference touring riders should look for? Is it like mostly ventilation and weight or are there any specific features (pinlock compatibility, sun visors, wider field of view etc) that made the biggest difference for you once you started doing some real distance?
Normally, I'm pretty fond of just running google maps. However, when planning a motorcycle trip, I often want to discover routes between two (distant) places. On Google Maps, as you zoom out, minor roads vanish. This is a huge problem, when it's the minor roads I'm interested in.
I'm looking for a mapping app that supports showing minor roads at significant zoom, and ideally has at least basic route planning features. I have no problem making a one time payment for said app, but I'm absolutely not interested in a subscription for an app I'm going to use once or twice a year.
Any suggestions?
Pre-answers/other:
Seemingly ceaseless rains in July and the beginning of August means every ride is a little wetter than normal. But who doesn’t like splashing in puddles?
I’ve just finished Chapter One of a three-day motorcycle journey I called The Spine of England.
Starting at Jubilee Tower in the Forest of Bowland, I rode some of northern England’s best roads, stopped at the Great Stone of Fourstones, visited Ribblehead Viaduct, then finished the day in Hawes before crossing Buttertubs Pass.
The aim wasn’t to make a “top 10 roads” video, but to capture what it’s actually feels like to spend a few days wandering through these places on an adventure bike—the scenery, the history and the quiet moments in between.
I’d be interested to hear from anyone who’s ridden this route. Are there any hidden roads or stops around Bowland or the Yorkshire Dales that you’d add for next time?
If you’d like to see the ride, here’s the video:
https://youtu.be/Fp3G60AeKLg?is=pE429AiBrJ7K8w6C
Ride safe.