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I second what Tim is saying here. I personally started my longer trips by increasing mileage, time, and intensity bit by bit. I started with a 5 hr round trip and quickly discovered I needed to do something about the brick I had for a seat on the CBR(padded bicycle shorts were the cure and continue to be). Then I started taking multiple 8 hr round trips to SEO and into WV. Once I set my sights on a trip to the Gap and mapped out at least a 10hr ride to get there, I put together a 10hr round trip that included rt555(I didn’t know of better roads at the time). Around that time I started lurking on this website and found better roads from posts and just kept riding more and more. Then to truly prepare myself, I rode 2 near 500 mile days back to back. The following year I made my solo trip and loved every second of it. I will admit this is probably a reflection of my personality. I’m a planner and a bit of a loaner. I personally have never done the OR thing at Deals, but I have participated in some Epic rides and other group rides. Every time I have participated in an OR ride it has been good times and I have met great people. @flashesbuck my guess is there will be a spring Epic ride again this year. My suggestion would be show up for that and use that as a basis for your decision.

This sounds great! I'm determined to get back to MO this year. Did my first track day on my 48th birthday 4 yrs ago - went by myself but met some good folks there, coaches were great. I took my ol' Zed - most fun I've ever had on a street bike! ps - I'm slow, and I know it. 30yrs of street riding doesn't = fast on the track!

I've slabbed it down, I've taken twisty roads. I've done it in 6 hours, I've done it in 7 days. Regardless, it's a fun time and everyone should do it, regardless of how they get there.

There's something to be said about riding the roads around the Gap area. I don't ride nearly as many miles/days in succession throughout the year as I do down there. Now, mind you I don't ride down there and back....I trailer to and from....but once there, the adrenaline and excitement keeps me in the saddle far longer than I'd typically ride around here. Similar to SEO roads, the ride to and from the annual Epic rides usually suck since it's primarily interstate.....but once there, love every mile of it with little sense of being overwhelmed or exhausted.

I remember the first day of the season when I used to board. My legs would be on FIRE the first few runs down and I'd always ask myself how the hell did I do this last year. But then somehow that would be completely gone by the end of the day. Next day would be sore for sure. Its a great leg workout.

When putting on and taking off a shirt is painful...... thats when you know it was a good workout.

Eating and smoking will give you different feelings. It's more of a body thing instead of a head thing. During my time in college I was exposed to a fair amount of different substances, handled them all with flying colors, enjoyed them and handled myself in a responsible manner. Alcohol has remained the single "drug" that's ever gotten me sick or I've had a bad time with. With that said, you got any more of that chocolate left? Sounds like a good time.

I was all for legalizing recreational pot...until recently. I just had an experience with edibles that is forcing me to change my opinion.

I thought that's how you know it was a good workout

Yeah, but that's all behind me. I only smoke legal substances, now. It may not be legal in Ohio, but it's legal somewhere.

Kale?

Ok, this is coming from someone that's made that trip and has made numerous numerous 2 hour "rides" just to get to the meet spot for a ride. Honestly the "I have never really ridding in one direction for more than 2 hours?"" concerns me, and probably anybody else that would be leading a group down to the GAP. But that's OK, I was there too. Get some more miles at one time under your belt (I was told this when I first started riding with the Core group of riders on here.) so you can judge things like; mileage at certain paces (not what you've read online or in a magazine in terms of mileage), what pace can you consistently and safely run all day? Safe being the key word. How long your ass can handle the saddle without needing a break? How long should you ride before taking a break before you actually need one? Doing that will also kind of give you an idea of what potential modifications you may need to do to your bike to make the trip more comfortable, whether it be a new seat, bar risers, etc. Roads down there are nothing like they are up here, in the best, more exhausting way. I'll tell you that while I completely and thoroughly enjoyed the ride down there, I was physically and mentally exhausted from all of those sweet sweet miles. Ask @Tpoppa as he had to baby- lead me into the Gap after back to back 500 mile days to get down there. (That man is a machine.) I had to slow my pace way down not because I was physically exhausted, but because I was making mental mistakes on easy shit. More miles more miles more miles of the good stuff aka twisties will better prepare you for a trip like this. There are plenty of guys that put down more miles than me a year on here and I'm sure they would be more than happy to share their feedback too.

I've trailered. I've 2-laned. I've slabbed. I've never regretted taking the trailer. Your bike of choice and overall fitness make a difference.

My best time slabbing from the Gap Store was 6 hours 15 min to my house. And let me tell you I was hauling the mail triple digits most of the way through Kentucky and only one gas stop, but I never dismounted the bike was on fumes at the end of both tanks. I would not do that again. Had luck and ignorance on my side that day. Even got a scooter wave in when I passed @Pauly on the freeway. Only cost me a couple final drive seals.

Had the dream situation my first Gap trip. Rode down, trailed back with @what while our bikes did buttstuff on his trailer. I have the "right" machine in my arsenal now to do that trip like an adult, not like some asshole kid on a super sport with soft bags. Time off is my concern, 1 day trip down vs. 2 day trip down. Riding down on the slab is pretty much out of the question, unless I get a throttle lock, and even then.... I know that @Pauly and I can make good time on the back roads.