{"id":1676,"date":"2014-03-06T10:01:23","date_gmt":"2014-03-06T18:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/?p=1676"},"modified":"2014-03-06T12:22:21","modified_gmt":"2014-03-06T20:22:21","slug":"run-for-the-wall-preparing-for-a-ride-across-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/run-for-the-wall-preparing-for-a-ride-across-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Run For the Wall: Preparing for a Ride Across the US"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Motorcyclist\"<\/a>In 1989, motorcyclists and Vietnam veterans James Gregory and Bill Evans set out on a two-wheeled mission across America to raise awareness about the \u201cthousands of men and women [in the armed forces] still unaccounted for from all of our wars.\u201d Now called Run for the Wall<\/a>, the tradition continues this May and organizers expect to attract 350,000 participants who will join the cause on a 10-day ride to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC, stopping at schools, memorial sites and Veteran\u2019s hospitals along the way.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been on a long road trip, you know the basics of what to expect. But this event is not your typical road trip, to say the least. For riders joining for the first time, there are some things to know before setting out on your two-wheeled, cross country journey:<\/p>\n

Luggage rack > Backpack<\/h3>\n

Just because you can\u2019t pack a suitcase on a motorcycle doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t have luggage options. But a backpack will never be one of them, at least not on long-distance runs. According to the experts at OpenRoadJourney backpacks to motorcyclists are \u201cshoulder pinching, posture ruining, loud wind-flapping-ear-drum-popper at speed back attachment you wish you\u2019d never brought.\u201d Instead, they suggest heading to a motorcycle store<\/a> to invest in a luggage rack that mounts on the back of the bike and can be used to secure a small to medium-sized duffel bag behind the rider. You should also look into purchasing saddlebags for extra storage space.<\/p>\n

Everything you need<\/h3>\n

Safety gear is first and foremost. As a rider, you should already own leathers, gloves and a helmet (and wear them always), but when it comes to everything else, packing light is key<\/a>. Guy Boutin of BamaRider.com says of packing, \u201cWeight = drag and it will dog you the entire tour if you have too much. I only bring stuff I’m going to use, and use often.\u201d Clothing must be kept light, but remember to prepare for inclement weather. RFTW is in May, so the chances you\u2019ll run into a blizzard are slim, but it is highly likely you\u2019ll get a bit of rain at some point. Water resistant gloves and boot covers are a must, as are rain jacket and pants.<\/p>\n

The rest of your bare necessities include:<\/p>\n