Preparing for first SS1000

[Wesseld]

I'm planning out a SS1000 (Phoenix to Tucson to Las Cruces to Albuquerque to Flagstaff to Phoenix) for hopefully next week, and I was hoping someone could help clarify the rules for a start and finish witness. I thought I read in the official IBA rules that you could get a friend or spouse to witness the odometer reading, etc. the night before the actual start of the ride. Then just get a gas receipt when I actually leave on the ride, which should be at about 3:30am. I can't find where I read that, and would really like to know how this works. Obviously, I wouldn't want to (or dare to) wake my wife up at that time just to get her to sign off if I can have her do it beforehand. Anyone know?

Thanks for your help!

Don

 

[gixxerjasen]

I've heard that.

However, that said, I also found it odd how easily folks will give out their personal information to a complete stranger at a gas station in the middle of the night.

 

[user 28803]

We live 4 miles from the gas station where I started. My wife signed for me the night before and it wasn't a problem at all.

 

[Wesseld]

We live 4 miles from the gas station where I started. My wife signed for me the night before and it wasn't a problem at all.

That's the answer I was hoping for. I'm about 1.5 miles from the start/finish gas station. I would use someone at the gas station, but it's crawling with shady people at 3:00am. I don't even walk away from my bike there.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Yea, it was funny. I walked in and the clerk was a woman. I'm thinking "Yea right, like she's going to just give me her home address and phone number right here in the middle of the night." I explained what I was doing and what it was for and asked if she'd give me her number and address to be a witness. She shrugged and said "Sure, ok."

When I got back it was pretty easy too. I pulled in and there was a guy standing next to his Harley. I figured a fellow motorcyclist would be pretty easy. I approached him and told him what I was doing and got a "Sheeeeeeet! I thought I was doin good to get 300 miles in a week! Hell yea, where do I sign?!?!?!?"

 

[101stpathfinder]

There are 2 critical variables to witness signatures. TIME & DISTANCE from the actual start/finish. The way it was explained to me, DISTANCE is more critical than TIME. I have a fire station close by that I use. I respect their sleep times and often have them sign hours in advance. The start receipt is the official time.

I even make sure I update the mileage from the witness form to the actual start time.

 

[SFCJCA]

I'm planning out a SS1000 (Phoenix to Tucson to Las Cruces to Albuquerque to Flagstaff to Phoenix) for hopefully next week, and I was hoping someone could help clarify the rules for a start and finish witness. I thought I read in the official IBA rules that you could get a friend or spouse to witness the odometer reading, etc. the night before the actual start of the ride. Then just get a gas receipt when I actually leave on the ride, which should be at about 3:30am. I can't find where I read that, and would really like to know how this works. Obviously, I wouldn't want to (or dare to) wake my wife up at that time just to get her to sign off if I can have her do it beforehand. Anyone know?
Thanks for your help!

Don

Don,

You are probably already planning this, but; make sure to get a gas receipt at the farthest corners of the box. There are shortcuts through Albuquerque (SR 6) and Las Cruces (SR 26) that may lower the total number of miles you get credit for, unless you prove you hit the far corners. Those were my longest gas stops; trying to find a gas station at the corners.

John

 

[Wesseld]

John,

Where did you end up buying gas in Las Cruces and in Albuquerque?

 

[gixxerjasen]

Google and street view are your friends for scouting. I checked and where I wanted my turnaround to be there wasn't a gas station. I found if I went another 10 miles down the road there was a chance of a gas station, and an even better chance 5 miles off the freeway. Street view confirmed modern fuel pumps at the off highway one. I popped in and sure enough my first one had no automated gas pumps so I moved on to choice #2 and got my gas there and my receipt.

The more you can plan and scout, the better. It's much more reassuring to have two or three options you've already found out about rather than wandering around trying to find someplace with the clock ticking in your head.

Digital scouting doesn't mean the place didn't close down, but it can help give you options.

 

[SFCJCA]

Where did you end up buying gas in Las Cruces and in Albuquerque?

I'll have to look at the receipts when I get home. I looked on Google maps and can't be sure which ones I used. I know in Las Cruces I stopped near the college.

Google and street view are your friends for scouting. I checked and where I wanted my turnaround to be there wasn't a gas station. I found if I went another 10 miles down the road there was a chance of a gas station, and an even better chance 5 miles off the freeway. Street view confirmed modern fuel pumps at the off highway one. I popped in and sure enough my first one had no automated gas pumps so I moved on to choice #2 and got my gas there and my receipt.
The more you can plan and scout, the better. It's much more reassuring to have two or three options you've already found out about rather than wandering around trying to find someplace with the clock ticking in your head.

Digital scouting doesn't mean the place didn't close down, but it can help give you options.

Jasen is 100% right! You can't spend too much time planning on Google. I did, but still used different gas stations in both Albuquerque and Las Cruces.

A couple of other things I can pass on:

In Flagstaff, I used the Chevron on Butler Ave (exit 198). The receipt shows the street address but not the town. Next time, I'll use the station across the street.

In Gallup, I used the Shell Station on Frontage Rd (exit 26). No location shown on the receipt. But I went in the store and got another copy of the receipt with an address on it.

In Truth or Consequences, I used the Chevron on Date St (exit 79). No location at all on the receipt. The cash register in the store didn't print the location either.

John

 

[SFCJCA]

Don,

I found my receipts.

Albuquerque: 1301 Broadway. It's a shell station about a block off the freeway.

Las Cruces: 1685 E University. Howdy's Giant. University will take you over to I-10.

Both provided good receipts.

John

 

[Wesseld]

Cool, thanks John!

 

[SFCJCA]

I'm looking forward to reading your ride report. I'm planning a BB 1500 to Kerrville, TX on 11 OCT. That'll be my second IBA ride. Then I'll try the more challenging rides (BBG and 50CC) in the spring.

John

 

[bgross]

Depending upon what time of day or night you are traveling, "truck stops/travel plazas" offer round the clock hours, a variety of food & other items, clean restrooms, and freeway-convenient locations.

This might help with route planning:

https://www.findfuelstops.com/truck-stop-in-nm

In Las Cruces, two of these are across the street from each other (yes, I've used them on SS1000 rides), just a block off the I-10, and only 4.4 miles from the n-b I-25.

HTH.

Enjoy!

 

[SFCJCA]

This might help with route planning:
https://www.findfuelstops.com/truck-stop-in-nm

Thanks for that link. I'm bookmarking it for my next trip.

 

[bgross]

This might help with route planning:https://www.findfuelstops.com/truck-stop-in-nm

Thanks for that link. I'm bookmarking it for my next trip.

No problem!

It's a really handy tool for planning or for on the road.

If you register (minimal info required), you can use the search function to list your origin, destination and route and it will list everything you will find along the way.

Or you can search by state, etc.

Enjoy.

 

[Wesseld]

Well, my attempt didn't go exactly as planned, but I met some fine people as a result. I finished the ride but not in 24 hours, more like 36 hours. I will write up a better description in a separate topic.

 

[gixxerjasen]

OOooh, sounds like someone had an adventure!!! Sounds like it'll be a good story too. Too bad about not making the cert, but hey...there's always next time, right?

 

[SFCJCA]

Don,

Don't give up!

Waiting to hear the tale....