Lake Huron Iron Butt 1000

[OldF7Guy_imp]

I admire anybody that can do it but its not for me. Too old and I like to enjoy my time on two wheels not hate them. At about 400 miles I would start hating it. Kudos to those who like this sort of things and run it out. I have a lot of respect for you but Im not interested. I like to go at my pace.

[the Ferret]

Not me ole'. I've done 942 in a day, but that was when I was 27 or 28, and that was just too much. At about 600 miles these days I'm really ready to get off the bike. 400 is even better but sometimes you have to just keep going. We averaged 493 a day for 11 days on the Cali trip and when I got home, I took the next day off even though it was a beautiful day. I needed to be off a motorcycle for a day.

[OldF7Guy_imp]

Not me ole'. I've done 942 in a day, but that was when I was 27 or 28, and that was just too much. At about 600 miles these days I'm really ready to get off the bike. 400 is even better but sometimes you have to just keep going. We averaged 493 a day for 11 days on the Cali trip and when I got home, I took the next day off even though it was a beautiful day. I needed to be off a motorcycle for a day.

I know the feeling. I was wore out.

[metallyguitarded_imp]

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.

[Ole_imp]

I know long rides are not for everybody. I just get so amped before a big one-some nights I can't even sleep the night before a big trip. I live for and long for long motorcycle trips. It's a sickness or an addiction I tell ya! If I had more money, I would like to try The Iron Butt Rally but in all honesty, it is not in the cards. So this tiny plate frame will have to do.



I will be sure to take a few pics and maybe put up a mini trip report of this Lake Huron 1000. Gonna take a shot at it passport and credit cards are good to go,,,,,

[Cormanus]

Go, Ole. You're a better man than me. At about half that distance I'm done.

As for marathons, I'm proud to say that the only thing I've ever run is a bath!

[Ole_imp]

You guys still have time to sign up for this Lake Huron Iron Butt June 27th. It will be here before you know it. From what I have gathered, about 25 bikes are going about half of which will be doing their first Saddlesore 1000.

I am taking 6 days off work for this going to wander about a few days before and after this event.

[username_imp]

Ole, if I was up in your area, I'd do it just to say I did it. The most I've done in a day is about 500 on a 2009 H-D Fatboy, my last bike befire I took a 4 year break from riding. I bought my CB saturday, and now that "rush" us back.

What have you done to your bike to make it more comfortable for these marathon rides? I'm the kind of person who thinks any bike can be made more comfortable for long rides. Not all of us can afford two bikes, one to tour and one to ride around town. I've always set my bikes up for both, but I'm still getting used to the cb riding position. I do actually like it better than the laid back cruiser position.

[emptysea]

I thought about it, but I think I'll wait until the next time they circle Lake Michigan. It will be a lot easier for me to get to a check-in point that way.

Ole, are you one of the Wisconsin riders thinking about coming down to ride Lake Shore Drive (http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=5743)? The 27th is one of the possible dates and you'd obviously be otherwise occupied, but we'd love to have you join us and dates have not been set yet.

Good luck on the SS1000

[EGAlvarez_imp]

I understand the "me versus the clock" thing and the mental/physical/mechanical challenges the Iron Butt Association rides present. I just don't really enjoy them very much. I can do them if I am trying to cover a lot of ground quickly; a couple of summers ago, I earned my IBA plate frame by riding 1028 miles in 16.5 hours from Richmond, VA on my way to the BMW rally in Sedalia, MO. Twenty years ago, I covered 1508 miles from San Antonio TX to Richmond in 27 hours. I slept for 12 hours after a hot shower and going to bed!
If I have a choice, I'd much rather do 300 miles of scenic secondary mountain roads than 1000+ miles of superslab.