anyone go for a ride today? Pics?

[DanTheMan]

The Great River Road is sort of a generic name for most of the roads that follow the Mississippi, from Minnesota through Wisconsin and along Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, on south.

Here's a rather unflattering description. I think it's probably far more worthwhile from Savannah northward, but it's respectably scenic south to the I-80 slab.

South of that -- well, LoopGaroo recommends Rt. 26 from roughly Starved Rock to around Peoria. I haven't done that stretch yet, but I will soon. I've done the Hannibal, MO area and the bridge at Alton -- pretty impressive at times.

There are tons of web references to the GRR, for each state that abuts or carries the Mississippi. The ride from Chicago to Savannah is at best ho-hum until you reach Rt. 20 beyond Rockford or so, and then it really improves.

What I recommend is Scenic Ridge Road aka Derinda Rd. from Elizabeth south, (link in my first post), which is the only length I'd describe as 'breathtaking' within 200 miles of my home (Joliet, south of Chicago). It's just phenomenal. You can find numerous views of this on Youtube (and certainly elsewhere).

I've ridden at least 2000 miles of the GRR, but, not all at once, it's been in bits and pieces covering 5 states, MN, WI, IA, IL and MO. Mostly fun and scenic roads, some have been quite ho-hum. It is neat to try and follow the river, though, cross over from IL to IA at Sabula, IA and you'll go thorugh IA's only island city. From IL to IA it's an iron grate bridge, very interesting ride.

 

[Spyder]

It would seem that river roads are some of the nicest and most scenic roads I have ridden. Riding along the Kankakee river down here is a pretty nice ride...

 

[oldrookie]

No pictures of the ride, but the heat finally broke today. Actually got a bit of rain.

Decided to gear up and enjoy it. Jacket and pants are made of mesh and at first I was cold. Thought about going back for a sweatshirt or liner, but decided to enjoy being cold after a long stretch of above '90's temps instead.

Pretty deserted out there today. Made it very enjoyable. Have to figure out how to mount my GoPro so I can get some video.

 

[Guest]

Just up the neighbors' steep driveway & back over & over after a little wrenchy-wrenchy ... (including better clutch cable actuation as schooled to me by chef1366!)

You should bring her to the next rally!

 

[ptexotik]

You should bring her to the next rally!

You should bring yourself! We'll see you there.

 

[Texasgs]

Texas, today too hot for man or beast, triple digit heat. 4:30m strong storms blew through, the roads were so hot the water dried fast, about 6:30 went exploring for two hours on my old 82 1100E, great ride mostly under 35MPH, but I did get medieval with it a few times. Great ride, great temp about 80F.

 

[wally]

I got an email last week mentioning that Charlie Boorman (Ewan McGregor's buddy form Long Way Round and Down) was shooting an adventure series in South Africa and they were shooting the final episode this past Sunday and all bikers were invited to join. We were there pretty early and as expected it was mostly the weekend warrior BMWs rocking up, 1 Buell

and a few other makes. I would guess about 150+ bikes in the end - weather was crappy!

But he is a really nice guy and made time to chat and pose with everybody.

 

[Guest]

Regardless of the weather it looks like a bit of fun Wally! What did you ride there? The 450? I don't see it in the pic's...

 

[wally]

Was cold and rainy, but cleared up a bit. Went on the Buell (middle pic, second from bottom left - if that makes sense?)

Still need to sort out the charging issue first before I would take it out on along run. Battery goes dead in 40km round trip to work and back. Don't have energy (or understanding) to tackle electrical stuff...

 

[Guest]

Aaah I see it, the one with the top box

And this link will get your charging system sorted

http://www.thegsresources.com/garage/gs_statorfault.htm

 

[hjacobmiller]

Jamestown Island:

All the fiddler crabs in the bog:

Take the ferry across the river:

Little bit of riding on the other side:

Full album:

http://s1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii481/hjacobmiller13/Jamestown Island 7232012/

 

[7981GS]

Another pic from your album...

 

[oldrookie]

Put about 50 miles in this a.m. before it got too hot.

Spotted this old one:

Ended up at Heritage Lake, west of Danville, IN.

This is my new GoPro handlebar mount, but discovered that the battery was dead, so no videos on this trip. Made the mount this a.m., but haven't prettied it up yet. I'll file down the edges and paint it eventually.

 

[7981GS]

Oldrookie, I like the dirt bike handlebar and the idea of making a GoPro mount that would leave the speedo out of the video's!

I must do something very similar for my bikes.

Eric

 

[oldrookie]

I think this will do it, but the proof will be in the videos. I'll take a run later tonight and see if if it works. Sure seems stable at this point, but without the actual case and camera on I can't be certain.

I saw the actual GoPro mount and it seemed like this could be reasonable way mount the camera.

The dirt bike bars are very comfortable and work well too. Turns me into a bit of a wind catcher at speed, but I like them.

 

[7981GS]

Might I suggest a lanyard from the camera to another fixed point for added camera safety?

Eric

 

[oldrookie]

Might I suggest a lanyard from the camera to another fixed point for added camera safety?

Eric

Not a bad idea.

 

[oldrookie]

Out of town, so I can't post it up yet...but the video turned out well. The mount is worth making a bit fancier.

The top of the instrument cluster shows, but that side could be made longer if I wanted. All you can see is what gear I am using at any given moment.

 

[daturat100r]

Just got back last nite from 500+km round trip up north near Kaikohe 2nd time in two weeks, been up to meet and stay with internet friend.Rode up on sat afternoon/evening anf got to Kawakawa which has railway lines running down centre of mainstreet,having to slow right down to avoid jaywalkers with umbrellas in the pouring rain did not see lines crossing my lane at an oblique angle till a microsecond before front wheel let go,managed to breakfall barely .Got away with sore elbow neck and hip but all skin intact and bike only broke indicator lens slightly bent handlebars and lost bit of chrome more importantly wine and beer in panniers survived intact.Photo from ride home at top of Brynderwyns overlooking Waipu with angry sky above.Stopped to check gear and found pannier melted to exhaust along with battery charger moulded to muffler.

 

[trevor]

Went out for a ride after work to play the riding game and while out spotted this little beauty! Anyone tell me what year Honda it is?