Scratching My Long Distance Itch

It’s been six months since my last Iron Butt Association (IBA) long distance ride and I’m getting a little anxious for another challenge.  After completing the BunBurner 1500 in under 36 hours in October 2013, I’ve set my sights on the Saddlesore 2000 (2000-miles in under 48 hours).  I’ve mapped out an all Interstate route between San Antonio and my Dad’s house in Louisville, KY for a round-trip total of 2172 miles.  I should be able to make the 1086-mile one-way trip, get 7 to 8 hours of sleep, and return to San Antonio all in about 47 hours.

I originally wanted to do this in March but the weather in both Texas and Kentucky was cooler and wetter than normal, so I put it off.  Now I’m looking at early May and hoping the weather will cooperate.  Sure, I could’ve ridden in the cold and rain but it’s not as fun.  Some might question my judgment on calling this kind of ride fun, but there’s something very exhilarating and challenging about it.  Try sitting in a saddle for hours on end.  It isn’t as easy as it sounds, but it’s not impossible either. You just have to want it.  Hell, It’s an adventure!

San Antonio to Louisville - 1086 miles

I considered a couple of factors to increase my chances for a successful ride.  First, the number of miles I can reasonably travel on a tank of gas.  With a 4.5-gallon tank, I can go about 170 miles at highway speeds without too much fear of running out of gas.   Based on this, I’ve planned gas stops about every 165 miles.  The downside to this relatively short gas interval is I’ll have to make quite a few stops and stops eat-up time, which is a precious commodity on any Iron Butt ride.  I hope to keep most stops to no more than 12 minutes to minimize the time I’m off the bike. 

Another factor I looked at is start time.   I’d like to avoid as much traffic as possible while riding through Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, and Nashville and I’d like to complete the ride in time to get a few hours sleep before going to work. I considered taking a Friday off and getting an early start but after looking at several scenarios, it became evident that no matter when I left I was likely to hit traffic in at least one of the cities I’d be riding through.  In order to avoid traffic and get home in time to get some sleep before work, I’ve decided to start the ride around 1:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning.  If I maintain a 63 mph moving average, I should avoid traffic jams and be finished by midnight Sunday.  I’m hoping since the entire route is on the super slab I won’t have issues maintaining that moving average.

My SaddleSore 2000 Ride Plan

My wife thinks I’m crazy as do some of my friends but to me it seems perfectly normal.   It may be a little extreme but that’s what makes it interesting.  I certainly won’t be the first person to try a ride like this and I won’t be the last.  There’ve been plenty of riders who’ve completed a SaddleSore 2000…and IBA rides even more difficult and extreme.  Life is meant to be lived and sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones to know what it truly means to be alive.  We should never let fear and complacency define us.  We should strive to Live Free, Ride Hard, and Be Happy every day!

Wish me luck!

***************

Want to know more about the Iron Butt Association (IBA)?

Running the super slab? Here’s a nice tool for planning your gas stops.

Get some tips from a seasoned long distance rider…Tim Masterson

It’s Official…My Iron Butt Bun Burner 1500 Has Been Certified

I was surprised when I checked my mailbox yesterday and found a big envelope from the Iron Butt Association (IBA).  I wasn’t expecting anything from them for at least another month, so you can imagine how excited I was (or maybe you can’t).  Well, I was more excited than a malnourished tick on a large longhaired dog.  I thought I’d hit the mother lode!   I surgically cut through the envelope taking care not to harm the contents and then eagerly removed the letter, certificate, pin, and stickers.  My wait was over after six short weeks. 

When I submitted my ride documentation to the IBA in October I’d been told it could take three-months to process.  The IBA thoroughly reviews all submitted documentation to verify your ride.  If something in your documentation package doesn’t add up, then your ride doesn’t get certified.  It’s that simple.  The IBA keeps long distance riders honest and in doing so builds credibility within the long distance riding community. If a ride is certified by the IBA, you can be sure the rider met the qualifications and isn’t just telling a fish story. 

 At first glance, the documentation requirements for the Iron Butt SaddleSore 1000 and Bun Burner 1500 seem a bit daunting but when broken down they’re not that bad.  The key to documenting your Iron Butt ride is good organization.  You’ll need signed witness forms for the start and end of the ride, a log of all of your stops, a copy of your gas receipts with good date/time stamps, and a map that shows your actual route with all stops annotated.  I built a documentation package template for my Bun Burner 1500 ride that helped me stay organized and ensured that I didn’t forget something important.  Here’s a pdf version of the documentation package I submitted to the IBA, feel free to use it as an example.

With two IBA certified rides complete, I’m thinking I’ll do either a SaddleSore 2000 (2000 miles in 48 hours) or a Bun Burner Gold (1500 miles in 24 hours) next.  I’m leaning towards the SaddleSore 2000 because I can do an all Interstate route between Garden Ridge, TX and Louisville, KY…and get in a quick visit with my Dad.  I’m sure the 2170 mile roundtrip journey will be a challenge but I think I’m up for it.   Some might think I’m crazy, but I don’t.  What’s more crazy?  Living your life with regret over things you never did, or looking back and saying, “Damn, I did that!”  Life is for living and I want to Live Free and Ride Hard! 

I’ll keep you posted on my ride planning progress...