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.

[DNA]

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.

I would still be very impressed with the rides and the accomplishment 0 but if you submitted 2 cert applications - my thought be why?  I will never submit for another ss100.  I have one - why get another?  I ride that far in every rally I do.  If you do a BBG and a SS1K in the course of a 50cc and get 3 certs - that says something to me about the motivation of the person.  In my mind something something negative.  

The original question was "if I submit for more than one cert does that make me a whore?"  I say yes.  And I don't typically respect whores of any flavor.  But that is just my opinion.

[Desmo Demon]

I am still waiting my first ride to be certified, but I'm often told I'm weird in my thinking....

I believe it should be one certificate per ride. I also feel that it is related to the bike that you rode. What I mean on this is that I did my SS1000 on my Ducati ST2. My wife was asking me if I was planning on putting a tag bracket on my Harley or a sticker or something. I told her that since I did the ride on the ST2, the Harley was not a part of it and shouldn't get any IBA garnish. For it to be "right" to put IBA items on my Harley, I'll have to do a certified IBA run with that bike....if not for any other reason than the two bikes are on totally different sides of the motorcycling spectrum.

Vivid did that 1018 miles in 20 hours on a 954 with a stock saddle...talk about buns of steel

Vivid has definitely done some amazing rides over the years, and not to try to make the ride you mention less than any great accomplishment, I just have to brag on my wife (as usual)......my wife did 1031 miles in 19 hours 43 minutes on a bone stock 2000 R1.....and she's handicapped with a paralyzed left foot (actually from the knee down).  

[mike goodwin]

I would still be very impressed with the rides and the accomplishment 0 but if you submitted 2 cert applications - my thought be why?  I will never submit for another ss100.  I have one - why get another?  I ride that far in every rally I do.  If you do a BBG and a SS1K in the course of a 50cc and get 3 certs - that says something to me about the motivation of the person.  In my mind something something negative.  

The original question was "if I submit for more than one cert does that make me a whore?"  I say yes.  And I don't typically respect whores of any flavor.  But that is just my opinion.

O.K. again i aint talking about a 50cc and a SS1000.
What i am saying is that in the course of doing the 50cc ride you bust your ass getting the BB1500 Gold,get a very short few hours of sleep,pack up and get going to finish the rest of the 50cc.
In my straight opinion being that i have done both of these rides i can tell you that doing both at the ame time is a far more major effort than doing them individually.
Like i said earlier...Try it some time.

[DNA]

Ok - so now that we have established what you are - we are just negotiating about the price?  













  Joking..............Ducks and runs.

[mike goodwin]

Ok - so now that we have established what you are - we are just negotiating about the price?  













  Joking..............Ducks and runs.

Not sure exactly what you mean by that but...
Just to clear the air i dont make it a habit of getting multiple certs for a single ride,although you must clearly know the rules do allow it.
I personally think it's a bit redundant to get two certs for Say a SS1000 at the same time you are riding a BB1500,even though the rules clearly allow it.
However even though my attempt failed in obtaining the BB1500 Gold at the same time i was running my 50cc,i would have not had an issue with myself or anyone else submitting for both of those rides during a 50cc or 100cc ride.
Like i said,try it some time.
Any way what someone's mindset is or their lack of respect is for another long distance rider aint my problem.
I have earned my stripes the hard way.

[jwhite518]

Any way what someone's mindset is or their lack of respect is for another long distance rider aint my problem.
I have earned my stripes the hard way.

Exactly. I do those rides for myself, not to gain anybody's "respect."

[Specter]

I'm generally a one ride, one cert guy.

However, I'm daydreaming a ride next year that would include multiple certs:

B2B, 50CC and Four Corners (not an IBA Ride - SCMA)

I'd go San Diego -Vancouver for the B2B, head for Maine, go to Key West to complete the Four Corners, back to Jacksonville, and back across to Santa Monica for the 50CC.

I don't think there's anything unethical about that. If I pushed it and tried for a BB3k from Key West to Santa Monica, CA, would that be double dipping?

[discochris]

I'm generally a one ride, one cert guy.

However, I'm daydreaming a ride next year that would include multiple certs:

B2B, 50CC and Four Corners (not an IBA Ride - MERA)

I'd go San Diego -Vancouver for the B2B, head for Maine, go to Key West to complete the Four Corners, back to Jacksonville, and back across to Santa Monica for the 50CC.

I don't think there's anything unethical about that. If I pushed it and tried for a BB3k from Key West to Santa Monica, CA, would that be double dipping?

Wow - that would be a seriously nice bit of riding.

I know some people who have done the 48 plus and combined it as a 10 10ths (1000 miles a day for ten days).  If someone wants to criticize that as being "whorish," well  

[Andrew]

Am I a cert Whore???

Well I have ridden several 1000 mile days as well as a 1500 mile in 24 hours with documentation, have I ever sent them in? NOPE! I did it for myself, no one else to prove myself to


might be nice to have the license plate frame, but then I have nothing to prove to anyone.

[jwhite518]

Am I a cert Whore???

Nope, you're a cert Virgin.  

[UFO]

Please don't use the words "whore" or "ho."

They offend me.

[arkansawyer]

I'm a cert virgin also then.  I might do the paperwork some day.
There's only so much wallspace in my shop.  I can't display all the stuff I want to as it is.  Norton Girls all framed, dirtbike "trophies" became placques around 20 years ago, various other pictures and crap I've accumulated.
I know how far I've ridden in what amount of time and some on bikes and roads not ideal for high mileage.  

[David Morrow]

Please don't use the words "whore" or "ho."

They offend me.

You are kidding... aren't you ???

[UFO]

You are kidding... aren't you ???

Yes, but others aren't:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,13688.0.html

Welcome to the Nanny State that is ST.N.

[jwhite518]

Yes, but others aren't:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,13688.0.html

Welcome to the Nanny State that is ST.N.

Wow! I totally missed out on this bit of excitement. So whatever happened to the Ho headings? I don't see them. Did the skip bow to the PC pressure? I want to see how big a ho I am.

[arkansawyer]

You can still put ho in your profile.

[David Morrow]

Yes, but others aren't:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,13688.0.html

Welcome to the Nanny State that is ST.N.

Whew, that was a close one. I thought you might be some kinda pussy being so easily offended.

[yellow wolf]

i did a ss1000 but due to the speed limit no cert,


so am i gonna do another one,yup  the 24 hours of deals gap 1200"thats 1200 miles in 24 hrs on dealsgap"sounds fun huh,lol"

[BlaSTr]

I'd have to say I'm a riding and adventure whore, not a certificate one. That said, I did submit my SS1000 and BBG1500 applications, received the BBG1500, and am still waiting for the other. I won't submit for additional ones in that category. I would very much like to do an IBR and that means getting some wins and wallpaper so I'm planning some longer rides (50CC, B2B, IBR Lite, etc) as a way to document my ability to do endurance rides.

I'm still riding, learning.... and still waiting for my IBA number to show up.

Doug

[05ST1300ABS]

Some people dont understand or read the certificate rules correctly. Ill try a few cases here.
The certificate is generally issued for the highest ride. For example.
Each time you do a BunBUrner you dont always necessarily qualify for a SS1000 too. Why? Because it is more about the timing of the ride. It is possible to NOT ride 1000 miles in the 24 hour period but still finish the 1500 in less than 36 hours.

On your very first SS1K some people keep going and do another 500 miles(actually you will need almost 1575 if the route has any shortcuts). Every 500 miles adds another 8-9 hours in the saddle if you count fuel stops, eating, or a rest break. So they offer 2 certificates for this and offer a discount. I dont see anything wrong with that.

When you do a cross country ride of 3ooo miles, you dont get a 1000, 2000 and a 3000. It would only be a 3000 mile ride in 72 hours. UNLESS, you did a BunBurner GOld/1500/24, during that ride. That clearly shows you did it the hard way for at least 1500 of the 3000 miles. You would get a BBG and a 3K ride. And no 2K ride inbetween;<<.

It is very common on the 100CCC ride which is around 48oo miles for many to ride the last 300-600 miles back to their home and get a 100CCC and 5K. Afterall if they went to the motel after the 100CCC they would miss the opportunity to complete the 5K. THose others pressed on another 8-10 hours after they just rode 4 days straight and they are still within the 5K rules. NOthing wrong with that.

I am riding many of the STATE/SS1K rides at the moment and they are getting farther from my house. So I have to ride a SS1K ride within a state border but I might have rode another 700 miles there and back, therefore qualifying for a BunBurner1500 as long as I get back within the 36 hour limit. Nothing wrong with that. If my mileage is only around 1490-1600 miles, I dont need a certificate. But if I rode 13 extra hours in the saddle BEYOND the SS1K of the specific state, I still RODE that ride and didnt go to a motel,  or just dawdle around on the way home. Nothing wrong with that.

ACtually planning a multiple certification ride can be tricky as you may not be able to make the deadline for a BunBUrner in 36 hours but you can still make the SS2K deadline of 500 more miles in 12 more hours of riding. Actually you need around 2100 miles if your plan has some shortcuts in it on the software program.

You will find that many certificates are issued with people riding WAY beyond the 1000 miles, the 1500 miles, the 2000 miles...just because they wanted to, had the time, had the desire, etc...nothing wrong with that.

Doing multiple certificates on the same ride still requires certain paperwork and duplucating, and mapping etc...sorta like doing the ride all over again and giving yourself some extra homework.

So multiple certificates are not just another way of gobbling certificates. It just says that person is willing to go 500, 1000, or another 2000 miles beacause they wanted to ride.

I have logged many miles and never certified them as others have done as well. But if I go out of my way and ride a specific ride with a plan, Ill send it in.
If someone wants to ride with me I take them along and let them see what it is like to ride about 35 hours to get the extra ride and do it safely and according to the rules of the ride.

[tomek]

Plenty of ss1000 usually followed by BB1500 and one or two 2000 miles in 40 hrs or so.I don`t do night riding,can see caps .

Never bothered with certificates,heck even my g/f who is not LD rider by any means  has passed ss1000 or bb1500 trashhold couple of times due to some screw ups on my part.

Most of that was done on interstates,so I guess it is cheating  . I ride to see places,I`m not mileage oriented.

Miles in my case come by accident ( or lack of planning ), not by design.

To answer the quastion-one ride, one certificate.