I was thinking yesterday how it is interesting that there is such a demand to ride in the IBR, or the IBR5K, but that there is such a shortage of riders for this rally. It makes me think that there are a lot of people more interested in being able to say they rode in the IBR than there are who just enjoy riding in LD rallies. Don't get me wrong, I think riding in the IBR would be cool, and I hope to do it some day, but I also want as much experience in rallies before I even apply for the IBR. Not to mention, an 11 day, 11 K ride is not the place to find out if you like participating in rallies, IMHO.
When I rode the IBR in 2007, I thought of it as a once in a life time adventure. I had been in a head on auto collision the year before, was lucky to have lived and decided life is short: If I ever wanted to ride the IBR I better "get 'er done". I swallowed hard on the time and cost involved. Eleven days, $11,000, as they say.
Let's analyze the costs involved in riding a five day rally that takes place on the opposite side of the country from the participant:
Time: 12 days (3 days there, 3 days back, 1 day check-in, 5 day rally)
Entry fee: $450
Gasoline: $825 (11,000 miles divided by 40 MPG * $3)
Lodging $600 (12 nights *$50, probably more)
Tires: $260, give or take (BTW, I don't think I could do this on a set of PR2s. That would require a tire change on the road which might double the cost. A set of 880s would go the distance, but I don't know if I'd want to run the BitE on 880s)
So, for a West coast rider to compete in the BitE, we're looking at two weeks of vacation and $2,000. Not an insignificant committment. It's not that I don't want to ride this rally, but I just can't justify the cost, primarily the time required.
