Iron Butt Ride, June 9
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
Iron Butt Ride, June 9
Well I finally did it. Ran the Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000 on Saturday / Sunday. Weather was great, bike ran perfect. 26 riders left from the Charlotte, NC area staggered at different times. Everyone completed the ride on time. What an experience, it's almost hard to describe. When you're done you feel like you can conquer the world.
Basic route was Charlotte, NC to Spartanburg, SC to Bristol, TN to Richmond, VA to Florence, SC to Columbia, SC and back to Charlotte. Made it in 22 hours. We rode it safely taking at least 20 minutes per stop to stretch and take some water. Had a small meal at 4:30 pm Saturday and another at midnight. I was surprised at how well I held up. Never yawned until we were about 75 miles from the end which was about 4:30am. Funny thing was at about 11:30am Sunday I'm home in bed and the phone rings. It was my bank questioning an unusual pattern of charges on my debit card. All less than $10 covering 3 states in a very small time period. It was all my gas stops.
GPS said we travelled 1,038 miles, actual riding time 16 hours, 24 minutes. Total stopped time 4 hours, 50 minutes but I shut it off during the two stops for a meal to save on the batteries. Average moving speed 63.3 mph, max speed 80 mph, overall average speed 48.8 mph.
The ride was organized by another online motorcycle foum of which I'm not a member but one of my riding partners sent me the link. It was very well organized. They handled all the paperwork with IBA and will submit the necessary items to them for all the riders. One advantage is they say we'll receive our certificates much faster than the usual 8 weeks.
The Iron Butt ride is not for everyone but if you think you'd like to give it a try, go for it. Don't try to do it alone and pick your riding partners carefully to be sure everyone has a similar riding style.
Here's a link to details about the ride.
http://www.mctourer.com/rides/2007/S...Charlotte.html
Basic route was Charlotte, NC to Spartanburg, SC to Bristol, TN to Richmond, VA to Florence, SC to Columbia, SC and back to Charlotte. Made it in 22 hours. We rode it safely taking at least 20 minutes per stop to stretch and take some water. Had a small meal at 4:30 pm Saturday and another at midnight. I was surprised at how well I held up. Never yawned until we were about 75 miles from the end which was about 4:30am. Funny thing was at about 11:30am Sunday I'm home in bed and the phone rings. It was my bank questioning an unusual pattern of charges on my debit card. All less than $10 covering 3 states in a very small time period. It was all my gas stops.
GPS said we travelled 1,038 miles, actual riding time 16 hours, 24 minutes. Total stopped time 4 hours, 50 minutes but I shut it off during the two stops for a meal to save on the batteries. Average moving speed 63.3 mph, max speed 80 mph, overall average speed 48.8 mph.
The ride was organized by another online motorcycle foum of which I'm not a member but one of my riding partners sent me the link. It was very well organized. They handled all the paperwork with IBA and will submit the necessary items to them for all the riders. One advantage is they say we'll receive our certificates much faster than the usual 8 weeks.
The Iron Butt ride is not for everyone but if you think you'd like to give it a try, go for it. Don't try to do it alone and pick your riding partners carefully to be sure everyone has a similar riding style.
Here's a link to details about the ride.
http://www.mctourer.com/rides/2007/S...Charlotte.html
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 155
Likes: 3
From: Moyock, NC
RE: Iron Butt Ride, June 9
Congrats! I really want to try this once, just to say I did it. Just out of curiosity, why did they stagger the starts? Did you ride alone, or in smaller groups? I hadn't thought about the debit card deal... I can see where that would get your bank's attention!
Jeff
Jeff
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
RE: Iron Butt Ride, June 9
I rode with a friend of mine who rides a Kawasaki Vulcan. At the third stop we were talking to a lady riding a Gold Wing who came up from Atlanta for the ride. She was riding alone so we asked her to join us and she did for the rest of the trip.
Travelling in smaller groups is actually safer. Also, if you've got 12 bikes stopping for fuel at the same time, the last guy to gas up doesn't get the same break as the first guy.
Before the ride my wife told me I was nuts. I told her I'm not ready to grow up yet (53 yrs. old). Just another thing I wanted to be able to say "I did it".
Travelling in smaller groups is actually safer. Also, if you've got 12 bikes stopping for fuel at the same time, the last guy to gas up doesn't get the same break as the first guy.
Before the ride my wife told me I was nuts. I told her I'm not ready to grow up yet (53 yrs. old). Just another thing I wanted to be able to say "I did it".
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 155
Likes: 3
From: Moyock, NC
RE: Iron Butt Ride, June 9
That's awesome! I'm 53 too, and can definitely relate to not growing up yet.
I was debating the merits of just doing a straight shot out and back on the interstates (from my house to St. Augustine, Fl. and back is almost exactly 1,000 miles), versus more scenic roads in a big circle. Interstate has the advantage of making the best time, which is probably the way to go for something like this. But it sure gets boring! Bowling Green, Ky and back would also be right at 1,000 miles for me, and would offer a lot nicer scenery. I could even do a quick stop at the National Corvette Museum while I was there, just to strectch my legs.
My biggest problem might be just staying awake for the whole trip!
Anyway, congrats again!
Jeff
I was debating the merits of just doing a straight shot out and back on the interstates (from my house to St. Augustine, Fl. and back is almost exactly 1,000 miles), versus more scenic roads in a big circle. Interstate has the advantage of making the best time, which is probably the way to go for something like this. But it sure gets boring! Bowling Green, Ky and back would also be right at 1,000 miles for me, and would offer a lot nicer scenery. I could even do a quick stop at the National Corvette Museum while I was there, just to strectch my legs.
My biggest problem might be just staying awake for the whole trip!
Anyway, congrats again!
Jeff
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