Thought before you go

Smokintoad · Sep 16th, 2009, 05:36 PM

In light of the recent missing biker post>>> Rider missing since Sept. 4th - Harley Davidson Community , it got me thinking.

When folks go on day trips, weekenders, or longer tours, what information is available to family and friends in case of trouble?
How would someone know where you were in that case? Do you tell anyone your basic travel plan before you leave? Do you leave a map of your planned route? Do you call-in to family and friends along the way? Do you communicate trough the internet (forums, twitter, facebook, my space, etc.) as you go? Would anyone know where to look or how? Are there "tools" or safety equipment available to help you be found?

There are some things I do before a ride, but I was curious about what others do. I'm sure there are many great ideas to share.

superbacs · Sep 16th, 2009, 05:38 PM

I believe that you must leave your trip plan, your itinerary, and bring with you a cell phone.

Dr. Doolittle · Sep 16th, 2009, 05:46 PM

I'll admit, I'm bad about this. My wife knows I'm going to go ride for a couple hours but she has no idea where I'm going. I bring a cell phone but it wouldn't be much help if I went off the road and was knocked unconscious. Of course, the same applies if I went off the road in my car and the same thing happened.

chevito · Sep 16th, 2009, 05:46 PM

I was told that phone co can locate your cell by satellite, is it true?

The Tank · Sep 16th, 2009, 05:49 PM

My family can track my BlackBerry via Google Map Latitude. It pinpoints my location on a Google map. It is a free service.

There are also many bike tracking systems that work via GPS being sold now. They can track your bike if it is stolen or show if you crash on some lonely road. Much like OnStar does for a car.

pru7536 · Sep 16th, 2009, 06:06 PM

Smokintoad, I think you are asking a very important question that perhaps, I for one may not have taken seriously enough. My standard operating procedure is to call the missus at 2000 every day that I am gone. The only problem is not all cell phones work all the time all across the country. I found that out in July ’06 when I took a 5316 mile adventure. The missus knew where I was going, but she didn’t know by which route. I didn’t either! There were a couple of days where I was unable to call her due to no service. As I was going through Colorado, the thought crossed my mind that if I ran off the road, I wouldn’t be found for a significant period of time. I will look forward to see what others do also.

Hobbit · Sep 16th, 2009, 06:17 PM

my Iphone can be located anywhere in Europe to within 5m through a program i belong to called mobile me, i would leave my number and details and it can be traced were its travelling, was used by a friend when i did the IBA, when ever it stopped moving for more than a couple of mins they would ring me

Breeze3at · Sep 16th, 2009, 06:32 PM

I guess I'm still behind times, I tell my wife I'm goin' for a ride, back about XX.
If she goes with me, nobody knows where we are or when to expect us back.
Nobody would know if we didn't come home for days.
I finally got a cell phone, but seldom turn it on. I should be more proactive about it,,,, but,,,,, maybe next ride.

smitty901 · Sep 16th, 2009, 07:21 PM

I may tell others were i am going. But I do not go out of my way to do so.
I just go

paulmack · Sep 17th, 2009, 09:24 AM

Good question. I always carry a cell phone with me but like some others have said you don't always have a signal and if you're unconcious it wouldn't do you any good. The cell phone co. can locate your cell as long as it's turned on and they can ping it. You can set up an emergency contact folder on your cell that authorities can get to and contact someone if you're unconcious and found. With things the way they are in the world today we should do more to let people know where we are going to be.

Sep 16th, 2009, 05:36 PM	#1
Smokintoad Contributor$ Ride: 2009 Road Glide Join Date: Jun 23rd, 2009 Location: Central California Posts: 95 My Mood:	Thought before you go In light of the recent missing biker post>>> Rider missing since Sept. 4th - Harley Davidson Community , it got me thinking. When folks go on day trips, weekenders, or longer tours, what information is available to family and friends in case of trouble? How would someone know where you were in that case? Do you tell anyone your basic travel plan before you leave? Do you leave a map of your planned route? Do you call-in to family and friends along the way? Do you communicate trough the internet (forums, twitter, facebook, my space, etc.) as you go? Would anyone know where to look or how? Are there "tools" or safety equipment available to help you be found? There are some things I do before a ride, but I was curious about what others do. I'm sure there are many great ideas to share. __________________ Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen. - Mark Twain

Sep 16th, 2009, 05:38 PM	#2
superbacs New Family Join Date: Oct 26th, 2008 Posts: 3	Re: Thought before you go I believe that you must leave your trip plan, your itinerary, and bring with you a cell phone.

Sep 16th, 2009, 05:46 PM	#3
Dr. Doolittle Contributor$ Ride: 2008 Street Glide Join Date: Feb 1st, 2008 Location: Woodstock, Georgia Posts: 3,872 My Mood:	Re: Thought before you go I'll admit, I'm bad about this. My wife knows I'm going to go ride for a couple hours but she has no idea where I'm going. I bring a cell phone but it wouldn't be much help if I went off the road and was knocked unconscious. Of course, the same applies if I went off the road in my car and the same thing happened. __________________ 2008 Street Glide

Sep 16th, 2009, 05:46 PM	#4
chevito Start The Engine Ride: 2009 Sperster Custom Join Date: May 27th, 2009 Location: San Diego Ca. Posts: 40 My Mood:	Re: Thought before you go I was told that phone co can locate your cell by satellite, is it true?

Sep 16th, 2009, 05:49 PM	#5
The Tank Contributor$ Ride: 2008 Electra Glide Standard Join Date: Feb 21st, 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 451 My Mood:	Re: Thought before you go My family can track my BlackBerry via Google Map Latitude. It pinpoints my location on a Google map. It is a free service. There are also many bike tracking systems that work via GPS being sold now. They can track your bike if it is stolen or show if you crash on some lonely road. Much like OnStar does for a car.

Sep 16th, 2009, 06:06 PM	#6
pru7536 Contributor$ Ride: '07 Ultra Classic Join Date: Jul 11th, 2009 Location: Skinquarter, VA Posts: 27	Re: Thought before you go Smokintoad, I think you are asking a very important question that perhaps, I for one may not have taken seriously enough. My standard operating procedure is to call the missus at 2000 every day that I am gone. The only problem is not all cell phones work all the time all across the country. I found that out in July ’06 when I took a 5316 mile adventure. The missus knew where I was going, but she didn’t know by which route. I didn’t either! There were a couple of days where I was unable to call her due to no service. As I was going through Colorado, the thought crossed my mind that if I ran off the road, I wouldn’t be found for a significant period of time. I will look forward to see what others do also. __________________ Semper Fi! Mad Dog

Sep 16th, 2009, 06:17 PM	#7
Hobbit Moderators Ride: 09 CVO Ultra Classic Join Date: May 18th, 2007 Location: The Shires UK Posts: 8,737 My Mood:	Re: Thought before you go my Iphone can be located anywhere in Europe to within 5m through a program i belong to called mobile me, i would leave my number and details and it can be traced were its travelling, was used by a friend when i did the IBA, when ever it stopped moving for more than a couple of mins they would ring me __________________ Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. >>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Sep 16th, 2009, 06:32 PM	#8
Breeze3at Community Star Ride: 2007 Electra Glide Classic Join Date: Aug 18th, 2009 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 687 My Mood:	Re: Thought before you go I guess I'm still behind times, I tell my wife I'm goin' for a ride, back about XX. If she goes with me, nobody knows where we are or when to expect us back. Nobody would know if we didn't come home for days. I finally got a cell phone, but seldom turn it on. I should be more proactive about it,,,, but,,,,, maybe next ride. __________________ I'm catching up on all those naps I didn't take as a child.

Sep 16th, 2009, 07:21 PM	#9
smitty901 Retired Moderators Ride: 2007 Road glide Join Date: Jan 1st, 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,959 My Mood:	Re: Thought before you go I may tell others were i am going. But I do not go out of my way to do so. I just go __________________ The Infantry leads the way

Sep 17th, 2009, 09:24 AM	#10
paulmack Play The Throttle Ride: 2006 Heritage Softail Classic Join Date: Sep 9th, 2009 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 168 My Mood:	Re: Thought before you go Good question. I always carry a cell phone with me but like some others have said you don't always have a signal and if you're unconcious it wouldn't do you any good. The cell phone co. can locate your cell as long as it's turned on and they can ping it. You can set up an emergency contact folder on your cell that authorities can get to and contact someone if you're unconcious and found. With things the way they are in the world today we should do more to let people know where we are going to be.

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Thought before you go

Road Trips/Touring