When to stop?

[Pepsie]

I'm planning to ride to Italy next Friday or at least start riding there. I won't put myself in danger of course.

My previous longest trip has been 750 miles in one day, I still felt pretty okay after that but, I only had 3 hours sleep that time and it was in December in storming raind & wind. Hoping it's better this time around.

This will be about 1000 miles or so, I don't really want to plan an exact stop, but I will stop if I get tired of course.

How have you done this in your recent trips if you had to do a long distance?

 

[EVskiy]

Beggars a question.
Why is there a need for a 1000 miles in one day, if I understood this correctly?

If you are using French motorway network to get there. Then I can see myself doing maybe 500-600miles (800-1000km) in a day and even then, it would be quite knackering, purely because you have to force yourself to focus on the road ahead and your surroundings and more importantly, stay awake.
Remember, 500 miles is equivalent of over 7 hours solid riding without stopping. And stopping you will need and likely want, for fuel, a wee, a coffee or another beverage, lunch, leg stretch, a pleasant view….
Surely you are going on a holiday and not an iron but challenge to win feckall?

The moment I would get anywhere near the mountains, they be calling me and I’d be peeling off the motorways without a slightest of hesitation. But then that is just me and how I prefer to travel on a motorcycle. Then again, I wouldn’t be choosing a motorway to ride, whilst on my holidays.

 

[Pepsie]

Beggars a question.
Why is there a need for a 1000 miles in one day, if I understood this correctly?

If you are using French motorway network to get there. Then I can see myself doing maybe 500-600miles (800-1000km) in a day and even then, it would be quite knackering, purely because you have to force yourself to focus on the road ahead and your surroundings and more importantly, stay awake.
Remember, 500 miles is equivalent of over 7 hours solid riding without stopping. And stopping you will need and likely want, for fuel, a wee, a coffee or another beverage, lunch, leg stretch, a pleasant view….
Surely you are going on a holiday and not an iron but challenge to win feckall?

The moment I would get anywhere near the mountains, they be calling me and I’d be peeling off the motorways without a slightest of hesitation. But then that is just me and how I prefer to travel on a motorcycle. Then again, I wouldn’t be choosing a motorway to ride, whilst on my holidays.

It's not needed per se & as mentioned I will stop if I get any whiff of being too tired, but it's not a motorcycle holiday, it's a regular holiday where my family is residing currently - just my preferred mode of transport. I am unable to deal with flying unless, I have no other choice. Motorcycle is also the only vehicle I have.

 

[DJ123]

Why the need to do such a long distance in one day? You'll roll on into burn out the next day, with not enough rest hours to sleep, recover, eat etc.

Even if sitting on the Motorway, set yourself a base line of finding a hotel by 4pm (regardless of miles).

My usual first day into Europe is 500 miles from home to North Germany (Usual around Frankfurt/Cologne). I can leave home at 3am and can be there by 2pm local time. Lots of rest until the next day and jumping on the twisty roads.

 

[Flintlock]

I would not get hung up on a target milage looks like you have nowhere booked for 1st night?
If so, start as early as possible, to allow you more daylight to cover distance. See where you are around late afternoon, and make your 1st overnight booking at a suitable distance down the road.

 

[Pepsie]

Why the need to do such a long distance in one day? You'll roll on into burn out the next day, with not enough rest hours to sleep, recover, eat etc.

Even if sitting on the Motorway, set yourself a base line of finding a hotel by 4pm (regardless of miles).

My usual first day into Europe is 500 miles from home to North Germany (Usual around Frankfurt/Cologne). I can leave home at 3am and can be there by 2pm local time. Lots of rest until the next day and jumping on the twisty roads.

I would not get hung up on a target milage looks like you have nowhere booked for 1st night?
If so, start as early as possible, to allow you more daylight to cover distance. See where you are around late afternoon, and make your 1st overnight booking at a suitable distance down the road.

This is how I was thinking of going at it, book a hotel when it starts getting to the late afternoon point or if I get tired (I will leave while it's still dark)

 

[er-minio]

This will be about 1000 miles or so, I don't really want to plan an exact stop, but I will stop if I get tired of course.

How have you done this in your recent trips if you had to do a long distance?

Obvious: it highly depends on yourself. Physical fitness, use of riding, weather, etc...
Stated the obvious... I do that trip both on the bike and car relatively often (3 times by car this year and generally once a year at least by bike for the last decade or so). 2 days by car, 3 by bike. To Rome or Tuscany. It could be shorter if to northern Italy.

If you do it in 2 stops it's generally doable and you can go across some fun roads and take your time. It's a vacation (I hope).
The boring/tiring part is the first miles from Calais (and the last ones on the way back).

If it's not high season I tend to never book hotels and decide in the late afternoon. But having done the route so many times, I almost always end up in the same places

If traveling in August: book in advance or bring a tent.

 

[Pepsie]

Good thing, it's September

As an FYI too - I will not be riding again until going to the Netherlands after 6 days later.

 

[theoneandonly]

where in Italy ?
via France or Germany ?
i'd avoid Switzerland if it was me.

crossing ? Newhaven -Dieppe , overnight boat , spits you out @ 0500 to empty road and few camera's.

 

[J biker]

Assume you are on a GS….biggest issue I found was motorway boredom.
Sold my GS at the start of this year, but with the addition of Wunderlich mesh seat cover the bike was all day comfortable. A twelve hour day doable, but only with mixed roads.
How long is a piece of string? As everyone will have a different idea on this one.
For sure, it is no fun to have had enough riding, just to find the nearest accommodation is at least another hour away, in the dark. So many factors.

 

[Pepsie]

where in Italy ?
via France or Germany ?
i'd avoid Switzerland if it was me.

crossing ? Newhaven -Dieppe , overnight boat , spits you out @ 0500 to empty road and few camera's.

I'm so dumb, I booked the Eurotunnel. I've just changed that ticket to December and will take the ferry from Newhaven instead on Friday. I'm going to go through France avoiding Switzs.

Assume you are on a GS….biggest issue I found was motorway boredom.
Sold my GS at the start of this year, but with the addition of Wunderlich mesh seat cover the bike was all day comfortable. A twelve hour day doable, but only with mixed roads.
How long is a piece of string? As everyone will have a different idea on this one.
For sure, it is no fun to have had enough riding, just to find the nearest accommodation is at least another hour away, in the dark. So many factors.

I'm on the S1000XR, not as comfy as a GS but still pretty good.

 

[richardgore]

I drive from London to Pescara at least once a year, and have also done it on the bike. Whereas when I was a youngster I used to do it in one (in the car) nowadays I will stop halfway (around Villefranche Sur Stone - there's an Ibis just off the motorway with a steak restaurant next door).
You will find, if using French motorways, that it's very easy on the bike and will have no problems. However the Italian motorways are much more demanding and require lots more concentration. I would therefore recommend that you reach Italy in a refreshed state, not tired, as risk levels will rise astronomically.

 

[Santa-2512]

I did Bergerac - Dieppe in one day

I left at at 05:45 & arrived at Dieppe at 19:30

Only stops were fuel & bathroom with a coffee break / nap at each

In a nutshell - too far for a single trip

Caen - Bergerac is probably the limit

 

[Monsieur]

I drove a Triumph Herald from Darlington to London and back again in a day back in 1979.
Better bladder control then.

 

[theoneandonly]

if you are over 60 yo , ring to book and get old farts discount .
i don't do peage or motorways or tunnels , when away , i can do Grenoble by 1900 hrs top part of Italy can be a slog not using m/ways . it then takes a day to get to Mandello del Lario.
half a day to Rimini from there .
the ss9 goes town , town, town, Modena is a hoot in rush hour . some towns i'll scoot around , others i cut through the middle.

 

[Pepsie]

if you are over 60 yo , ring to book and get old farts discount .
i don't do peage or motorways or tunnels , when away , i can do Grenoble by 1900 hrs top part of Italy can be a slog not using m/ways . it then takes a day to get to Mandello del Lario.
half a day to Rimini from there .
the ss9 goes town , town, town, Modena is a hoot in rush hour . some towns i'll scoot around , others i cut through the middle.

I'm 24, I don't think I'll be getting any old fart discounts

 

[Barnoe]

Even if sitting on the Motorway, set yourself a base line of finding a hotel by 4pm (regardless of miles).

^ this.

No prizes for doing it quickly and arriving early.
However there is death if your tired and make a bad decision.

I've rode around Europe too and done all day riding feeling fresh, but as DJ says, around 3.30pm stop and find an hotel/B&B/Campsite then ride to that.
also take breaks, try and match them with food/drink/bathroom breaks and make a call to let loved ones your ok and on your way

I know your target is the destination, but do try and enjoy your ride too

 

[G&T]

Remember...biking is supposed to be fun.

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

I broke the Iron Butt challenge a few years back.
Left Portsmouth at 4am and stopped at the house in Grello at 5am, 24hrs later.
Wouldn’t recommend doing it.

 

[Doc]

Remember...biking is supposed to be fun.

Correct.
Park up have a beer and some food start again the next day.