Saving Lives on an Iron Butt Ride

[HotRodZilla]

...Try running 100+, less than 8 feet apart, while passing a line of cars driven by a bunch of dipshit cops....

OK. I'll just say you told me to.. :tonguesmiley:

They're never gonna let you outta jail!! : :

 

[Chuck35]

I've actually ridden for short distances right next to another rider. And believe me, it's NEVER been because I pulled up next to HIM.

I KNOW! This happens to me all the time. How do all those beautiful women recognize us anyway? As long as it is a HER pulling up next to me I am good with it.

I don't care how much experience anyone has riding with groups, a bunch of LD novices on an SS1K has to be a unique and different situation. The OP has my respect.

Although, he still has not told us how many of them actually made it... I would love to hear (read) the whole story. I bet it is funny.

+1 on HER. If I am going to become a mangled mass of flesh on the road, I'd like some female flesh mixed in.

Otherwise, I prefer the back of the pack. It requires less of my attention to stay safe back there, and if I trail back enough I can hear my music again.

 

[Geezer]

For the folks who rely on your riding skill to ride in parade formation with someone at your side and other close around you, I have to ask, why? Seriously, why would you intentionally place yourself in a position where you have increased the risk of riding?

 

[wnyfjr]

Years ago, my buddy the writer pitched a story to CW magazine about long-distance riding. He managed to secure an FJR for me and a BMW for himself and we rode the Utah 1088. The FJR was CW's long term test bike (the 2006AE) and they sent a photog along to follow us in the rally. The day before the rally, we went out to do some beauty shots for the mag. He wanted to capture the two bikes in various curves and picturesque backdrops. This required us to ride much closer to each other than I was really comfortable with, especially since I was back on a motorcycle for the first time in almost 15 years! And for every shot, we had to do it about 10 times! The photos came out great but that was high on my pucker chart for sure.

 

[FJRay]

I rode in an escort for the traveling Vietnam memorial with about 200 of our loud pipes friends. I made sure I was in the back with only the State Patrol cars behind me. There were a number of near misses but they all stayed upright . That was only about 10 miles, I can't imagine doing a thousand miles in close formation giving up half of my safety options.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

Riding in tight formation works as long as everything goes as expected, it's the un-expected **** that get you!

 

[Fly Bye]

When riding in groups large or small, I always ride DFL.

Solo or with a like rider on long rides Is my preference.

 

[gbelleville]

Actually, the core of this group are some hard core LD riders.... the guy who organized it has 50 IBA certificates, and two of them had the full auxiliary gas tank set up and all, and two of the women have done multiple saddle sores. And the leader has 200k on his Harley. They all seemed to know how to ride, just some not in formation. I realized when one guy was on my right side, at 75 mph, and I could have touched his bike with my right foot that I had a problem.... so I just was slow getting gas at the next stop, and worked my way to the back.

The organizer did an ACE job. Sheetz is the gas of choice for these..... big facilities, very flat, lots of pumps, nice big bathrooms.

Thank god I did the spencer seat mod before the trip... don't think I could have done it without that.. a great $75 investment.

And everyone made it with no issues at all.... check in was at 0330, we rolled out at 0404, and it was basically 70-75 mph the whole trip.... three gas stops, lunch/gas around 1330 a couple more gas stops and rolled back in around 2210. Raised around $7500 for muscular dystrophy as well.

Here is the route if you are interested. I have to say, when the signs started saying "Erie, PA," I started getting a little concerned, that being the actual end of PA as it were

https://goo.gl/maps/dPeHu

 

[TheZsdad]

Actually, the core of this group are some hard core LD riders.... the guy who organized it has 50 IBA certificates, and two of them had the full auxiliary gas tank set up and all, and two of the women have done multiple saddle sores. And the leader has 200k on his Harley. They all seemed to know how to ride, just some not in formation. I realized when one guy was on my right side, at 75 mph, and I could have touched his bike with my right foot that I had a problem.... so I just was slow getting gas at the next stop, and worked my way to the back.
The organizer did an ACE job. Sheetz is the gas of choice for these..... big facilities, very flat, lots of pumps, nice big bathrooms.

Thank god I did the spencer seat mod before the trip... don't think I could have done it without that.. a great $75 investment.

And everyone made it with no issues at all.... check in was at 0330, we rolled out at 0404, and it was basically 70-75 mph the whole trip.... three gas stops, lunch/gas around 1330 a couple more gas stops and rolled back in around 2210. Raised around $7500 for muscular dystrophy as well.

Here is the route if you are interested. I have to say, when the signs started saying "Erie, PA," I started getting a little concerned, that being the actual end of PA as it were

https://goo.gl/maps/dPeHu

"And now you know the rest of the story."

 

[Old Guy]

I have led a lot. I have been in the middle and at the rear. You guys know you don't have to ride side by side right? You should also know you don't have to ride two feet from another rider no matter where they are. If you cannot handle riding in the middle then ride in the from or back. I have ridden on rides with thousands of others. I really don't understand the big deal???? Maybe you guys need to get off road and improve your skills with some high speed maneuvers? Maybe you are upset that I question your skill. I don't really care either way. Just pointing out that it isn't that bad. I think the people in cars are more worrisome then bikers.

For me a large part of safe riding is avoiding the situations where the skills I've acquired off road and on the race track are not required. Large group rides are just one of those situations that I avoid. Like many of the others posting here, doing 1000 miles with a group that big isn't going to happen in my life. If I'm big on the charity, I'll just contribute and wish them a happy ride.