01-03-2015, 04:45 PM
(01-03-2015, 11:16 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: MG not sure if you are aware but there is a riding event officially called the Iron Butt Rally where they run (or attempt to run) eleven 1000 mile days ...in a row. Now that would be grueling, tortuous, awful, excruciating and several other horrible terms, yet there are so many applicants that they limit it to 125 riders selected by lottery.
I have heard of that rally. That sounds absolutely insane. I completely understand the desire to complete something like that - the test of yourself and your machine, endurance, will, fortitude. The feeling of elation upon completion must be tremendous. Still, I have no desire to experience it myself.
I think an appropriate analogy could be made with running a marathon. Thousands upon thousands of people run them every year and yet, they still make up less than 1% of the population to have ever run that distance. It is grueling. The most I've ever run was 14 miles and I was in very good physical condition. It was brutal. Then there are the ultra-marathoners running distances of over 150 miles in one race or those who run consecutive marathons day after day. I liken those people to the Iron Butt Rally riders. Can it be done. Sure. I know that the 99.9% of the time, the mind gives up long before the body. I don't know the stats but wouldn't be surprised if less than 1% of the riding population has ever completed 1000 miles in one day. And certainly not 11 of them in a row! But just because it can be done and in fact is done doesn't mean it's "easy" or even "pleasant."
An "easy" 1,000 mile day for me would be the equivalent of riding from my home in San Diego to San Francisco then turning right around and coming all the way back. In one day. For those of you who have made that drive (even just one way) in the comfort of a car, you know how daunting and tiring that can be. I can only imagine that covering that distance on a motorcycle would be exponentially worse.
My hat's off to you Ole. I think it's admirable that you'd even attempt it and impressive that you've already completed it once. My comment was definitely not meant to mock the effort. I applaud you. I just meant that for me, it sounds down right awful. After a 300 mile day I'm spent. Content and happy to get off the bike. But ready to go again the following day.