1000M day - Has to be on the highways?

[ctbandit]

just wondering, but it seems to me like there's no way to complete a 1k day without doing it on the highway. Am I correct in my assumption? Are there folks here that have done it sans highway, or do like half on half off or something? J/W

[JimWilliamson]

Isn't the Baja and the Dakar done sans roads? How many miles a day do they accomplish?

[kendenton]

I think a lot of folks mix up some off-highway no-traffic 2-lane to their SS1k attempt.  Good for relieving some of the boredom.

[zer0netgain]

It doesn't have to be all highway, but it'll need to be major roads where you'll get enough speed that you can get 1,000 miles in within 24 hours.

The more twisty the road, the lower the average speed tends to be.

[ctbandit]

It doesn't have to be all highway, but it'll need to be major roads where you'll get enough speed that you can get 1,000 miles in within 24 hours.

The more twisty the road, the lower the average speed tends to be.

Since you need to average 41.6mph if you rode the full 24 hr  I think it would be tough to do much besides highway considering stops for fuel/restroom/ eating

[1moreroad]

Since you need to average 41.6mph if you rode the full 24 hr  I think it would be tough to do much besides highway considering stops for fuel/restroom/ eating

Er, no.  We rode through 4 national parks on our SS1k.  We would have done 5, but monsoons closed the route to Joshua Tree.  We ate a normal lunch, and we had a significiant mechanical problem that BMW-K MacGuyvered his way out of.  And I hit reserve and dropped to 55 mph twice.  Still done in 22 hours.

There's highways like I-5 and then there are highways like the General's Highway through Sequoia National Park.

Pick an off-peak season.  Get away from cities.  Get through potentially crowded areas very early or very late.  Brief breaks for photos can re-energize you a little bit.

If you average 55 mph for 50 minutes and stop completely for 10 minutes, you would average 45.8 mph.  You can ride at 55 mph for 46 minutes of every hour and still average 42.17 mph.  

In other words, you can ride at 55 mph (speed limit for many two lane roads away from cities) and stop almost 1/2 hour every 2 hours and still hit 1000 miles.

[dark_isz]

Yellow Wolf once (unofficially) Ironbutted the Dragon on his Goldwing...100+ back to back runs on one of the twistiest roads in America, in under 24 hours.  

linky

[ctbandit]

Er, no.  We rode through 4 national parks on our SS1k.  We would have done 5, but monsoons closed the route to Joshua Tree.  We ate a normal lunch, and we had a significiant mechanical problem that BMW-K MacGuyvered his way out of.  And I hit reserve and dropped to 55 mph twice.  Still done in 22 hours.

There's highways like I-5 and then there are highways like the General's Highway through Sequoia National Park.

Pick an off-peak season.  Get away from cities.  Get through potentially crowded areas very early or very late.  Brief breaks for photos can re-energize you a little bit.

If you average 55 mph for 50 minutes and stop completely for 10 minutes, you would average 45.8 mph.  You can ride at 55 mph for 46 minutes of every hour and still average 42.17 mph.  

In other words, you can ride at 55 mph (speed limit for many two lane roads away from cities) and stop almost 1/2 hour every 2 hours and still hit 1000 miles.

I believe you, I guess that's a lot more possible out west, as around here you'd really be banking on the amount of traffic out during the run.


Around here many of the two lane roads are 40mph limited and there's traffic abplenty.

[FZ1 Matt]

Some friends of mine have done 1000 miles, 24 hrs on dirt/gravel only. It's called the dusty butt

http://mapmaker.smugmug.com/gallery/5181459_oX9As/1

They're crazy I tell ya.

[jwhite518]

I can't say about the roads in New England. In CA it's quite possible to do a SS1K without touching a mile of interstate and still finish in 18 hrs or less.

[squeezer]

I mean, do the math.  If you spend two hours off the bike -- eating, potty, gas, calling your office for messages etc. -- which is a lot for Iron Butt ride, you still only need to average 46mph to do 1k.  That's easy enough except on the twistiest roads.  The trick to all these rides isn't going gas as much as staying on the bike.

At the North American FJR meet earlier this year, they organized a group SS1K.  Lots of riders, many doing their first SS1K, completed the course.  I think only 1 -- maybe 2 -- who tried didn't make it.  The bulk of the ride was on 2 lane roads through the Rockies.

[Motocentaur]

The Minute Man 1000 route, which goes through all six New England states, looks like a large portion isn't freeway.

[zer0netgain]

A lot of secondary roads tolerate speed limits upwards to 50 mph with no sweat.  You could pop along at 65-70 with no problems if there are no regular patrols.

It does help to know your route for such issues.

[jwhite518]

The Minute Man 1000 route, which goes through all six New England states, looks like a large portion isn't freeway.

Great idea. Google that site and they've posted the SS1K route. If you don't like that particular route I bet you could email the rallymaster and ask for past years' routes. He's happy to help out folks just starting down the Iron Butt rabbit hole.

[ctbandit]

Great idea. Google that site and they've posted the SS1K route. If you don't like that particular route I bet you could email the rallymaster and ask for past years' routes. He's happy to help out folks just starting down the Iron Butt rabbit hole.

Sounds good. I feel like it's something I want to do someday, but I don't feel a pressing need to do it though.

[UFO]

Define "off highway."

Off interstates?
Off 4 lane paved roads?
Off 2 lane paved roads?
Dirt roads only?
Gravel roads only?
...?


 

[DogBoy]

Its been 20 years since I lived in New England. I drove a delivery truck and regularly covered eastern MA, RI and southern NH. It would be real hard to make time on secondary or state highways with a new town every five miles or less. Totally different from the west or Midwest.

[ctbandit]

Define "off highway."

Off interstates?
Off 4 lane paved roads?
Off 2 lane paved roads?
Dirt roads only?
Gravel roads only?
...?


 

Well as most people have figured out, around here a "highway" generally means more than 1 lane in one direction at 55-65mph speed limits. (usually have exits and on ramps and a lack of street lights)

Not sure if there's a route that could sustain 40+mph speeds on gravel roads. Dirt roads, that would be cool, but as this is STN not ADV I don't think there are many people thinking about doing 1000Miles on dirt in a day.

[Bounce]

Most people pick interstates for their first SS1K because they don't understand the mechanics of making it happen. Once they get one under their belt they tend to do it on more interesting roads (or move on to BB1500's, BBGs, SS2Ks or other solo rides).

[tjhess74]

its very possible.  two of my friends did a ss1000 on nothing but two laners from chas sc up through w.va and through va and nc back home.  took them roughly 20 hours because it rained for 16 of those hours.  

one of those same friends came with me on mine.  ours was slab though cause my purpose was to visit a friend i hadnt seen in awhile.  we spent 7 hours at his house and got back with two hours to spare...and no, we didnt haul ass-especially in the dark coming home.

[propeller]

Highways are so boring...I circled Nova Scotia in 22 hrs on a mix of 80% two laners and 20% highways. Change of pace is what keeps it interesting for me. Just try keeping away from big cities since traffic can kill your rythm. Don't be afraid to stop at the Iron Butt Hotel when you feel the need...A 45 min nap by the side of my bike in a quiet place was key for me.
Good luck!

[marc11]

I've done two SS1000's the first was a mix of interstate and 2 lane state highways and it took just under 18 hours.  The last one was all interstate, NY to Peoria, Il.  Including traffic, gas and food stops it took me 14.5 hours, tons of time left over to take some scenic roads.  It is all about maximizing stops which helps average speed.  What kills SS1000 or BBG attempts are 15 minute fuel stops, followed two hours later by 15 minute bathroom stops, followed 2 hours later by another fuel stop, etc.

[helodoc]

Most people pick interstates for their first SS1K because they don't understand the mechanics of making it happen. Once they get one under their belt they tend to do it on more interesting roads (or move on to BB1500's, BBGs, SS2Ks or other solo rides).

...And there you have it! Once you realize exactly what it takes to ride a SS1k you'll venture well off the path most traveled. An all Colorado Rocky Mountain SS1K only consumed 18 hours of my day...no Interstate....All mountain!   Of course local knowledge helped.

[Robert]

I did a loop inside Arizona using secondary roads & about 80 miles of Hwy. Finished in under 19 hrs. As long as the wheels are turning your making progress.

[David Morrow]

If you check the IBA ride finishers page, do a search for "Dusty Butt". 1000 miles all off road.

A quick count shows about 35 finishers. The first was in 2003.

http://www.ironbutt.com/rides/ssbbfin1.cfm?CFID=3899892&CFTOKEN=38372205

[mike goodwin]

Well as most people have figured out, around here a "highway" generally means more than 1 lane in one direction at 55-65mph speed limits. (usually have exits and on ramps and a lack of street lights)

Not sure if there's a route that could sustain 40+mph speeds on gravel roads. Dirt roads, that would be cool, but as this is STN not ADV I don't think there are many people thinking about doing 1000Miles on dirt in a day.

I am glad you cleared that up.
I did an undocumented SS 1000 two years ago from Houston to Springerville AZ. just for the hell of it and stayed off the interstate the whole way minus about a nine mile stretch of I-25 to get to Socorro N.M. from U.S. 380 and still did it in under 18 hours.
Although the last hour was pretty scary as it was pitch dark on a remote U.S.60 in a wildlife horn of plenty.
It's really fun doing it this way and many times it can be pretty scenic.

[jwhite518]

I am glad you cleared that up.
I did an undocumented SS 1000 two years ago from Houston to Springerville AZ. just for the hell of it and stayed off the interstate the whole way minus about a nine mile stretch of I-25 to get to Socorro N.M. from U.S. 380 and still did it in under 18 hours.
Although the last hour was pretty scary as it was pitch dark on a remote U.S.60 in a wildlife horn of plenty.
It's really fun doing it this way and many times it can be pretty scenic.

Uh..dude...that's like impossible. What are you, some kind of space alien?

[mike goodwin]

Uh..dude...that's like impossible. What are you, some kind of space alien?

Naw..It was just one of those days that i didn't have to stop and piss every 80 miles or so.

[county]

Naw..It was just one of those days that i didn't have to stop and piss every 80 miles or so.

 

[VIVID1]

I did a SS1000 riding 300 miles of interstate, the rest was all backroads. It took 20 hours.

[jwhite518]

There's a club in CO that does a 1000 miles / 100,000 feet ride every year. They cross a bunch of passes that adds up to 100k feet elevation. I really want to do that ride some time. I think it's the Colorado Freewheelers.

[helodoc]

Jerry,

It's actually sponsored the Colorado BMW Motorcycle Club.

http://www.coloradobeemers.org/content/view/28/46/

As I recall it's not a 1000 mile ride. The long route was about 600? but it did cover many passes.

I believe the ride you were thinking of was the Colorado FreeWheelers 1000-n-24.

http://www.cofreewheelers.org/

Two years in a row their route was about 10% Interstate, mostly in the mountains of Colorado.

[David Morrow]

There's a club in CO that does a 1000 miles / 100,000 feet ride every year. They cross a bunch of passes that adds up to 100k feet elevation. I really want to do that ride some time. I think it's the Colorado Freewheelers.

I know we're getting OT here so I'll keep it short. We did the "Ride The Divide" through Colorado a couple of years ago. All paved ridable passes, in order, North to South. A leisurely four days of glorious riding. Here are a few pic's along with a map and Mapsource file if you use a Garmin GPS. This was not an IB or other timed ride. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
http://www.ldrider.ca/ridethedivide/index.htm

[jwhite518]

Jerry,

It's actually sponsored the Colorado BMW Motorcycle Club.

http://www.coloradobeemers.org/content/view/28/46/

As I recall it's not a 1000 mile ride. The long route was about 600? but it did cover many passes.

I believe the ride you were thinking of was the Colorado FreeWheelers 1000-n-24.

http://www.cofreewheelers.org/

Two years in a row their route was about 10% Interstate, mostly in the mountains of Colorado.

Ah. I got my CO motorcycle clubs mixed up. Thanks for spreading the truth!

[mike goodwin]

There's a club in CO that does a 1000 miles / 100,000 feet ride every year. They cross a bunch of passes that adds up to 100k feet elevation. I really want to do that ride some time. I think it's the Colorado Freewheelers.

Hmm..I gotta find out more about this ride.
Sounds interesting.
Now where did i place my electric vest?

[jwhite518]

OK now it's time to brag in this thread. Not only can you do a SS1K away from the slab, you can do a Bun Burner Gold (1500 in 24, or 1.5x a Saddlesore) away from the slab. My recent ride, while mostly slab, included stretches of non slab - CA 46 and 58, US 93 in Arizona, and something called Sun Valley Parkway in Phoenix that isn't even a highway. It also included a one hour delay due to a traffic jam. So go out and do that ride!

http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=113461

[sprocket]

This is the SS1K ride put on by the Colorado Beemers. It should mostly be in the twisties. June 20th and 21st "The weekend after ST.N Nationals"
       http://www.coloradobeemers.org/content/view/41/44/
 
I was on the ride "squeezer" was talking about at NAFO. It was insanely fun! A group of people riding the same route and leaving at the same time and doing it all on the best twisty roads in Colorado!
Now that's a ride!










http://www.coloradobeemers.org/content/view/41/44/

[yotes65]

Jerry,

It's actually sponsored the Colorado BMW Motorcycle Club.

http://www.coloradobeemers.org/content/view/28/46/

As I recall it's not a 1000 mile ride. The long route was about 600? but it did cover many passes.

I believe the ride you were thinking of was the Colorado FreeWheelers 1000-n-24.

http://www.cofreewheelers.org/

Two years in a row their route was about 10% Interstate, mostly in the mountains of Colorado.

Thanks for providing this info... it's something that I will definitely look into...