Iron Butt Rally...What's the big deal?

[BuckeyeClark]

Look I don't want to ruffle any feathers here; however, yesterday I just completed my first Saddle Sore 1000. With that being said I just really don't see what the big deal is with the whole Iron Butt Rally thing. I mean, sure it was tough and now my butt and wrists are sore; but, why do they make such a big deal out of riding 1000 or so miles and getting some bonus points? And then they have to take off a whole year in between events? I just don't.....hold on a minute, my wife is calling for me..."Yes dear....? you are reading about the Iron Butt Rally?... that's nice honey...I was just posting about it..." sorry about that, any way as I was saying....hold on again "what is it babe?....I'm sorry what did you say? It sounded like you said they do it for 11 days in a row? You must be reading it wrong...let me see that.......HOLY CRAP!!!!!!! 11 days????!!!!!!" In a row!!????
Uh sorry about that I had to talk to the wife for a second there.....um....er....as I was saying...those riders who complete the Iron Butt Rally are simply incredible!!!! I was a backseat fan of the riders I have read so much about through Mr. Higdon's rally reports; however, now after doing something similar for just one day and just 1060 miles, I can truly say that I am now simply in awe of them!!!! :bow I have to go get a new ice bag for my butt now...."Honey where did you put the Aspercream......?":ha

[Oldhway]

:laugh

[SCQTT]

I did my first 1000 mile day in your neck of the woods.

Columbus-Detroit-Windsor-Buffalo-Columbus

It was 1,048. I was on a KLR650.

It took from about 6am until 4am.

Never again.

A good day of riding for me is between 350 & 700 miles. I prefer a 350 mile two lane day, but 700 highway seems to take almost the same amount of time.


More than that & I lose focus.


Falling asleep on a motorcycle is not scary, actually it's sort of peaceful. It's that waking up in the grass @ 80 MPH that will have you ****eing your kecks.

[jshuck]

Now it is a lot different with modern equipment. When I did the 8,600 mile 11 day event back in 1986 I did it...
1. on a 73 Triumph Trident.. 105 mph with tall gears loaded.
2. With chain drive..no O-rings or chain oilers so lots of lube.
3. stock gas tanks 9-10 fill ups a day...about 120 miles a tank.
4. 55 speed limit over Labor Day weekend.
5. No GPS..paper map and 3X5 cards in the tank bag.
6. No fancy hydrators.. plastic hose and a water bottle
7. old fashioned radar detector (Cobra)
8. CB radios
9. no electrics
10. no fancy ventilated textiles.. the same leathers for 11 days
11. no ear plugs
12. my old Cockran Army boots.
13 no computers or cell phones. I called my wife once a day from a pay phone.

The old rules used to be with 7 checkpoints around the US with a 2 hour window. If you arrived late, you were out. To me the real challange is to do it on something that people think will not make it. Like the guy who did a few years on a 250 Zundapp 2 stroke single, the guy who did it on a Helix and the couple who did it 2 up!!

[GrafikFeat]

:laugh

+1 Funny stuff!

I did the SS1000 because I wanted to see if I could do it. 1040 miles Seattle to Drummond, MT and back.
I did in 16.5 hours w/ a one hour lunch break at the turnaround point @ Drummond, MT.

I'd attempt the 11 day'r if I could get time off from work.

In the meanwhile, my hats off to those who did accomplish it.

[BobFV1]

I am a detractor of the SS1000 - I think it really dumbs down the level of effort required to become an IBA member - especially on a circle or "out-and-back" loop.

Iron butt riding is about the open road - days spent out on the highway, problem solving, resourcefulness, being far from home. Come to think of it, that's really what the IBR is all about, too.

[GrafikFeat]

I am a detractor of the SS1000 - I think it really dumbs down the level of effort required to become an IBA member

I would disagree. It gives you a shot at trying to see if you can, while encouraging safety and rewards you w/ a SS1000 acknowledgment. Those who know what a SS1000 is don't feel as if their IronButt status is threatened.
If so, there are bigger issues at play. Promoting long distance riding, safely is hardly "dumbing it down".

[BubbaZanetti]

I am a detractor of the SS1000 - I think it really dumbs down the level of effort required to become an IBA member - especially on a circle or "out-and-back" loop.

Iron butt riding is about the open road - days spent out on the highway, problem solving, resourcefulness, being far from home. Come to think of it, that's really what the IBR is all about, too.

straight up SS1K, perhaps, riding from chicago to boston in one day, pretty easy, dull affair, a 1K 24 hour such as the Minuteman can be quite interesting though.

i've hung up my Iron Butt "Hat" because i started to consider it a huge waste of fuel.

but to each his own

[BuckeyeClark]

I am a detractor of the SS1000 - I think it really dumbs down the level of effort required to become an IBA member - especially on a circle or "out-and-back" loop.

Iron butt riding is about the open road - days spent out on the highway, problem solving, resourcefulness, being far from home. Come to think of it, that's really what the IBR is all about, too.

Wow....and I was feeling pretty proud of myself:dunno
Look no-one has to explain to me that riding over 1000 miles in 24 hrs does not make me "one of the long distance legends" I realize that doing one of the IBA certification rides is simply an opportunity to test myself. Do I plan on sending the forms in to attempt to get my plate back, pin, and certificate? Hell yes I do! If the American Beer Drinking Association had a "Porcelin Hugging Pee in your Pants 1000" and I completed one of their events I would proudly display their certificate on my wall and their yellow license plate holder on my car. That wouldn't mean I was a drunk anymore than riding a long way one time makes me a IBR type. Well maybe it would mean I was a drunk:hungover Point is anyone that can ride as far as the IBR participants do in 11 days is a different breed of rider than I, and most other riders, will ever be.

[glennhendricks]

It does not appeal to me or my hinder :brad But I can really respect that kind of endurance.

Wear the pin with pride and enjoy.

[bdspler]

On June 9th I was returning from Cailf. Though hey lets try an Iron Butt
So My buddy printed out the forms, (it was really his Idea.)
I got up at 3:30am and from Los Alomos Calif. I drove to OK City in 22hr's and
1 min. a total of 1512 miles . The last part of the trip was nasty as it Rained like never before and it was so bad the Tractor Trailors were pulling over!
I was very happy when I reached OK City and I was still in good Health!
As the lighting was more than I'd seen in my whole life all together.
well I got home and had all my paper work ready only to read.....NO EXTREAM EVENTS ON YOUR FIRST TRY!
: ) (Home in Ga!)

I didnt plan my iron butt every well at all. MY BAD! So some day soon.... I will try it again and do my homework.
I dont need no stinkin badges!
I did it and it was fun! I only got mad for a little wile. I wanted the Licsance Plate holder. But no big deal!
I was never a good student hence my name!
bd

[BuckeyeClark]

So did you send in the paperwork? I suppose you could have turned in any receipt that you got after the 1000 mile mark or simply claimed it to be the BunBurner 1500 for 36 hrs instead of the BunBurner Gold in 24.

[Bob1100RTC]

I have no desire what so ever to ride 1000 miles in a day. I like to meander,look around,stop here and there and generally putz along. On the other hand, If guys (or girls) like to do that kind of thing, more power to them. I'm all for you doin what makes you happy. Enjoy.

[GrafikFeat]

...I like to meander,look around,stop here and there and generally putz along...

Exactly...
Only now I know if I need to I can.
As the good book says: It's better to try and fail then to never try at all... Or in my case, left wondering.
Bottom line... To each his/her own. Just don't dog 'em cause they did. :whistle

[tommcgee]

I have no desire what so ever to ride 1000 miles in a day.

I have and I will again. Don't care about getting somebody else's approval though. And those 11 days in a row folks are certifiably nuts. :laugh

[glurkus]

I could not imagine riding 1000 miles in 1 day, let alone 11 days in a row. My hat is off to you SS'ers and IBR'ers. 400 miles in 7 hours on back roads is plenty for me.

[john1691]

If the American Beer Drinking Association had a "Porcelin Hugging Pee in your Pants 1000" and I completed one of their events I would proudly display their certificate on my wall and their yellow license plate holder on my car. That wouldn't mean I was a drunk anymore than riding a long way one time makes me a IBR type. Well maybe it would mean I was a drunk:hungover:rofl :lol :laugh :drink :laugh :lol :rofl


That's funny!!!!

[Braddog]

I could not imagine riding 1000 miles in 1 day, let alone 11 days in a row. My hat is off to you SS'ers and IBR'ers. 400 miles in 7 hours on back roads is plenty for me.

Hats off to those that do it, especially the Iron Butt Rally. :bow

But it will never be my thing.

[Voni]

Hats off to those that do it, especially the Iron Butt Rally. :bow

But it will never be my thing.

That's what I USED to say!:stick

Voni
sMiling

[AllanCook]

I fail to see the attraction. 400 miles of pleasure at my own pace beats 1,000 miles of timed misery any day.

[Motorcyclist]

I did a SS1K at the first Minuteman Rally several years ago. It was a lot of fun, and the whole rally atmosphere was interesting/entertaining. I have a lot of respect for those who choose to compete in the IBR, and enjoy hearing some of their stories.

That being said, riding the actual IBR seems, to me, like it would be a heck of a lot of work. I ride on long trips mainly for pleasure, and generally without an extensive itinerary so that I can stop or go at will, and not feel like I'm constantly "on or off schedule." I figured out long ago that when riding gets to be work, then it loses much of it's enjoyment for me. As always, YMMV.

[Rapid_Roy]

I always ride my motorcycle for fun, 1000 mile days are not fun for me.
I will not put down others who choose to do so. it's just not me.

[BeemerMike]

I fail to see the attraction. 400 miles of pleasure at my own pace beats 1,000 miles of timed misery any day.

Some people like to jog around the block, and some people like to run marathons. Neither is better than the other . . . they just enjoy the same activity in a different way. Same here.

[BuckeyeClark]

That's what I USED to say!:stick

Voni
sMiling

I seriously doubt if I would ever want to do an IronButt Rally; however, this first long ride has already got me planning to try the Bun Burner. Will see what happens after that.

[KGT1200]

I always ride my motorcycle for fun, 1000 mile days are not fun for me.
I will not put down others who choose to do so. it's just not me.

I did 960 last year, it allmost killed me. Never again. HOWEVER if anyone else wants to do it that way, have at er! No way can I keep up!I guess I'm a little envious! My stamina (in this department anyways:blush ) don't do stuff like that anymore