How much "What If" do these riders, especially the Big Dogs, go through during their pre time before the IBR?
Example - They know that they will be leaving Dallas after 4 AM on July 2, and they need to be in the barn in Minneapolis at 8AM on Friday. Do they go through scenarios of what if there is a huge bonus in Newfoundland, or Key West or Alaska? Can I get there and back in the allotted time? What preplanning would they do to facilitate that? We've seen multiple riders use different ferries to get them where they needed to go. Would they have already reviewed the options and the processes for making reservations? Would they even make reservations just in case, and then have the option to cancel?
Other rallies including things like the BMR to get out early each season. You kinda end of knowing what kind of miles you can do in a day given typical rally bonus load and adjust a bit. If you're doing a one day rally it's all about sitting in the seat as much as possible including bagging bonuses and super efficient fuel stops. An eleven day rally is a marathon and if you do bigger miles one day you gotta pay for it with a bit more rest the next day.
You're always aware of how long it will take and how many miles to get to a CP or a the finish line, but you're also aware and playing "what-if" scenarios to squeeze in just one more bonus or rearrange something to net a few more points.
And you are are using time to Google things to refine bonus or arrival details (i.e. ferry reservations, what fuel stop up ahead has a gas station on the right near the freeway with a Subway attached, is there something weird about parking where you're going, etc.) And since online intelligence gathering is more important do you have it setup so it's easy to get to, easy-to-read on the fly, and can you do anything to make it safer to use while underway?
I'm not saying IBR personalities aren't risk takers, but I think they're very careful about measuring risk vs. reward and will build checklists and repeatable processes whenever possible. To watch Owen do a bonus stop is like watching Teller do a magic trick. The casual smile while his hands move and short amount of time he takes to pull it off is mesmerizing. You know he takes off one glove just before he starts to declerate for a bonus or fuel stop and pre-pops the tank and unzips the tank bag. Repeated over the course of eleven days
might yield one more bonus.
Other things like EZ-Pass, convenient and quick methods for cleaning face shield, rally food, packing things so you can carry everything you need for a motel visit in one trip, etc. Each save a minute or two and incrementally add up to bagging.....just.....one.....more......bonus than the other rider. That one bonus that's a difference between #1 and #2 at this level.
