11-13-2016, 03:21 PM
I feel compelled to interject my own thoughts on Ulvetanna's comments about goals in general and Ferret's reply mentioning Iron Butt riders...
I know dozens of Iron Butt riders, including the IBA treasurer. Their personal safety is always more important than the mileage/time goal. Always. Do some riders "push themselves" into unsafe situations? Yes, all the time, but I have not met an IB rider who does. Almost all of them have bagged a ride because it became obvious that they would have had to push themselves beyond safety (or sometimes speed) limits. Those who have been 100% successful, admit that they have been lucky with weather and road conditions. I know this because I am planning my own attempt at an IBA-certified distance ride next year and have been in conversation with IB riders about this very thing.
I don't believe that mileage or days ridden goals encourage a rider to act imprudently. For example, I have a goal of riding at least once in each month. If Chicago is under 3 feet of snow and it never gets above 0 next February, my current streak would be broken. If I get sick or injured in December to the point where I shouldn't ride, I won't.
Setting goals like this can be fun. They may not be for those with temperaments that might lead them to push too hard to meet a goal, but that doesn't make goal-setting an inherently bad or dangerous thing.
Also.... Ferret has almost as many riding miles this year as I have in 4 years on my CB1100
I know dozens of Iron Butt riders, including the IBA treasurer. Their personal safety is always more important than the mileage/time goal. Always. Do some riders "push themselves" into unsafe situations? Yes, all the time, but I have not met an IB rider who does. Almost all of them have bagged a ride because it became obvious that they would have had to push themselves beyond safety (or sometimes speed) limits. Those who have been 100% successful, admit that they have been lucky with weather and road conditions. I know this because I am planning my own attempt at an IBA-certified distance ride next year and have been in conversation with IB riders about this very thing.
I don't believe that mileage or days ridden goals encourage a rider to act imprudently. For example, I have a goal of riding at least once in each month. If Chicago is under 3 feet of snow and it never gets above 0 next February, my current streak would be broken. If I get sick or injured in December to the point where I shouldn't ride, I won't.
Setting goals like this can be fun. They may not be for those with temperaments that might lead them to push too hard to meet a goal, but that doesn't make goal-setting an inherently bad or dangerous thing.
Also.... Ferret has almost as many riding miles this year as I have in 4 years on my CB1100