Of course, Sully, only you can answer whether you are ready.

I'd suggest getting in a day ride of 300 miles or so and see how you feel.

As to the whole training issue: if you are accustomed to touring, a Saddlesore 1000 isn't really such a big thing. Get plenty of rest the day before. Keep hydrated during the ride. Plan to stop and stretch often. Eat something at fuel stops. Did I mention the importance of keeping hydrated?

If you have to stop, do so.

Good luck.

 

I would recommend ya go ahead and start the ride. If ya don't finish it, try it again another day and count that as a trial run.
I would echo the notion of doing it during the summer, maybe around the June time frame when ya have the longest daylight. October offers shorter days, colder weather and really cold rain.

 

First off, no way I'd do it with a group unless I was very familiar with and trusted the other riders. Secondly, you need to be honest with yourself; how far have you ridden in a day before, how did you feel afterwards, and do you think you could make that ride in your current physical condition. Assuming I wouldn't lose my job, I could walk out of work right now and ride 1000 miles in 24 hours, but I do distance riding all the time.

 

I say go for it. Just be smart and know your limits. If your body is telling you this is to much STOP and rest. If you don't make the 1000 miles in 24hrs, it's not a loss and none of us will call you a wimp for stopping. It's better to be smart and safe then to push yourself beyond you limits! Stopping, resting and returning home will tell you what you need to prep for when you make your next attemp.

If you ride smart the worst that can happen by turning around is that you got to enjoys a nice ride with some friends.

Good Luck and enjoy the ride.

 

A couple things you should try and plan for:

1. Keep your fuel stops down to 10 minutes or less. You are not making miles when the wheels are not spinning. Save the longer breaks towards the end when you are more tired and may need a longer break.

2. Plan your route using the interstate, easier to keep average speed up. Not sure what direction your heading and if your leaving from Austin, TX. Plan your ride so you're not going thru deer country during the am and evening hours.

3. You don't have to haul *** to make this ride. The faster you go the more fuel you use and the more stops you will need to make. Riding 10-15 over the speed limit will make you just keep looking over your shoulder. Less stress makes you less tired.

4. Unless you are just starving and need to eat, wait till your ride is over to have a sit down meal. Pack a few items that you can snack on....Fruit, power bars, or whatever you like. Bring lots to drink.....when you think you have enough throw a few more bottles in.

5. Ride tank to tank...try not to have any stops in between fuel stops.

6. Like others mentioned try and leave leave early. If all goes well, with this time of year you will have a couple of hours of darkness at the start and at the end. Without pushing real hard and longer stops than normal one can ride 1000 miles in 18 hours. That's an average of 55.56 miles per hour.

7. Check the weather for your route....you don't want any surprises. High winds will slow you down the most, eats up fuel which means more stops. Also check for any major road construction on your planned route.

8. Not sure how many riders will be doing this ride. Have your least experience rider lead the group. You don't need a rider "over" riding his ability on a ride like this trying to keep up.

I will be leaving this Sunday heading to Texas then down to FL. If you would like I can send you my live "Tracking" which will give you a little insight on what it takes to do some of the Iron Butt cert rides. I'm not going for any cert. but it's just the way I ride at times. I will be leaving from WA State and right now my first planned stop for the night will be either Van Horn, TX or Ft Stockton, TX. If you want to track my route all I need is a email address that I can send you the link to. The program I use is "Glympse". I use a Smartphone for my tracking.

Have a good and safe ride......

Digger
Camas, WA
2007 UC 147,000+ miles

 

I completed my second SS1000 in August. The first being last year. Having only stopped at gas stations I can't say I backed my bike up once. It is more a head game than anything. Your mind has to be in it. In terms of fatigue to help you understand what to expect, my butt was fine, but the day after both times my inner thighs were tired, holding my knees in against the tank for 20.5 hours was a good workout for them. Nothing debilitating, just tired.

Biggest advice I can give is if you wear a half helmet or no helmet and your routes contains half to the majority on the highway, then invest in some riding goggles. Your eyes will thank you. The first year we did the ride the average temperature throughout the day might have been 48. It took my eyes 4 days to not be bloodshot anymore.

Adam

 

The riding is not bad except to really pull it off most folks stick to interstates and that's pretty boring. I still have a tibial nail in my leg. Broke the tibia in 5 places and the fibula in 2. I don't think the riding will bother you unless you have pain sitting now. I would be more concerned about the leg being fully heeled and stepping in a hole or too much weight on it on a stop when your tired. Other than that I would say stay hydrated and plan your stops so that you stop sooner than you think you'll need to. I've done Houston to Denver nonstop a few times as well as Houston to Long Beach or vice versa. Never for an iron butt though. I always scope out hotels along the way before I head out in case I get tired. Sometimes I feel great when I start and have to stop and sometimes I think I will have to stop and wind up feeling good and riding straight through. Just prepare for contingencies. Know where dealers/bike shops are along your route and have the numbers for tow services, insurance, etc...

Good luck and have fun!

 

Do a couple practice runs, say 200 to 250 a day. See how the leg feels. Think that should be the determining factor. If it hurts like hell, then mite want to you get healed before getting your but ironed. Had to sit out a run earlier this year cause I tore a muscle in my upper arm. Hurt like the dickens after 60 miles and after 100 miles couldn't hardly ride anymore. Took a break and made my way back to the barn. Ate a lot of aleve that night. Was disappointed, but rode to Sturgis this year. Greatest ride ever.

 

physical limitations aside, Id recommend if your ridin with a group you gotta lead, you set the route (as much major highway as possible this trip aint about the scenery),the pace and the stops. figure your mpg, does everyone have a 6 gal tank? figure out how long you can ride comfortably. 200 miles and you have 4 stops, 250 (pushing it well past the low fuel light for me) and you have 3, time your ride so you dont hit major cities when people are out and about, if you stop for food eat early or late Id skip greasy burgers&chili cheese fries unless you think you will need something to take your mind off your leg in a hour. long distance riding isnt about top speed but average speed, I find it's twice as tiring to ride at 85-90 as 75-80, the more tired you feel the longer your breaks will be, the less time your tires are turning. think about a little taller windshield for that SG and those vinyl lowers for the engine guard, wont matter at the beginning but you will appreciate them the last 200 miles. lotsa liquids, eat light, get a good ridin jacket with the ventilation zippers, burn some mp3's, dont let your buds push you beyond your limit that iron butt license plate trim would make a crappy tombstone.

 

The answers you seek can only come from your *** (and leg).
It is a very doable ride. Keep rolling, when you stop, you are going nowhere. I don't speed, but I don't stop much either.
I take ibuprofen everyother stop to help with muscle aches.
I have never tried an IB ride with a group, that would add complications.
There is no shame in bailing out. You can try it again later.
I have done 2 SS1000s and am awating certification on a BBG