I found the following suggestions for improving the quality of life while touring.

http://www.ama-cycle.org/roadride/Riderresc/33secrets.asp

My favorites were #15, #19 and #22.

Of course, depending on your cell phone, 15 & 22 might have to be used together.

Anyway, hope these can help somebody later on.

Some really good tips there :smiley_th

Thanks for the great ideas! The sharing of helpful resources like this is one of the reasons why I love this web site!

I just returned from a 1,400+ mile trip. Here are the tips from the list of 33 that most resonated with me...

5) On high-mileage days, you’ll feel a lot better if you carry eyedrops and use them every time you stop for gas.

Even with a full-face helmet my eyes grew itchy and weary. Eye drops would have really helped.

7) Take a tip from off-road riders and carry a backpack hydration system so you can drink while you ride. A must for arid weather.

This would be very useful for me since: 1) I don't have a cup holder, like some of you do (:)), and 2) I'm also a long distance runner.

11) Use earplugs to help reduce wind noise. You can get them from most mail-order shops or dealers, or in bulk from safety-equipment supply houses.

I don't wear ear plugs on short rides, but I wore ear plugs on this trip at the suggestion of another rider on this site. It REALLY helped reduce fatigue, and (I imagine) protected my ears (which have already taken a beating from loud rock & roll). I use ETY Plugs ~ not only do they work well, but they have a connecting cord which helps me keep track of them. (For example, when I stop for gas or talk on my cell phone, I take the plugs out of my ears and they dangle on the string around my neck instead of dropping on a puddle of oil or dribbling down a sewer grate.)

20) Especially if you’re riding alone, wear a dog-tag with your name and contact info. You can get them lots of places, including your local army surplus store.

Another option is a tag that wraps with velcro around your ankle. I wear one of these "ID bracelets" when I go out on long runs. They're available via running stores and magazines. In addition to my name and contact info, it has an emergency contact, my blood type, and the notification that I'm an organ donor.

21) Take a look back at where you were parked every time you leave someplace. You’d be amazed at what you find.

I left my cell phone on the sidewalk by a fast food joint. Fortunately, I remembered it a couple miles down the road, and when I returned it was still there. But just looking around before leaving would have saved me the hassle!

25) On a long tour, plan for at least one day every week of doing nothing. Time is the ultimate luxury, and can mean the difference between a vacation and an endurance run.

I traveled 4 days, and sandwiched in the middle were 3 days of doing nothing. That made the 1500 miles do-able.

7) Take a tip from off-road riders and carry a backpack hydration system so you can drink while you ride. A must for arid weather.

Foxhound has a tank bag with a built in hydro blatter. He said it really comes in handy. I have two of the backpack type ones. Guess I'm gonna need to put one on the Vulcan !

great tips ...........thanks