Route 66 Rider Lessons
Every lesson we learned over 14 days and 2,451 miles on the Mother Road, extracted directly from the ride journal and converted into practical rider advice. Each tip comes from a genuine experience \u2014 no borrowed wisdom, no theory.
Heat
Route 66 in summer is hot — genuinely, dangerously hot. The temperature on our bikes climbed from a soggy 15°C in Chicago to a blistering 44°C crossing the Mojave. Here’s how we learned to manage it.
Buy a cooling vest the moment the temperature heads into the 30s. We were all converts within a day — it became the must-have accessory of Route 66. Get one early, before sizes sell out (Tulsa Harley-Davidson had none in my size).
From Day 4Soak the cooling vest in cold water before every long afternoon. Once you’re moving, the airflow through your jacket creates a cooling effect that lasts a couple of hours — it’s not air conditioning, but in mid-30s heat it makes an enormous difference.
From Day 6At 44°C, riding feels like someone’s pointing an industrial hairdryer at your face. Keep your visor firmly shut — cracking it open for airflow just feeds you hot air.
From Day 13Pair your cooling vest with an ice-soaked skull cap and neck tube. The desert air dries everything completely before the next stop — astonishing how fast 44° air evaporates water.
From Day 13Shorten your riding stints and add extra cooling stops in extreme heat. Steve judged it perfectly all day — don’t push through when the thermometer is in the 40s.
From Day 13Once the temperature passes 30°C, it’s reasonable to pack the riding jacket away for a short urban run. We never normally ride without them, but into Tulsa at well into the 30s everyone was wilting. Weigh protection against heat exhaustion.
From Day 4Treat any walk-in refrigerator like a gift from heaven. Ten overheated bikers standing in a petrol-station ‘Beer Cave’ looked ridiculous to everyone else — to us it was paradise.
From Day 13A relentless crosswind in 36°C heat demands constant steering corrections. It’s not difficult riding, but it isn’t relaxing either — factor the fatigue into your day.
From Day 7A hotel swimming pool after a hot riding day is close to medicinal. Make a pool a non-negotiable when you’re booking in the desert states.
From Day 13
Hydration
Hydration was the single biggest daily consideration from Oklahoma onwards. The water bottles did as much work as the cooling vests — here’s what we learned about staying ahead of it.
Drink plenty of water, but visit the toilet before you leave the fuel stop. My bladder and I had very different opinions on whether we could make the final run into Springfield. A close-run thing.
From Day 1Use the toilets at every single stop. By Day 2 I was making full use of the nearby restrooms after yesterday’s lesson. Make it a reflex.
From Day 2Dehydration is a real risk in heat and wind combined — we were warned repeatedly. Drink plenty of water before you feel thirsty; by the time you’re thirsty you’re already behind.
From Day 4Use lip balm in the heat and wind. A small thing that stops a small misery becoming a big one. My lips have never looked so luscious.
From Day 4Treat hydration as non-negotiable on long hot days. The water bottles work just as hard as the cooling vests — don’t choose between them, use both.
From Day 7Build more regular water stops into the day as the temperature climbs. Steve started adding them automatically past 30°C — follow a guide’s lead on this, they know the country.
From Day 8Carry an icy spray bottle. Chantelle’s hand-pump drenching became legendary — the pump barks like a seal and the freezing water hits like a reset button. Every single time Sandie squealed, and every single time she came back for more.
From Day 13
Fuel
Fuel sounds simple until you’re crossing 260 miles of empty Mojave with twenty Harleys to keep moving. Here’s how the routine sharpened up over the trip.
Refuelling twenty Harleys is a fine art: two bikes onto the pumps at a time, everyone fuelled quickly, regroup in the car park, grab some water, back on the road. Practise the routine — it saves a fortune in standing-around time.
From Day 8Don’t let your fuel gauge run low. I had a lapse in concentration and let mine get lower than intended on the Santa Fe run. We found the group easily, but Chantelle still looped back to check — treat the gauge as your responsibility, not the guide’s.
From Day 8Fuel up first thing, even if the tank isn’t empty. We’d become remarkably efficient at the fuel-stop routine — the station directly across from the hotel was our first stop more than once.
From Day 13Crossing a time zone westward gives you an extra hour — perfect for a long day with plenty of stops. Use the free hour on fuel and water stops, not on sleeping in.
From Day 8Punctures happen. Chantal picked one up at Cool Springs and Steve stayed behind to organise the tyre change while the group carried on. Expect a puncture somewhere on a 2,500-mile trip and don’t let it derail the day.
From Day 13
Group Riding
Eighteen Harleys don’t ride themselves. Riding in formation through unfamiliar traffic is a skill that takes a few days to click — here’s what we learned about staying together and staying upright.
Leave extra following distance on wet roads. ABS does its job, but it can’t defeat physics on greasy tarmac — on our Day 2 a sudden stop in the wet left nowhere to go and both bikes came down. Low speed, no serious harm, but a timely reminder.
From Day 2Watch the guide for weather cues. When your guide — who’s ridden Route 66 for sixteen seasons — decides to put his waterproofs on, you don’t argue. When he advises wet-weather gear, put it on before you join the freeway. Five minutes later you’ll know why.
From Day 3The interstate keeps you awake — stay switched on. Cars and huge trucks pass on both sides at 65–70mph and the traffic just keeps flowing around you. It isn’t frightening, but it certainly isn’t relaxing.
From Day 3A couple of phone calls, a Google Maps pin and WhatsApp live location will reunite a split group. Graham took a wrong turn out of Tulsa and the Welsh boys got caught at a junction — fifteen minutes later everyone was back together.
From Day 6Riding in formation through busy city traffic is a skill that takes a few days to click. By Day 6 we were following Steve out of Tulsa like ducklings behind their mum. Give yourself those first few days to find the rhythm.
From Day 6When another tour group pulls up behind you, get your orders in quickly. We arrived at the U-Drop Inn ahead of a second group and were glad we did — within minutes the place was packed with hot, thirsty bikers.
From Day 7The biker wave is a precise level of effortless nonchalance — a relaxed flick of the left hand that says ‘I see you, you’re one of us, enjoy the ride.’ Back home on the proper side of the road it’s harder; there’s a very exact level of cool required.
From Day 12
Harley Rentals
We rode EagleRider Harleys the whole way. Renting a bike in a new country throws up its own lessons — here’s what we learned about picking up, running and handing back a hired Harley.
Take it steady on Day 1 — new bike, new country, riding on the right-hand side of the road for the first time. The Harleys were lined up waiting with our names hanging from the handlebars. Give the first morning time to settle.
From Day 1Trust the bike. The Harleys handled a muddy dirt-road detour far better than any of us expected. Don’t underestimate a modern Harley on a rough surface — steady throttle, look where you want to go.
From Day 3Hunt for the gear you need early. We chased cooling vests into Tulsa Harley-Davidson; stock and sizes were limited. If you miss out, a quick detour to Cycle Gear (or the local equivalent) will sort it — we did exactly that for Rob.
From Day 4A cooling vest bought a few days in was one of the best purchases of the trip. Don’t wait to see if you need one — in summer you will. Budget for at least one mid-trip gear purchase.
From Day 10Expect to hand the bike back and feel it. Engines switched off, helmets off, panniers emptied for the last time — ‘just like that, it was over.’ It’s an odd, quiet moment; give yourself time for it.
From Day 14Punctures get handled by the tour team, not you. Chantal picked up a puncture at Cool Springs; Steve stayed behind to organise the tyre change while the group carried on. If you’re on a guided rental, trust the support — if you’re self-guided, know your rental’s roadside assistance.
From Day 13
Packing
Packing is the lesson that keeps on teaching. By Day 4 my bag was creaking at the seams; by Day 14 we were buying extra luggage. Here’s the reality of packing for a Route 66 trip.
A few small acquisitions accumulate fast. A T-shirt here, a shot glass there, the odd Route 66 souvenir, and suddenly the bag you packed so carefully in Chicago requires someone to sit on it before the zip will close. Pack light and leave room for souvenirs from the start.
From Day 4By Day 4 I was already running out of room — and we were only a quarter of the way through. Whatever you think you’ll need for two weeks, you’ll also need space for what you’ll buy. Build the slack in at the Chicago end.
From Day 4Budget for extra luggage on the way home. Somewhere over two weeks we all accumulated considerably more souvenirs than our suitcases were designed to hold — a Ross Dress for Less run for an extra bag became essential.
From Day 14Carry a cooling vest, an ice-soaked skull cap and a neck tube as your desert kit. I’d invested in all three by the Mojave crossing and they were worth every penny in 44°C heat.
From Day 13Use lay days to catch up on washing, empty cameras and recharge batteries. A rest day isn’t wasted time — it’s logistics, and it lets you enjoy the ride days properly.
From Day 5
Photography
Every day on Route 66 deserves a working camera. Here’s what we learned about capturing it — and about when to put the camera down.
Sometimes you have to stop taking photographs and just soak it in. On the Chain of Rocks Bridge we parked the Harleys and simply stood there taking in the views across the Mississippi. The memory matters more than the shot.
From Day 2Some places bypass words — and the camera — altogether. At the Acoma Sky City Viewpoint, photographs didn’t even begin to capture the scale, colour and silence. Stand there. Feel it. The camera is secondary.
From Day 10Let a lay day reset your photography. We used rest days to empty cameras and recharge batteries — a clean card and a full battery for the next riding day.
From Day 5Sometimes slowing down lets you notice things you’d otherwise ride straight past. The best Route 66 photos often come from a walk, not a ride.
From Day 5Every direction offers a photograph in the right places. Hackberry General Store in the Arizona desert — vintage cars, rusting petrol pumps, decades of history — gave us a shot from every angle. Build time into the photo-rich stops.
From Day 12Golden hour at altitude is special. We watched the sun disappear behind the mountains from the Ronda Hotel rooftop in Santa Fe, bathing the city in the golden light photographers dream about. Plan one sunset you don’t ride through.
From Day 9
Accommodation
Where you sleep matters as much as where you ride when the day finishes in 36°C. Here’s what we learned about choosing and using your overnight stops.
Make a swimming pool a priority when booking in the hot states. After 36°C in the saddle, the Embassy Suites pool was absolute heaven — bike gear off, swimming shorts on, straight in. There wasn’t even a discussion.
From Day 6Check whether the pool is actually open before you get your hopes up. After two long, hot days into Santa Fe the hotel pool was closed — showers had to suffice. Ask at booking, not at check-in.
From Day 8Pick hotels with a bar if an evening drink matters to you. The Tulsa hotel had no bar — after a day like that a quiet nightcap would have gone down nicely, and instead it was straight upstairs. Probably no bad thing.
From Day 5Book ahead for the things that sell out — not just beds. The Gateway Arch evening tickets sold out on us. Lesson learned: book the must-do attraction when you book the room.
From Day 2Use lay days properly: bodies rested, washing caught up, cameras emptied, batteries recharged. A rest day built into the trip at the right moment lets you enjoy the ride days instead of surviving them.
From Day 5The best hotel of the trip had an outdoor pool and a warm spa pool to reflect in after a desert crossing. Space, a kitchenette and water to recover in turned a hot day into a great evening. Worth paying a little more for in the desert.
From Day 11
Restaurants
The food on Route 66 was consistently better than we expected — and occasionally surprising. Here’s what we learned about eating well on the road.
Some of the best food turns up where you’d least expect it. Who would have thought some of the best sushi I’ve ever eaten would be in the middle of rural Illinois? It was an unplanned stop after our spill — don’t write off a town by its looks.
From Day 2Watch for the large-group surcharge. Del’s Restaurant in Tucumcari added an automatic 20% for our table — bringing twenty hungry bikers through the door felt like it deserved a discount rather than an extra charge. Budget for it; it’s standard in the US.
From Day 8When another tour group pulls up behind you, get your orders in quickly. We beat a second EagleRider group into the U-Drop Inn and were glad we did — within minutes it was packed.
From Day 7On long hot days, don’t linger too long at lunch. The miles still have to be ridden — a quick Arby’s and back in the saddle is sometimes exactly the right call.
From Day 7In extreme heat, air conditioning is the real menu. The McDonald’s in Needles had one overwhelming attraction — cool air. Most of us just ordered cold drinks and sat quietly. My iced coffee tasted like one of life’s great luxuries.
From Day 13Don’t be precious about the bucket-list place. The queue at Bubba Gump on Santa Monica Pier killed it for us, so we sampled Japanese-inspired hot dogs from Japadog instead — only on Route 66 could that feel entirely appropriate. Great food, no wait.
From Day 14
Budget
The big costs — rental, flights, hotels — are obvious. It’s the small, accumulating ones that catch you. Here’s what we learned about the money you don’t plan for.
Souvenirs are the silent budget-killer. A T-shirt here, a shot glass there, the odd Route 66 souvenir — by Day 4 the bag (and the budget) was creaking. Decide your souvenir budget before you leave, or it decides itself.
From Day 4Shop around for the same souvenir. We found a T-shirt shop in Williams selling everything around ten dollars cheaper than anywhere else we’d visited. The same Route 66 tee varied wildly in price — hold off if the first shop feels steep.
From Day 12Budget for the large-group surcharge at restaurants. A 20% auto-gratuity for big tables is standard in the US — it surprised us at Del’s in Tucumcari. Build it into your meal budget if you’re riding in a group.
From Day 8Budget for extra luggage home. We all ended up at Ross Dress for Less buying an extra bag each. Souvenirs over two weeks outgrew every suitcase — a $30 spare duffel is cheaper than an airline overweight fee.
From Day 14Sometimes the free thing is the best thing. Steve’s evening briefings, a hotel happy hour, the Oklahoma City Memorial, an Independence Day drone show — the trip’s best moments often cost nothing. Don’t assume you have to spend to enjoy.
From Day 11
Motorcycle Gear
The gear made or broke days. Here’s what we learned about what to wear — and what to add mid-trip — across two weeks of wildly varying conditions.
‘Waterproof’ motorcycle gear is a fairly flexible description. Our first taste of Route 66 was Chicago traffic in heavy rain with spray from lorries — and we discovered the limits of ‘waterproof’. Bring proper wet-weather kit, not just ‘shower-resistant’.
From Day 1A cooling vest is the must-have accessory once the temperature hits the 30s. Get one early — by Tulsa, sizes were limited and everyone wanted one. The airflow through a soaked jacket creates a cooling effect that lasts a couple of hours.
From Day 4Use lip balm in the heat and wind. A tiny piece of kit that stops cracked, painful lips on long hot days. My lips have never looked so luscious.
From Day 4Sunscreen plus heat and wind at 70mph washes straight into your eyes. Riding with streaming eyes is far from ideal — wipe early and often, and consider a sweat-resistant or sport formula.
From Day 10Pair a cooling vest with an ice-soaked skull cap and neck tube for the desert. The three together turned a 44°C Mojave crossing from brutal to manageable. The desert air dries them completely between stops.
From Day 13It’s reasonable to pack the riding jacket away for a short, very hot urban run. We’d never normally ride without them, but into Tulsa in the high 30s everyone was wilting. Weigh protection against heat exhaustion — the heat can be the bigger danger.
From Day 4Cruise control at 45mph through a national park in just a T-shirt was one of the most enjoyable riding experiences of the whole trip. Once the speed’s low, the scenery’s stunning and the traffic’s gone, the kit can flex with the conditions.
From Day 11