My first Saddlesore 1000 attempt

[playinatwork]

7/30 4:15 am.  I left Atlantic Beach FL with my Triumph Sprint ST thinking I was prepared and ready for most things.  An hour into the trip  my right knee started to cramp up for some reason; unusual since it's usually my left knee that acts up.  At my first fuel stop in Walterboro, SC I noticed the rear tire was starting to show signs of trouble. I figured it would be fine since it had a bit less than 3k miles on it.
  I was making great time and stopped for fuel again in Rock Hill SC and realized I have a serious problem with the back tire. It might not complete the day. I hit a massive traffic jam in Charlotte and lost almost an hour while moving along at 5mph for 45 minutes. Both me and the bike started overheating in the 102 degree sun.  At my next fuel stop in Wilkesboro, NC I resigned myself to hunt for a new tire. This one was starting to feel squirrely and dangerous.  I stopped at a Honda shop that wanted $300 and 85 to mount it, and I would have to wait 3 hours; I said no thanks and went on.
My original plan to ride through the mountains to avoid the midday heat was a bad idea. It seems every tourist was traveling the same roads, and any thoughts of making time were soon dashed  I made it to Greenville, SC where I got thoroughly lost twice trying to find the local Cycle Gear. They really need to figure out where they are. They didn't have a wrench that would fit my 43mm axle nut and they sent me next door to PowerSports of Greenville. Its 5:50pm, and they close at six mind you. I told them my situation, and they said to drive aroud to the service bay and they'd have me out of there in a jiffy. I couldn't have asked for anything better. They even helped me with directions and gave me a great price on the tire they mounted. They are great guys and they are a Triumph dealer.  
I hit a really nasty storm with hail just outside of Columbia SC but otherwise had an uneventful trip. The running around and worrying about the tire made the ride very stressful but I think it would have been easy without the tire issue. The tire that disentagrated was a Pirelli Diablo and was effectively toast at 3100 miles and came off at 3400. That's 300 miles wondering when its going to go pop! Yea it was a stressful trip
.  I think my next will be a BBG 1500 doing 10 states and getting back to home in 24 hours seems like a good challenge.

[miles]

Pirellis go from good to gone in nothing flat.  I like their tires, but that one trait makes me stay away.

[Justin]

So, did ya make it? Title say's "attempt", but nothing more in the body, so curious if you completed the 1000 or not?

I think my next will be a BBG 1500 doing 10 states and getting back to home in 24 hours seems like a good challenge.

The only place you could do 10 states in 1500 miles in the US is riding down the east coast and hitting all the small states. The traffic would SUCK.

[playinatwork]

Dang it Justin why did you have to go and say I can't do something.  What about Jax to Proctorville OH and back by way of Knoxville.  I haven't checked but north on 77 and south on 75 might work.

[Justin]

Dang it Justin why did you have to go and say I can't do something.  What about Jax to Proctorville OH and back by way of Knoxville.  I haven't checked but north on 77 and south on 75 might work.

I was speculating where it would be possible to hit that many states - but now I've challenged you!

[jbs80106]

Were I to go for SS1000...would definitely be all motorway/interstate.  500 miles, getting gas along the way, and back.  Done.  Mnt roads at 45 mph won't do it.....

[motomem]

You had a full plate of stuff to slow you down or even reason to stop. There should be a SS1000a. The "a" for above and beyond the call of duty. Even in my prime I would have surrendered when I had to get a new tire.
Congratulations!

[playinatwork]

Justin, now you have me planning my next trip already.   Squeezing in Alabama is going to be the tough part.  A 10 state ride would be easy 1 way I expect.  I want to figure it out as a loop.

JBS, I thought of that but I wanted an adventure..and I sure got one.  I still completed it in 21:15 and went 1092 miles according to my odo.

Motomem, thanks for that. I wanted to stop but my give up was busted as it usually is.  

[Justin]

Justin, now you have me planning my next trip already.   Squeezing in Alabama is going to be the tough part.  A 10 state ride would be easy 1 way I expect.  I want to figure it out as a loop.

Here some inspiration - my last BBG1500. 5 states, but out here in the west the states are a lot bigger, don't think I could have squeezed another in.

And was this ride successful? Your topic say's "attempt"

[playinatwork]

I really won't know its sucessful till I get my certificate back from IBA but all of my paperwork is in order.  I will be sending it off in the next few days.  

[Bandito]

Have you received your patch and cert back from IBA? if so how long did they  take to get it back to you?

[playinatwork]

Yes, it took about 3 months.

[Bandito]

great thanks

[Dave.TX]

Sweet! Even with the tire, heat, hail and traffic troubles you pressed on. Congratulations.  

[photojojo]

Congrats, I'm planning my first for soon.

[SaharaJp99]

  Mnt roads at 45 mph won't do it.....

Oh contraire:



1,045 miles, 16 hours 51 minutes.  Granted there was a couple hundred miles of interstate, but 80% of it was mountain roads, one of them being million dollar highway which is darn near impossible to make good time on, especially on a Saturday in August.