The Part No One Talks About
3.20.2026
We all love a good adventure.
We share the photos, the sweeping views, the highlight reels of incredible days on two wheels. We talk about the rides, the roads, the stories.
But what I don’t see talked about nearly enough is what comes before all of that.
The planning.
Not the spontaneous, “who’s up for a ride today?” kind of plans. Those have their place, and they’re part of what makes riding so freeing.
I’m talking about the big ones.
The multi-day, multi-state, once-a-year kind of adventures. The ones that take weeks—sometimes months—of thought, research, and intention to bring to life.
Why don’t we talk about that part more?
Maybe it’s because some riders have the flexibility (and budget) to hand it off to a tour company. Or they know someone who’s already done the trip and can simply pass along the route, the stops, the “don’t miss this” list.
But what about everyone in the middle?
The riders working within tighter budgets.
The ones who want to explore somewhere new with their own crew.
The ones who don’t want a packaged tour—but don’t have a roadmap either.
That’s where things get interesting.
Where It All Begins
For me, planning an adventure always starts the same way:
Inspiration.
From this incredible ADV community—photos, ride reports, BDR Facebook groups, SheADV Trailside Talks, and the books written by riders who have gone before us.
I keep a running list. Nothing fancy—just quick notes in a travel journal or my phone. Places that catch my attention. Routes that spark curiosity.
And eventually, patterns start to form.
When I notice enough “dots” in the same region, I know it’s time to build something.
This Year’s Ride: Texas to New Mexico
Like many riders balancing a full-time job, I don’t have unlimited flexibility. For me, it’s usually one major trip per year.
So I make it count.
This year, that meant building a 12-day ride from Texas into New Mexico.
The idea started forming when new BDR-X routes were released in Texas Hill Country. At the same time, memories from riding Big Bend the year before were still very much alive. I knew I wanted to go back—but go deeper.
Ride more. See more. Connect more of the region.
Once I zoomed out and looked at the map, the vision became clear:
Return to Texas
Ride sections of the new BDR-X
Revisit Big Bend
Extend into parts of the New Mexico BDR
With Clay offering to trailer our bikes out, it opened up even more opportunity to maximize time in the region.
Then came timing.
Spring made the most sense—avoiding the intense heat of Big Bend while still staying ahead of snow in northern sections of New Mexico.
That gave me roughly six months to plan.
The Deep Dive (This Is Where It Gets Real)
From there, it became months of research.
Studying maps.
Watching ride videos.
Reading firsthand experiences from other riders.
Trying to answer one key question:
Is this route actually doable—for us?
I spent countless hours working across multiple screens:
Google Maps
REVER
onX Offroad
BDR maps and resources
For me, REVER is the most intuitive platform for building routes on a desktop. It allows me to map out detailed turns—especially important for off-road sections where other platforms can struggle.
When terrain is questionable (which, as a beginner-intermediate rider, it often is), I cross-reference with onX Offroad. Being able to visually assess terrain and read user comments about difficulty is incredibly valuable.
Eventually, everything starts to take shape.
And for this trip, that meant landing on a 12-day route that felt ambitious—but achievable.
Building the Route
Once I know the trip is possible, I begin building the full route in REVER.
This is where things shift from dreaming to designing.
Every turn.
Every section.
Every connection between routes.
And then comes one of my favorite parts…
The Experience Beyond the Ride
Food stops.
Coffee spots.
Small towns.
Hidden gems.
Motocamping locations.
Unique Airbnbs.
For me, the experience off the bike matters just as much as the ride itself.
I love finding places with character. Places that feel like part of the story—not just a place to sleep.
While I understand the appeal of fully unplanned, dispersed camping, I personally prefer knowing where I’m landing each night. It allows me to stay present during the ride instead of worrying about logistics when I’m already tired.
And maybe that’s a Northeast thing—we don’t exactly grow up with the mindset of “just camp anywhere.” 😅
As I lock in accommodations and discover meaningful stops along the way, I add everything into the route to make sure nothing gets missed.
The System (This Is the Operations Manager in Me)
Once everything is mapped, I take it one step further.
I create a detailed document that includes:
Daily mileage
Estimated timing
Key stops
Notes (fuel, food, cash needs, etc.)
I print a small version for my tank bag and keep a digital copy on my phone.
It might sound like overkill—but this is the part that makes the trip feel seamless.
When everything is laid out, you’re free to focus on what actually matters:
The ride.
The scenery.
The experience.
A Quick Note on Navigation (Learned the Hard Way)
No system is foolproof.
Apps crash. Devices glitch. Routes change.
That’s why we never rely on just one.
I build all of my routes in REVER, but we also load GPX files into a Garmin unit. Running both systems simultaneously gives us a way to cross-check, reroute if needed, and stay on track—even when things don’t go according to plan.
Because they won’t.
And that’s part of the adventure too.
So… Is It Foolproof?
Not even close.
Plans change.
Weather shifts.
Roads close.
Detours happen.
But having a plan—having a system—is what gives you the freedom to adapt.
It’s what allows you to stay safe, stay present, and actually enjoy the ride instead of constantly figuring things out on the fly.
And maybe that’s the part no one talks about.
The planning isn’t what takes away from the adventure.
It’s what makes it possible.
If You’re the Planner Type…
Then you get it.
You know the satisfaction of building something from scratch. Of connecting the dots. Of turning an idea into a real, rideable journey.
And if you’ve got your own tips, tricks, or systems—I’d genuinely love to hear them.
Because the best part of this community is how much we learn from each other.
And If You’re Not…
That’s okay too.
Because truthfully?
This—right here—is one of my favorite parts of the entire adventure.
The building of it.
The shaping of it.
The quiet work that happens long before the engine starts.
At the end of the day, whether you plan every mile or figure it out as you go…
Just make sure you go.
IF YOU’D RATHER NOT GO ALONE…
Not everyone loves the planning side of an adventure.
And honestly? I get it.
While some riders thrive on mapping every detail, others just want to show up, ride, and experience it all without the stress of building it from scratch.
If you’re somewhere in between—or you have a trip in mind but don’t know where to start—I’m always happy to help shape the route, share what I’ve learned, or build something alongside you.
Because for me, this is just as much a part of the adventure as the ride itself.
From the Saddle — North Fork Moto
Motorcycles. Backroads. Books. And the stories we collect along the way.