FJRForum Official 2019 Iron Butt Rally Tracking/Analysis Thread

[BigOgre]

The road less traveled . . . on Long Island?!? I'm laughing!

 

[cas42]

<"BigOgre">

The road less traveled . . . on Long Island?!? I'm laughing!</blockquote>

LMAO - I live on Long Island also, so this made me check the group spot again. As I look, 3 riders: one on Montauk Hwy, 1 on Vets hwy and 1 on the Southern State! LOL. I wonder where the bonus is. Last time, there was that big duck building that Id never even heard of before!

ETS: Oh, of course, it just occurred to me: the Montauk lighthouse. There were some other posts here about lighthouse roads...

 

[hppants]

I've made no bones about the fact that for the most part, I think you IBA riders are a few French fries short of a happy meal. That written, I have stupid respect for all of you, not only as riders, but for the discipline, organization, dedication, quest for adventure, and "failure is not an option" attitude that you elude. I find myself glued to this thread and the rally page.

I certainly get that Dan couldn't bring himself to ride on another's bike for this event. I would have called it too. When the machine is such an integral part of the activity, doing it on another's machine takes a lot from it, including doubts over whether the pride is truly deserved or not. Its abundantly clear that preparation and maintenance of the machine is a HUGE part of the success (or the failure).

I believe that if you consider true wear and tear of the motorcycle, including depreciated value, and all of the gear and accessories, and the countless intangibles, "$11,000.00 in 11 days" is not all far from reality.

It is interesting to hear from those in the know on this thread about loosing the handling of the bike with the C/T. In my ignorance, I would think that this would be irrelevant. A C/T will likely get you to the end of the rally, and you might (long shot) make the entire rally with one fresh front tire from the start. That buys you at minimum 2-3 hours of down time over the rally. Further, if the idea is to get from "point to point" as quickly as (legally) possible in order to grab the most tags, then why would anyone waste time enjoying the Dragon or the BRP or any other tourist infested, twisty speed limited road? Unless of course its because a lot of the high point tags are embedded deep within those ribbons of lovely pavement?

Which brings me to my final point. I wish there was a concise, easy to read explanation of the strategies associated with the IBR. As a "spectator only", I grab bits and pieces here and there, and then often question my knowledge when I read something that can be interpreted multiple ways. It would help if the "play by play" peeps here were supplemented by the "game analyst" that usually can tell the story behind the story in an entertaining way. Not a compliant, just an observation.

Regardless, I'm enjoying the show.

 

[JackBurns40]

Don’t have time to drill down this morning, but looks like riders may be headed to Nicodemus National Historic Site in western Kansas - on the list of top 10 least visited sites in the National Parks system. And a cool spot.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Which brings me to my final point. I wish there was a concise, easy to read explanation of the strategies associated with the IBR. As a "spectator only", I grab bits and pieces here and there, and then often question my knowledge when I read something that can be interpreted multiple ways. It would help if the "play by play" peeps here were supplemented by the "game analyst" that usually can tell the story behind the story in an entertaining way. Not a compliant, just an observation.
Regardless, I'm enjoying the show.

I'm right there with you. I can get the high level strategy of route planning and bagging bonuses, but the detailed route planning and tactical decision making boggle my feeble mind. I guess ya gotta play to understand.

 

[Gus96]

Well the first rider is on the Mount Evans road, I wonder how many will follow

 

[08FJR4ME]

Just checked the spotwalla map again. The last time I looked at it was right at the start. Somebitch, this is going to be one hell of a rally. Folks are scattered all over.

Just Crazy,

Dave

 

[RJAMT]

I ran the numbers on the bikes in the rally, taken from the table on the Day 1 report:
(In order of most prevalent to least)

Honda Goldwing: 18

BMW GS(A) - 16

Yamaha FJR1300 - 13

Honda ST1100/ST1300 - 7

BMW GT(L) - 5

Harley Davidson Road Glide - 5

BMW RT - 5

Yamaha Super Tenere' - 4

Harley Davidson Ultra Limited - 4

Triumph Trophy - 4

Honda Africa Twin - 2

Kawasaki Concours - 2

BMW RSL - 1

Victory Vision - 1

Harley Davidson Softtail - 1

BMW K1600B - 1

Kawasaki Versys (300) - 1

Harley Davidson Sportster - 1

Honda Silverwing - 1

Victory CC Tour - 1

Suzuki GT750 (Buffalo) - 1

KTM Adventure 1190 - 1

The Africa Twins are riding as a team. Also, the 2 "putt-putt pink" FJRs

ridden by Corey and Brian Nuehring are identical except for their top box covers. One is red and the other is black. I guess that's so they remember who's bike is who's!

I asked Kurt what happened to the baby Ninja. He said that with over 200,000 miles it has started burning too much oil for it's 4th IBR so he got the baby Versys. The man seems devoted to small displacement and based on his multiple finishes on them he obviously knows how to ride them like nobody's business!

 

[luckycharms783]

Further, if the idea is to get from "point to point" as quickly as (legally) possible in order to grab the most tags, then why would anyone waste time enjoying the Dragon or the BRP or any other tourist infested, twisty speed limited road? Unless of course its because a lot of the high point tags are embedded deep within those ribbons of lovely pavement?
Which brings me to my final point. I wish there was a concise, easy to read explanation of the strategies associated with the IBR. As a "spectator only", I grab bits and pieces here and there, and then often question my knowledge when I read something that can be interpreted multiple ways. It would help if the "play by play" peeps here were supplemented by the "game analyst" that usually can tell the story behind the story in an entertaining way. Not a compliant, just an observation.

The objective of a rally is to gather the most points plain and simple. There are no points for finishing first, no points for riding the most miles, and no points for grabbing the most bonuses.

Often times the reason why you see riders on twisty windy roads is because that's where the rallymaster puts the large bonuses.

Routing in a rally is part art and part science. The more you do it the better you become at it. We'll use a simple 24 hour format. But the basics are this. Take the amount of time you have to ride (24 hours) and subtract your down time.

This is any time you are not turning the wheels. That includes stops to collect bonuses, refuel, use the bathroom, take a break, take a rest, eat, etc.

Then we use the remaining time for riding.

24 hours - 3 refueling stops (3x10 min = 30 min) - 10 bonus stops (10x5 min = 50 min) - 1 rest break (1x6 hours = 6 hours)

Total non riding time of 440 minutes or 7 hrs 20 min which leaves 16 hours and 40 minutes for actual riding.

Now use your mapping program of choice to map out a route that allows you to collect the most amount of points while riding approximately 16.5 hours.

That's a basic summary.

 

[RJAMT]

What is in Flamingo, FL that is a worthy 24hr bonus?

Looks like the Flamingo Visitor Center. Wonder why and how does that fit into the "theme"?

 

[RJAMT]

I have no idea who the rider is who is about to enter Arizona but I do know that the rally started 23 hrs ago and they are ALREADY OVER 1,700 MILES FROM THE LAUNCH POINT!!!!

Wherever they are headed I sure hope they make it with that kind of dedication and stamina. WOW!

 

[BkerChuck]

The summary listed above is a great basic idea for how it works. Other variables come into play such as a rider's personal comfort level with speed limits. Let's face it some of us ride +5 where another might be +10 and the next person willing to risk a steady cruise speed that's higher yet. That willingness to risk driving privileges comes into play when determining how many miles you can cover in a day. How much or how little sleep can you function on? We each have our own 'sweet spot" where we function at our best. That's also part of the logic behind mandatory rest periods. Being safe is a top priority.

 

[Uncle Hud]

eddiememphis posted: There are two at the marina, last I looked. What are they taking a picture of? Or, what task are they having to complete at 10:30pm? I remember reading something about needing hiking shoes.

There's no telling what the actual bonus object is until we see the bonus list. The Leg 1 list may be released after the time window closes at checkpoint 1; maybe not. As for the specific object at the Everglades Marina? Who knows? Maybe the bonus is to bring back a tourist key ring.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Adding to the Strategy Conversation: It's vital to understand that the bonus locations are NOT of equal value. Say there are four point categories: 100 points, 75, 50 and 25. Step 1: Map them on different mapping layers with different symbols or colors.

Step 2: Do luckycharms783's calculation for riding time, and see how many 100-point locations you can string together in the 16.5 hours of available riding time. Let's say your highest-point-value route takes 14 hours. Cool!

Step 2: Turn on the 75-point bonus layer. Are there any that are close to your route? Add them in; recalculate total travel time. Still below 16.5 hours? Cool!

Step 3: Turn on the 50-point layer ... turn on the 25-point layer ... repeat until you reach 16.5 hours of riding time, or adding one more bonus puts you over.

Step 5: Think REALLY HARD about an alternate that would give you a higher point total by touching 3 or 4 lesser-value locations instead of one high-value location. Agonize over which would be the better route, considering weather, city/tourist traffic, pavement conditions, straight vs twisty, known highway closures (like I-29 in Missouri and Iowa), riding into a setting sun, and availability of fuel, ... and come to some conclusion that the route you have selected is the best anyone could ever imagine. Lose sleep while you worry, fret, and get all wound up.

Step 6: Start the rally. Ride your plan and try to squash that voice in your head that says, "You know? Maybe we should be on that other route ..."

Note that the IBR typically has more than four point categories, and usually a few "sucker bonus" locations that are worth far more than others, but may require riding to Alaska or Nova Scotia and using up all your riding time. Or they include special bonii that can only be earned within a 1-hour time window, or daylight-only, or hitting a ferry schedule, or walking half a mile in your 'Stich and moto-boots, or other devious shit the Rallymaster dreams up.

 

[eddiememphis]

There is a guy headed up Colorado 149. Between Creede and Lake City is North Clear Creek Falls. It looks a lot like the waterfall on the left side of the poster.

That is very much a less traveled road.

 

[graler]

Thanks for this Hud. For some reason my stress level just increased and I am not in the rally.

eddiememphis posted: There are two at the marina, last I looked. What are they taking a picture of? Or, what task are they having to complete at 10:30pm? I remember reading something about needing hiking shoes.

There's no telling what the actual bonus object is until we see the bonus list. The Leg 1 list may be released after the time window closes at checkpoint 1; maybe not. As for the specific object at the Everglades Marina? Who knows? Maybe the bonus is to bring back a tourist key ring.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Adding to the Strategy Conversation: It's vital to understand that the bonus locations are NOT of equal value. Say there are four point categories: 100 points, 75, 50 and 25. Step 1: Map them on different mapping layers with different symbols or colors. (Note the IBR typically has far more than four categories, and usually a few "sucker bonus" locations that are worth far more than others, but may require riding to Alaska or Nova Scotia and using up all your riding time.)

Step 2: Do luckycharms783's calculation for riding time, and see how many 100-point locations you can string together in the 16.5 hours of available riding time. Let's say your highest-point-value route takes 14 hours. Cool!

Step 2: Turn on the 75-point bonus layer. Are there any that are close to your route? Add them in; recalculate total travel time. Still below 16.5 hours? Cool!

Step 3: Turn on the 50-point layer ... turn on the 25-point layer ... repeat until you reach 16.5 hours of riding time, or adding one more bonus puts you over.

Step 5: Think REALLY HARD about an alternate that would give you a higher point total by touching 3 or 4 lesser-value locations instead of one high-value location. Agonize over which would be the better route, considering weather, city/tourist traffic, pavement conditions, straight vs twisty, known highway closures (like I-29 in Missouri and Iowa), riding into a setting sun, and availability of fuel, ... and come to some conclusion that the route you have selected is the best anyone could ever imagine. Lose sleep while you worry, fret, and get all wound up.

Step 6: Start the rally. Ride your plan and try to squash that voice in your head that says, "You know? Maybe we should be on that other route ..."

 

[powderhound5]

What is in Flamingo, FL that is a worthy 24hr bonus?

Looks like the Flamingo Visitor Center. Wonder why and how does that fit into the "theme"?

The correct answer is it must either have a lot of points or Jeff has tied it into some sick flamingos only - think Members Only fashion wear points combo, or worse riders that can bonus it every leg and as long as they get the basis minimum number of points to finish plus 3 flamingos = a gold medal finish.

Or these riders are clueless and made a bad decision

Time will tell

 

[Bounce]

Damn! They've already come and gone through ATL!
No Bonus Listing yet, so I wasn't able to effectively stalk them. Have done so in the past -- just watching and clapping -- and it's the BOMB. Always thought that an appreciative observer makes a positive difference in the rider's psyche.

Bonus listings for Leg 1 won't be released to the public until after Leg 2 starts. We had to start doing that after mobs of spectators started creating problems for riders are bonus locations (2001?).

 

[route66]

"no points for riding the most miles"

do you get points for miles??

 

[luckycharms783]

"no points for riding the most miles"do you get points for miles??

no

 

[Bounce]

We went and watched them take off this morning, very cool! All of them out in just under 5 minutes! Loved how the pointer guy saluted the known military guys, also very cool!
Ok got an odd kinda question that my small brain thinks of...if it is in poor taste to ask you can yell at me...lol....but all these guys and gals are basically like privateer racers I'm assuming, ie. No real sponsorship I'm guessing? How much on average does it take to run this 11 day race? Not a very cheap vacation I wouldn't think? Lol. Thanks this is fun to watch.

"The Pointer Guy": AKA Warchild: AKA ACHO Dale Wilson