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Check straps and bungee cords for tightness after a few hours on the road , and re-route them if necessary .
If it ’ s your first multi-day ride with luggage , do yourself a big favor : Pack your bike with everything you intend to take and go for a ride , several hours at least . Stop at some point and check the straps on your luggage to make sure they stayed tight , that the load didn ’ t shift and that nothing drooped enough to put nylon in contact with a hot muffler . Make sure you haven ’ t packed so much stuff you can ’ t get on or off the bike easily .
Do some braking drills — the extra weight and its placement will likely increase braking distances — and get used to the handling of a loaded bike . Be sure to crank up the preload to account for the weight of the cargo , and a passenger if you ’ re taking one .
Finally , don ’ t get carried away playing the “ what if ” game . You can ’ t plan for every emergency , but you should carry a toolkit , a tire repair kit and a small first-aid kit . Anything else you desperately need can probably be bought , borrowed or rented somewhere along the way . Anyway , some people will tell you the adventure doesn ’ t begin until the plan goes off the rails . If you bring nothing else , pack your sense of humor . It ’ ll get you out of a jam when nothing else will .
— JERRY SMITH