Just completed a 9 day ride

with only one rest day in the middle. My wife and I went from the Chicago suburbs to Buffalo, Wy to Estes Park, Co thru the Rocky Mountains to Colorado Springs and back hone thru Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Three months post-op with open RNY, 56 hours of ride time in nine days and I felt great. I just had a little "monkey butt" at the end. I am glad to be home because I got tired of dealing with restaurants and the huge portions they serve. Always felt bad about leaving so much food behind.

Wow! that's quite an accomplishment. You have my respect and envy! What a ride that must have been, such beautiful scenery! What are you riding? I have just bought my first motorcycle and am learning to ride. I'll be taking the course on 9/24&25 and having bypass on 9/26. But, I'm getting a few lessons from my son in the meantime. Mostly because I probably won't be able to ride until the Spring here in Massachusetts.

I ride a 2003 Honda Gold Wing to which I have added a Utopia backrest. I think the back rest helped some. My wife rides a 1997 Honda Valkyrie (Gold Wing engine and transmission in a cruiser frame.) I used to ride the Valkyrie so when I bought the GoldWing she took the Valkyrie and added a sidecar for slow speed stability and eye appeal. I have about 80,000 miles under my seat riding these two bikes. Good luck on your course and your bypass. My best advice for riding is: 1.Wear protective gear, especially a helmet 2.Ride within your capacity. Two wheels are not very forgiving when you make a mistake. 3. When riding in trafic do not expect the other guy to see you. Ride defensively. 4. When you find yourself in a risky situation slow down. If you come off, the slower you go the less it hurts. They will tell you all this and more in the course. In spite of the risks I love to ride and sometimes if I can't take the bike it's not worth going. Best wishes Rich

Where are you taking the course? I went through Ayer- I believe it was Ironhorse. The best way to learn. I had riden a long time ago but took the course two years ago when I bought myself a 40th bd present-Suzuki maruder...800. What kind of bike do you have? I have a surgery date of 9/27 and it kills me to be missing the fall rides. They are the best here in New England. This coming sunday a group of us are heading up to the White Mountains. I know it won't be foliage time but it is a great ride anyway. good luck d

Thanks for all of the good advice! I am listening and heeding every piece of advice I get. I bought a 2004 Honda Shadow VLX and I'm taking the course at Massasoit College in Brockton (appropriately named Training Wheels) this weekend 9/24&25,and having my surgery on Monday 9/26. Busy weekend! In the meantime, my son has given me a couple of lessons on my bike (couldn't touch his Road King!). But, in his defense, he did offer me his Sportster. It would be too much bike (1200) for me so I turned it down and bought my "girlie bike". I think it's pretty; chrome,grey&black. I'm doing ok, just have trouble with the throttle.....clutch,gears & brakes,OK. This week I joined Rolling Thunder, Massachusetts Chapter 1, and hope to be joining them on their rides in the Spring. Their big one is to Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend. Not sure what I'll be capable of this Fall. They're a great group interested in veterans issues and that's right up my alley. I'm the State Sr. Vice of the VFW Ladies Aux. and work for the VA. Donna, good luck with your surgery and keep in touch! I usually go to the Lowell VFW a couple times a year for meetings.

Wow!! Nice ride!! My wife and I are the proud owners of a 1993 Goldwing Interstate. We recently compelted a two week trip from our home in Lake Wales, Fl. to Aurora Il. then on up to Minneapolis, Mn put over 4,200 miles on the trip. we had such a great time. We towed our Dart trailer behind the wing. we had a Diamond set cutom made for us after having WLS . Also since I lost my natural backrest I had to have one built in the seat. We had a great deal of fun riding the backroads and through the mountains. We have learned long ago to share meals or ask for "kiddie" portions when eating out. Our Doctor gave us a WLS card asking the restaurants to honor that request. Had no problems when we did that. BTW I now have over 110,000 happy miles on my wing. So if you se us on the road, please wave, we do Steve & Connie (PC)

Good to hear from you, Steve and Connie. My wife rides her own bike because she says she doesn't like to look at the back of my head all day. She took my old Valkyrie (50,000 miles) and put a sidecar on it for the slow speed stability. It's good for her but I still prefer two wheels to three. We did stop at a steak-house in Nebraska and the smallest steak was 16 oz! We asked to split this and the waitress was so concerned we would go away hungry. I thought this was so funny. I took about 6 oz, trimed off the fat and gristle and gave my wife the rest. We split the potato and she took the salad while I got a cup of soup. It was plenty for both of us. If you were in Aurora, IL you were just about in our back yard. We live 6 miles north. We wave to all bikers, even the scooters and the Harley's who don't wave back. Rubber side down and paint side up! Best Wishes Rich