(Above, a clip from Tierra del Fuego during some route research, where it's difficult to even stand still in such wind.)
"How windy is it in Patagonia?" - "What's it like riding a motorcycle in Tierra del Fuego?" - "Can I handle the riding terrain?"
We're getting these questions almost every day now, and that's exactly why RIDE Adventures exists: To consult with you about your ideal motorcycle riding vacation AND make your reservations for you!
Some riders can handle the wind in Patagonia, and others cannot. The best thing you can do to determine this ahead of time is to CONTACT US and start a discussion about whether or not Patagonia is right for you.
"How windy is it in Patagonia?" On certain sections of your journey through the Andes Mountains in southern Chile and Argentina, the Argentine side can be extremely windy. By about 9:30 a.m., the sun has heated the surface of the "pampas" of Argentina, and cold Andean winds come rushing down the eastern side and across Ruta 40 in an incredible hurry. It's not uncommon for a steady 50+ mph west wind to then continue through to the early evening, and because these portions of the trip are so wide open, just taking off your helmet or gloves for a rest break might mean you'll never see them again. (They could get ripped away by the winds, with few fences or anything to stop them for blowing across the country.)
Again, it's best to consult with us about whether or not such riding conditions are something you can handle. Generally speaking, riders with a solid history of off-pavement riding will make it through the Patagonia wind safely if they keep a moderate speed. Then again, that's an overlooked truth about all motorcycle riding: If you just swallow your pride and slow down a bit, you can make it through just about anything!
Slowing down might not be an option for Dakar Rally riders, but are you getting paid to ride so fast?
(Photos courtesy of motorcycle.com and ktm.com/se)
Rule #1 in motorcycle safety: Make sure you are being seen on your motorcycle ride!
An overwhelming percentage of car-motorcycle crashes involve the car driver saying "I never even saw the motorcycle." Sad as this may be, it's also a reminder that we should be taking steps toward making sure our bikes are "Impossible to Ignore."
As the folks at Hyper Lites® are showing us with their modulating brake & running lights, car drivers are going to be running out of excuses once you've installed their lighting system. Affordable and easy to install, why wait for someone to claim they never saw you?
As we've been predicting, this season's Patagonia motorcycle rentals and tours are just about sold out already.
(Above, with Pete, one of the esteemed KTM Riders there at the rally!)
The 13th annual Curve Cowboy Reunion now behind us, what a fantastic gathering it was!
A collection of mostly BMW Riders converged on Duluth, Minnesota this past week in the name of motorcycle cameraderie, riding, dining, and charity. In the end it was a huge success, finishing with one of the greatest presentations to a charity I'd seen in a long time.
Excitement for our upcoming Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail tours is building, and each inquiry or booking comes with questions about preparedness. ("What do I need to bring???")
For tires, you'll definitely need something in the "dual sport" category, hopefully with about a 50/50 split of pavement vs. non-paved capability. For this, check with Waukesha, Wisconsin-based Cyclenutz for the Heidenau K60 Scout or other options for your bike.
Pleased to announce: Eric Lange from RIDE Adventures will be doing an adventure riding seminar at Schlossmann's Powersports Milwaukee (BMW & Triumph) on September 15th!
Another gripe new owners of a BMW R1200GS or GS Adventure will have is that the original skid plate that BMW gives us is a bit of a joke.
