Long Distance Safety
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
Stay hydrated! You can get dehydrated when it's not even that hot and you don't know that you're getting dehydrated.
http://www.umm.edu/non_trauma/dehyrat.htm
Here's a great read for you (and everybody else).....
http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm
http://www.umm.edu/non_trauma/dehyrat.htm
Here's a great read for you (and everybody else).....
http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 185
Likes: 1
From: Tuddenham St. Mary, United Kingdom
Some of this has already been said, but here's my take:
Your life and the life of your buddy are of paramount importance. If either one of you wants to quit, for whatever reason, then quit. Live to ride another day.
Get plenty of sleep.
No alcohol the night before the ride. No alcohol during the ride.
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Every once in a while, drink some orange or grape juice, too. Not too much, just enough to replace the minerals you may lose through sweat. Limit your coffee/tea intake.
Eat smart but sparingly. Don't over-do salty foods.
Eat and drink at rest stops only. As you get farther into the ride, eating and drinking on the fly will become a dangerous distraction. Besides, stopping for a break is never a bad idea.
Take a potty break at every rest stop.
This may sound crude, but the night before you leave, make sure to eat a high-fiber meal so that when you get up in the morning you can purge your system (take a big dump). This will greatly improve the comfort of your ride and your ability to ride longer.
Your life and the life of your buddy are of paramount importance. If either one of you wants to quit, for whatever reason, then quit. Live to ride another day.
Get plenty of sleep.
No alcohol the night before the ride. No alcohol during the ride.
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Every once in a while, drink some orange or grape juice, too. Not too much, just enough to replace the minerals you may lose through sweat. Limit your coffee/tea intake.
Eat smart but sparingly. Don't over-do salty foods.
Eat and drink at rest stops only. As you get farther into the ride, eating and drinking on the fly will become a dangerous distraction. Besides, stopping for a break is never a bad idea.
Take a potty break at every rest stop.
This may sound crude, but the night before you leave, make sure to eat a high-fiber meal so that when you get up in the morning you can purge your system (take a big dump). This will greatly improve the comfort of your ride and your ability to ride longer.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX - Some call it heaven.
I've never done an official Ironbutt, but I have ridden an 18 and a half hour day that totatled almost 800 miles, including 200 miles of twisties in northern Arkansas and a long stop at an acquaintance's house. I probably could have easily done 1000 miles that day had it all been on the slab.
I started to get really tired around 10:00, but pulling into a rest stop and taking a 15 minute cat nap on top of a picnic table worked wonders for me. We didn't eat big meals, but ate snacks at every stop.
I've never had a strong urge to do it again, but it's nice to know you can push yourself if need be.
I started to get really tired around 10:00, but pulling into a rest stop and taking a 15 minute cat nap on top of a picnic table worked wonders for me. We didn't eat big meals, but ate snacks at every stop.
I've never had a strong urge to do it again, but it's nice to know you can push yourself if need be.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 432
Likes: 5
From: Tennessee
I have doen several Iron Butts.... most of the responses are spot on but I will add a few of my opinion as well.
1. Take asprin and ibuprophen with you. Take asprin before you start and then alternate with the others ever 2-4 hrs.... this will keep inflamation down and make the last few hundred miles much more comfortable.
2. As other have said...you have PLENTY of time. My buddy got sleepy when we were ridiong our first butt....we pulle over at a rest stop and he took a 45 minute nap...It rejuvinated him and we were good to go.
3. Call your wife at the half way point and maybe one other time... I made the mistake of not doing this
4. Have fun. If you begin to feel impaired take a break (nap) or call it quits.
5. Don't (excessively) speed. Limit yours to speed limit plus five max. This should take away the potential for tickets while making excellent time.
6. Over prepare for all weather and temperature potentials. Any iritation becomes a disaster over long periods on the bike.
7. CREDIT CARDS and CELL PHONE at must. (also some cash)
8. Might want to call Credit Card company and tell them on the front end. If not they will see many small purchases over several states and shut down the card for potential fraud.
9. Get your documentation correct and organized on the front end....double check it at the Iron Butt site to make sure you know the ruls..... more than one person has done the ride and not got the certification due to a doc screw up.
10.. Take some zip lock baggies to keep receipts in and to protect from rain.
11. Reconfirm with you wife that you WILL NOT take any undue risks and will stop when impaired.
12. Stay away from trucks.....especially in the dark.... Lots of things appear suddenly and mysteriously in your line of travel.
I am jealous. Looking forward to doing my 1500 mile trip in 24 hrs in the spring though.
But to each his own.
R. Todd
1. Take asprin and ibuprophen with you. Take asprin before you start and then alternate with the others ever 2-4 hrs.... this will keep inflamation down and make the last few hundred miles much more comfortable.
2. As other have said...you have PLENTY of time. My buddy got sleepy when we were ridiong our first butt....we pulle over at a rest stop and he took a 45 minute nap...It rejuvinated him and we were good to go.
3. Call your wife at the half way point and maybe one other time... I made the mistake of not doing this
4. Have fun. If you begin to feel impaired take a break (nap) or call it quits.
5. Don't (excessively) speed. Limit yours to speed limit plus five max. This should take away the potential for tickets while making excellent time.
6. Over prepare for all weather and temperature potentials. Any iritation becomes a disaster over long periods on the bike.
7. CREDIT CARDS and CELL PHONE at must. (also some cash)
8. Might want to call Credit Card company and tell them on the front end. If not they will see many small purchases over several states and shut down the card for potential fraud.
9. Get your documentation correct and organized on the front end....double check it at the Iron Butt site to make sure you know the ruls..... more than one person has done the ride and not got the certification due to a doc screw up.
10.. Take some zip lock baggies to keep receipts in and to protect from rain.
11. Reconfirm with you wife that you WILL NOT take any undue risks and will stop when impaired.
12. Stay away from trucks.....especially in the dark.... Lots of things appear suddenly and mysteriously in your line of travel.
I am jealous. Looking forward to doing my 1500 mile trip in 24 hrs in the spring though.
But to each his own.
R. Todd
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 185
From: Utah
More great tips. I don't think I would have thought about the high fiber meal on the evening before, but that's a great suggestion. Also, thanks for the reminder about the IBA documentation.
Last edited by AtticusFinch; Mar 1, 2010 at 11:13 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
Read your first post & your responses. Sounds like you have everything planned well. Throw a bottle of Advil in your bag. It'll come in handy when your muscles start complainin'. If you or your partner need to drop out make sure the one that needs to stop is safe & has support, then the other one can continue if he wants. 1K isn't all that difficult. Let us know how you do!
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 0
From: Rocky Mtn High CO
Have fun! I'm thinking about doing this organized Iron Butt through the CO backroads. They start and finish on interstates, but do a lot of it on state highways. Looks like a great route this year up into WY, back down into CO, over into UT, then back east over the rockies and into Denver. http://www.cofreewheelers.org/1000-in-24.html
Here's a link to the map of the route too... http://www.mapquest.com/mq/2-QT50dR_P3tY7hqocR4vF
Here's a link to the map of the route too... http://www.mapquest.com/mq/2-QT50dR_P3tY7hqocR4vF
Last edited by rogerfromco; Jun 10, 2010 at 05:06 PM.
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Club Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX & Santa Fe, NM when I can find the time....
EARPLUGS! I hear (pun not intended) they go a long way in preventing fatigue. Have read up on it and there is some merit to the "rumors'. Something to do with cutting down on the assault on your senses.
Was planning on doing one May 20, but wasn't ready for it (death in family) on a couple of levels. Decided to re-schedule...it'll always be there for me to do!
There are a ton of great suggestions here...you're going to be fine!
Good luck to ya!
MaryO
Was planning on doing one May 20, but wasn't ready for it (death in family) on a couple of levels. Decided to re-schedule...it'll always be there for me to do!
There are a ton of great suggestions here...you're going to be fine!
Good luck to ya!
MaryO
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
I have a bar-mounted bottle holder to help me stay hydrated, but if it's really hot remember that water alone won't keep you hydrated. Figure on chugging a bottle of Gatorade at every gas stop (your body will thank you).
Edited to add - Earplugs definitely.
Edited to add - Earplugs definitely.