Any words of wisdom about the SS 1000?

[basketcase]

I am plotting to do my first Ironbutt ride sometime this Spring.

In addition to the stuff on their website, I am open to suggestions and insight from others who have done the ride.

Thanks in advance,
RM

[GSAnderson]

Here's some advice I've followed of over the years:

-Keep the kickstand up

-Ride harder, not smarter

-Don't mess around at gas stations

There's many Saddlesore ride reports in the archives of www.teamstrange.com. Good luck and have fun!

[kbasa]

Yup.

- stay hydrated, it'll keep you alert.

- gas stops should be very, very short.

- stay off the backroads, there's too much traffic and the speed limits are too low.

- manage your paperwork well

- don't stop unless you need to

I did mine last summer and it was fun. SF, CA to Glenwood Springs, CO in about 15 hours. If you have a way to hit relatively empty roads and stay away from urban areas, it'll be far easier for you.

[RebeccaV]

I did a SS1000 this past September and I totally agree with the previous two posts. The Iron Butt website has lots of stories and a list of 25 tips that helped me prepare: http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm

The one thing that I will do differently on my next ride is that I will try to do afterdark portions early in the ride when I am more alert.

Have fun on your ride and please post a ride report here!

-bg

[lorazepam]

Kbasa pontificated:
I did mine last summer and it was fun. SF, CA to Glenwood Springs, CO in about 15 hours.


Did that include the quality time with the LEO?:D

[kbasa]

Originally posted by lorazepam
Did that include the quality time with the LEO?:D

Um. yeah......

:uhoh

[The_Veg]

If I do one I'll probably just head west on I-20 and make a U-ey around Pecos. Basically rural all the way, what cities of any size along the way aren't huge and have bypasses. Should be quick'n'easy as SS1Ks go, which means I'll have time to savour a few of the world-famous Allsup's Burrito! :yum :bliss

[lancew]

RickM- one bit of advice I might add is to work up to it if you don't usually take a lot of long trips. When I was in Atlanta, I used to make a lot of big days- 4 or 500 miles per weekend day was the rule rather than the exception, and if I was on a long trip I could knock out 700 or 800 miles straight without too much trouble. Even did an "unofficial" SS1k once (1100 miles, actually) just because I needed to get there quick.

In the last couple seasons, I haven't been making treks like that very often, and the last time I did a 400 mile day it just about killed me- I didn't even want to look at a bike for a week. Good news is, I'm better now- looking forward to making a comeback. :)

Good luck with it

[Voni]

My first SaddleSore was not really planned. Paul had been doing distance riding, but I was more inclined to want to go places and see people, not just end up back where I started. Plus I really didn't think there was any way I'd be able to ride 1000 miles in just 24 hours.

But there was this time I was in Kansas finishing up a midterm test, and I really wanted to be in North Carolina for a seminar at the National Rally and I only had 24 hours to do it. So I decided to give it a try. . .

About 10:30 at night, I started feeling the nods, and checked into a motel to get some sleep. I started calculating and realized that with the miles I'd covered and with interstate speeds, I could stop for 7 hours and still make it to the rally by 2 PM - and with a little time to spare. What a surprise! You can get decent sleep and still cover 1000 miles in 24 hours.

A wonderful benefit of having done the ride is that the world becomes smaller and every place feels closer. You start expanding what you can do. And . . .

Voni
sMiling

[Rob Nye]

Rick,

A few thoughts on your first Saddle Sore.

One big thing I carried over from racing sailboats offshore is the concept of "target speeds". On the boats we have computers that were tied into various sensors that would constantly monitor performance. Since we would often be out of sight of the competition we had performance numbers (polar plots) of how the boat should be doing, hence the target speed.

Unlike sailing riding a Saddle Sore is not about speed however they do share the goal to be as efficient as possible to save time. In sailing the extra time through efficient maneuvers is used to win, on a SS it can be used for rest.

Here is an outline of what my current "targets" would be for a Saddle Sore.


These are a few quick thoughts on what works *just for me* as in your body, mind and thoughts may differ.

I like to leave early, say 1 or 2 hrs before sunrise. I fill the bike the night before so my start receipt is from an ATM. I like this because once my feet are on the pegs from home; I don't have to get off for 300 miles. This early in the morning one can make very good time; I go from asleep in bed to moving in 15 minutes. For a SS I am on the road by 5, for a BBG it would be 3. I ride just a little over 2.5 hrs and I am approximately 200 miles down the road at 7:30...or so.

I once read somewhere on the Iron Butt site about how to get a fast meal at Denny's. I have perfected this to where I can get a Grand Slam Easy (short stack of pancakes, 2 eggs over easy, bacon, sausage and juice) in just under 30 minutes without feeling rushed.

So it is now 3 or so hours into the ride, I have 800 to go and 21 hours remaining. I ride the rest of the tank or around 90 minutes and get gas. The gas stop and bladder break takes about 10 minutes.

Being conservative here (throwing in 30 minutes) I am now around 700 miles to go and 19 hours remaining.

Next tank is all business and it is 300 miles in about 4 hours. I now have 400 miles left and 15 hours remaining. It is around 2:00 pm. If it is hot or I am a little sleepy I will find some shade and take a 20-minute nap using a screaming meanie (ultra loud alarm clock) to make sure I wake up.

Now I am back on the bike and I burn a tank in another 4 – 4.5 hours. It is closer to 7pm I have 100 miles and 8 hours to do it. I may take a very brief break at this gas stop but I would likely make this a speed stop to run out any remaining daylight. If everything went perfectly I finish in around 90 minutes for a Saddle Sore in around 18 hours. The stats for the ride would look like this:

Total time: 18hrs
Time stopped: 2 hrs
Average speed in motion: 62.5
Speed made good: 55.5

If you go back and really dissect the math you will find the riding times add up to less than 16hrs. The posted numbers are a little optimistic regarding achieved speeds, i.e. zero traffic, construction, deer, etc... so I add in some here and there to allow for unforseen delays. I have learned the hard way that feeling to pressed for time on a long ride can really take all the fun out of it.

Another way to approach this is if you have a GPS make sure your overall average speed never falls below 42mph and you have a certificate.

But above all else have fun and when it stops being fun hang it up for another day.

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

Best,

Rob Nye

[lorazepam]

Rob, what are you riding that has a 300 mile range? I had a 200 mile range on the roadster, and I expect about 250 or so on the RS, if I use 6th a lot. Just curious.

[kbasa]

In addition to ADD, Rob has an Adv.

:D

[DarkCloud]

Make it as easy as possible. Ride from west to east. Start in a state that has higher speed limits. Pick a route that doesn't go through major cities at rush hour. Four lane all the way. Do the ride when the weather is comfortable for you. Start from a motel, no distractions, wake up at 350, on the bike by 400. Ride your own ride. I stop every two hours, gas, pick up a coke, keep something to eat in the tank bag, junk food decisions take time. Stop to rest and eat when the sun goes down, don't ride into the sun. Your target miles per hour covered is 67.5. You should be 675 miles down the road by 430 in the afternoon. Thats 325 miles left at 67.5 that's almost 5 hours of riding left to go, plus half an hour for food and rest. You'll be done by 10pm.

It helps to have destination or alternate goal. Like getting to a rally and having a beer. You have to be able to relax and enjoy the ride. JON

[Rob Nye]

Originally posted by lorazepam
Rob, what are you riding that has a 300 mile range? I had a 200 mile range on the roadster, and I expect about 250 or so on the RS, if I use 6th a lot. Just curious.

I used to have a K11LT with a custom fuel tank (8 gallon cap), now I have an Adventure with an 8 gallon tank. For IBA rides you need to stop for a receipt every 300 miles.

For me it is the ability to run a complete tank without putting my feet down in around 4 hours that is key. I look at a tank as "standing a watch", to finish a SS I need to stand three full and one short watch to get it done. I would be "on watch" for around 14 hours which is right around what it would be at sea.

If you are running a stock tank you only need two more fuel stops but it is important that you go as far as you can on a tank *and* not fart around at the gas pump. If you do the SS and really enjoy it you will likely find youself looking at fuel cells.

Best,

Rob Nye

[Voni]

Great advice for long distance riding is emerging here.

But keep in mind that if this is a first time Saddle Sore, you do have lots of time in 24 hours to go 1000 miles. You don't have to average more than 42 miles per hour to do it. And while you can do it more efficiently and faster, you don't have to. You can enjoy every minute of it and not have the stress of using every minute effectively.

Maybe the best advice I've read is that if it's too much, stop and try again another time. No penalty for that.

Now when we're talking Bun Burner Gold and beyond all that changes. But that comes later. It's amazing how easy the Saddle Sore is when you pick good weather and a good route and enjoy!

Voni
sMiling

[Big Blue]

I've done 2 SS1000's and for me the key's were

1. a camelback in the tank bag for hydration (fill 1/2 way and freeze the night before the ride)

2. Powerbars at fuels stops (short fuel stops)

3. Music

Ride Safe & Good Luck!!