First SS1000

[Cablebandit]

I finally got a free weekend to try my hand at an Iron Butt Assn Ride.  I would have preferred to have done it earlier in the season (not as much night riding) but that didn't happen.  Any who, I made it back in one piece and feel ready to do it again.  The weather was perfect yesterday except for some early morning fog in southern PA.  Cool morning, warm afternoon.  Below are a couple quick stats:

Route: pretty much a straight shot down and back to Johnson City, TN
Bike Miles: 1062
GPS miles: 1038
Fuel Burned: 20 gallons
Total Time: 17 hours
Moving Average: 69.4
Overall Avg (including stops): 60.7
Insects Killed: Thousands
Potential Bad Situations: 3 (see below)

I almost had 2 deer decide to jump into my path on 68E in western MD.  I think being tight with a small pack of cars saved my bacon there.
A gray fox did the same on 220N south of Bedford, PA.  A lot of brake and horn made him think twice. (I really thought I was going to drill him.  After he ran back to the trees my first though was "I have a mighty V-strom, I'm sure my tall front tire and higher ground clearance would allow me to coast right over him."  Luckily I didn't need to find out.

Lastly, I was exiting 68E around Bruceton Mills (I think) WV into a seedy gas station for a final splash of gas for the run through MD and back to State College.  The real reason I stopped (since the Vstrom can go forever on fuel) is so I could change from my dark visor to a clear shield and change the batteries in the GPS.  I'd been looking for a rest area or a safe place to pull off for a while so it was pretty dark when I hit the exit.  I got off the highway and flipped up my visor for a better view since the visor was a little foggy and dark.  Normally, that's not an issue since I wear glasses however I had decided to wear contacts for this trip.  We can all see where this is going at this point I think.  Out of nowhere a bug decides it would like to fly into my brain through my right eye.  All I could do was limp into the truck stop and hope this wasn't as bad as I thought.  I felt the searing pain and could swear there was blood running down my face.  Upon closer inspection there was no blood, however the hard little bug was implanted in the corner of my eye near the tear duct.  I worked him/her out of there and the rubbing and blinking began in earnest.  Eureka!!  I could see for the remaining ride home.  Lesson learned.

The bike ran great and I had no real issues other than the rear tire throwing off little molten rubber boogers from the  fabulous high speed highways of the south (especially West Virginia) .

[doug5551]

Please let me be the first to say congratulations!!  Way to go..

I did mine on June 9th.  Just be prepared to wait a while for your certificate, if you don't already know about that.

I also think you should get some extra points for writing such a good description of your trip so soon after your ride.  You did much better than I could have at that time.  I was mumbling and fumbling with words the day after my 1140 mile day.  However, I did ride an additional 150 miles the next day.

Hope you get to do another IBA ride someday when you are ready!!

[Cablebandit]

Thanks, for the kind words.  I actually felt really good when I got home and could have easily added a few more hours on the back end.  I was more tired Sunday night from tearing up a patch of sod (to re seed) in my back yard and weeding some HUGE gardens at my house all day Sunday.  I let my wife know we'd be buying some Roundup and a rototiller instead of doing that crap by hand next time.  

[Cal24Master]

Congradulations!  Those of us out here on the left coast forget how tough a ride can be east of the Mississippi.  I actually had a deer hit me on the left side in West Virginia on the Iron Butt this year.  That place can be crazy...

[Bill Lance]

Congratulations--I just completed my first on Monday, 24 September.  I just finished putting together my packet for the IBA--now time to wait.  I understand it is near a year now.

I rode a V-Strom also--a 650K6.

Bill

[squeezer]

Congrats!  But beware that this can be addictive.

Now, try taking a shot at a long distance rally.  If you're free Memorial Day weekend, try the Mason-Dixon 20-20 (masondixon20-20.org).  Very, very rookie friendly event, usually about 30 hours, and starts and ends near us in York (I also live in State College).  I try to do that one every year.  PM me if you want more info.  

[Cablebandit]

Yeah,  I saw that one a little too late last year to sign up.  But it's on my calendar for next year.  I wanted to get at least one really long distance ride under my belt on my own before trying a rally.  That way I didn't have to worry too much about route planning and could just get used to logging the miles.

[Specter]

Congrats on your trip and critter avoidance!

[BlaSTr]

Congrats on your trip and critter avoidance!

Well said, and well done. Now get the paperwork in and go riding.

[TriggerT]

Congrats. I did mine on 9/20/07, and just sent in the paperwork. Already trying to plan my next one, one I get some needed farkles for the bike.