Are you a certificate whore ?

[David Morrow]

I'm not sure if there's an "official" definition for a certificate whore, but I would suggest it to be (and it was also suggested by a self proclaimed certificate whore that I know), a rider who claims more than one certificate for a single ride. I am proudly not a cert.whore. To me, there is only one accomplishment per ride and that would generally be, IMO, the ride of greatest difficulty in what you just completed for miles & time. The accomplishment is very personal so I look at the extra paper as being just for bragging rights.

I have completed my paperwork for a second TC Gold but only because I actually did it twice. They are two separate accomplishments. But in completing each ride, I could also claim a SS1000, a BB1500, a BBG1500(maybe), a SS2000, and a SS3000 and maybe something that I haven't thought of - Five certs for one ride. Who would I be kidding or trying to impress with all those extra cert's on the wall ? With 7 rides complete, I could rightfully claim over 20 cert's. I'm surprised that the IBA even offers riders more than one cert per ride.

Is there a consensus on cert whores ? Should multiple certificates for a single ride carry an asterisk ( sort of like Barry Bonds' homer's.) ?

I suspect most of you who have done IB rides probably have some fairly strong opinions on the subject. I'd like to know the other side of the argument.

[BobW]

Well put. I have been an avid rider for over 40 years and have never tried to do an Iron Butt despite enjoying many types of competition, but I do enjoy the stories and respect the commitment, etc. Anything that detracts from the Standard an Award is believed to represent by the Ignorant (me) is undermining to the original task and it can become meaningless. Someone with a Doctorate shouldn't feel the need to include "lessor" included degrees or classes taken for his photography hobby, etc. The reviewing committee should have a very basic matrix that covers the parameters. Any whining should result in the documentation offerred seeing nothing but the shredder. I ran a marathon and also the half marthon and the 5K fun run and the 1 mile walk with your kids and and and and I need a bigger t-shirt for all I did. Sorry, not wanting to beat a dead horse, carry on, tut tut, now where's my baby powder and silk shorts?

Ride safe
Bob

[RickC1957]

Oooooooo my first post in the "Iron Butt" forum My response "NO!" I have been riding 38 years, have done the over 1000 miles in less than 24, all but one unintentionally. I have no need to prove to anyone that I'm a badass (although I have proved many times I'm a dumb ass ) I just ride...and see where the road takes me. The only one I have done intentionally, was organized by Vivid1, she gave me a day's notice..Anna, Andy and I had a blast....besides I suck at paperwork Speaking of badasses...Vivid did that 1018 miles in 20 hours on a 954 with a stock saddle...talk about buns of steel

[discochris]

Depends on the definition, but in both cases, I've done it, but let me explain why.

1. I did claim both a BB1500 and a B2B on the same ride. I don't feel bad about it, because that ride was a disaster, where I rode almost the entire way, only to fail, and then picked myself up two days later to do the whole ride over and complete it. I'm probably more proud of that ride than any other I've done, and I won't apologize for it. In addition, I'd already done a BBG at that point, and I've done over 1500 in 36 hours many times since. The whole story is here:
http://www.chrisberg.net/cbnet/rallies/B2B04.htm

2. I do have more than one SS1000 certificate. One is my first ever IBA ride, but I did a single-state SS loop of Wisconsin last July as a shakedown ride for the Butt Lite. I probably wouldn't have submitted it, but now that they have the pins for each state, I thought it would be kind of cool. I'll probably do more in-state rides too.

I've done a bunch of rides (BBG, SS2000, SS5k - pending) where I could have claimed multiple certificates, but the only time I did was in example one above.

[gunz]

I did a SS1000 last month, I took the time to document the ride and all, but I dont know if I am gonna bother turning it all in for the certificate. I have done it several times, Just documented it this time. i would rather ride and take my time and enjoy the scenery vs, clicking away at the odometer just to say i can. i only dod my ss1000 because i was going to have to ride about 900 in less than 24 hours to meet a deadline of being somewhere, But I dont think i would do it, just to say i rode that far for a certificate.

[Lawn Dart]

In general I'm of the "one ride, one cert" mentality.  However one day I will do a B2B - Mexico to Canada - and it will be 1500 miles as well.  I'll apply to Kneebone to list both on one document.  More like BMW-K covered 1509 miles enroute to completing a B2B Insanity ride... etc.

[DNA]

1 ride = 1 cert.  No whining - no exceptions.
Anyone that has 2 for one ride instantly looses any and all credibility w/ me.

 

[county]

Whaddya do?  Put the second plate bracket on your car?

[UFO]

Whaddya do?  Put the second plate bracket on your car?

It won't fit dummy.  In case you haven't noticed, bike plates are kinda smaller than car plates.

[discochris]

Whaddya do?  Put the second plate bracket on your car?

You don't get a plate bracket for every ride (I suppose you could, if you wanted to pay for it).
Actually, I think they only have the standard IBA bracket, and ones for 2-3 other rides. I have the BBG bracket
on my bike.

[budah1]

1 ride = 1 cert.  No whining - no exceptions.
Anyone that has 2 for one ride instantly looses any and all credibility w/ me.

 

Remember when I was diving going for certification the Course Director( one of 5 in the country) had us state what we were going for (i.e. cavern/boat/etc) Never got the "boat specialty" even though I got the Advanced Opern water and had almost 50 dives off the boat just never bothered with the specialty

[jwhite518]

I don't get too worked up over what a cert whore is, or who is one. Hey, it's a free country. Buy as many certificates as you want. I don't care.

Last year I took a ride. I wanted to do an all-Iowa SS1000. Iowa is 1800 miles from my home. I decided to pad the outbound ride to 2000 miles so that at the end of the 3 days, I'd have a SS3000 and an All-Iowa 1000. Is that ho-ing? I eagerly await my bannination.

[discochris]

I don't get too worked up over what a cert whore is, or who is one. Hey, it's a free country. Buy as many certificates as you want. I don't care.

Last year I took a ride. I wanted to do an all-Iowa SS1000. Iowa is 1800 miles from my home. I decided to pad the outbound ride to 2000 miles so that at the end of the 3 days, I'd have a SS3000 and an All-Iowa 1000. Is that ho-ing? I eagerly await my bannination.

I wouldn't judge you (or anyone else) for what you choose to certify. Though I'd seriously question why you'd choose IOWA for such a ride.  I have eight IBA certificates for seven rides, and one pending.  I guess if that makes me unworthy of the respect of some people, I guess I couldn't possibly care less.

[jwhite518]

Though I'd seriously question why you'd choose IOWA for such a ride.  

Because it's there!

Ride report.

[discochris]

Because it's there!

Ride report.

Cool ride! Nice job!
I was just kidding (sort of) about Iowa. It's actually a nice state to ride in, if you like rolling hills and farm and river valley scenery (and I do). Their roads are in good condition too.

[REAPER]

1 ride = 1 cert.  No whining - no exceptions!
There are several plates available if you're certified for the ride!
Wish to hell Mike would get my BBG certification, that he cashed my check for 9 months ago, to me.  

[budah1]

Because it's there!

Ride report.

Riding in Iowa just encourages you to keep going

It is actually enjoyable except harvest time and your stuck behind the farmers. most of the road in teh state are well maintained

[budah1]

Because it's there!

Ride report.

[discochris]

IBA is about one year behind on certifications. They do include a nice letter explaining things when you get your certificate.

The other thing I've heard discussed on the cert ho matter...

The IBA really has two kinds of rides. The first kind, SS1000, BB1500, BBG, etc., are rides that can be done anywhere. They just require you document a certain mileage in a certain time.

The second kind of ride, requires you to ride between certain points. Around a Great Lake, or from one ocean to another, or from border to border, etc.  

The theory among some is that documenting two certificates for one ride in the first category is wrong, but documenting one in each category for a single ride is not wrong (for example, claiming a BBG as part of a 50CC).

Personally, I don't care what people do - just ride dammit.

[mike goodwin]

1 ride = 1 cert.  No whining - no exceptions.
Anyone that has 2 for one ride instantly looses any and all credibility w/ me.

 

That's a load.
Are you going to tell me that if a person was doing a hard ride like a 50cc and on either his/her first or last leg pushed HARD and did a BBG1500 Gold a ride that is hard enough as it is this person would lose credibility with you.
I'm not impressed.
Fwiw several years ago when i did my first IBA ride i chose to do the BB 1500 rather than the Aluminum Butt 1000 and could have gotten both certificates as the rules allowed but didnt.
When i did my 50cc i was going to go for the 1500 Gold on the fist leg but because of only sleeping 3.5 hours max the night before the ride(long story) I was spent at 1300 miles after riding my Bandit 1200 that distance in 20 hours and 45 minutes.
I truely wished i could have done that but i still did do the 50cc.
I dont think if i had accomplished both rides as hard as they BOTH were that it would be considered by many as a lousy neo cheating deal.
YOU try it.