Ironbutt Bunburner Gold-1500 miles in under 24hrs

[stose85]

Just wondering how many of you guys have actually done this, or any of the other endurance rides that IronButt puts on. I figure you only live once so...Does anyone have any advice? I've already looked at the AOW top 24 but I'd like to hear about any personal experiences. Thats a hell of a trip from my house in Kansas to California in one day. I was thinking of taking Interstate 40 since its almost a straight shot from Tulsa to Oklahoma City and over to California. Any tips on that route? The plan is to start training for it this week, and take the trip near the end of summer, August or September.  

[dduelin]

I did a Saddle Sore 1000 a couple of years ago. I gather most people do these on the interstate but I did mine mostly on back roads. The IBA rides are mostly about preparation and time management IMHO, not high average speeds.

[miles]

Just wondering how many of you guys have actually done this, or any of the other endurance rides that IronButt puts on. I figure you only live once so...Does anyone have any advice? I've already looked at the AOW top 24 but I'd like to hear about any personal experiences. Thats a hell of a trip from my house in Kansas to California in one day. I was thinking of taking Interstate 40 since its almost a straight shot from Tulsa to Oklahoma City and over to California. Any tips on that route? The plan is to start training for it this week, and take the trip near the end of summer, August or September.  

Two summers ago I did I-40 from Arkansas to Flagstaff in one blast.  Nearly a thousand miles of pure suck.  Not the good kind of suck, either.

[stose85]

"I did a Saddle Sore 1000 a couple of years ago. I gather most people do these on the interstate but I did mine mostly on back roads."

I'm not even sure if you would have time to run the 1500 mile trec without being all interstate. Time management and planning will definately be on the top of my list.

[Attack Pug]

I've done two Land of Enchantment  Saddle Sore 1000's . A Iron Butt Rally is fun ,hard and challenging.
A 1000 or 1500 mile ride just hammering would suck bigtime.  Check for rallies in your area

[Justin]

I've done 1500+ in 24 hours once and many 1000+ mile days; but I don't have an IBA license plate, so that means I haven't   Doing 1500 in 24 requires roads where you can move fast, preferably in the big western states. Plan your route on the fastest roads possible. You need to average 62.5 miles an hour, including stops. Having a fuel cell helps, as it cuts back on the amount of stops. Pack healthy snacks in your tank back to munch on, and have a water pack with you to stay hydrated. Advil is my friend when I'm eating miles, I start taken em before I actually start riding, and on schedule throughout the day. You will get lots of inflammation and pain, and that will mitigate it. Also, it takes "training", as in practice. You need a lot of saddle time to toughen things up before you can do 1500 miles in a day. And I disagree with the IBA AOW when it comes to speeding. It would be immensely hard to do 1500 mile days without speeding, at least IMO.

[Justin]

I've done two Land of Enchantment  Saddle Sore 1000's . A Iron Butt Rally is fun ,hard and challenging.
A 1000 or 1500 mile ride just hammering would suck bigtime.  Check for rallies in your area

I did the LOE a few years back, and I'm planning on it for this year as well. Will you be riding the rally this year?

[county]

I don't get that sucky feeling on a bike.  I've ridden Memphis to Phoenix for Thanksgiving w/family several times and I love blasting along the interstate.

IMO the only "training" you need is several 600 + mile days.  And a water bottle and some fruit for your tank bag.  All the gas stops have coffee.....

And you will be riding E to W so you gain sunlight.

(And you must have the will to do it)

[Justin]

IMO the only "training" you need is several 600 + mile days.  And a water bottle and some fruit for your tank bag.  All the gas stops have coffee.....

+1 .. and careful with the fruit .. too much and you'll get the runs

[Andrew]

I did a SS (not a real SS as I never did the paperwork, but I did the ride) from the first hotel on I40 west of the Mississippi river to Albuquerque NM.   Started somewhere after I woke up to late in the evening. Nothing but I40 and I can truly say I40 can suck the soul from you. Boring !!!!  If I did not have an AutoVoxx CC and an I pod on the ZX11 I would have lost my mind.

If you decide to ride I40 the whole way make sure you have lots of water and a few good books on an I-pod and take Advil before and during

[meanstrk]

I did a BBG last August and can honestly say that it was the hardest ride I have ever done. Period.

[DNA]

I've done 1000+ mile days many times - most resently on New Years Day. Typically 1000 miles takes about 14-16 hours on the east coast.  1500 is on my todo list - ride east to west start before the sun comes up and watch out at sundown as it will be blinding.

Hydrate, eat a little, and wire in a MP3.

[stose85]

Thanks guys for all the advice. This forum has definitely opened my eyes to some true motorcyclists.

+1 .. and careful with the fruit .. too much and you'll get the runs...Justin

Yes mom always told me to watch out eating too much fruit ha ha. I'll be sure to map my progress to the point of starting my journey and take some pictures along the way, as long as I have time of course. Any other suggestions on hard wiring an ipod to my 07 zzr600? I also wanted to ask you guys about seat modifications. I've look at Corbin seats, but I've heard they take a while to break in and it nails your wallet for about $250 on my bike. Thanks again for all the great help.

Abel

[kyzrex]

1000 in 24 can be done pretty easily, even using non interstate, and can be fun.

1500 in 24 has to be almost all interstate

figure this..1500/40mpg=37.5 gals of gas.  37.5/4 gal=9.375 stops

figure 15 mins for each stop, gas, pee, eat, stretch  15x10=150 mins

150min=2.5 hours worth of stops

so 24 actually becomes 21.5

1500/21.5= 69.76 mph avg

some people might call that fun....

[Andrew]

"Figure 15 mins for each stop, gas, pee, eat, stretch  15x10=150 mins"

 NOT true. The trick is to hotstop for fuel only maybe to pee but nothing more . Have the CC ready to swipe, fill the tank and go.  Practice how fast you can stop for fuel ect and get back on the road. 10 min is a LONG stop.
Another trick is drink water but not so much that you have to pee every stop (every other stop) Carry power bars, M&Ms dried fruit what have you and eat while on the road

As to hot wiring an I-pod, put a cigaret lighter socket on the bike, wire it to the battery or through an ign triggered relay and plug the I-pod into the cig lighter socket. OK so you may have a set of wires running into your pocket.

[dduelin]

I'm not even sure if you would have time to run the 1500 mile trec without being all interstate. Time management and planning will definately be on the top of my list.

True that. If you are starting out why not a SaddleSore 1000 or the BunBurner 1500? The latter gives you 36 hours for the 1500 miles. I wanted a fun ride not an ordeal. I did my SS1000 in 20 hours (1033 miles) and that including eating lunch at the Stockton, AL RTE. I left home at 2 AM and returned at 10 PM. I could have rested/slept 4 or 5 hours and knocked out the last 500 fairly easily. 'Course the ST1300 eats miles and hits low fuel blinker only after burning 6.5 gallons @ 42 mpg. Like has been said, I combined stops for gas and what not and only drank .25 liter of water at a time so I did not have to pee 30 minutes after a stop. Hey, when you are 54 like me and one of the FloMax generation you'll know exactly what I mean.

[jeffmccracken]

I was involved in a group ride out of Minnesota that, at least at one time, held (or maybe still holds) the group BBG record. Here's a link to a ride report. Almost 50 riders completing it between 19 & 24 hours.

http://www.bsu.edu/web/00amleduc/iba/bb1500gg.htm

[bassjones]

You're going to do this on your zzr600?    I'd start with the 1000 in 24 or the 1500 in 36 for sure.  That bike is not going to be super comfortable for interstate travel, and with the 1000 you can take better roads.  Still long hours in the saddle but you're shifting your weight around more and using the bike for what it was made...

[Attack Pug]

I did the LOE a few years back, and I'm planning on it for this year as well. Will you be riding the rally this year?

Yes I'm planning on it but it really depends on work 50/50 chance, I did them in ( 07 Cold ) & ( 08 Wet )

[kyzrex]

"Figure 15 mins for each stop, gas, pee, eat, stretch  15x10=150 mins"

 NOT true. The trick is to hotstop for fuel only maybe to pee but nothing more . Have the CC ready to swipe, fill the tank and go.  Practice how fast you can stop for fuel ect and get back on the road. 10 min is a LONG stop.

Is this a race?  Pitting for position?  Sure not EVERY stop will be 15 min, some might be longer, some shorter.  I've found that it's nice to get off the bike every 200 miles or so and WALK around for awhile.  Keeps the muscles loose and the mind clear.  Makes it a LITTLE more enjoyable IMO.

[stose85]

Is this a race?  Pitting for position?

I could see someone racing up to the pump credit card in hand, stop, swipe, open gas tank, fill up, and burn out of there. 3 minutes flat   that would give me some extra time on the road. I will be completing the Saddle sore 1000, as it is a requirement before you try the 1500 in under 24 hours.

That bike is not going to be super comfortable for interstate travel, and with the 1000 you can take better roads.  Still long hours in the saddle but you're shifting your weight around more and using the bike for what it was made...

That is exactly why I'm trying to do everything I can to make it more comfortable. I've lowered the back end down, adjusted the suspension, and I'm looking into adding gel, or memory foam to the seat. Any ideas on seat modifications would help.

[ice-cycle]

As a proud wimp I don't see that doing 1,500 miles in a day is at all sensible.  

A 1,000 mile day might make some sense under a limited set of circumstances.  

It doesn't make sense to be hurtling down a highway at an average of 60 mph, much less 69 (70) mph, as your speed will need to be considerably in excess of these averages, when you are tired, exhausted, and road weary.  

I think our first obligation as motorcyclists is safety to ourselves and others.  Now I also appreciate that some people are better able to endure discomfort, fatigue, inattention, but eventually it catches up to all of us.

Sorry if I seem like a cold shower, but is riding when you are exhausted worth the risk?

[MK96xj]

That is exactly why I'm trying to do everything I can to make it more comfortable. I've lowered the back end down, adjusted the suspension, and I'm looking into adding gel, or memory foam to the seat. Any ideas on seat modifications would help.

With regards to seat foam, you can experiment with some remnants. Check your local fabric shop for extras. I picked up some scrap pieces from $1 and cut out a 1 inch pad for mine. Keep in mind though that this will raise your seat and may negate any lowering changes you made via links.

The ZZR is actually a comfortable bike especially IMHO for use shorter riders. You will find creative positions though. I found a tank bag large/square enough to rest my chest on it helped and allows me to duck behind the screen and or lay an arm across.

[county]

As a proud wimp I don't see that doing 1,500 miles in a day is at all sensible.  

A 1,000 mile day might make some sense under a limited set of circumstances.  

It doesn't make sense to be hurtling down a highway at an average of 60 mph, much less 69 (70) mph, as your speed will need to be considerably in excess of these averages, when you are tired, exhausted, and road weary.  

I think our first obligation as motorcyclists is safety to ourselves and others.  Now I also appreciate that some people are better able to endure discomfort, fatigue, inattention, but eventually it catches up to all of us.

Sorry if I seem like a cold shower, but is riding when you are exhausted worth the risk?

Why are you posting in this thread?

[DNA]

You should become seriously aware of your biorhythms.

I cannot function well between 1:00 and 3:00 AM.

I must take a rest stops then.

Every 24+ hour rally I've been in I have somehow managed to not rest then, regardless of my plan, done something stupid, and lost major points because of it that poor decision - made when I was tired.

You are not doing a rally, but the propensity to do something stupid or unsafe will be the same, so learn when it is time to stop for 30 in and power nap, when you must sleep 2 hours, or when a 4 hour stop is needed.

For me often it is not related to miles or hours, but to time of day.

I get a little tired/sleepy around 6:00 and really tired adn sleepy around 1:00AM.

Both of these are my personnel planned rest periods.  Other than then - only under 5 min hot stops so I can take the rest when I need it.

[coho]

I've ridden three SaddleSore 1Ks and one SS 2K (Ellensburg, WA to Indianapolis for the '05 USGP).  As long as it's not the first ride after a layoff it's not super demanding physically unless you have a preexisting condition, but it can be mentally draining if you aren't good at being by yourself for long periods of time.  +1 on the mp3, it takes a goodly chunk of the suck out of the necessary superslab portions.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  Not just during, but for a couple days before and after (really, you should be drinking water all day every day, but...).  If you don't have to pee, drink something.  If you feel thirsty, you're already a quart low.

Plan your gas stops ahead, with alternates and a margin for error - Google street view is your friend, GPS (or your own memory if you're someplace you've been before) can send you to the nearest gas station but it can't guarantee that the gas station it's sending you to will be open or even still there  .  Three minute hot stops where the sidestand never touches down feel cool, like you're Ron Ayers or Gary Egan but won't really make the difference in making the miles on time, what they do is allow longer stops every couple of hundred miles.  Take fifteen or twenty minutes and do some stretching, take an Advil, walk around, eat a power bar, pee, drink some water.

Don't watch the clock.  Fretting is exhausting.

[Orson]

I don't recommend it.

It gets hard to find a hotel room after 9:00 P.M.  

[bassjones]

That is exactly why I'm trying to do everything I can to make it more comfortable. I've lowered the back end down, adjusted the suspension, and I'm looking into adding gel, or memory foam to the seat. Any ideas on seat modifications would help.

Sargent seat combined with an airhawk = much love.  Get a set of Gen Mar risers or even better Heli Bars, or better yet, Convertibars too.

[SteveJones]

1500 in 24 has to be almost all interstate

Respectfully disagree:  http://www.ironbutt.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=721

Iron butt rides need not be slabomatic.

For more evidence click on the "king of the ferries" link below.

BTW, with practice fueling stops can easily average 5 minutes or better, presuming you don't need bio-activity at each stop.  Depending on conditions that might not be a valid presumption.  If I don't need to get off the bike, and hit no glitches with the pump, I can refill my ST and be gone with about 2 1/2 minutes stop time.

[CLAY]

I don't get that sucky feeling on a bike.  I've ridden Memphis to Phoenix for Thanksgiving w/family several times and I love blasting along the interstate.

IMO the only "training" you need is several 600 + mile days.  And a water bottle and some fruit for your tank bag.  All the gas stops have coffee.....

And you will be riding E to W so you gain sunlight.

(And you must have the will to do it)

+1.  Talke some snacks you like.  It's about time management and the head game.  I too also take advil before I start, and stay on top of it.  I plan to do a BBG1500 this year as well- I have done several SS1000's.

[Flashmo]

A good pair of padded bicycle shorts goes a long way toward comfort and preventing the dreaded Monkey Butt.

Of course a hefty dosing of Anti-Monkey Butt Powder should go without saying.

[SteveJones]

A good pair of padded bicycle shorts goes a long way toward comfort and preventing the dreaded Monkey Butt.

Of course a hefty dosing of Anti-Monkey Butt Powder should go without saying.

Padded shorts and powder are an upgrade to standard civilian draws and may give you a couple hundred more miles of comfort, but for REAL long miles and big-dog rides like a BBG or longer, it would be better to upgrade to LD Comfort shorts.  Especially in sweaty weather.  See http://ldcomfort.com/store.  You don't use powder with them.

[cognosticator]

A couple of years ago a buddy of mine did the BBG, he was 68 years old, has emphasyma and has to ride with oxygen bottles.  He averaged 72 mph for the 1500 miles, got up the next day and finished a 50 CC to San Diego.  He said the BBG was the hardest thing he has ever done and would never even consider it again.  I still don't know how he managed it, but he did.

As for me, plenty of 1000 mile days, but that is as much hardcore I want to do.  No desire for any other LD ride.

[CLAY]

As a proud wimp I don't see that doing 1,500 miles in a day is at all sensible.  

A 1,000 mile day might make some sense under a limited set of circumstances.  

It doesn't make sense to be hurtling down a highway at an average of 60 mph, much less 69 (70) mph, as your speed will need to be considerably in excess of these averages, when you are tired, exhausted, and road weary.  

I think our first obligation as motorcyclists is safety to ourselves and others.  Now I also appreciate that some people are better able to endure discomfort, fatigue, inattention, but eventually it catches up to all of us.

Sorry if I seem like a cold shower, but is riding when you are exhausted worth the risk?

   Some might wonder if living in Canada is at all sensible.  

[kendenton]

Split gas stops and food stops rather than combining them.  You don't use much more time and you get 2 riding breaks out of it.  Rather than stoppng 10 minutes for filling up and a quick eat/drink, stop 5 minutes for each an hour apart.

[2wTraveler]

BBG was by far the hardest ride  I have done to date...I have NO desire to complete another one...at least for now.

[Andrew]

Is this a race?  Pitting for position?  Sure not EVERY stop will be 15 min, some might be longer, some shorter.  I've found that it's nice to get off the bike every 200 miles or so and WALK around for awhile.  Keeps the muscles loose and the mind clear.  Makes it a LITTLE more enjoyable IMO.

Why yes it is a race,  if you plan on completing 1500 miles in 24 hours,  A race against the clock

[plumber]

I wish I had more time for riding. I did a SS1000 a few years ago on interstate in about 17 hours. It was about 1100 miles. Another 400 miles would have been sketchy. The best part of the ride was coming back over the Sierras on 80. The RT railed through the turns and the excitement was a nice change from the interstate straightline drone. I haven't been to a rally yet but I could see how it would help the miles fly by.

[Bounce]

The rules used to be that you couldn't do an "extreme ride" for a cert without first doing a basic ride. The BBG is an extreme. The SS1K and BB are basic rides. Get your feet wet learn any lessons you didn't know about time management and staying alert. Then tackle the BBG. IMHO it's the smart path to take.

(a few SS1k's, a few BBG's, a SS2K, several undocumented BB's that just happened on the way to something else, and the 2003 Big Ride.)

BTW: it's NOT a race and some people have had their certs pulled when they started raving about absurd antics done during their ride in public forums. one guy wrote an article about wasting time gambling in vegas then hyper speeding with wheelies up on ramps and other douche baggery. the iba saw the article and yanked his cert. a SS1k only requires an average speed of 42 mph.

As for doing it without the paperwork, that actually makes it easier. Try it sometime WITH the paperwork even if you don't turn it in. It adds a level of complexity when needing to documenting each step and doing so accurately at 3am.

1500 in 24 has to be almost all interstate

nope. you just have to plan it in a non-sucky state. when we did Mass Gold it was less than a quarter interstate and was 1600+ miles in 24 hours.

[Tony T]

The rules used to be that you couldn't do an "extreme ride" for a cert without first doing a basic ride. The BBG is an extreme. The SS1K and BB are basic rides. Get your feet wet learn any lessons you didn't know about time management and staying alert. Then tackle the BBG. IMHO it's the smart path to take.

The rules haven't changed.  

BBG Rules

WARNING: Before you can apply for Bun Burner Gold certification (1,500+ miles in 24 hours), you must have at least completed one of the following; a SaddleSore 1000, a Bun Burner 1500 (1,500 miles in 36 hours), a SaddleSore 2000 (or other similiar IBA ride), the Alberta 2000, Minnesota 1000, TimberButt, Tarbutt Rally, Utah 1088, any Cognoscente Group event, any MERA event, or the Iron Butt Rally. IMPORTANT NOTE: Other 24 and 36 hour rallies qualify. Their omission here is not intentional, it is just not possible to list all qualifying rallies. If you are unsure if a rally you finished is acceptable, please contact info@ironbutt.com.

[Specter]

With some careful planning and preparation, you should be able to do a BBG. The SaddleSore 1000 will teach you a lot about what is involved. Your choice to go west will help because of the wide open spaces and 70+ MPH speed limits available in most western states. Super slab interstates aren't required, but twisty bits should be avoided, because you can't keep up the average speed necessary, and higher speeds trade off too much gas mileage, causing more stops and lost time. I 40 across New Mexico and Arizona is beautiful.

I think of every minute stopped as a mile lost. When I did my BBG, the mental pressure to keep moving was always there. The clock was relentless. I took about four pictures on my BBG, and most of those were combined with a comfort break   I finished in just over 23 hours, which included rain, thunderstorms & hail (25 minutes hiding in a gas station), and temperatures between 30 and 90 degrees. I have to say I never felt tired or sleepy. My knees weren't too happy though

The things that made it work were a comfortable bike, dry and comfortable gear, light sensible snacks, the XM radio, and a GPS.  The GPS isn't to keep you on course - you should have that well planned. What it does is give you feedback on the ETA at the finish. Most GPS constantly calculate your arrival.  You can then adjust your riding speeds and stops to get there in time.

Finally, if you get tired, and feel like you can't make it, take a break, nap and just go for the Bun Burner. Its still an impressive accomplishment, and you've got 12 extra hours.

[stose85]

Thanks a lot guys. I found some very helpful information. I'll keep everyone posted as to my progress, and I plan on several 500-600 mile rides before I start increasing for time.  

[M]

As a couple others here have mentioned, time management is critical for a BBG ride. If you are unable to get 1500 in 24 don't fret, there are many riders that didn't complete a BBG on their first attempt.

I did a BBG back in 2008 on my Ninja 250:
http://forums.ninja250.org/viewtopic.php?t=71351

You might find some of my experiences and thoughts helpful for your ride planning.

[D-Mac]

Great thread. It's much more about planning stops (or lack thereof) than it is about speeding. It's amazing how much time you can lose on fuel stops.

I've done a couple of SS1000s and a BB1500. I learned a lot from those. I just got a new Russell-day-long seat and I'm plumbing in a fuel cell for my FZ6. A BBG and finishing a rally are my goals for this year.

[coho]

+50billion on the Russell saddle!!!1!!
 

Day-Long is not just a name.  You may want a bigger fuel cell.

[Ignacio]

Thanks a lot guys. I found some very helpful information. I'll keep everyone posted as to my progress, and I plan on several 500-600 mile rides before I start increasing for time.  

Good idea.  I found that going from 500 miles in a day to 1000 wasn't twice as hard.  A Saddle Sore is relatively easy if you can run a full tank, fuel up, and repeat with some efficiency.  There's even time to sleep at a rest area for a few hours if you route conservatively.

Doing  a BBG 1500 in 24 is much more difficult and shouldn't be tried unless you do a SS or BB first.

I wrote both mine up:

My first Saddle Sore at http://www.mattwatkins.org/saddlesore911.htm

My first Bun Burner Gold http://www.mattwatkins.org/ridebbg200505.htm

Once I did these the hook was set and did my first competitive rally.......and it's a sled ride from there.

[D-Mac]

+50billion on the Russell saddle!!!1!!
 

Day-Long is not just a name.  You may want a bigger fuel cell.

I just ordered a 4-gallon cell from tourtank.com. The stock tank goes to the welder next week.

[jfremder]

You should become seriously aware of your biorhythms.

I cannot function well between 1:00 and 3:00 AM.

I must take a rest stops then.

Every 24+ hour rally I've been in I have somehow managed to not rest then, regardless of my plan, done something stupid, and lost major points because of it that poor decision - made when I was tired.

You are not doing a rally, but the propensity to do something stupid or unsafe will be the same, so learn when it is time to stop for 30 in and power nap, when you must sleep 2 hours, or when a 4 hour stop is needed.

For me often it is not related to miles or hours, but to time of day.

I get a little tired/sleepy around 6:00 and really tired adn sleepy around 1:00AM.

Both of these are my personnel planned rest periods.  Other than then - only under 5 min hot stops so I can take the rest when I need it.

Lots of good advice here. Know your body clock. Snack on the bike. Practice fuel/pee stops to get them closer to 6-8 minutes. Choose your route carefully.. Make sure you're comforatable (Seat/temp/gear/ergos)

[David Morrow]

I've done a BBG1500 and it was all on interstates. About 22.25 hours I think.

But, I've also done 1451 miles in 23.5 hours on Canadian roads - that was Winnipeg, Mb to Vancouver, BC. (I could have trimmed at least half an hour off that if I was riding alone.) That stretch of the Trans Canada Hwy is mostly 4 lanes until you hit the Rockies and then it's a mixed bag for a couple hundred miles until you get near Kamloops BC. So, no, you don't really need all interstates.

http://www.ldrider.ca/2007AtlanticCanada/the-ride/2007-page06.htm

[discochris]

Yep, I've done one, back in 2003. It was only the second 1000+ plus day I'd ever done too.
They're hard. Really hard.
Even harder that I did it with stock fuel, and on a stock seat that was horribly painful by the end.

I've done something like 14 or 15 1000+ days, and have a bunch of IBA certs, but absolutely nothing was harder than this ride.
How someone like Warchild can do them back to back (or more) is beyond my comprehension. I love LD riding, but never, ever want to do another BBG.

[skippy929]

http://www.alaskaleatheronline.com


Their sheepskin buttpad helped me with my ss1000 on a cbr929 with stock seat.

[Cal24Master]

1000 in 24 can be done pretty easily, even using non interstate, and can be fun.

1500 in 24 has to be almost all interstate

figure this..1500/40mpg=37.5 gals of gas.  37.5/4 gal=9.375 stops

figure 15 mins for each stop, gas, pee, eat, stretch  15x10=150 mins

150min=2.5 hours worth of stops

so 24 actually becomes 21.5

1500/21.5= 69.76 mph avg

some people might call that fun....

That may be YOUR math.  Here is mine:

1500/45mpg = 33.3 gallons  33.3/11.2gal= 2.94 stops
figure 5 minutes for each stop to stop and get gas.  I stretch, drink and eat on the bike.  I drink small amounts at a time so I don't have to stop and pee.
3 stops x 5 minutes = 15 minutes.
total time is 23 hours 45 minutes.
1500/23.75 = 63.15 mph.
In Nevada you can do it without touching a freeway and driving under the speed limit by almost 7 mph.

And yes, I do call that fun!

[DNA]

Fail!

Come on you math wizz - don't you start with a full tank and end empty?

33+ Gal actually is 2 stops?

I just got you 5 more minutes!
 

[MarioWink]

Padded shorts and powder are an upgrade to standard civilian draws and may give you a couple hundred more miles of comfort, but for REAL long miles and big-dog rides like a BBG or longer, it would be better to upgrade to LD Comfort shorts.  Especially in sweaty weather.  See http://ldcomfort.com/store.  You don't use powder with them.

Giving advice to a rider to take off on a long ride with bicycle shorts and MonkeyButt powder is setting them up for more pain than any rider should have to bear. The powder absorbs moisture and turns to a grinding compound. The retained moisture tenderizes the skin and that leads to saddle sores. Do like advised above and go the the LDComfort website and view the videos. That should give any long distance rider an advantage. Don't suffer on a long ride. Comfort counts for EVERY mile, not just the first 1000 of the day.   ô¿~

[Gar]

Update? is the OP ready to go?

[Bounce]

I think of every minute stopped as a mile lost.

Good point.

1500/24=62.5 mph target
gas stop = (x minutes) * (# of stops)

modifiers that take time away from your base 24 hours:
assuming 15 minutes per stop and i only got 120 miles per tank on the bike then (15*13=3.25 hours)
unplanned stop time (float) 2 hours

24-3.25-2=18.75 hours

1500 (miles) / 18.75 (hours) = 80 mph target speed

1 minute lost = 1.33 miles lost (if i did my gazintahz right)

(float is there if you need it. as you get closer to the destination you can begin to use float for other things; extending your completion time remaining.)
...

Once you have one BBG under your belt the easy way (all western interstates), then you can better guage what your personal plans should be to successfully complete one under more difficult conditions (easter congested state, secondary roads, etc.). One good start is aux fuel for fewer gas stops (see zero mph v target destination and time).

...

as with aux fuel, reducing fuel stop times will be one of the biggest impacts on your need to set higher target speeds. if you can get a bike that does 300 miles on a refill (instead of 120) and drop your time to 5 minutes from 15, you just made a HUGE improvement over the things that are within your control (before even lifting the bike off the stand).

assuming 5 minutes per stop and get 300 miles per tank then (5*5=25 MINUTES (say 0.5 hours))
2 hours float
24-0.5-2=21.5 hours
1500/21.5=69.8 mph

69.8 mph v 80 mph target average is HUGE

and remember the float will work for you as your progress without problems like weather, construction or mechanical problems.

[DNA]

Don't know about the OP - but I am working on my paperwork from Sundays little ride.

Wa DC - Colo Spgs

~1650 mi in 24.5 hours

I stopped in Limon at 1580 miles at 2:152 hours for a witness.

Kansas sucks...

[lonestrom]

I'm planning my first SS1000 for next spring.I have been told that you should try to find interesting roads with high speed limits.My wife is a endurance bicyclist and she does 120-150 mile days 4,5 and upto 10 days in a row.On her last big ride I had her check the roads she was on for the amount of traffic,number of small towns ( less small towns means less 35mph's )and speed limits.With her info I have plotted a route that is 50% interstate ( high speed limits and less DEER !!) and 50% back roads.I'm planning on leaving around 2am and taking the interstate on my way out in the dark and returning on the smaller roads.

[coho]

I'm planning my first SS1000 for next spring.I have been told that you should try to find interesting roads with high speed limits.My wife is a endurance bicyclist and she does 120-150 mile days 4,5 and upto 10 days in a row.On her last big ride I had her check the roads she was on for the amount of traffic,number of small towns ( less small towns means less 35mph's )and speed limits.With her info I have plotted a route that is 50% interstate ( high speed limits and less DEER !!) and 50% back roads.I'm planning on leaving around 2am and taking the interstate on my way out in the dark and returning on the smaller roads.

That's a good plan. You might consider plotting in an abort point or two, where you can re-route to the slab if the more interesting roads turn out to be more time consuming than anticipated.  It's nice to have options already on hand instead of having to do it on the fly.

[DNA]

Other pro tip: Ride west int he AM - east in the PM

It seems every night I was heading intot he sun - when I made the turna dn headed home (east) this made a world of difference 14 hours in to a ride to not squint.

[BrookR1]

The three biggest things that helped me:

1. Leave at midnight so you can finish your ride with less fatigue. My body wanted to sleep so bad at 4am but because it was early in my ride, I was able to get through it without much problem.

2. Lots of aspirin and water.
 
3. Read the wind patterns before you leave...they have a huge affect on your gas mileage. A 10 mph headwind can shave 30-40 miles off your tank range.

[Cal24Master]

The three biggest things that helped me:

1. Leave at midnight so you can finish your ride with less fatigue. My body wanted to sleep so bad at 4am but because it was early in my ride, I was able to get through it without much problem.

2. Lots of aspirin and water.
 
3. Read the wind patterns before you leave...they have a huge affect on your gas mileage. A 10 mph headwind can shave 30-40 miles off your tank range.

I have to disagree strongly with #1.  Ever hear of Circadian Rhythms?  If not, look here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm  If you are a human mammal, which I assume we all are..  The time of day you need sleep the most, and get the most out of sleep time is from about 11:00PM and 3:00AM and from about 1:00PM and 3:00PM.  During those times you will fall asleep faster, and get more rest for the time you're asleep.  If you plan on leaving at Midnight, that means you are going to have to sleep earlier than your body wants, and you will be leaving without the same amount of rest you would get leaving early in the morning.  Of course if you are accustomed to working graveyard, your body may have somewhat adapted to an unnatural sleep cycle.  It's also proven that you cannot "bank" sleep ahead of time.  If you have a normal sleep cycle and get up in the morning, going to bed at 4:00PM when you're not tired and getting up and Midnight will not help you get through the night.  A far better plan is to get up at a normal time, leave, and then when you get really tired at about 2:00AM stop and sleep for 45 minutes to an hour.  Do NOT sleep for over a hour.  If you sleep for over a hour and less than 2, it is worse than not sleeping at all.  If you haven't tried it, it may sound a little crazy.  I thought so when I first learned about it.  But when you try it, you will find it amazing.  Taking the 45 minute nap takes less time than stopping 3 times for coffee or doing jumping jacks on the side of the road.  You are safer, feel better and actually make better time than trying to force yourself to keep riding when you are really tired.

Don Arthur, the former Surgeon General for the Navy has done a whole presentation about this for the IBA.  If you get a chance to see it, it is well worth the time.

The other comment I have is that Ibuprofen works much better than aspirin.  It is better for joint pain.

[M]

Fatigue by Don Arthur

Fatigue and Motorcycle Touring (by Don):
http://ride4ever.org/news/fatigue.php

[M]

An entry on a Wiki is hardly a biography. I'd surmise that the author(s) didn't like him much...

Prior to his retirement in 2007, Rear Admiral Frank Thorp stated that a "preliminary" Naval inquiry into Arthur's credentials had occurred and concluded that there was "no wrongdoing" by the officer in these regards. Due to confidentiality issues, the Office of the Inspector General will not comment on the investigation and Arthur will not authorize a release of the report.

Interesting that your same username 'pariahcarry' shows up as one of the contributors for the above Wiki article...

Case closed, move on...

[croach1776]

Was able to do my first SS-K in under 19 hours - but took my time and had long lunch. It was easy on I-10 within Tx, especially since almost half the trip was done at the legal speed limit of 80 mph. Of course real speed was closer to 90mph to keep from getting passed by all semi-rigs. Will be able to do a BBG next from Houston to El Paso.

[bmwrydr]

Having completed three Iron Butt rides (SS1000, BB1500 and BB1500 Gold), I do not recommend that you do the BB 1500 Gold as your first IBA ride.  The SS 1000 is an "entry level" ride and is a lot more manageable in terms of time and distance.  If you haven't visited the IBA website, I recommend this; with particular attention to the 29 Tips for Long Distance Riding.
Have fun.

[STeveST1300]

I did my first BBG this past July we started in Ohio and went to Moab Utah. My friend and I both ride Honda ST1300's and have ridden together alot. We planned it out well and were told not to try it with 2 of us but for us we thought safety in some numbers and we could help each other if needed. Any more than 2 people would be nearly impossible as gas/rest stops are critical. We did 1526 miles and actual riding time was a tad over 21 hours, we had 6 gas stops and had to stop once in the Rockies to put on some warmer clothing. We left Huber Heights Ohio at 11 AM the plan was to get to the Rockies as it got light we were off just a bit. we averaged about 72.5 MPH for the trip. So yes you may have to speed a bit. We crossed Kansas at night that was a huge plus as the day time temps there were over 100, as it was it never went below 88 deg for the worst 400+ miles of that ride. I don't care if I never see Kansas again.