Weekend Trip With a Motorcycle

Taking a weekend trip on your motorcycle allows you to take in the breathtaking scenes that are all around and check out some really cool sites. Short trips are meant to be a little more carefree and less planned out, but you still have to have some direction before you hit the open road. Even if you are only going to be away from home for just a few days, there are a few things that you need to bring along and plan for. Your weekend motorcycle trip will be so much more memorable and enjoyable if you are prepared for what lies ahead.

Make sure that your motorcycle is serviced regularly so no surprises will come during the trip. I've just been looking into getting a new touring bike (see here). To get some ideas about possible US trips, check this site here. And I've found this site for Ontario routes.

It can always be a good idea to go on a weekend motorcycle trip with some of your closest friends. This will give you company, but also help you stay safer along your journey. 

Think About a Pace Car

If you're traveling with a large group then having a pace car that follows behind with all the things that you will need is also a great idea. This car can hold all the stuff that you will need once you make it to your destination. There is not a lot of room on your motorcycle, so a pace car is the ideal way to take along the things that you will need most. Some items that you can consider packing in the pace car include blankets, sleeping bags, food, tents and all the equipment that you will need once you make it to the camping area. A motorcycle trip is only enjoyable when you truly enjoy nature and spend the night camped out under the stars.

Take Along a Map

It is always a good idea to know where you are going to ensure that you don’t get lost along the way. Even though the journey to your destination is probably the most enjoyable part of the trip, you still need to make sure that you stay on course. This means that you have to carry a map with you that you can use as your guide during your stops. Instead of maps you can consider to buy a GPS device which shows you the route on the little screen. Make sure that you have your trip planned based upon the number of miles that you can cover in a day and the places where you can stop to fill up on gas. Some routes can be pretty desolate for miles, so you need to make sure that you fill up on gas when you can to keep you from becoming stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Emergency Kit

If you want to be prepared for whatever your weekend motorcycle trip throws your way, you should have an emergency safety kit tucked away on your bike. This kit can include tools that will help you fix your motorcycle if any small emergency repairs are needed. You never know what will be thrown your way during your weekend excursion, so it is best to be prepared for everything. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry and this is especially true when you are on the open road. If you do have a pace car driving behind, then this is less of an issue since the pace car can bring you the spare parts and heavy tools.

Anyway, whether it's going to be a weekend trip or a longer trip, enjoy the scenic routes and time with your friends or family. That's part of the good life!

Touring Motorcycles

If you're planning to head out camping or on a long trip on the road, why not take a bike on your next trip? If you're already a bike fanatic, you probably already know how incredible it is to head out on the road with a bike in tow. I certainly know how great feels to head out on the road with a touring motorcycle!

Don't have a touring bike? Why not think about buying one? Naturally, there are many suitable touring bikes on the market. Let's take a look at two top touring motorcycles (wiki) for your next bike tour.

BMW K1600 GTL ($23,950 MSRP)

The BMW K1600 GTL (info) is a fast, comfortable and capable bike is a favorite of many who like to take this bike out on the road. Many reviewers consider this bike a 'very fast, capable and incredibly comfortable bike' that just doesn't feel like a heavy bike—even though it weighs a little over 700 pounds.

The performance is great, too. That's thanks to its powerful 1,649 cc engine, 160 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque. It also feels comfortable to ride, constructed to position the foot pegs lower and more forward, while the bars are positioned higher and closer to the driver.

Couple that with various luxuries among an already impressive standard equipment list, and you have a pretty great ride.

Honda Gold Wing F6B ($19,999 MSRP)

The Hond Gold Wing F6B (info) is best described as a long distance tourer and an all around town cruiser—and for good reason.

The Honda Gold Wing F6B is actually an improvement – an upgrade of sorts – from the standard Honda Gold Wing bike. And, according to reviewers, it's a much-needed upgrade. This bike, unlike the standard Gold Wing, makes changes that are all the better.

This 'Flat Six Bagger' (F6B) bike boasts the same 1,832cc flat-six engine, frame and transmission as its counterpart. It does, however, lack the electric reverse gear, among other equipment. Though, the reduced equipment load, surprisingly, took off well about 60 pounds from the bike's total weight, bringing to a little less than 850 lbs when wet.

What ultimately makes this Honda Gold Wing better than its counterpart is its seat positioning, which offers the rider much more space to move around, especially if they're already covering a lot of miles. The construction of this bike lets you ride it like a sport bike or, if you're covering a lot of road, settle back and enjoy the ride while cruising about.

If you're looking for your next touring bike....

As you can see, plenty of options for good motorcycles exist out there (top 10 here). Even if the market looks a bit expensive, there are a lot of bikes that you can look at on the market that are fairly reasonably priced—that is how I got my new BMW touring motorcycle!

As with every new bike, there are some options which I needed to buy straight away. For instance side and top travel cases, a tank bag and a navigation device. There are a lot of GPS for motorcycles available, from BMW (looks great but expensive) to TomTom Rider (affordable!) to Garmin (most popular motorcycle GPS are the Zumo 665 and 590) but in the end it’s what you feel comfortable with but make sure you get a waterproof device… Same counts for the travel cases by the way. I’ve seen some bikers coming to a camping ground after a rainy day and taking out of the cases their wet clothing. That’s not really what you want of course!

Once you've bought a touring motorcycle make sure you ride a lot on it! Get the feeling of it because it will probably handle differently than your previous bike. You can go for some short weekend trips to begin with, combine it with a short hike to loosen up the muscles. Take your basic clothing (not too much) and food (breakfast because lunch and dinner you can buy on the road) with you and a tent or go to a motel.

Got anything to add to this article? Just want to comment about your new touring motorcycle? Send me a message via the contact form!

Best Hiking Trail in the US

Hiking is something that many people enjoy. It is not merely walking, but it is more comparable to a journey of endurance that allows you to become more acquainted with nature along the way. You can take in the full beauty of Mother Nature and see sights up close that you have never experienced before. It is also like you get a look at the world from a new viewpoint. There are some hiking trails that simply offer more than others. On the best hiking trails in the US, you have the ability to escape all the distractions and really take a good look at your surroundings. Trying to choose the best hiking trail in the US is pretty difficult, because there are so many that have to be seen to be believed.

Here are a few of the best hiking trails in the US and what you can expect to see on your journey:

Denali National Park

If you had to choose just one hiking trail for the rest of your life, this one might just be the one that you pick. Denali National Park offers rugged and untamed trails that are so unique and almost seem like they have never been touched before. This National Park is not similar to any others. The trails that hikers use are not well marked or cut. This Alaska Park is pretty much trail-less, which is what makes it so much fun to explore. You have to hike through backcountry, which means that you will face a lot of obstacles and challenges along the way. Not only will you get to see some amazing views, but you will also get to push yourself to the limit. The rough nature hiking in Denali National Park is something that every hiking enthusiast has to set out and accomplish at least once.

Mount Whitney

This hiking trail can be found about 3 hours from Los Angeles, but it feels much further once you see how much of an escape from the world it offers. It is the tallest mountain peak and offers a unique hiking experience that simply can’t be duplicated. This trail is pretty rugged and is more than 22 miles long, so it is not ideal for beginners. You better have endurance and experience to help you make it through this hiking trail. The memories and pictures in your mind that can be made during this hike are definitely worth pushing yourself. You can always turn back if you find that Mount Whitney is more than you can handle.

Zion National Park

At this trail, you can see some of the most exquisite cliffs and canyons in the world. This National Park in Utah is widely known for the scenic views that delve deep into the canyons. This trail is incredibly popular with hikers of all levels and has trails for just about anyone.

If you are looking for the perfect hiking trails, these are the ones that you should check out. Make sure you prepare yourself good enough for the trail. Read my tips to prepare yourself! For a multiple days hiking trip you'll have to bring completely other things then a short day hike. Although you should be well prepared during a short day trip as well! You never know what kind of situation you can come in or how quickly the weather can change in the mountains!

A Few Tips On Planning A Weekend Hike Trip

A weekend hike trip can be more fun than docking yourself at a pub or blasting your woofers while driving down an expressway to a downtown bar. Hiking is rejuvenating, it is exciting, the adventure will replenish your energy instead of fatiguing you and you would learn more than you can imagine. No matter how old you are, where you live, how much you earn and who you have living with you, there is always enough opportunity to plan and go hiking. It doesn’t really matter if it is for a weekend or a weeklong vacation.

But, planning such a trip calls for smart thinking. If you haven’t planned a similar adventure before then you need some tips to guide you along (more here). Here is some advice that can help you to have a great weekend, hiking on some of the easiest or some of the toughest trails that you consider accessible from where you live.

• A weekend is a short period. Don’t plan a huge trip and don’t go very far. If you spend hours or perhaps more than half a day traveling, then the whole purpose of a hike trip becomes irrelevant. You should not tire yourself or anyone during the traveling. Pick a place that is close to where you stay. If the place is far enough, then choose to take a train if possible or a bus. Try and avoid driving. It is likely that one person will not be doing all the driving but being in a car for several hours is always taxing. Hence, pick a place that is nearby which would take just a few hours. Else, take a different route or conveyance option which will get you to a far place faster and more conveniently. The bottom line is, travel less and hike more, toil less on traveling and spend more energy and effort on hiking. That is the secret to a great adventure.

• The next tip on planning a good hiking trip for the weekend pertains to the choice of trail. You cannot pick a trail randomly, especially not considering the expertise of the people. You cannot go on a trail that involves rock climbing if you or those traveling with you are not accustomed to or trained in rock climbing. Choose the challenges based on your expertise or abilities and then add some. There should be something new that you have not done but that should not be beyond the possibilities for everyone involved.

• Take the right equipment with you! Even a short weekend away, hiking in the mountains or forests, you need to pack the most essential equipment. If you're sleeping in a tent, you shouldn't forget to make the agreement who packs the tent. How many can sleep in the tent is important as well. Everybody should take a sleeping bag as well. If it's really warm then a thin cotton bag should be sufficient. Next to the tent and sleeping bag, you need to eat. So make sure you bring a camping cooker and food with you. Take a torch with you so you have some light at night. Nowadays almost everybody hikes with a GPS device and if you have one, you should know how to use the navigation maps etc. If you don't have a hiking GPS then you should bring normal maps with you which is smart anyway (also when you have a GPS) because a map will never run out of batteries! Good hiking GPS devices (read more hiking GPS here) are for instance Garmin eTrex, Monterra and Montana and the Magellan eXplorist.

• The selection of people who would go on a weekend hike trip is also very important. You cannot take all your friends. You cannot all be novices or amateurs. There has to be a blend of experience and inexperience, friends and professionals and more importantly, everyone should be on the same page. If you take one unhealthy person or one person who is unwilling to go the distance then your entire group will fall back and all of you will have a very poor experience throughout the trip. Thus, choose your group wisely. If you all are inexperienced, then have a guide or a pro take you through the trail.

Need an Easy Breakfast? Yogurt is the Answer

Breakfast is the most important meal you eat all day, it gets you up and at em and it really sets the pace for the rest of the day. A lot of us forgo breakfast because life gets in the way and it can be hard to make time to eat breakfast. Stopping and grabbing fast food is a very bad choice. There is an easy breakfast food that you can grab on your way out the door!

Nutritions

If you need an easy breakfast Yogurt is the answer. Yogurt is a great way to start your day. You can grab a yogurt and be out the door in minutes. It full of healthy nutrition and is a great source of Vitamin D, Probiotics, Potassium and Magnesium and Calcium. Everything you need to get a jump start in the morning can be found in yogurt including protein which will fill you up.

Your breakfast sets the pace for your day and how you will eat through out the day. If you forgo breakfast you are setting yourself up for a day full of grazing until lunch time when you will likely over indulge because you did not eat breakfast.

An easy breakfast yogurt makes for sure! By the simple act of starting your day out right with a nice quick breakfast it will change your entire morning and help you to eat better for the day.

Of course you can buy all sort of yogurt in your grocery shop but did you know you can make your own? Homemade (greek) yogurt makers (click for best yogurt makers here) from brands like Dash, Yogourmet and Cuisinart are widely available and costing a lot less nowadays. With these yogurt machines you just add the ingredients, set the timer and in the morning you have fresh yogurt. You can add different flavors so you can have tasty yogurt how you like every single day.

Granola and Yogurt

You can eat yogurt on its own right out of the container or you can mix in some granola to get the added benefit of some fiber in your diet and to give the yogurt a bit more morning substance. You can even prepare your yogurt and granola the night before. Mix it up put it in the fridge and you are ready to go.

Fruit and Yogurt

If you have a banana and yogurt you have breakfast! Strawberries, blueberries, cut up apples just about any fruit goes great with some yogurt. Prepare the night before or grab it all on your way out the door. It is a simple easy breakfast that is so healthy.

Just Yogurt

You do not have to mix anything in to your yogurt. You can have just yogurt for breakfast. There are plenty of different kinds of yogurt to choose from that have fruit mixed in, that are flavored and that are convenient.

Is there any breakfast that is easier than opening a container and walking out the door? You can just wake up, east some yogurt and do you morning run! If you like something a little heavier than choose a Greek style yogurt that is super rich and creamy. You can opt for organic low fat yogurt.

There are so many choices that you can go a few weeks of eating yogurt for breakfast everyday and never repeat the same flavor. When you need an easy breakfast, yogurt should be your go to food. It is super healthy, super convenient and as easy as it gets. No cooking, no stopping, no worrying and most importantly no skipping breakfast when you have yogurt on hand. Have a good health and better life!

Do You Need New Boxing Gear?

All kinds of sports are good for you. You stay active, in a healthy shape and feel better in life. Boxing is one of these sports where you need a very good condition, mentally very strong and are able to absorb some abuse. 

Boxing can be a really great form of exercise that allows you to tone your muscles and improve endurance. Along the way you can increase both your physical and mental toughness. However, you need to have the right gear to ensure that your workouts are most effective. This means that you need to invest in boxing gloves and a boxing bag that will help you take your skills to new levels and ensure that your technique is perfect. If you are going to dedicate time into boxing, you need to make sure that you have equipment on your side that does the trick.

Here are some things you need to know before you run out and buy a boxing bag:

What Type of Training Are You Looking For?

The type of bag that you purchase depends on the type of training that you are after. There are different types of bags including speed bags, heavy bags, double end bags and many more. This means that the type of bag you choose will determine the type or training that you endure.

Heavy Bag

If you are focused on improving your punching power, it might be a good idea to invest in a heavy bag. Heavy bags normally come available in either vinyl or leather materials. This type of bag normally either stands or hangs. It is large and the heaviest type of punching bag on the market. Most heavy bags range in weight, but are available between 25 and 150 pounds.

Speed Bag

A speed bag is a lot lighter and is designed for those that are looking to improve speed, agility and reflexes. This type of bag is hung from a platform and is a bag that takes patience to work with. Beginners should opt for a heavy bag and those that are looking to hone their skills can move on to a speed bag.

What About Material?

The type of material that you choose for your boxing bag depends on your preferences. Vinyl is much more affordable, but leather bags will last much longer and be a wiser investment. Leather bags can handle more abuse and will stand the test of time. If possible, you should always choose a leather bag.

Choosing Boxing Gloves

Aside from a bag, you also need to make sure that you invest in a high quality pair of boxing training gloves. These gloves will help you learn the correct technique and form. Just like with bags, boxing gloves come available in a variety of materials. However, leather is always ideal. Leather training gloves will be much more durable and will be a better way to spend your money. It is also important to focus on the fit of your glove. The size of the boxing glove makes a big difference. Boxing gloves come available in sizes and weight classes. Once you decide on material, size and weight, you can find the perfect fit of training gloves for you.

And next?

After you're ready with new boxing equipment, you're ready to tackle the next hurdle. Your food and condition. 

For you food you need to eat a balanced diet. You need to get or stay strong and muscled but also think of the vitamins and nutritions. 

For your condition you need to train a lot. You have to train your muscles to get or stay strong and you need to be able to keep a good condition during all rounds. For that you need to train a lot of cardio (running, cycling, rowing, etc).