I did my SS1000 on the first day of my trip to the starting point of the Four Corners Tour and I spent weeks planning for it. Here's a few things that will help:
1. I completely agree with Fossil regarding the LDComforts. I wore the shorts and long sleeve shirt under a Tourmaster jumpsuit. Add a wet scarf (I can't remember the manufacturer) to keep my neck covered and cool and they worked like a champ. The scarf woould also drip onto the shirt, adding to the cooling. Anytime I fueled or stopped for a 5 minute break (every hour to 90 minutes), I made sure to soak the scarf and hydrate. Open all the vents on your riding jacket/suit.
2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I started drinking nothing but water and Gatorade for 4 days before my trip even started. I also had on-board hydration supplies. I put a small cooler on the back seat and then put camelbak bladders in the cooler, drilled holes so that the tubes could come out the top of the cooler and then clipped the tubes to the cargo net that was holding the cooler in place. I could reach back with my left hand and bring the bite valve to my mouth while I was moving. I put a 50-50 mix of water and Gatorade in one bladder and 100% water in the other. Just remember to blow back the fluid when you drink or you'll have hot water/mix in the tube when you drink the next time.
3. Stop for meals and plan on 30 minutes for each. Do not short yourself as this is a time when you have a chance to really stretch, bend, etc. All those things that you can't do while you're on the bike. Lay off the greasy food and concentrate on healthy amounts of sugars and carbs. Do not stuff yourself, but then again, don't short yourself either.
4. Clean your windscreen and all lights, especially if you're riding at night during your stops. It takes almost no time and when you don't do it in an area where the insects are thick, you'll have to deal looking through a very cruddy windscreen when you really need the visibility - especially in the late efternoon/evening. This also allows you to stretch, bend, etc without having to think about it!
5. If at any time it gets warmer than 98.6 degrees, having your jacket vents open, gloves off, even the visor open is doing nothing but making your blood hotter than your normal temperature and it will push you closer to heat exhaustion/stroke faster than you can possibly imagine. Close everything, cover everything and you'll be surprised how much more comfortable you will be. There is a reason why the people of the Sahara wear clothing that covers all of their skin and this is it.
6. Most importantly, if you feel out of sorts for any reason during your trip, STOP. Do not push yourself as this is a warning sign from your body that something is wrong. You're either nearing heat exhaustion or stroke and these need to be taken care of as soon as possible. The big one for me (as I have had heat stroke before) is when I feel sick to my stomach for no apparent reason. That's my body telling me to get cool, get more salts or electrolytes down my throat and to stop doing what I'm doing to cause it. Your body will let you know...
Hope that this helps and good luck!
jmop
