All I can say is get used to washing up at rest areas, and sleeping on benches. You don't have much time for anything else. Maybe a laundry and sleep half day in the middle. I've done 1600 in 36 hours and 6000 miles in 13 days, and you get to the point where it is just mind over matter forcing yourself on through. I think you will also feel like you cheated yourself if you are dead set on hitting the 10 day mark because there is so much you will see along the way that you really want to take a closer look, but due to time constraints and schedules, you will be locked down on time.

If I average 700 miles a day I could do 7000 in 10 days. I'm thinking it'll be a mental battle by day 3 or 4. Again my trip to laguna will be like one day of this trip but I know it'll only get harder by the day... I was thinkin about pushin hard the first 4 days then slowly making the days lower mileage. Maybe push for 900 miles a day the first 4 days that will give me a little buffer to rest extra if I need to.

I've done 500 miles in a 10 hour day. 500 miles doesn't seem like a lot until you've done it.

Weather can have a big impact on your physical and mental condition. Rain, wind, cold, etc all play into it.

In fact, riding during a HOT day can be bad enough.

I usually stop at least every two hours or so, either for gas or comfort. It's nice to stretch out and look around... even if it's a truck stop.

If you are all about covering miles, have at it. I like to see some sights along the way when i can though.

I did 843 miles in 13 hours the first day of getting to the rally last summer, and then did 607 more in 11 hours the next day finally getting there. It sounds do-able to me, but as The Table stated, you're going to miss a lot that you would probably like to spend more time seeing. That's why it took me so long to get to the rally...I like to see things up close.

I think making the map for it would be difficult enough. Would have to start in either main or california. The other is remember after those 10 days, you have to drive back

First day is easy, after that is where stuff starts getting worse. If I were doing it, I would do my mileage like this (Figuring 7k):
1200
1000
800
600
600
300 + Sleep and Laundry
800
600
600
500

Front load the mileage as much as possible. A 700 mile day isn't that big a deal until you are on the 10th one in a row.

You have a place to stay in in Florida. Only problems is were half way down the state in Tampa.

I plan to encounter as little weather as possible, I ride 30 miles to work each day in Oregon I know how big a difference in riding in the sun vs. rain or even just cold, it puts strain on your body for sure.

I like just cruisin and enjoying the sites as well but I want to do an iron butt challenge. I'm an extreme guy and I want to do it for the extreme factor I guess...

You make a good point... I was hoping to devise a plan that involved going cross country twice, so cover the lower half of the country and cover the top on my way back. If that didn't work I'd probably take my time coming back, only problem is saving that much time off work, means no vac between now and then...

I like this table a lot because that rest day is gonna help a lot... based on my map I'll make something similar.

Thanks bro... If it works out on a map I'll definitly keep that in mind, maybe if you got the carbon fiber stuff rollin I could schedule to pick my stuff up I'll be ordering...


Thanks everyone for input/advice/warnings. Its still a ways out but I want to start planning even on my upcoming trips so I can see how things are gonna pan out for this one. It would also be cool if I plan it so I can hit the rally on my way home...

Didn't Tom (TDR) do something like this about 3yrs ago? He did the lower half run from west coast to east, hit the rally, then rode north and went east to west.

He cut his initial ride plan short because of time and weather

Were you planning on camping along the way? If you are, you'll need to figure in the extra time it takes to search for camping sites and get set up.

I recommend packing some kind of folding chair if possible. A 15 minute nap on the side of the road could save you from riding into a ditch or the back of another car.

If I need to camp I will have that planned before I leave. I have friends in random places throughout the country; I'm hoping to stay at friends houses as that will give me a place to do laundry and relax for a little bit. I'm planning each days stop point, I read that having an end set you have a goal and that makes the mental part managable, if I don't have some place to stay on a particular night I'll have a camp site lined up.

I read one of your threads where you did that and I'm planning on it; I read as much as I can to gain from others experience. I'm wanting to get decent sleep at night so that's not a huge issue but I know I'm gonna be tired.

On a sidenote, you may want to look into Modafinil. Don't depend on it, but just in case. It works very well, and not jittery like caffeine.

Sweet thanks! I'm gonna be taking some trips to lead up to the big one and these kinds of ideas will be employed to see how/if they are good for the trip.

It's funny I bought my kat because it was cheap(not running) and I wanted a sport style bike. When I got it I planned on upgrading and selling the kat but now I'm planning to set up the kat for touring and get another bike for short distance/track fun. I'm starting to get real excited about long rides... Only question remaining: is the kat my ultimate touring ride? Shes been good to me and I dont know how I'd sell her... Bikes should be bought not sold right...