FJRForum Official 2015 Iron Butt Rally Tracking/Analysis thread

[Tyler]

Not an FJR rider but the beginnings of a nice little IBR ride report nonetheless.https://mccaa.com/

Steven McCaa... met him through this year's Big Money Rally... good guy. B)

 

[Twigg]

Not an FJR rider but the beginnings of a nice little IBR ride report nonetheless.https://mccaa.com/

Steven McCaa... met him through this year's Big Money Rally... good guy.

He's a decent writer too. He is building his Ride Report in "bite-sized" chunks, and it is making for good reading.

 

[bigjohnsd]

https://www.randalolson.com/2015/03/08/computing-the-optimal-road-trip-across-the-u-s/

Could this have been the Genesis for IBR 2015?

Interesting programming solutions utilized to solve the problem.

 

[Niehart]

From Steven's report:

"I happened to be lined up next to Al Holtsberry. Al was rider number 79, who at the age of 79 was attempting to become the oldest rider ever to finish the IBR. He was a veteran with 3 finishes out of 4 starts. It was great to talk to him about is prior rallies and hear his stories. Made the pressure of waiting for the start a whole lot more enjoyable. Al was riding a Yamaha FJR, his prior bikes had all been BMWs, but his one DNF was due to the final drive on his BMW failing. With over 3 final drive failures behind him he wasn’t going to risk anything to get his finish."

Tobie's [i like his forum name better] picture of them:

 

[Lonerockz]

Hey folks, Steve McCaa here. Thanks for the kind words on the blog. I encourage anyone considering the rally to take a read. I'll be sprinkling my reports with words of wisdom (or folly, you decide) for anyone considering the ride. I do apologize for the length, I try to keep the daily posts to 750-1000 words, but the whole thing isn't done yet and it's taking LOT longer to do than I initially envisioned.

Thanks again!

Steve

 

[airboss]

Keep going Steve, you got me hooked.

Waiting.

 

[Tyler]

Keep going Steve, you got me hooked.

Waiting.

Ditto.

 

[Niehart]

Keep going Steve, you got me hooked.

Waiting.

Ditto.

+1

 

[Twigg]

https://www.randalolson.com/2015/03/08/computing-the-optimal-road-trip-across-the-u-s/ Could this have been the Genesis for IBR 2015? Interesting programming solutions utilized to solve the problem.

It's an interesting exercise, but it's not really how LD Riders do it.

That algorithm is another attempt to solve the traveling salesman problem with an eclectic bunch of landmarks thrown in. The problem is that it is, at its heart, a 48/10 type route that is over 13000 miles long. I know that a few extra miles would be needed to accommodate the landmarks, but my 48/10 route was less than 7300 miles.

So I'm thinking, although I haven't tried to route it, the the solution the software came up with might not be all that efficient.

 

[grommet]

https://www.randalolson.com/2015/03/08/computing-the-optimal-road-trip-across-the-u-s/ Could this have been the Genesis for IBR 2015? Interesting programming solutions utilized to solve the problem.

It's an interesting exercise, but it's not really how LD Riders do it.

That algorithm is another attempt to solve the traveling salesman problem with an eclectic bunch of landmarks thrown in. The problem is that it is, at its heart, a 48/10 type route that is over 13000 miles long. I know that a few extra miles would be needed to accommodate the landmarks, but my 48/10 route was less than 7300 miles.

So I'm thinking, although I haven't tried to route it, the the solution the software came up with might not be all that efficient.

I'd wager that for a route hitting those landmarks, the solution was pretty good. It's not the same problem as a minimum distance 48/10. I suspect that if you picked a set of points along your route and used them as waypoints, the solution would look very similar to the actual route you chose. Or it might even be better

If you have a gpx file you can send me of your route, I'll plug points from it into the software I've written for the TSP, and see how it compares.

I've seen that in this rally and the last, some riders head out with a very loose plan or none at all, and only a few of them have a very good innate sense of what the optimum route is. Or could be. Which is not at all unexpected. The problem is vastly more difficult than any human can even hope to solve, even on the simple basis of shortest distance. Throw in the additional variables of actual time-of-day factors, such as traffic, pit stops, and rest periods, and the problem becomes even larger. I'm very impressed with what some of the riders come up with without the aid of TSP algorithms and other computational help.

Eventually, software will be developed that includes an actual start time, and all the other factors that will follow as the rider travels both through space and time, with appropriate adjustments for rush hour in large cities, rest stops, and time spent doing other things such as eating, collecting bonuses, etc. Adding that to the problem will result in routes that might be less efficient in the purely linear, full-speed A to B to C to D sense, but that are actually achievable by a person out on the road.

I've done some work on it. I'll keep doing more. It's a fun problem.

 

[RFlagg42]

Its funny....I walked past the bike today....I thought, Hey! Maybe I'll go for a ride......Then it occurred to me.........Where would I go?.....I kept walking.

That is funny. If you leave right now, you can get to Old Faithful within 10 minutes of its scheduled eruption

Since I am moving, I just rode my bike from Denver to Washington D.C. last weekend, all on interstates. It felt like the exact opposite of the IBR....

 

[irish phil]

Its funny....I walked past the bike today....I thought, Hey! Maybe I'll go for a ride......Then it occurred to me.........Where would I go?.....I kept walking.

That is funny. If you leave right now, you can get to Old Faithful within 10 minutes of its scheduled eruption

Since I am moving, I just rode my bike from Denver to Washington D.C. last weekend, all on interstates. It felt like the exact opposite of the IBR....

HaHa! 24 hour bonus.... Will be there in a few weeks.

...as for D.C...I can appreciate that Eric. Its all a pale shade of grey for now. I'm sure this too shall pass. Good luck in D.C.

Phil

 

[dcarver]

Freaking peeps need to join the CBA, just saying'!

...and thoroughly enjoying and appreciating the reads... keep them coming, peeps!

 

[HelzBelz]

Keep going Steve, you got me hooked.
:dirol:

Waiting.

++1 , as well from Bozeman

 

[Lonerockz]

Hey, folks thanks again for so many kind words. If you have not been following along I recommend tuning in tomorrow evening (after 5 PM pacific) when I tell the story of Jim Owen's (Winner '09) arrival at the group photo bonus on leg 1.

BTW, about 30% of the readers of my blog come from this site! Might just have to get me an FJR, you folks are all right!

 

[Tyler]

BTW, about 30% of the readers of my blog come from this site! Might just have to get me an FJR, you folks are all right!

While this is the FJRforum and the majority of folks here do have one, there are a few renegades that hang around too...

It is a really great bunch here regardless of bike brand!

 

[HotRodZilla]

Yup...There's even one weirdo that rides one of those three wheeled Spyder abominations.

 

[Tyler]

Yup...There's even one weirdo that rides one of those three wheeled Spyder abominations.

AJ, don't make me come over there...

 

[101stpathfinder]

Yup...There's even one weirdo that rides one of those three wheeled Spyder abominations.

AJ, don't make me come over there...

Can you two continue this at the next SWFOG? & Can I watch?

and AJ, has DaJuice shared his prize photo? (IBR related)

 

[Tyler]

Yup...There's even one weirdo that rides one of those three wheeled Spyder abominations.

AJ, don't make me come over there... :flirt:

Can you two continue this at the next SWFOG? & Can I watch?

and AJ, has DaJuice shared his prize photo? (IBR related)

Nah... I don't want to embarrass AJ in front of all of his friends.

Waiting to see said prized pic... The mind reels.