By Tom Mehren

Every tire has its own personality, and it’s no fun to find out it’s finished when you’re not near a repair shop. Use a simple tread-depth gauge to measure and track your tread depth at 500-mile intervals. This will provide better insight about when the tire might need replacement, so you can plan ahead.

Warming Up For The Pass Ahead

No matter what time of year it is, it can get a little chilly up in the mountain passes. If you can, synchronize your ride so the pass follows breakfast or lunch. That way, you’ll have a full belly generating heat as it works to digest your food. But if the pass comes at some other time, at least break for a warm cup of coffee or tea.

Tee’d Off About Lunch

During you’re traveling, you’re often stuck with not knowing where to get lunch. There are many golf resorts that a rider might not think about trying. But some have pretty good food, often better than what’s being served up at the nearby small-town greasy spoon. Do a little homework in the morning before you ride and seek out a golf resort or two for better meals along the way.

Planning Photos

Having a camera doesn’t make you a photographer. Before your next ride, think about where you’ll be traveling and make a list of 10 photos you’d like to take each day. Group shoots, bikes and scenery, food, landmarks, etc. Refer to the list in the morning and again at lunch, and see if you can fill in all the shots. A little advance planning can help make a lot more memories later. And of course, always capture the unexpected whenever possible.

Painters’ Tape

Yes, duct tape holds the universe together, but it’s not very good at accommodating uses where it will be removed and reapplied, over and over. Painter’s tape is. You can use it to seal small bottles of liquid in your shower kit, like shampoo and body soap. When it’s time to open the cap, remove the tape, then reapply after closing.

Relax Those Elbows

Do the elements like wind and rain seem to get you a little tight in the upper back? When that happens, your arms are probably a little locked as well and you’re steering your motorcycle with your shoulders. If you notice this, it’s time to relax that upper body, loosen up those elbows so you can flap them like wings and get your ride back under the control of your mind and hands.

Tom Mehren produces soundrider.com, an online resource of information about riding motorcycles in the Pacific Northwest and has authored six tour books on the subject.

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