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!

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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

Happy Dance Time...

Wow, it’s hard to believe that I haven’t posted in over a month. I’ve wanted to post but each time I thought about sitting-down and putting pen-to-paper, my attention was diverted…and then I was off in a different direction. Between work and family visits there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of time left for writing or riding for that matter. Unfortunately, I think my mental health has suffered for it. I get a little anxious if I go without any saddle time for a while. Riding helps me clear my head and motivates me to work harder in other areas of my life. Riding calms my soul. 

Provided the weather isn’t too extreme on Friday, 11 October 2013, my soul should be doing a happy dance. I plan to start my Tour of Honor Bun Burner Extreme Iron Butt ride between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. If all goes as planned, I should cover the 1500+ miles in under 36 hours. I’ve mapped out a route that will take me from my house to the farthest Tour of Honor site in the state, the National Border Patrol Museum in El Paso, TX. Here’s an overview of my planned stops:

A. Home
B. Camp Hulen Historical Marker, Palacios, TX
C. USS Cavalla SSK-244, Seawolf Park, Galveston, TX
D. Gas Stop, Centerville, TX
E. Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, Tyler, TX
F. US Veterans Museum of Granbury, Granbury, TX
G. Cedar Park County Veterans Memorial, Cedar Park, TX
H. Gas Stop, Brady TX
I. Rest/Sleep Stop, San Angelo, TX
J. Andrews County Veterans Memorial, Andrews, TX
K. Gas Stop, Pecos, TX
L. Gas Stop, Van Horn, TX
M. National Border Patrol Museum, El Paso, TX

Given my bike’s 4.5 gallon tank, I’ll be getting gas at each Tour of Honor stop as well as the gas stops listed. The nice thing about having a smaller tank is you have an opportunity to stretch your legs more often but the downside is the more stops you make the more difficult it becomes to maintain a good average speed. I’m hoping I can improve my average speed between stops and possibly reduce my stop times to give me a little more wiggle room to complete the ride in the allotted 36 hours. As it stands now, if I don’t increase my speed averages and decrease stop times I’ll only have about 15 minutes to spare before running out of time. Let me know what you think of my detailed ride plan:

While I’d really like to accomplish my goal and earn an additional Iron Butt certification, safety will be my primary concern. I won’t push myself if I get tired and I’ll ride within my limits. I’m a little nervous about the hazards wildlife poses at night but will lower the risk of having a wildlife encounter by maintaining a slower speed and maintaining good situational awareness. At the end of the day, I’m riding for my personal enjoyment, not to earn a certificate.

If you’d like to “follow” me on this adventure, I’ll be using BubblerGPS and SpotWalla for tracking. You can check on my progress here. The SpotWalla map should initialize between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. on Friday morning. Unlike a SPOT tracker, my BubblerGPS app will only upload my location when I have a good cell phone signal so my “track” may appear a bit sporadic.

I’ll post a full ride report and pictures as soon as I can once I’m back. Until then, wish me luck and Godspeed. Gotta get ready for my Happy Dance…

1000 Miles...18 Hours and 5 Mintues

On May 18th at 12:05 a.m. I completed my first Saddlesore 1000 riding in Hoagy's Heroes Lone Star Six Shooter.  Robert "Hoagy" Carmichael told me before I started that I'd either love it or hate it...and having completed it, I can say overall "I loved it!"

At the beginning of the ride I was a little intimidated because the other rider's bikes where better set-up for long distance riding.  There was an assortment of sport-touring bikes like the Yamaha FJR and larger Harley Ultras.  My Sportster seemed small and uncomfortable in comparison. I told myself, it's not the size of the bike that counts, it's the heart of the rider riding it...and I have a big heart. :-) In actuality, the Sportster isn't all that small with a 1200 cc engine and I have an aftermarket Corbin Dual Tour seat for added comfort.  I knew I could ride ride with the "big boys".

I can't say that I loved every minute of the ride because that would be a lie.  At around the 600 mile point in far West Texas with the temps running over 105 degrees, I really questioned why I had undertaken such an endeavor.  I can tell you, its hot wearing a full face (black) helmet, textile jacket, and leather chaps...even at 80 mph.  Given the temperature it was important to stay hydrated.   Fortunately, I packed quite a few bottles of Gatorade and had a water bladder in my tank bag that I could drink from while riding.  At one stop it was so hot, I soaked my shirt with water to get the Texas swamp cooler effect.  It's amazing how well evaporative cooling works. Try it sometime.

For the most part the ride was uneventful. Just mile after mile of pavement...but the scenery was fantastic.  Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos because I was so focused on making good time and I wasn't overly comfortable with trying to operate my camera with one hand.  I didn't even take the camera out until Big Spring.  I missed some get shots near Fort Stockton...there were places where I could just picture Indians sitting on their horses lined-up along the ridges.  I was overcome with  a sense of adventure, history, and freedom as I rode across Texas.

It would be easy to feel alone in the vast openness of West Texas, but I wasn't alone.  I met a 64 year old Marine Veteran named Herb the night before the ride and we rode together for over 800 miles.  Herb retired from the Marine Corps in 1996 after 30 years of service.  He saw combat in Vietnam,  Mogadishu (just before the Black Hawk down time frame), and Dessert Storm. I'm sure he had some amazing stories.  I  was sad when he decided to end his Iron Butt ride 120 miles from the finish due to some bladder/kidney issues but I know he must have been hurting pretty bad.  Herb flashed his lights and waved goodbye as he headed home to Aledo, Texas (about 15 minutes from Fort Worth).  I rode the last 120 miles alone.

I got my official ending gas receipt at 12:05 a.m and checked-in.  I was greeted by Hoagy and several other riders who had participated in longer rides (2000 miles in 36 hours).  I felt good and surprisingly wasn't too tired. Overall, it was a great experience and I'm confident one day, I'll do another Iron Butt Long Distance ride.  After reflecting for a day, I've come to the conclusion that Long Distance riding is a lot like the rest of life.  You may get tired, down, and feel like you can't go any further but then you dig deep, look for the silver lining and press ahead...one mile at at time until you are finished.  Live Free and Ride Hard!!

Clear skies and Open Road

West Texas

Herb Riding Point

Mile Eater

Herb and his FJR

Rock-n-Roll

Movin On

Does my Saddle look Sore to You?

The Litle Engine That Could

With Hoagy at the Finish

The Birth of a Long Distance Rider?

A lot of people think I'm crazy.  I just turned 50 and tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. I'm embarking on my first Iron Butt ride...a Saddlesore 1000.  I can't explain why I want to ride at least 1000 miles in under 24 hours, I just do.  Maybe it's the challenge or maybe I am crazy...I'll either love it or hate it but it will be an adventure.

Tomorrow's ride is being organized by Hoagy's Heroes, a non-profit group that sets up long distance rides to benefit charity. We'll start in Temple and make a 1000 mile loop around Texas via I-35, I-10, and I-20.  I don't know how many riders will be participating but it is somewhat comforting knowing there will be others riding the same route.  After planning my gas and rest stops along the route I'm hoping to complete the ride in about 20 hours. 

Hopefully the ride will go as planned; however, if it doesn't, safety is my main concern so I'll stop if I get too tired.  There isn't much room for error on a motorcycle...and falling asleep while riding at 70+ MPH would most likely be deadly...and I don't have a death wish.  Truth be told, I ride because it makes me feel alive and free.  There really isn't anything like it.

You can track my progress on the "Where's Curt?" map on the right. Provided of course, Goggle Latitude is working properly and there are enough cell-towers/wi-fi spots along the route to "see" me.  It'll be an interesting experiment nonetheless. I'll provide an update and some pictures once I finished the ride.  Wish me luck!