BBG 1500 from Denver area ideas?

[Justin]

I'm going to be doing a BBG 1500 this summer from the Denver area and returning to the same. Was just knocking around route ideas myself, and seeing if anyone else had any good ideas. One idea is shooting down I-25 to Albuquerque, then I-40 to Flagstaff. Then US-89 up to US-163 to US-191 in Utah - so I can hit Monument Valley. From there would head up to Moab, then SR-128 to I-70 and home from there. This route comes up a bit short though at 1440 miles. So was hoping for some ideas to expand that a bit, or even totally different ideas

Decided I'd finally get myself the license plate, and if I'm going to, an extreme ride it is. Already verified that my previous 1000k rally rides meet the prerequisite for the BBG1500.

[Kneescrubber]

Looks very doable. I just did a quick check on mapquest. If you continue to four corners from Kayenta and then thru Cortez on to Monticello you can add 64 miles.

[Justin]

Looks very doable. I just did a quick check on mapquest. If you continue to four corners from Kayenta and then thru Cortez on to Monticello you can add 64 miles.

Yeah, it's going to need a lot more tweaking to get it right. I need to make sure the shortest routes between my planned stops total up to over 1500 miles etc. I'm thinking of a totally different route now to make sure it's over 1500 any way you map it. Would suck putting 1500 miles on the bike and coming up short due to a technicality.

[DNA]

Straight shot on 70 east to WaDC - 1580 miles if you need to be out here for some god awful reason.

Booring as hell - but it got me my BBG plate (going the other way actually).

I'd even let you shower and sleep 4 hours before sending you back home.  

Your route looks more fun.

[Justin]

I'd even let you shower and sleep 4 hours before sending you back home.  

Four hours? Gee thanks  

But no, WaDC is not anywhere I want to ride. I want to at least make a loop out of it, so I don't have to do 1500 back when done. I'm working on a few other loops currently - trying to at least get in some new areas for me.

[DNA]

   No Problem.

Your route is some what sad because you are basically going around a lot of super awesome stuff and slabbing it - but otoh - after about hour 14 I was pretty dead and go straight - twist this across kansas was about all i could do.

so many of the killer roads would a too tough at night completely exhausted - though I do recall making amazing time across navajo land between 4 corners and petrified forest natn park.  Those were some fast fast miles for my portly gs...

[Boov]

That looks like a good challenge.  If I ever do a BBG again it will be a loop.  It sucks when you're worn out from a super-ride and you're still 1500+ miles from home.

Looking at your map, is the AZ to UT stretch 2-lane road?  If so, you may want to reconsider.

[Kneescrubber]

Looking at your map, is the AZ to UT stretch 2-lane road?  If so, you may want to reconsider.

Pretty much, yes.

[Justin]

Looking at your map, is the AZ to UT stretch 2-lane road?  If so, you may want to reconsider.

It is, but those roads out here are faster than highways back east . I know all the roads well on my route, and they all move at a good clip. But I'm working on a revised route to make sure the shortest distances between all stop points will total to over 1500.

[Justin]

OK, plan B, map attached. This route takes me up to Wyoming, then I-80 all the way to Wells NV.  From Wells, takes the Great Basin hwy down to Ely NV. The from Ely takes US 50 back to I-15/I-70.  Added an extra gas stop in Richfield UT to 1) add buffer miles, and 2) there is a really long section on I-70 without fuel. Stops are all planned out to make sure each corner is covered. Quickest route mode (which I'll be riding) is 1576 miles. Shortest route option on mapping software is still  over 1550 miles (1557 on Streets and Trips). Riding time is 21 hours at reasonable speed settings - I tend to go a bit fast, so that is very realistic. That leaves 3 hours for the 10 planned stops I have, which even at 15 minutes a pop would be 2.5 hours. I plan on limiting stops to 5-10 minutes when possible. And while I always tend to wind up well ahead of schedule due to my "riding style", I am not factoring that into the equation.

Planned Fuel Stops:

Cheyenne WY
Rawlins WY
Ft. Bridger WY
Lake Point UT
Wells NV
Ely NV
Delta UT
Richfield UT
Thompson UT
Glenwood Springs CO

[Kneescrubber]

 

[Boov]

OK, plan B, map attached. This route takes me up to Wyoming, then I-80 all the way to Wells NV.  From Wells, takes the Great Basin hwy down to Ely NV. The from Ely takes US 50 back to I-15/I-70.  Added an extra gas stop in Richfield UT to 1) add buffer miles, and 2) there is a really long section on I-70 without fuel. Stops are all planned out to make sure each corner is covered. Quickest route mode (which I'll be riding) is 1576 miles. Shortest route option on mapping software is still  over 1550 miles (1557 on Streets and Trips). Riding time is 21 hours at reasonable speed settings - I tend to go a bit fast, so that is very realistic. That leaves 3 hours for the 10 planned stops I have, which even at 15 minutes a pop would be 2.5 hours. I plan on limiting stops to 5-10 minutes when possible. And while I always tend to wind up well ahead of schedule due to my "riding style", I am not factoring that into the equation.

Something I found out on my BBG: stops don't work like you think they work.

A few things to keep in mind:
-The instant that you drop below your planned pace, you are on the clock for your stop.  Other interruptions like helmet off/on time and hitting the light wrong at the end of the highway ramp has to be factored in as well.
-Time yourself sometime for how long it takes to fuel up, pay, and (most important) document the stop.  You will be surprised.  Take this times 10, and it is significant.
-For my BBG I had seven stops, and the GPS read a stop time of 2:30.  I have no idea how I racked up so much time, it just happened.

I finished mine at 22 hours only because I planned a 22 hour BBG with stops, and I had to drive a fair amount faster than I expected do to the things listed above.

[Justin]

Something I found out on my BBG: stops don't work like you think they work.

A few things to keep in mind:
-The instant that you drop below your planned pace, you are on the clock for your stop.  Other interruptions like helmet off/on time and hitting the light wrong at the end of the highway ramp has to be factored in as well.
-Time yourself sometime for how long it takes to fuel up, pay, and (most important) document the stop.  You will be surprised.  Take this times 10, and it is significant.
-For my BBG I had seven stops, and the GPS read a stop time of 2:30.  I have no idea how I racked up so much time, it just happened.

I finished mine at 22 hours only because I planned a 22 hour BBG with stops, and I had to drive a fair amount faster than I expected do to the things listed above.

Good feedback, thanks

I do have some experience with LD riding, I just haven't ever submitted for the license plate The figures I have are based purely on Streets & Trips, but I always am well ahead of the estimates that provides. I don't factor that in though, as it acts as a nice buffer. I also have the advantage of riding out west with 75-80 Mph speed limits, which helps greatly. On a recent trip I did 1300 Miles in 25 hours with a 3 hour nap, riding the Devil's Spine, and taking normal length breaks.

This ride will just be a matter of having the stops nailed down to a tee as you mentioned. The riding part is easy, but as you evidenced, stops can add up to a lot. I've factored in 15 minutes each for mine to be safe, even though my target is lower.

When you say you planned for 22 hours, I assume that was without stops?

[Kneescrubber]

11 stops at 15 minutes apiece over 1550 miles equates to an average speed of 72.9mph. Certainly doable.

[Boov]

Good feedback, thanks

I do have some experience with LD riding, I just haven't ever submitted for the license plate The figures I have are based purely on Streets & Trips, but I always am well ahead of the estimates that provides. I don't factor that in though, as it acts as a nice buffer. I also have the advantage of riding out west with 75-80 Mph speed limits, which helps greatly. On a recent trip I did 1300 Miles in 25 hours with a 3 hour nap, riding the Devil's Spine, and taking normal length breaks.

This ride will just be a matter of having the stops nailed down to a tee as you mentioned. The riding part is easy, but as you evidenced, stops can add up to a lot. I've factored in 15 minutes each for mine to be safe, even though my target is lower.

When you say you planned for 22 hours, I assume that was without stops?

My math was that, with 7 10-minute stops, I had to average 65.7 for a 24 hours BBG.  Bump it up to 72 and it's only 22 hours.  So that was the plan I had in mind.  The reality was that my GPS logged 2:30 of stop time, and I have no idea where that time came from.  I was still able to make it in 22 hours by making it up with speed, but I'm still frustrated that the stops took that much out of the clock.

Anyway, you have a higher speed limit out west there and two more ours on your side (if you're planning 24) your plan is probably fine.

Good luck

[scramblerracer123]

I did a BBG to Denver from Mason City IA last year for the IBA National Ride in.  My route reversed would be North to Billings, East to Fargo, South to Sioux Falls, East to Albert Lea, MN then south to Clear Lake IA.  This is 1624 miles.  I had a 350 mile range, I only stopped for fuel, and finished in 21hrs.  This route could be changed to go south from Fargo to Omaha and would be around 1610 miles and would all be on 75mph speed limit interstate, then you could return to Denver on 80 for a SS2000, never have to worry about finding a gas station that is open, or pushing the speed limit.