Most likely stupid questions.

[Roadstar]

#1 is it better to do an SS 1000 alone or with a riding buddy, on his own bike of course (we both have done 500mi days like it was nothing)

#2 How did some of you prepair for it. (i`m not as young as i used to be)

#3 Can he be my witness & visa versa at the start & finish or does it have to be someone else ?

I of course will be one my 07 FJR & he will be on an 1800 goldwing so i know we`ll have to stop sooner for him (i`m guessing is a good thing, so we can streach out & rest a little)

Anything else i`m missing ?? (yes i`ll have a hydration set up)

Thanks

 

[dcarver]

I prefer alone, but if you and your buddy have similar gas/food/pee ranges... and the same desire to complete the ride. If you ride dual, go in with clear cut understandings.

 

[101stpathfinder]

I think I am the king of "Stupid" questions on this forum

These are just my opinions:

Riding a SS1000 is not that demanding, most riders average 16-17 hours. Riding one alone is best

in my opinion, but if you two riders are used to riding together, there should be no problems.

I did not prepare at all for my first SS1000 and as a result I squirmed on my stock seat 300 miles

out all the way to the finish. A simple Cramp buster, in my opinion, is a big help. Age? I see alot of

retired riders pounding out some huge miles in their "Later Years" :lol:

You might want to read the tips on the IBA site for advice. Carry some advil or other like helpers.

Bananas before you leave out.

Lastly... you cannot serve as each others witnesses. Rules are on the IBA SS1000 section... along

with downloadable witness forms and logs.

Have fun and share your ride report after you knock it out.

 

[Checkswrecks]

...

#3 Can he be my witness & visa versa at the start & finish or does it have to be someone else ?

...

Thanks

If I write you an IOU for a million bucks and you write one to me, then we're both technically millionaires. (Pardon that one little debit.)

I think you ought to stick with the old 3rd party witnesses, such as a stop at a cop shop. The more corroboration the better, too.

 

[Roadstar]

Well i won`t have a stock seat & i do have cruise control, we are both truck drivers (different company`s though) & sure do put alot of miles on our butts (i hope that didn`t sound gay) . I guess i`ll have to either get my wife or his to witness our adventure , as the gas station right next to rt30 bypass & rt340 in PA, where we will fuel up for the first receite in the early AM are some young dumb ***** & they sure wouldn`t be a good witness. :blink:

P.S (If I write you an IOU for a million bucks) want my address :yahoo:

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

#1 is it better to do an SS 1000 alone or with a riding buddy, on his own bike of course (we both have done 500mi days like it was nothing)

I talked two buddies into riding a SaddleSore with me. I wanted to have decent goal in mind and I'd never seen the Mackinaw Bridge, so there and back was the goal. It wasn't quite far enough, so I added Duluth to the route.

Mackinaw MI for lunch. It wasn't the last time I rode so far for so little, but it was the last time those two tagged along. Great memories though. They would never do it again, but they seem glad to have done it.

 

[Roadstar]

(Have fun and share your ride report after you knock it out)

And sure will, but it`ll have to wait untill old man winter releases a hold on us north east coasters. :angry:

 

[user 213]

Some ****** wrote some tips HERE that you might want to check out. Could help you avoid some problems. Some other good reading in that section of the IBA forum.

If you both have the same strength of convictions, ride together. But, agree up front that if one of you starts slowing the other down, the other guy leaves him, and no hard feelings. If one of you smokes, do it alone. If both of you smoke, don't bother. Nah, you can still do it, it will just take longer.

Preparing is like anything, work up to it. 500 miles is easy. Go ride 750 and see what bothers you. If you're covering 750-800 miles in under 12 hours, you're ready to do the SS1k. If it's taking you 16 hours to ride the 800 miles, you're not managing your stopped time as well as you could.

No, you can not witness each other. You need witnesses that are not on the ride with you. AND will answer the phone and questions if called. Read the documentation requirements. The point of all the documentation is to make it easier for the IBA verification teams to follow your ride on the maps and verify that you really did the miles. Do a good job on the documentation and it's a slam dunk for them. Leave a bunch of gaps and the phone starts ringing.

Tips can run all over the place. I don't know what you know and don't know, or how you currently ride. Get some LDComfort shorts or tights. Do NOT wear cotton underwear or you will regret it, especially in hot weather. Doing this ride in winter? Got heated gear?

You don't need to plan all interstate, but don't plan all secondary roads either. Keep to the big roads at night. If you do this in the summer, you can leave at 4 am and ride the whole thing in daylight after watching the sun come up on the road. Take the time to eat. You have 24 hours. I stopped for an hour lunch during my first SS and still took a relaxed 18 hours, even with the slow OR speed limits for the first 300 miles.

Remember that it doesn't matter if it takes 12 hours or 23:59, it's still the same certificate. Remember that your safe return home is more important than a piece of paper.

If you get the nods, STOP and grab a nap. Be prepared to just flop down in all your gear on a picnic table or the ground and catch 20-60 minutes of sleep, then go back at it. A bike cover makes a good, quick, body cover/ground tarp/sleeping bag. Nothing beats sleep if you're tired. Do not push on. People ride past rest areas all the time when they are zoning out from fatigue. They never see them. Don't be that guy.

If you micro-sleep, grab the next exit if there is one right away, or pull off the road and get away from the pavement, then lie down and sleep for what your body needs. If you're really that tired, you will sleep. Once you become uncomfortable enough to wake up, you're ready to go farther down the road, even if that's just to a real rest area to get some more sleep.

Last tip - DON'T **** UP.

 

[Bounce]

#3 Can he be my witness & visa versa at the start & finish or does it have to be someone else ?

If I write you an IOU for a million bucks and you write one to me, then we're both technically millionaires. (Pardon that one little debit.)

I think you ought to stick with the old 3rd party witnesses, such as a stop at a cop shop. The more corroboration the better, too.

i've seen this answered by IBA officials many times in the past. if you are not part of the cert ride, you can be a witness. if you are part of the ride, you cannot. i witnessed a groups BBG1500 finish even though i rode with them for the last hundred miles or so. i could do that because i was on the IBA list of vetted witnesses AND because i wasn't part of the BBG1500 ride they were doing.

 

[Papa Georgio]

Thanks for not asking stupid questions. I had to read this because I am planning on doing SS 1000 next spring.

Good luck see you around some time

part of my bucket list

 

[Roadstar]

Not sure if I just want to head west & back or go south & back or go west to south to east to north (loop)

 

[squeezer]

#1 is it better to do an SS 1000 alone or with a riding buddy, on his own bike of course (we both have done 500mi days like it was nothing)

My preference is alone because I like to stop when I want to. This is really a minor issue, though, and doesn't have much of an effect on your chances of finishing, so do what you want.

#2 How did some of you prepair for it. (i`m not as young as i used to be)

Make sure your gear and gadgets work since you really don't want to test them on the ride. Remember that Mr. Motrin is your friend and take it before you start, not once you've started hurting. If you're riding together, make sure you have signals worked out for gas and/or pee stops. Do this even if you've got radios because those can fail. Make sure you've both agreed ahead of time that it's not worth dying for so you're comfortable stopping if you get tired. There are always other days to ride. Have a safe place to stash paperwork so you won't forget what pocket you stashed stuff in (like truck drivers need that advice ).

Pick a route and go.

#3 Can he be my witness & visa versa at the start & finish or does it have to be someone else ?

Already answered.

Have fun and ride safely. :yahoo:

 

[fljab]

Not sure if I just want to head west & back or go south & back or go west to south to east to north (loop)

For your first one just do it the easy way; look at the best roads/loop regardless of direction and route it with a little bit of cushion.

I read that you're both truckers so knowing the best routes and times to be "through" certain areas should come natural.

As far as witnesses, you can go to the local copshop and that's a good idea, but also think about posting here and/or another suitable online forum and ask for a IBA member to help. There are lots around and many are glad to help someone get started on the 'addiction'! LOL

 

[frito1]

#1 is it better to do an SS 1000 alone or with a riding buddy, on his own bike of course (we both have done 500mi days like it was nothing)

If you have a friend you have ridden with that has a compatible riding style, why not? Two bikes are more visible, plus its' never bad to have someone watching your back.

#2 How did some of you prepare for it.

Make sure your bike is well maintained and get a good night's rest.

#3 Can he be my witness & visa versa at the start & finish or does it have to be someone else ?

Fire, EMS, & Police stations are always staffed and easy to find.

 

[kolonial72]

Roady, you'd never be able to ask a stupid question! Except when you asked Wild72 if you should get an FJR, to which I think he responded, "Well, d'uh!"

What does your high-milage-assed truck drivin' buddy ride?

 

[Roadstar]

He has an 08 goldwing. Every time we do a concours ride he's working. So I told him when I go on vaca we'll do it on his day off.

 

[Bluestreek]

Make sure that your receipts have the correct time and date on them. Check them when you get them. Not at the end of the ride.

 

[Big-B]

I guess i`ll have to either get my wife or his to witness our adventure , as the gas station right next to rt30 bypass & rt340 in PA, where we will fuel up for the first receite in the early AM are some young dumb ***** & they sure wouldn`t be a good witness. :blink:

I would be happy to come down to Rt30/340 to witness the start for you guys.

And sure will, but it`ll have to wait untill old man winter releases a hold on us north east coasters. :angry:

You're not still riding? No snow yet! Put on your woollies and GET OUT THERE!

Good luck on your ride. You have all kinds of choices to get in 1000 miles. Have fun planning.

Brian

 

[Roadstar]

Thanks big-b will keep you in mind, & yes im still riding (but feel like george castanza after he was in the pool) ha ha just like a turtle ha ha