| Author |
Message |
    
Adrian_8
| | Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 08:39 pm: | 
|
I really don't see how doing 1000 miles a day...let alone for 11 days straight could be any "fun"..I guess it is one of those things people like to say they did...and survived...maybe jumping into a full septic tank would be something to do for 11 days in a row...Now..Now...momma said..."If you can't say something good don't say anything at all"....OK |
Lorazepam
| | Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 10:58 pm: |
|
I think anyone who does a marathon or ironman is crazy.
Nimnal, I doubt many of the riders are doing 100 mph day and night. Not all of them are completely exhausted.
The folks in the rally dont just walk up and enter, you have to be accepted to be a participant, and distance riding is like any endurance event. Training and experience make the difference.
If you can average 50 mph, that gives you 4 hours to sleep. average 60 mph and you get 7 hours. That isnt hard to do with efficient gas stops.
Some folks climb mountains, some skydive, and others base jump for their kicks. Personally, I would rather LD ride than any of those. |
Kuuud
| | Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 11:05 pm: |
|
It's not the overall speed it's the stops (or lack of them) that makes or breaks an Iron Butt ride.
I did 1000 in 24 hours, stopped and slept for 6 hours and never went over 80-85 mph.
2 friends on Road Glides did 2900+ miles from NY to SF in 47 hours. (50CC ride) They strove to ride at 78 mph. Anything over that sucked too much gas. They strove for few, short stops and had auxiliary tanks mounted the their bikes. |
Birdmanrh
| | Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2007 - 11:55 pm: |
|
I too have completed Iron Butts without exceeding 80MPH and with plenty of time to spare. |
Nimnal
| | Posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 - 12:15 am: |
|
I don't have an issue with a one day ride. My point is that 11 days at over 1000 miles a day and very little rest makes you just as unsafe on the road as a quart of tequila. My son competes in ironman competitions and I agree that may be a little crazy, but I don't worry about him falling asleep and running over me in the competition. When someone falls off their bike while waiting at an intersection or runs into the back of a car while riding down the interstate, they are too fatigued to be on public roads. |
Alchemy
| | Posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 - 06:41 am: |
|
It seems a new theme song may have appeared for this years rally.
Day eleven has been posted. Possibly more final drive problems for BMW.
http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2007.cfm?DocID=42 |
Court
| | Posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 - 07:21 am: |
|
Folks are funny.
Whenver I tell folks that I circled the United Sates on a Buell, the first question is always "how fast"?
They get a very odd look when I tell them "31 days".
I did a number of very long, like 3:30am until 11:30pm days, but I never hesitated to stop, play golf, surf, hang out and ride a Bimota around Mt. St. Helens for a day, ride horses on Laureles Grade, have dinner with folks interested in Buell and I spent a day just sitting at Mother's near the crest of Palomar Mountain, letting folks who showed interest in the Buell ride it to the crest and back. Basically, I'd wake up every day and decide where I wanted to go, with a few "have to be theres" tossed in the mix.
It's looking good again.
In going through all my pictures recently I've found a number of them from Iron Butt competition and I could not agree more that the best riders are the "thinkers". My good friend Carol Patzer is once again entered this year.
I'm not a desk thumper opponent of the Iron Butt but there's no denying it's a dangerous proposition. I've got an uncle, an Astronaut, who is Chief of Space Medicine for both the Space Shuttle and the Soviet MIR program (there aren't a lot of Space Medical Specialists in the world) and he deals with the effects of exhaustion a great deal. Salient differnece is that it's tough to drive something in space into a family of 4 in a minivan in Des Moines.
I'd also agree that the best days I've had, in terms of covering ground, were in the 80mph range which allows a Buell the greatest range on a tank. Running a Buell at 100 will add many fuel stops in a day.
I enjoy following the Iron Butt but it's, for me personally, not the way I'd spend my vacation.
I hope Dick Fish does well. |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Friday, August 31, 2007 - 10:04 pm: |
|
Whenver I tell folks that I circled the United Sates on a Buell, the first question is always "how fast"?
They get a very odd look when I tell them "31 days".
I've a bad habit of read your stories, Court, and doing crazy things.  Perhaps I should actually ask your opinion before I go off and replicate your adventures.
I have wanted to ride across the country. I actually have an excuse to do it in mid October. The catch is I have to leave Raleigh, NC no earlier than Sunday night and arrive in Seattle, WA on Thusday. The trip home will be more relaxed, but I'm worried about the run out there. It's almost 3000 miles. I've got 3 full days, and two partial days. I do 700 mile days w/o thinking about it. I've done one 940 mile day, and it was a long day. Am I nuts for considering 3 consecutive days like this? |
Alchemy
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 07:41 am: |
|
Dick Fish finished 60th. I bet there are some interesting stories about his leg to Alaska. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 09:54 am: |
|
60th in the Iron Butt is an accomplishment, congratulations to Dick and I'd love to hear the story of the Alaskan leg!
Three full days and two partials are a totally doable deal. Planning would be the key and staying ahead of game pace. I have a habit of running a bit harder early and trying to buy myself room.
There is a great deal of difference in a 750 mile day and a 1,000 mile day. 1K days are tough to back up . . witness the Iron Butt.
I'd be inclined to plan on 750 the first, spot my destination and have an alternate 150 miles (2 hours beyond) as a fall back. Sometimes, particularly on an S-2, I'd ridden many hours in a day, get to where I was headed and just don't want to get off the bike. An S-2 has that effect on me.
I've not "traveled" in a bit and am looking at a couple possible scenarios which I'll probably not even report until AFTER I do it.
Everyone, at least once in their life, should find the time to ride a "Wander-cycle". |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 03:37 pm: |
|
60TH...
An HD Sportster finished THIRD!!!!
And about half the vaunted "long distance" BMW bikes DNF'd...
It sure ain't about the bike in that rally, but I'll bet HD rides the PR train, if they only at least supplied some tires or spark plugs, oil, or tune-up, just "SOMETHING" to that Sportster pilot to claim sponsorship.
I'd guess the HD reliability jokes can DIE with a long overdue retraction at this point. Imagine that at the Beemer club...
"YOU got BEAT by a Harley Sportster in a long distance rally?"
A hardy congrats to all who gave it a whirl this year.
(Message edited by CurtyD on September 01, 2007) |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 04:15 pm: |
|
Dick Fish, who is around 70 years old, put his Buell deal together literally a week before leaving, after something went wrong with his BMW. I think he did an unbelievable job riding a minimally prepped bike that he has little time on. Some of these guys are totally dedicated to this stuff and train all year long. I hope I can be riding like Dick when I'm that age!!! |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 04:20 pm: |
|
I congratulate all who even tried to do this, Mr. Fish especially.
It just is quite interesting about the Sportster. |
Rubberdown
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 04:28 pm: |
|
Doesn't surprise me about the Sporty (if it was a newer rubbermount). I had a thousand mile day on an 04 Roadster once and it made a believer out of me. Great bikes! Congrats to all IB competitors! |
Daves
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 05:07 pm: |
|
Was the Sporty the one Brett Donahue was riding?
If so he and his Dad both own HD dealerships in MN.
Good guys. |
Bienhoabob
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 05:07 pm: |
|
The Sportster is owned by Brett Donahue. He also owes Donahue/Harleydavidson in Minnesota. (www.donahuehd.com)
Go to Bretts Corner to find out how he prepared the Sporty.
He finished last in the '05 IBR. He was sideswiped by a truck and crashed in a highway median, I think during the first leg. But continued on. Then the Sporty broke down on the last leg. He wound up renting a Ultra to finish the event. (penalized big time for not finishing on the same bike that he started on)
The event is a good 70%+ about the riders determination. Then again, a rider can have all the determination in the world, but if his/her bike breaks down, he/she is toast, too. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 06:10 pm: |
|
That's awesome! Congratulations to Dick.
The big thing with the IBR is that strategy plays into it so much. They really are devious with coming up with bonuses with "catches" that are bound to trip up mentally fatigued riders.
I'd be very interested to read Dick's account of his adventure; hopefully he'll post one. |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 06:54 pm: |
|
http://www.donahuehd.com/?05IBRphotos
That is one helluva "modified-for-longhaul" Sportster |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 06:55 pm: |
|
I'll bet HD rides the PR train
I'll bet not. I just don't see HD claiming to have any part of such an event in which speed limits need to be ignored (make no mistake, as Court said, these guys are not running at 65mph) by thoroughly fatigued riders on public roads. |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 07:05 pm: |
|
But HD being associated, even loosely, with motorcycle "clubs" isn't a problem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hells_Angels
but speeding on the highways in a competitive road rally, NEVER!
Don't forget the H.O.G sponsored poker runs from bar to bar every Sunday, we would hate to think HD would be associated with any bad behavior....
YEAH, yeah....plus Kneebone & Co. hold the "Iron Butt" Trademark for the logo...
HD would actually have to pay $$'s to use it.
It sure would be a boost on the reliability question. I'll bet it won't be long making it around the "unofficial" spokesperson's venues.
(Message edited by CurtyD on September 02, 2007) |
Bienhoabob
| | Posted on Saturday, September 01, 2007 - 07:21 pm: |
|
I tried to get some type of sponsorship from HD when I started my LD career. Discount on tires, free oil change, anything. As Anonymous states: HD shies away from Iron Butt events.
They seem to sponser loud pipe shoot outs, poker runs with bar stops, but nothing on long distant events.
In HD's defense, when my Road Glide broke during some of the events, the local dealership made every effort to get me back on the road. Once the owner of Wichita, KS came and trailered the bike back to his place after hours, another time the Albert Lee, MN dealership was going to have his crew work overtime to fix a roller cam bearing that went out. Also when my rear wheel bearings went out in La Crosse Wis., and the front wheel bearings went out in Palm Springs, Cal. the dealers got me out ASAP.
Now I ride a trouble free ULY. |
Coolice
| | Posted on Sunday, September 02, 2007 - 01:55 pm: |
|
GOOD JOB DICK!
Can't wait to read about the event ride |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Sunday, September 02, 2007 - 02:35 pm: |
|
Anybody notice that the Victory Vision finished as well? Good for them too. It'll be interesting to see if Victory promotes their bike's IBR finish. |
Beachbeemer
| | Posted on Monday, September 03, 2007 - 03:00 pm: |
|
Certainly half of the BMW's entered didn't DNF. There were about 40 entered and I believe 5 were DNF (one is too many) and not all were due to mechanical failure. I'm surprised there weren't more Ulys in the event. |
Old_mil
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 11:24 pm: |
|
From the IBA website...all I can say is...OUCH!
2007 Iron Butt Rally, Day 11
Thursday, August 30, 2007
The 13th running of the Iron Butt Rally isn't yet complete, but we have already gotten some good ideas for 2009. The call-in bonus is likely to be a permanent feature in future rallies; it was a great source of information. We also have plans for leveling the playing field with respect to routing assistance.
We may try to level the playing field with respect to each rider's choice of motorcycle as well by adding the following bonus:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Any BMW Dealership in North America 1,000 points Available
Up To 3 Times
Pick up a copy of the repair order for the correction of a final drive
or transmission failure from any BMW dealership in North America. Your
motorcycle's vehicle identification number must appear on the repair
order. Have a glass of Kool-Aid while you are waiting. No
documentation is required for the Kool-Aid; we already know you drink
it.
1st Failure Time: ______ Odometer: _______ Code: BMW1
Approved:____________
2nd Failure Time: ______ Odometer: _______ Code: BMW2
Approved:____________
3rd Failure Time: ______ Odometer: _______ Code: BMW3
Approved:____________
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
There is a button you can pick up at your friendly, local BMW dealer that has printed on it, above a BMW logo, "I'd Rather Be Riding." That phrase has taken on a whole new meaning from the one intended by some marketing genius at BMW. During the last eleven days, there were a number of riders who would rather have been riding than sitting in BMW dealerships waiting for repairs.
My only consolation is that nobody tried to get me to wager on whether any of the all-new, never needs maintenance final drives would have failed during this rally. I would have lost my shirt. As an owner of nothing but BMW motorcycles for 32 years, I really wanted to see all of the current generation models do well. I was hoping that would have ended the BMW reliability jokes I have to listen to from those insufferable FJR and Gold Wing riders. In the last eleven days, my suffering not only continues, it has intensified. |
Old_mil
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 11:27 pm: |
|
...the statistic that brought about that IBA comment: 10% of all entered BMWs had their drives fail during the event.
I'll take that $200 belt, thanks. |
Chrisgrant
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 04, 2007 - 11:47 pm: |
|
Amen! |
Discochris
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 05, 2007 - 07:32 pm: |
|
The Victory was ridden by Andy Mills, who is an engineer for Polaris. I suspect that they might use this as a marketing tool, however the IBA prefers to keep the rally somewhat under the mainstream radar, so perhaps not. |
|
