I guess I'm too much of a pansy to do an ironbutt

[lolife]

I've been contemplating doing an iron butt ride for about a year now.  I've ridden 12-15 hrs in a day several times.  I've ridden 500 miles in a day before.  I average about 15,000 miles a year on my mc.  I've put 6500 miles on my C-14 since the end of June.

Me and a friend who rides a FJR rode to the outerbanks NC this past weekend.  We rode 1035 miles in 2 days & we didn't even sniff an iron butt.  We decided to try to use this ride as a test ride to an iron butt.  The longest interstate we rode as about 400 miles & we covered it in 6 1/2 hrs & that included all gas & lunch stops.  We rode gas stop to gas stop approx 180 miles.  We had to stop when we saw a station b/c we didn't plan out the gas stops beforehand.  

My problem is the time frame.  When we rode 400 miles in 6 1/2 hrs we never got below 80 mph & bounced between 80 & 90 with a top speed of 119 mph.  We used a gps to keep up with our time.

We've always thought the 1500 miles in 36 hrs seemed the best option for us b/c our thinking was 12 hrs there, 12 hrs to eat supper & sleep & then 12 hrs home.  I think that was a bit optimistic.  After riding now, it seems like it will take 13-14 hrs each way & that doesn't leave much time to eat & get some sleep.

On the 1000 miles in 24 hrs do y'all do it without any sleep?  If it takes 8 hrs to ride 500 miles, then it will take 16 hrs riding time to do the 1000 miles.  

I guess my question is how fast do you ride when attempting an iron butt?  How did you do your 1000 mile & 1500 mile trips?  Did you do the 1000 without sleep just ride 20 consecutive hrs?  On the 1500 mile trip, how long did it take to ride 750?

I've been to the iron butt website but that's made me believe that accomplishing a ride isn't that difficult but after gauging one with a trip, its a lot more difficult than I had anticipated.

Thanks for any advice & information  

[schmii]

pretty much just winged it.

http://www.bcsportbikes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122922

Sleep shouldn't be a concern around 1000 miles.  An ideal day for me is 8 hours of sleep 16 hours of wake with the ability to push another 4 hours here or there.  If you have 16 ideal hours that's 60MPH average, 15 minutes for gas every 180 miles or 3 hours, 6 fuel stops x 15 minutes add 1.5 hours so 17.5 hours total and that's still below interstate speeds.

Consider the IBA tips:

http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm

Plan where to fuel make it convenient, try and only stop for fuel, drink enough then drink more, pack food with you.

[lolife]

Congrats on your ride.  Sounds like you have the same problem I do, I can't sleep the night before a ride either.  I usually dream of riding all night & lay there waiting for the alarm to go off so I can get started.

[jwhite518]

On the 1000 miles in 24 hrs do y'all do it without any sleep?  If it takes 8 hrs to ride 500 miles, then it will take 16 hrs riding time to do the 1000 miles.  

That's about right. 16 hours is a good time when you're on all slab, running the speed limit up to about 10 over, and being efficient on your stops. I've done it in less than 15, but that was under extreme conditions.  I use 500 miles / 8 hrs as a good rule of thumb.

How do you plan sleep? Sleep isn't an issue, because 16 hrs is just a long day. Say you leave at 6 AM, you're done at 10 PM. Even if you lollygag some, you're home at midnight or 1 AM. A saddlesore 1000 should not be an allnighter.

The absolutely most important thing is to keep your stops short. You might be stopping 7 or 8 times for gas. The difference between a 15 minute break and a 30 minute break is two hours. That's how a 10 PM finish time stretches to midnight.

[miles]

Last Saddle Sore I did took 23 hours and 58 minutes, pretty much all in the saddle except for gas stops and one 35 minute breakfast break.
And that was on a Speed Triple.

Of course, I picked a route that was going to guarantee slow average speeds...

[Blue Bye You]

A 1K day isn't difficult, but it's a different type of ride than just normal touring. You said you used a GPS on your trip. Look at the average miles you traveled verses the average miles driven. That's what you have to work on, getting them closer. To do that you have to reduce the time stopped. Economising stop time means planning the trip. Working out as few stops as you can. Gas, food, rest and pit stops should be made together and kept to a minimum in number and time. I've done a 1K run in 15 hrs flat. Running 75 to 80 MPH with 2 20 min stops. But I have a 7.7 gal fuel tank and can get 50 MPG if I keep in below 80 MPH. If you want to do a 1.5K day you have to cut your stops to 10 min, except for 1 30 min rest stop, and forget about sleep. You can do it in about 23 to 24 hours. You can go faster but getting pulled over will ruin the whole run, and you can't add that increase as a linier improvement as there may be a lot of things you have to slow down for. Plus if your fuel mileage drops alot you have to make more stops. You've got to know what you can get out of a tank full of gas under those circumstances and push it to the limmit to reduce the number of stops. Although IBA rules restrict you to 300 mi between stops for safety. They won't certify the ride if you exceed that by more than a couple of miles. It's not a pleasure ride, it's an endurance ride, not a joy but a challenge, not to be taken litely.

[D-Mac]

For the SS1000, I've always planned on a short break at the turn-around point. I usually allow for an hour, which still leaves me with 4-5 hours to spare for the whole ride. Sometimes I've used the break - sometimes not. In one case the weather was horrible and it was dark for the last 6 hours, so I broke the ride into increasingly smaller pieces near the end (180 miles between stops, then 90, and the 40-50 for the last 150 miles or so). Even with all of those stops, I still finished with 4 hours to spare.

For the 1500 (in 36h), I did the first 1000 as a "regular" SS1000, took a 5-hour rest break, and then rode the rest.

You're right that it is different than touring, but it grows on you too. I love to run a Saddlesore pace now.

The key is keeping the bike moving more than speeding.

[jfremder]

I guess my question is how fast do you ride when attempting an iron butt?Thanks for any advice & information  

Speed is NOT the key to high mile days. Managing stops is the key. We do our endurance riding 2-up, and don't have auxilliary fuel. Fuel stops are 7-10 minutes tops. That includes rest room break for two people. Hydration is on the bike, as well as snacks. We don't stop for meals, just consume high protein snacks as needed.

1500 miles = six fuel stops @ 10 min ea. = 1 hour stopped
1500 miles @ 79mph is Nineteen hours with wheels rolling
Sleep for four hours, and repeat and you just did back to back Bunn Burner Gold's

We have many 1000 mile days under fourteen hours.

15-16 hour saddle sore rides aren't hard if you plan...

[lolife]

Thanks for the replies & that's what I was wanting to know. It seems I need a different approach.

What are butt burner golds? We rode approx 500 miles on the first day & then just over 500 the second. A lot of the riding was back roads & secondary roads so we couldn't haul ass.

I'm going to plan on riding from my house in Anderson SC & ride to the Arkansas line. I'll cross the Mississippi River & turn around & come home. Its 500 miles each way. If I get tired I'll just stop & rest & try again later.

I don't really know why I want to do this. I already ride more than anyone I know but there's always someone who rides more & I want to do an iron butt. I always thought the 1500 mile would be easier b/c of sleep but if you're only getting 4 hrs of sleep then that's not really an advantage over the 1000.

If I accomplish the 1000, I'm curious to find out if I want to do another or give up on the idea.

[jwhite518]

What are butt burner golds?

It's called a Bun Burner Gold, not a butt burner. 1500 miles in 24 hours, and it's damn hard. (Even though Jeff makes it sound easy, I've never come close to 20 hours on a BBG.) A regular Bun Burner is 1500 in 36, which is what you mentioned earlier. It's a Saddlesore times one and a half. (and strictly speaking, there's no such ride as "an iron butt." It's called a Saddlesore 1000. But when you say "I did an iron butt" most people know what you mean.)

Since you have a GPS, let me introduce you to the Avg MPH statistic. That's how most IBA riders manage their pace. We are talking total avg mph, including stopped time. Moving avg is meaningless. A SS1K requires an avg mph of 41.7. A BBG is 62.5. Watch that number while you're riding, and you'll see how important stopped time is.

[Ignacio]

It's called a Bun Burner Gold, not a butt burner. 1500 miles in 24 hours, and it's damn hard. (Even though Jeff makes it sound easy, I've never come close to 20 hours on a BBG.) A regular Bun Burner is 1500 in 36, which is what you mentioned earlier. It's a Saddlesore times one and a half. (and strictly speaking, there's no such ride as "an iron butt." It's called a Saddlesore 1000. But when you say "I did an iron butt" most people know what you mean.)

Concur.  BBG's are an extreme ride and not allowed for folks first ride...it's says it at the IBA website very clearly.  Saddlesores and Bun Burners over 36 hours are for first-timers...focus on those.

41.7 mph average gives you time to stop, eat, fuel, and even take a nice long nap if needed...assuming you don't choose two-lane twisties all the way.  I think the last 500 miles are easier than the first 500 miles personally.

Then, IF and WHEN you accomplish one of the beginning rides...the hooks might be set to try a BBG.

Don't worry about speed...worry about riding for a long time at or near the speed limit...and not dallying at fuel stops.

[squeezer]

+1 on what other experienced riders are saying. Speed is not the issue. Keep rolling and make the gas stops fast. On my BBG, I had several thunderstorms, a 40 minute or so park on the freeway while while a beam for an overpass was installed, and a fairly significant detour towards the end. I never broke into triple digits on that ride. I just stayed on the bike.

Speed can actually work against you. It takes a lot of energy to keep aware of your surroundings at speed. Run with the prevailing speed of traffic, and you're safer and going fast enough.

Make the Saddlesore your first ride. It's not that difficult (well, my first was thanks to four hours of thick fog -- that wore me out, but that's a freak thing) and you'll learn a great deal, especially about what bits of your gear and bike are comfortable enough to use on later long distance rides and which bits need to be changed.

[SalsaShark]

Last Saddle Sore I did took 23 hours and 58 minutes, pretty much all in the saddle except for gas stops and one 35 minute breakfast break.
And that was on a Speed Triple.

Of course, I picked a route that was going to guarantee slow average speeds...

sounds a lot like my story...

My first IBA run was on my Speed Triple and we did most of the distance on 2 lane country highways. We tried to minimize the amount slab interstate. We had a couple of long stops.

1. was at lunch when we just kind of messed around way too long
2. was at Devil's Tower (our turn around point)... Hey, I'm not going to ride all the way there and not take a look around
3. was on the side of the highway when my buddies wing decided to up and die in the middle of the night... at 997 miles. Well we had to get it towed off the highway, he got a ride halfway home with another friend and I completed the ride on my own.

Route: goolemap
Total ride time: 21 hours

[schmii]

If I accomplish the 1000, I'm curious to find out if I want to do another or give up on the idea.

One way or the other you'll know if you ever need to cover that distance for whatever reason you're capable or know what needs tweaking to do so.

[Slonishku]

My first SS1K was during the Cal24 rally- a rocking good time.

I was on a bone stock 1997 Bandit 1200 and did just fine. I personally think a 24 hour rally is the way to go for a first time SS1K- boredom is offset because the ride is broken up into many short, fun, interesting segments. For me, it took some doing but wasn't terribly difficult. Lots of stops, plenty of time off the bike, and a fun event along with an SS1K cert... Brilliant!

I really can't tell you just how fun most of the 24 hour rallies are. Any one of them is an experience you won't forget!  

[county]

I wanted the license bracket so I did the BB 1500 as I thought it would be easier...I was nearly 60 years old when I did it

I rode interstate, East to West for the daylight, left at sunrise and checked into a motel at dark (about 925 miles), up at first light and finished the trip in Phoenix at my nieces house....

Nobody is much gonna talk about speed because of the IB rules...except to say that we all obeyed the speed limit.

[Slonishku]

I wanted the license bracket so I did the BB 1500 as I thought it would be easier...I was nearly 60 years old when I did it

I rode interstate, East to West for the daylight, left at sunrise and checked into a motel at dark (about 925 miles), up at first light and finished the trip in Phoenix at my nieces house....

Nobody is much gonna talk about speed because of the IB rules...except to say that we all obeyed the speed limit.

Simple math will show you that, if you choose your route, plan well, and execute the plan, there is no need to speed. At least in the Western US. A "flow of traffic" pace will obviously get you in a bit quicker, but it's not necessary.

[Justin]

Simple math will show you that, if you choose your route, plan well, and execute the plan, there is no need to speed. At least in the Western US. A "flow of traffic" pace will obviously get you in a bit quicker, but it's not necessary.

+1, in the west a 1000 mile day is @ 15-17 hours quite easily. But I digress from some of the other posts, speeding DOES help, above and beyond managing stops, as long as it's consistent. A quick blip to 100 here and there will make no difference, but 100 for an hour straight will.

[marc11]

When people ride 400 miles in 12 hours, they may think they are running 80 MPH all the time, but the fact is you piss a ton of time away at food and fuel stops.  The key as been said many times is AVERAGE SPEED.  You can do an SS1000 at the speed limit if you just maintain that speed the entire time.  You do not sleep, 15 hours of riding is not that hard, and you do not dilly dally at food and fuel stops, especially fuel stops.

The key is to map a route away from traffic but mostly on interstates or highways with at least 55 MPH speed limits, that do not go through towns and that have large passing areas so you can maintain an average speed of 55 MPH at least.   The next point is to map out fuel stops based on your bikes range and maximize the time between stops, meaning if your bike has a 250 mile range, do not stop every 100 miles, stop every 225 miles, this means fewer fuel stops, less wasted time.  Be sure to RESEARCH fuel stops, especially in smaller towns at night to be sure they are open and have alternative stops, do not map out a fuel stop where you only have 5 miles of fuel left, leave at least 20 or 25 miles of reserve.  When you do stop for fuel it is gas and go, have your credit card ready (cash takes too much time) and DO NOT remove your gear, just pull in, fuel up and go.  Try to keep breaks to a minimum, like every other fuel stop or at a meal stop.  A Camelbak is great for water, just don't drink too much or you'll need to stop and use the bathroom, a sip every so often is fine to keep you hydrated but minimize waste.

You should plan on two meal breaks of 20 to 30 minutes TOPS and align them with a fuel stop, so it is an all in one stop.  Bringing a few breakfast or energy bars for a quick bite at a fuel stop (eat while you fuel) does wonders and wastes no time too.

I've done 2 SS1000 and one BBG1500 without any issue and lots of time to spare, it is all in the preparation.

[jwhite518]

+1, in the west a 1000 mile day is @ 15-17 hours quite easily. But I digress from some of the other posts, speeding DOES help, above and beyond managing stops, as long as it's consistent. A quick blip to 100 here and there will make no difference, but 100 for an hour straight will.

Unless you're in Nevada I have no idea where you can run 100mph for an hour and not worry about cops and other traffic. Mostly cops. And that hour of cop-stress will contribute to fatigue much more than you know it.
Running 100 for an hour is for rookies. Experienced Iron Butt riders keep it much closer to the speed limit. Keeping the wheels rolling and limiting stops is where it's at.

[DNA]

As previously noted, 1000 mi days are not that tough - even in the east.  I usually start early 0500-0600 adn get done in about 14-15 hours.

The BBG I did was on slab and completely straight.

I made 5 stops each about 7  minutes.

In 23 hours, I was moving at 10 over the limit for well over 22 hours. It was not easy.

In the east we are not going to make the long higher speed runs they do in the west - but it still very doable.

[Justin]

Unless you're in Nevada I have no idea where you can run 100mph for an hour and not worry about cops and other traffic. Mostly cops. And that hour of cop-stress will contribute to fatigue much more than you know it.
Running 100 for an hour is for rookies. Experienced Iron Butt riders keep it much closer to the speed limit. Keeping the wheels rolling and limiting stops is where it's at.

I'm not saying it's the best way to run a LD ride - I am just saying that 100 MPH for an hour will cut a lot of time of a ride. And in the west (nevada, utah, NM etc) there are many places you can do it. I'm just arguing that in theory it will cut a lot time. And I do not disagree either that staying in the saddle and making as few (and as short) of stops as possible is not the primary factor.

[Hotbrakes]

Relating this to going fast on the track...slow is smooth, smooth is fast.  Smooth is also easy meaning less mental fatigue so you don't feel the need to take longer breaks.  Vary your speeds and keep a God pace but don't ride faster than your comfort level.

But I am no iron butt rider.  750 miles in 16 hours is my best.  If I hadn't had to work the next day I would have continued on but it was fun most of the time.

[J-Mac]

I did 925 miles in a day this year, and was miserable toward the end. My ass hurt, and I was losing focus.
Much respect to anyone that can do it.

[lolife]

I did 925 miles in a day this year, and was miserable toward the end. My ass hurt, and I was losing focus.
Much respect to anyone that can do it.

This is why I started this topic.  I rode the hardest that I'd ever ridden when we rode to the outer banks.  I've ridden some long days & I've been tired when I got home.  By the time I got home from the outer banks I wanted off my motorcycle.  I've never felt like damn this, I want to stop & I was at that point.  I was losing focus & screwed up in 2 curves that I ride in every day on my way home b/c I was focusing on how close I was to being home & not what I was doing.  

When I stopped in my garage & stood up it felt like someone was poking my ass cheeks with pins & I couldn't sit on anything other than the soft couch for about 30 mins.

I had mad props for anyone who does an iron butt & even more for people who do more than 1.  I'm still contemplating a 1000 mile ride but my rear tire is almost in need of replacing & there's no way I'm gonna do one on a brand new tire.  I guess I'll wait until my new tire is 75% worn & then attempt another one.

I don't mind interstate riding its just not that enjoyable to me.  I'd rather be tearing up the twisties all day.  

[SalsaShark]

One of the oddest bits of advice I picked up on was regarding the focus thing. Keep a few sour candies (lemon drops/jolly ranchers) in your tank bag and accessible. When you find your mind wandering, pop in one of those. The sugar is a good thing to perk you up and the sourness is kind of a smack to the senses. I thought it was stupid, but it works. It gives you something to think about other than mile after mile of super slab.

The other thing I found myself doing on long stretches was calculating MPG in my head from the last stop. I mean, you got to keep the logs anyways, might as well do something with it. I probably wouldn't have done this had I had an ipod or something, but oh well...

[marc11]

All my IBA runs included an XM radio, makes a huge difference.  I've moved on from XM to an ipod over BT now, but the net is the same.  Before I go on any long or multiple day ride I load up a bunch of podcasts and new music to entertain me for those times when highway stretches are needed.

[SalsaShark]

^^ this is my plan for next summer. Load up on the 'books on tape' and podcasts.

[Slonishku]

Another thing about high speeds... running at 100mph will eat your gas up much, much faster. Average in the time it takes to pull off and get gas for extra stops required by much lower mpgs... very little time savings, massive increase in fatigue.

For anyone considering books on tape, I seriously suggest audible.com. I have a 2 books/ month subscription. It rocks.

[DNA]

I found the bleutooth headset in the Nolan only lasts about 7-8 hours.

I am still looking for the perfect system that will provide 22 hour tunes in stereo w/o wires for a decent price.

When the batteries die, I prefer to let the daemons battle in peace rather than have wires these days.

[Hotbrakes]

When I stopped in my garage & stood up it felt like someone was poking my ass cheeks with pins & I couldn't sit on anything other than the soft couch for about 30 mins.

  I'd rather be tearing up the twisties all day.  

I got some seat beads from Walmart for $8 and can't remember the last time my ass was sore.

+1 on the twisties.  If I didn't I'd have a Hardley.

[Slonishku]

If that's the case, save your batteries until you really need the mental boost of music or whatever. Honestly, as long as your wires are run through your jacket or whatever, they aren't an issue. Keep in mind, you're going to be on the bike for rather long stretches. "Unlimited use" waaaaay beats "ne wires".

On the other hand, a bit of electronics know-how might make it possible to splice a larger battery into your bluetooth setup.

[Slonishku]

I got some seat beads from Walmart for $8 and can't remember the last time my ass was sore.

+1 on the twisties.  If I didn't I'd have a Hardley.

Thie single biggest "leap forward" in my ability to ride long distances was the realization that seat fatigue is the silent killer. Jeans, underwear, or whatever it may be that puts wrinkles and/ or seams between ass and seat must be eliminated.  I can't even tell you how much of a differnece that makes.  I moved to moisture wicking athletic tights. Now I exclusively use LD Comfort brand undergarments. They're pricy, but they're worth every penny. They take your comfort level to a whole new place.  http://ldcomfort.com/
My first 3 SaddleSore 1000 days were done on my '97 Bandit with a stock seat. Proper clothing has gone way more to adding mileage than an aftermarket seat.

[Justin]

Thie single biggest "leap forward" in my ability to ride long distances was the realization that seat fatigue is the silent killer. Jeans, underwear, or whatever it may be that puts wrinkles and/ or seams between ass and seat must be eliminated.  I can't even tell you how much of a differnece that makes.  I moved to moisture wicking athletic tights. Now I exclusively use LD Comfort brand undergarments. They're pricy, but they're worth every penny. They take your comfort level to a whole new place.  http://ldcomfort.com/
My first 3 SaddleSore 1000 days were done on my '97 Bandit with a stock seat. Proper clothing has gone way more to adding mileage than an aftermarket seat.

$60 is a small price to pay for the improvement these types of tights make. Just wear these instead of the undies/jean combo, and it will make a huge improvement in comfort. Not only do they eliminate the creases, wrinkles and seams; they also don't "bind" and "pull" causing pressure points from lateral stretching of your arse tissue. Just wear those under your riding suite/riding pants, and good to go.

[lolife]

Thanks for the LDComfort link.  Christmas is coming & I'll definitely give them a try.  I like riding in my underarmour cold gear pants & those look real similar.  

[Slonishku]

Also, riding a 1000 mile day isn't simply a matter of having the right genetic makeup or something. Trying to just flat out do it when you you haven't taken a few multi-hour hirdes to work out kinks in your gear isn't likely to be a pleasant experience.

The key is to ride until something makes you uncomfortable and want to stop. Fix that thing. Repeat.

There's a well known story in the Iron Butt community in which a long distance rally veteran was asked "What's the secret to grinding out such massive mileage?" To which, the rally rat answered "Sit there, twist that." While good for a laugh, that really isn't an answer based on reality.

[Justin]

Also, riding a 1000 mile day isn't simply a matter of having the right genetic makeup or something.

Then how do you explain Warchild ?!   - sorry, 7 BBG's in a row requires more than training and getting rid of the wrinkles  

[marc11]

Also, riding a 1000 mile day isn't simply a matter of having the right genetic makeup or something. Trying to just flat out do it when you you haven't taken a few multi-hour hirdes to work out kinks in your gear isn't likely to be a pleasant experience.

The key is to ride until something makes you uncomfortable and want to stop. Fix that thing. Repeat.

There's a well known story in the Iron Butt community in which a long distance rally veteran was asked "What's the secret to grinding out such massive mileage?" To which, the rally rat answered "Sit there, twist that." While good for a laugh, that really isn't an answer based on reality.

+1

[jwhite518]

Also, riding a 1000 mile day isn't simply a matter of having the right genetic makeup or something. Trying to just flat out do it when you you haven't taken a few multi-hour hirdes to work out kinks in your gear isn't likely to be a pleasant experience.

The key is to ride until something makes you uncomfortable and want to stop. Fix that thing. Repeat.

There's a well known story in the Iron Butt community in which a long distance rally veteran was asked "What's the secret to grinding out such massive mileage?" To which, the rally rat answered "Sit there, twist that." While good for a laugh, that really isn't an answer based on reality.

Well said.

[D-Mac]

Then how do you explain Warchild ?!   - sorry, 7 BBG's in a row requires more than training and getting rid of the wrinkles  

Warchild is to the average Iron Butt rider as the average Iron Butt rider is to your neighbor with a cruiser who thinks that 50 miles is a long ride.

That guy is an absolute freak of nature. No doubt. No one will break that record anytime soon (forget the fact that there can be no "official" attempts since it's considered too dangerous to track).

Didn't he end up doing 8 BBGs (seven plus an extra one tacked on the end just for the hell of it)?

[Slonishku]

The kind of riding Warchild does IS in fact a matter of genetic makeup. Seriously fucked up gentic makeup. Like Tammy Fae Baker fucked up makeup.

Also, he's a long-distance strategist with loads of experience who thinks things through incredibly throroughly. He dumps serious financial, temporal, and mental resources into his LD riding activities.

Dale is one of those people who brings the LD community together to make it much more than the sum of its parts.

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[Justin]

The kind of riding Warchild does IS in fact a matter of genetic makeup. Seriously fucked up gentic makeup. Like Tammy Fae Baker fucked up makeup.

 

[Ignacio]

Didn't he end up doing 8 BBGs (seven plus an extra one tacked on the end just for the hell of it)?

No, it was 7 of them.  Report at http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=23811&st=0&p=279435&hl=+hell%20+week&fromsearch=1&#entry279435

He did a bunch of warm-up runs before and rode home after the event, but even as Tammy Faye as he is...the 7 were pretty surreal.

A photo I took of him that was published in Cycleworld.

[Justin]

No, it was 7 of them.  Report at http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=23811&st=0&p=279435&hl=+hell%20+week&fromsearch=1&#entry279435

He did a bunch of warm-up runs before and rode home after the event, but even as Tammy Faye as he is...the 7 were pretty surreal.

A photo I took of him that was published in Cycleworld.

And done on what IMO is one of the top 5 best steeds of all time, the mighty CBR1100xx - great pic, great bike

[miles]

One of the oddest bits of advice I picked up on was regarding the focus thing. Keep a few sour candies (lemon drops/jolly ranchers) in your tank bag and accessible. When you find your mind wandering, pop in one of those. The sugar is a good thing to perk you up and the sourness is kind of a smack to the senses. I thought it was stupid, but it works. It gives you something to think about other than mile after mile of super slab.

I like Big Red cinnamon chewing gum for the same effect.

[Justin]

Now I exclusively use LD Comfort brand undergarments. They're pricy, but they're worth every penny. They take your comfort level to a whole new place.  http://ldcomfort.com/
My first 3 SaddleSore 1000 days were done on my '97 Bandit with a stock seat. Proper clothing has gone way more to adding mileage than an aftermarket seat.

Slonishku, I've never used these particular tights, just under-armor and other brands. What is the weather range on the ldcomfort ones? The under-armor tights are great, but a bit toasty in hot weather. Howe are these in hot weather? Also, how warm are they in cold weather?

[Slonishku]

I wear them in all weather. They're pretty close to being temperature neutral. If they're damp, they have an evaporative cooling effect, but they don't keep you warm. For that, I'll add a fleece layer or an electrically heated layer. They wick moisture waway well. Even if they're damp, your skin stays dry. They're kind of amazing in that regard.

I've worn them up to about 115 degrees. The coldest weather I've actually worn them in for an extended period of time was probably around 40 degrees. They worked great both times, and everything in between.

As for the underarmor tights, I know they make them for several temp ranges. Even the lightweight versions of the "cold gear" are pretty warm. They do make "heat gear" ones that work well too. I'll check when I get home and see what the brand and type of leggings were that I used pre- LD Comfort...

[Justin]

As for the underarmor tights, I know they make them for several temp ranges. Even the lightweight versions of the "cold gear" are pretty warm. They do make "heat gear" ones that work well too. I'll check when I get home and see what the brand and type of leggings were that I used pre- LD Comfort...

Yeah, that's my take, the light ones are still pretty warm when the temps are high. I've been breaking out the heavy tights the last few rides with the temps dropping to the low 30's lately, and boy are they nice

Will have to grab a pair of the ldcomfort ones for when the temps get warmer, not like they cost any more than the under armor stuff.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Slonishku]

OK... check the thread "Iron Butt Underwear" for a bit o' discussion.

[mnxs54]

I've been contemplating doing an iron butt ride for about a year now.  I've ridden 12-15 hrs in a day several times.  I've ridden 500 miles in a day before.  I average about 15,000 miles a year on my mc.  I've put 6500 miles on my C-14 since the end of June.

Me and a friend who rides a FJR rode to the outerbanks NC this past weekend.  We rode 1035 miles in 2 days & we didn't even sniff an iron butt.  We decided to try to use this ride as a test ride to an iron butt.  The longest interstate we rode as about 400 miles & we covered it in 6 1/2 hrs & that included all gas & lunch stops.  We rode gas stop to gas stop approx 180 miles.  We had to stop when we saw a station b/c we didn't plan out the gas stops beforehand.  

My problem is the time frame.  When we rode 400 miles in 6 1/2 hrs we never got below 80 mph & bounced between 80 & 90 with a top speed of 119 mph.  We used a gps to keep up with our time.

We've always thought the 1500 miles in 36 hrs seemed the best option for us b/c our thinking was 12 hrs there, 12 hrs to eat supper & sleep & then 12 hrs home.  I think that was a bit optimistic.  After riding now, it seems like it will take 13-14 hrs each way & that doesn't leave much time to eat & get some sleep.

On the 1000 miles in 24 hrs do y'all do it without any sleep?  If it takes 8 hrs to ride 500 miles, then it will take 16 hrs riding time to do the 1000 miles.  

I guess my question is how fast do you ride when attempting an iron butt?  How did you do your 1000 mile & 1500 mile trips?  Did you do the 1000 without sleep just ride 20 consecutive hrs?  On the 1500 mile trip, how long did it take to ride 750?

I've been to the iron butt website but that's made me believe that accomplishing a ride isn't that difficult but after gauging one with a trip, its a lot more difficult than I had anticipated.

Thanks for any advice & information  

It's not as hard as you think. I did a SS1000 on my 2009 Bonneville this summer. It was like 1040 miles and took me 20 hours because I screwed around a little too much and also the Bonnie needed gas about every 100 miles or so. It should be a piece of cake on your Connie.

I left at 4am and was home at midnight. If you use google maps you'd be able to plan an easy route. PM me if I can help. Good riding!

Mark

[kevin_stevens]

All my IBA runs included an XM radio, makes a huge difference.  I've moved on from XM to an ipod over BT now, but the net is the same.  Before I go on any long or multiple day ride I load up a bunch of podcasts and new music to entertain me for those times when highway stretches are needed.

Also, if you're a sports fan, football/baseball games are great distractions.  If you use a Sunday, you can get three 3.5 hour NFL games, two of them back-to-back.  That's more than half the road time covered.

My other tip (I've never done any IB ride, but I've covered a lot of road in my time) is to get *good* wind protection.  Wind noise in your ears, or blowing down your neck, or constantly flapping a sleeve, drives me nuts and makes minutes seem like hours.  On a couple hour "tank of gas" run, I don't care, but the longer the day is the more things like that matter.

KeS

[Ignacio]

I wear them in all weather. They're pretty close to being temperature neutral.

That's a really good description.  

....temperature neutral......

I didn't think about it that way before, but it's not like they warm you up that much when it's 18 degrees out and they don't add heat when it's 118 outside.  I got my wardrobe down to 3 weeks of riding that were one set of LD tights, two pair of Techsox, Aerostich top and bottom; a set of electrics, evaporative vest, and a set of fleece tops and bottoms in the side case and I never got too warm or too hot...and always comfortably dry.

LDComforts rock!

[MarioWink]

That's a really good description.  

....temperature neutral......

I didn't think about it that way before, but it's not like they warm you up that much when it's 18 degrees out and they don't add heat when it's 118 outside.  I got my wardrobe down to 3 weeks of riding that were one set of LD tights, two pair of Techsox, Aerostich top and bottom; a set of electrics, evaporative vest, and a set of fleece tops and bottoms in the side case and I never got too warm or too hot...and always comfortably dry.

LDComforts rock!

By design the LDComfort garments give you the comfort you need to go long distance. That is the purpose of the garment. Therefore your skin must ALWAYS stay dry to avoid moisture damage. That is why many riders find LDComfort superior to Under Armour. There are also no seams or wrinkles in the seating area. I say they give you a comfort range of about 100 degrees. From 20 to 120. Yes LDComfort provides protection from the cold. Just make sure you shut off the air flow with the use of a proper outer garment. Fleece over LDComfort adds plenty of warmth.  A decent electric jacket liner over LDComfort is supreme. In 120 degrees the LDComfort long sleeve shirt IS your cooling garment. In all weather you want your skin dry.  
BTW; Mr Wilson rode every mile of "HELL WEEK" (10,636 miles) while wearing LDComfort for every single mile.

[Justin]

BTW; Mr Wilson rode every mile of "HELL WEEK" (10,636 miles) while wearing LDComfort for every single mile.

He's still  

And thanks for the post, I'll be ordering mine soon.

[Elseanno]

Somethings that occur to me as I read threads from people who are concerned about being able to do 1000 in 24:

Pick a route that isn't boring. Technical goat trails will take too much time, but if you can keep sweepers coming it really helps. Also, if you live in a region where there's a little town every 5-10 miles that you have to slow down to 25 for... and maybe go through lot's of stop signs, not a good route for a first timer. Go elsewhere.

Give yourself permission to stop if you get really tired. I tried to run a rally before I was completely over a cold and ended up sleeping twice during a 24 hour rally.

Music or some kind of radio can help. I've run 24 hours without it. It can get lonely.

GPS with traffic alert. Sometimes, it helps to know that there's traffic ahead. you can reroute. Handy.

Elseanno

[guitardad]

I'll second a couple of Elseanno's comments. I've got an XM radio on the bike, and for the longer stretches it really helps.  I'll admit to turning off the 2-way radio occasionally, so lionlady doesn't have to listen to me sing along.    

The other is the choice of roads, for a first SS1000.  My first included a long stretch on I-79 in West Virginia.  No tight, technical road (it's an Interstate, after all!) but lots of sweepers that kept me enjoying the ride.  It definitely kept my head in the game.

But the most important thing, I think, is that LD rides are not about high speeds followed by long rest stops.  It's about making the bike comfortable enough that you really can "Sit there, twist that."  I don't think I've ever ridden faster in a rally than I normally ride - I can sustain 5-10mph over for a long time, and that's much better for grinding out the miles than a 100mph burst followed by a rest stop to recover.   The best advice I got was to go out for a long ride - ride until something made me so uncomfortable I had to stop.  Go home, fix that thing, and then repeat the process.  Pretty soon, both you and the bike are in "riding shape."  

[lolife]

I'm still going to do a SS1000.  It got put off b/c I needed tires.  I didn't want to add the worry of having the chord to start showing 3/4s of the way through the trip.  Now I have the dilemma of do I want to flat spot a brand new set of PR3s.  

I'm leaning toward waiting until this fall when the weather starts to cool off & head someplace warm.  

[jwhite518]

Its gonna take a lot more than 1000 miles to flat spot a set of PR3s. Don't worry about it, just go ride. (Or is that another excuse for postponing it?   )

[lolife]

Its gonna take a lot more than 1000 miles to flat spot a set of PR3s. Don't worry about it, just go ride. (Or is that another excuse for postponing it?   )

Really its not.  I don't do a lot of interstate riding for a long period of time.  The longest I have is when we sent to the outerbanks NC, which was all interstate.  We rode 1035 miles in 2 days & when I got home I noticed the center of the tire was flat.  It was probably the riding before the trip that did it, but I didn't notice it as much until we got back.

I have a few trips planned this spring & I may try to squeeze it in before it gets hot.  I don't want to do it when the temps are 90+ here.  I'm either going to go to Daytona Fl or Mobile Al.  Both are 500 miles one way so I either need to go now or wait until it cools off a bit.

I'm not putting it off b/c I'm scared to do it.  I'm actually jacked up to try it b/c I want to prove to myself it can be done.  I want that sense of accomplishment.  

[Justin]

So what do you think of the PR3's? I'm a die-hard PR2 fan myself. When I went to get a new rear tire yesterday they had the PR3's on as well and they were only $10 more. Went with the PR2 though cause I know I like it.

[lolife]

So what do you think of the PR3's? I'm a die-hard PR2 fan myself. When I went to get a new rear tire yesterday they had the PR3's on as well and they were only $10 more. Went with the PR2 though cause I know I like it.

I'm not getting them until Sat.  I'm going Sat morning & then ride Saturday to scuff them up a bit.  I'll know more about them when it warms up enough to hit the mountains.