Adventure Bike Rider

I agreed to a 1k mile ride with a couple of mates (in the pub it seemed like a good idea
During the early part of tyhe ride the "what ifs" were constantly in my head, but the other 2 riders had done these rides a few times meaning fuel stops were arranged for their maximum tank range (180 miles ish) with a 5ltr can as back up (i ran out at 125miles!! riding hard) so later fuel stops were arranged around me. Anyway to cut a longish story short, the ride was completed in about 19 hrs with a couple of reasonable rest breaks.
I have since completed several other "iron Butt" rides (including 1500 in 24) and can only say that the main aggro is trying to avoid any rush hour traffic (main reason for me starting at midnight) as time starts disappearing really quickly when slowed right down.
The most important thing is, if you feel tired STOP and grab a power nap they work wonders, and there is no shame in binning a ride at any time (done it twice) better to ride another day than die trying

Just my 2p worth

I'd say a lot of it has to do with bike fitness, e.g. I rode just 160 miles yesterday but they were twisty slow roads in Connemara which took 4 hours and I was all aches after, but I know that if I were to do it again tomorrow I wouldn't feel it so much.

I did the first Iron Butt event in Ireland and found it no problem, but a few days previous I'd done 400 miles running in the bike and it nearly killed me. Note that roads can make a big difference too, there was a US guy on that event who'd done many Iron Butts and he reckoned that onewas by far the hardest he'd done due to lack of motorways, slow traffic, villages and towns everywhere, etc.

My personal best is about 1300 miles in a day and that was sheer pleasure riding around the top of Norway in the midnight sun, I simply didn't want to stop ! On the other hand riding 400-500 miles through Spain on motorways really pisses me off and tires me out.

My top tips are..

Work up a few long distance trips in the weeks beforehand to get bikefit.

Stop every hour or so and jump around/stretch/walk for five minutes and have a drink or quick snack. Cumulatively I've found it does make a difference at the end of a long day.

And my number 1, make sure you have comfy gear. E.g., I've two pairs of leather jeans and one is slightly short in the leg and as a result pulls against my knees and gives them serious aches, I can't do any long distance in them. On that Iron Butt I did I wore textile trousers with no layer underneath and at the end my knees were actually bleeding.
But that's nothing compared to a bad underwear choice My personal hate is setting off then after twenty minutes or so realising I'm wearing underwear which has seams on the legs which start cutting into me, absolute torture after an hour or so and just ruins a trip. Cue sitting sidesaddle, hanging off, standing up, and doing a Rossi and the like.

Hi,

Good effort, Some people have said that it is not that much of a big deal riding 1000 miles in a day, but I think it is and good on you, have a rest if you are tired though.

Cheers

Mike G.

Best of luck, doing that sort of distance is no mean feat, even though there are a few here who regard it as routine, it ain't for most of us

My particular record was back in 1988, 700 miles in 13 hours (including ferry - no chunnel back then) from Argentiere (Near Chamonix in the French Alps) back to Hertfordshire.

I left at 1.00 in the afternoon after lunch. did mainly autoroute to avoid towns, rode a BMW R80RT so had a barn door of a fairing to protect me and a nice big comfy seat. The RT also had the advantage of two big storage pockets in the fairing, I stored the lids in the tank bag and filled one with snacks for meals on the go and the other with cassettes for my Sony Walkman clipped to the top yoke (yes I know... how retro) to aleviate the boredom.

The only "proper" food stop I had was at the architypal roadside Frites stall, so got served almost instantly.

Managed to roll up to the ferry at the last minute so no waiting at Calais and rode home on a deserted A2/M2 and M25 arriving at 1.00am (2.00am C.E.T.).

Got up the next morning at 8.00 and was in work at 9.00, I still miss that old Beemer

Have a good ride and have a safe one

done and dusted
i did the ride starting at 9 pm Thursday i got to iverness at 6,30am fri(622mls) there i meet up witha frend Sam who had a cooked breckfast waiting for me we then rode down to Perth where there was two riders waiting for methey then escorted me all the way down to Walesby (418mls) the only problem was they were going to the rally with me and had to stop off to meet over riders that were coming with us plus fag brakes. i did the ride well within the time and clocked up 1021mls but on the maps it was 1044mls so with in the milage wanted.
i had no problems with the bike and was very fit after the ride and no bum pains!!!!

john

Well done John!! Good effort indeed.

Never done it myself but may just have a go soon.

the finish of the ride i am on the right the rest are the Scottish boys that rode the last 300mls with me in that bad weather

Congratulations John and sorry I have only just seen this!

1000 miles in 24 hours is a great feat and nothing to be sniffed at. There are a few Iron Butt certified riders on here, including myself and CodCutter.

The first ss1000 is always the hardest to do as it is new to you. So a heart felt congratulations of dealing with the timing, the speed, the fatigue and the concentration required for safe long distance riding.

Much respect mate

James691

On a side note John - an ss1000 is a big deal to pretty much anyone. I've certified rides of over 2500km in 24 hours and I still recall my first ss1000!

Well done for getting some funds for the charity

Have a karma point on me mate

James691 wrote:


2.5k in 24 hours, is that right ferk..... cheers spud

Redmurty wrote:


Well, it was a bit more than that - the certificate is for 2500km in 24 hours but as any Iron Butt rider can tell you - the speedo reading is often out by up to 10%! So in order to ensure you pass the certification you add some miles onto the ride. I did about about 1670 miles for that certificate, so about 2680km in 23 hours 54 min. Calais to Monaco and back to Calais again.

It was the Monte Carlo or Bust Gold attempt - only 3 of us made it but many got an BB2500km out of it (2500km in 36 hours).

It is only one aspect of riding and you will get to see things in a new light but you will lose so much interaction along the way. On the up side you have a great feeling of achievement, as I am sure John is feeling now Long distance endurance riding, for me at least, is fantastic for getting your head clear. It is just you and the goal - keeping that equilibrium of challenge and foolhardy can be dangerous and it takes a real tough rider to pull off a ride and say "this time, enough is enough - I'm done" rather than push it and lose so much more than just a ride.

Congratulations Devon John ..

Have some greens on me ..

Hope you made your target for your chosen charity ..

James691 wrote:


i have done this sort of ride inthe past but never officially and certified.
i think the first long ride was from the middle of Gemany to Sweden back in 1974
on my old velocette
and again 3yrs ago from devon to the middle of Gemany
but this time i have the proff
john

James691 wrote:


I read the 24k as miles not KM hence the question, even so that a good average of 70 mph for 24 hours. I'm still imperial and not metric cheers Spud

devon john wrote:


That 1974 ride must have been a blast . I've done the South to middle Germany a few times and also a Vinkovci Croatia to Calais will give you over a 1000 miles - beautiful run.

I hope you can make an ABR Rally sometime, would to chat about your rides Once again many congratulations mate