@Shawn K - In Sweden 14 year olds can drive "tractors" limited to 2 persons and a max speed of 20 mph. LINK Common in other EU countries at different ages too.
BBGs are all about managing the stopped time. If you're just getting fuel, no bio break or food off the bike, examine everything you do and ask yourself if it's really necessary. I see a lot of people taking off helmets and gloves at gas only stops. Simply asking yourself why you do something, then figuring out if there is a way to avoid that will shave time off your stops.
Example - The need to remove a glove to get a credit card out of a wallet. Solution - Keep a couple of credit cards and/or some cash in a jacket pocket that you can access w/o removing a glove at gas stops. I use the sleeve pocket on my Klim and Aerostich for this, with a small credit card folder that holds only two cards. I have a single $20 bill tucked behind one of the card, just in case.
I don't take off gloves, helmet or even get off the bike on a BBG unless I need to go inside. Some US gas stations still have bathrooms outside, meaning I only need to remove one glove unless I'm sitting down. Inside gas stations sometimes require helmet removal due to posted rules or security issues.
My normal habit is to fuel up while on the bike.
What else slows you down at fuel stops? Many riders need a key to open the fuel door on the bike. Removing the key from the ignition takes time. I remove the little flap on my gas caps and cut down a key so it just sticks out of the gas cap, then attach a small knob to the key stub so it sits flush while in the cap. I leave it there all the time. It's too short to use to start the bike. In some cases, that short key could be used to open luggage, if anyone noticed it and thought to do so while you were off the bike.
Examine every step on your fuel stop and consider things that might eliminate that step. A pen velcro'd to the outside of tank bag or where it's instantly accessible w/o unzipping anything. (tethered might be best for some conditions).
A small clipboard in the right place for odo/receipt pictures that just stays there, mounted in place.
Asking your credit card source for a tap to pay card is another idea. More and more pumps in the US have tap to pay readers now. No sliding the card in the slot that you can't always get it out of with gloves on.
Being able to comfortably and safely eat and drink water while riding is fairly common, but worth mentioning too. This is partly why I moved to a modular helmet when I started doing LD riding. I used to hit a drive thru Arbys or McD's just prior to starting a BBG or rally and pick up 5 small sandwiches like the plain roast beef or cheeseburgers. They don't make a mess when eating them and taste the same fresh and 20 hours later. Those got stuffed in the tank bag and eaten as desired while riding.
BBGs are all about managing the stopped time. If you're just getting fuel, no bio break or food off the bike, examine everything you do and ask yourself if it's really necessary. I see a lot of people taking off helmets and gloves at gas only stops. Simply asking yourself why you do something, then figuring out if there is a way to avoid that will shave time off your stops.
Example - The need to remove a glove to get a credit card out of a wallet. Solution - Keep a couple of credit cards and/or some cash in a jacket pocket that you can access w/o removing a glove at gas stops. I use the sleeve pocket on my Klim and Aerostich for this, with a small credit card folder that holds only two cards. I have a single $20 bill tucked behind one of the card, just in case.
I don't take off gloves, helmet or even get off the bike on a BBG unless I need to go inside. Some US gas stations still have bathrooms outside, meaning I only need to remove one glove unless I'm sitting down. Inside gas stations sometimes require helmet removal due to posted rules or security issues.
My normal habit is to fuel up while on the bike.
What else slows you down at fuel stops? Many riders need a key to open the fuel door on the bike. Removing the key from the ignition takes time. I remove the little flap on my gas caps and cut down a key so it just sticks out of the gas cap, then attach a small knob to the key stub so it sits flush while in the cap. I leave it there all the time. It's too short to use to start the bike. In some cases, that short key could be used to open luggage, if anyone noticed it and thought to do so while you were off the bike.
Examine every step on your fuel stop and consider things that might eliminate that step. A pen velcro'd to the outside of tank bag or where it's instantly accessible w/o unzipping anything. (tethered might be best for some conditions).
A small clipboard in the right place for odo/receipt pictures that just stays there, mounted in place.
Asking your credit card source for a tap to pay card is another idea. More and more pumps in the US have tap to pay readers now. No sliding the card in the slot that you can't always get it out of with gloves on.
Being able to comfortably and safely eat and drink water while riding is fairly common, but worth mentioning too. This is partly why I moved to a modular helmet when I started doing LD riding. I used to hit a drive thru Arbys or McD's just prior to starting a BBG or rally and pick up 5 small sandwiches like the plain roast beef or cheeseburgers. They don't make a mess when eating them and taste the same fresh and 20 hours later. Those got stuffed in the tank bag and eaten as desired while riding.