Solo Or Group Rides?

[Randy]

As mentioned elsewhere, I'm planning on doing my first IB ride in 2 weeks. My questions for the masters of the game is, am I really as stupid as some people say for doing this ride solo? It will mostly be on superslabs, so, it's not like I'll ride off the side of the mounain only to be found as a pile of bones with a mountain lion using my forearm as a toothpick. My reasoning is that I want to go at my pace and don't want to be rushed, or held up, based on someone else's pace or by their puny gas tank.

 

[Groo]

Despite the fact that my SS1000 was done in conjunction with the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum organized annual ride, on the road, everyone was pretty much on their own. I had the "luck" of being in front of around 40+ other riders, I think the most I saw of any of them was at one of the gas stops, and passing them on the return leg of the trip. I'm like you and wanted to go at my own pace, and didn't want to have to force myself to speed up or slow down to anyone else's speed, or need for stops.

You'll be fine. Plan it right, get your bike outfitted, and make sure you have towing/communication capabilities available.

 

[Warchild]

The vast, Vast, VAST majority of Iron Butt riders are solo riders.

You've touched on many reasons why this is so. Everyone has different needs, tolerances, riding styles, etc, etc. Having to stop all the time because your riding partner needs gas, needs food, a pee break, etc, etc makes for inefficient use of time.

That having been said, there are some that do like to ride with others. But again, the vast majority of LD Riders are solo riders.

 

[Bounce]

Very few riders have the same pace, body clocks and such. When riding with someone else everyone has to compromise while in a ride that emphasises listening to what your body is telling you so you do it as safely as possible.

Erring on the conservative side, that would mean one rider would be stopping more frequently than they normally would to accommodate the shorter range (gas, sleep, potty breaks, etc.) of the other rider. The alternative would be for the other rider to push harder and increase their risk by trying to extend their limits to that of the other rider.

All of that "negotiating" and watching and keeping tabs on other riders increases stress and fatigue on everyone involved.

Finding another rider that matches up with your style is a rare thing and more so as the distances increase.

All that is not to say that riding with someone shouldn't be discounted if that will increase your comfort zone and the other riders are willing to set out some basic guidelines before you kick the motors and light the rotors. Before you start everyone should agree to the minimum distances travelled between stops. The only "forced stops" are for real emergencies (including fatigue). Everyone agrees to bag it (or not bag it) if one chooses to drop out. This avoids lots of hard feelings if someone wants to stop and chooses to feel abandoned when everyone else goes on to complete their ride, etc.

 

[Ignacio]

I think I'm one of those that prefer to ride alone--and especially so on a BBG. That one required my undivided attention during dark, dark night. Either having a bike in front of me or lights in rearview mirror would have been distracting.

However, in my recent Utah 1088 I found comfort in riding with an BMW and FJR for several portions of the ride--especially in an moutainous area with critters and rain. I think all three of us were faster and less fatigued by being together on that section. Back in the open road though we quickly separated.

But the key was that we weren't obligated in the least to ride with each other and separated several times.

To follow up on that I witnessed two riders do the 48+ recently and they seemed to have a strategy that worked for them. They agreed at the outset they were each riding solo, but if they happen to be together that was fine. They each knew where the planned evening's destination hotel was at. One went his own way two days into it going accidentally a different way on a Jersey turnpike and ended up doing a 48+ 10/10 and threw in Mexico too and didn't see the others until the very end.

The other two said they spent most of their time together, were even separated and didn't see each other for 400 miles at a stretch, but found out after 5 or 6 days how to ride together. They evolved to where one would ride point and was a stronger rider during one part of the afternoon and the other felt snoozy in the afternoon, but found following the leader gave him strength through nappy time. They ended up riding in Hyder together and are stronger friends I think.

I guess my point is that if you agree you're both riding solo at the beginning you might be better off. If you agree to start out together and not stop if somebody loses site that's OK too. If you happen to be together at the end--you'll figure out how compatible of riders you are. Not to be gay or anything....but chances are on this ride you'll find out how compatible of a riding couple you are.

GO RIDE and looking forward to you announcing your new IBA #!

 

[Randy]

Thanks for all of the input. Glad to hear my rationale falls in line with that of the elder statesmen. My better half is the most uneasy with this, so, to ease her mind, I'll tell her my planned route and my anticipated check in times during gas/food stops. Plus, I have my cell phone piped into my MotoComm, so, I won't lose valuable time flappin my gums. It's only 1100 miles and will consist of mostly superslabs, so, I shouldn't be that pressed for time. Since my initial run is a one way trip, I just might do another SS1000 on the way back. I'm sure my ass will let me know.

Thanks again for all of the valuable input.

IBA virgin countdown is T-16 days.

 

[skyway]

Solo +1

Randy why not take your SO with you, at least the worry factor will be taken out. You guys will have a blast, trust me.

 

[Randy]

We talked about it. First things first. I've done 700+ mile days, but, she hasn't done any distance trips with me. Will have to build up her tolerance.

 

[yanktar]

Best 3 reasons for riding with buddies: Safety, safety and safety.

Best reason to ride alone--that's been stated by others.

 

[Bounce]

Best 3 reasons for riding with buddies: Safety, safety and safety.

I've not found that to be the case. I've ridden all over the country and been in some places I felt needed extra "situational awareness". Even s. side Chicago wasn't a big deal.

Maybe you're hanging out on the wrong side of the tracks?

Or maybe, after days on the road, in full gear, in the summer, sleeping on picnic tables in rest areas, there was a reason why the Chicago locals were rolling up their windows when they pulled up next to me at traffic lights.

:stink: :nuke:

 

[yanktar]

Best 3 reasons for riding with buddies: Safety, safety and safety.

I've not found that to be the case. I've ridden all over the country and been in some places I felt needed extra "situational awareness". Even s. side Chicago wasn't a big deal.

Maybe you're hanging out on the wrong side of the tracks?

Or maybe, after days on the road, in full gear, in the summer, sleeping on picnic tables in rest areas, there was a reason why the Chicago locals were rolling up their windows when they pulled up next to me at traffic lights.

:stink: :nuke:

Bounce,

You read me wrong. I wasn't talking security-type safety, I meant road safety "Hey! What happened to Bounce?" "Why can't I see YankTar? Is he OK?" If you go down, someone gets to you quicker. Hopefully, if you are riding badly, your buddy sees it and signals a stop.

 

[Bounce]

As mentioned elsewhere, I'm planning on doing my first IB ride in 2 weeks.  My questions for the masters of the game is, am I really as stupid as some people say for doing this ride solo?

My first question to ask is who are "some people" and what experience do they have with: 1) riding and 2) riding extended distances.

I suspect if you answer those two questions, you'll know how much weight to put on their opinions.

I've seldom done ANY of my long (documented or otherwise) rides with others. Don't ride like you're at a track day and that's one less risk to bother with. Have a route and leave a copy of it at home. Set a window to check in at home. Don't put yourself in a situation where you have to stop a good ride to make a pre-arranged call. Leave your window wide enough that they won't worry but you don't have to blow a good ride to keep them from fretting. Maybe something like, "I'll call when I get to my destination or if I call off the ride." Avoid committing to calling at every fuel stop or every "corner" of a route.

 

[Randy]

My first question to ask is who are "some people" and what experience do they have with: 1) riding and 2) riding extended distances.
I suspect if you answer those two questions, you'll know how much weight to put on their opinions.

The people I spoke with about it range from non-riders to those that have done Pennsylvania to Alaska and back. For the most part, it's the non-riders that say I'm crazy, but, some of the ones advising against it have some long distance experience.

I never really saw any discussion on it so, that's what made me think of it.

I guess it's just one of those things that if enough people tell you you're crazy, maybe you're crazy. Thanks for the response and easing my mind.

t-minus 37 hours.

 

[thegunslinger]

Whenever I travel LD with someone else I have to get myself into the mindset that I'm traveling with someone. I can easily make it to the states in less than 3 days from Fairbanks.Whenever I travel with someone else it takes at least four full days. Everyone has thier own agenda, no matter how much you discuss mileage goals before departure.

To some people a gas stop becomes a social event, although the main reason timelines fall off is fatigue.I always ride lead on trips and if I see a rider fall back it is usually because they are falling asleep so I stop to see what the problem is, then end up taking a wake up break.

Again this year I let some friends ride with me to the states and back, and even with the afore mentioned mindset, I got frustrated and told my wife I wouldn't take anyone with me again. (she just gave me that knowing smile, as she's heard this before)

So I guess what I'm trying to say is; from my personal experience, travel alone if you want to do long daily distances. The only agenda will be your own, and the only safety considerations will be for yourself.

 

[boogahboogah]

I've been lucky to be able to take a 3 week trip (Sturgis the long long long way around) 3 years ago and a 2 week trip (Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick) last year with my best friend. We would have 200 mile days, 300 mile days, and a few 500 mile days. When on vacation it was never too much of a problem if I had to take a gas stop (old bike was 130-150 miles per tank) or a smoke break or my riding buddy had to do the same.

Having just finished an SS1000, and am about to do another SS1000 down to Key West Florida, I can say that I am glad I did and am doing these long rides by myself.

No one else to worry about

No pushing yourself to match the riding buddy's sense of time/fitness of stops/alertness level

Gas when I feel like it. Ditto for pee break, smoke stop, or just plain getting cross-eyed break

If my brain gets frazzled, I can say 'oh well' & stop while I'm ahead (but I don't plan to).

Mind, I wouldn't trade the vacation rides for anything, but on the LD rides I wanna RIDE and get somewhere, only stop for a real good reason.

On my only LD ride so far, I found that Ibuprofin, taked BEFORE the ride, and then during the ride, helps me with knee joing pain & seems to lessen the severity of the dreaded 'butt burn'. Also, I developed some leg exercises (lift full horizontal, partial horizontal, full knee spread, partial knee spread) and also found that, when everything else didn't help, standing on the pegs for 5 minutes worked wonders. Wonder what the cagers thought ?...

If you feel lethargic, or have to really concentrate to do even the simple things, pull over & take a break. I found that creep up on me a few times & had to remind myself to watch out for the symptoms.

:dribble: :bigeyes: :dribble: :bigeyes: :dribble: :bigeyes: :dribble: :bigeyes: :dribble: :bigeyes: :dribble: :bigeyes:

 

[FJRottie]

So Randy, how was it ?

 

[Randy]

So Randy, how was it ?

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=1374

Was really glad to be able to run at my own pace, run out tanks when I wanted, and stop 100 miles into a tank when I wanted. Through it all, I could see where there would have been benefits to having someone else doing the ride with me, but, for the kind of trip I took, I was glad to be solo.

 

[FJRottie]

...ahhh, duuuhh.

I looked right past it. Going back to sleep.

:sleepy:

 

[turbodave_98]

I have done several IBs from SS1K(3ea), BBG and 100 CCC Insanity. I have done 2of these solo and I was able to keep my pace and qualify. I did the 100 CCC with a buddy on a HD and we qualified in less than 100 hours but riding with him made the run at least 5 hours longer than I would have done since my 05 FJR has a fuel cell making 11.4 gallons. However the man I rode with was a real tough LDR and kept up with my pace but it required him to stop for fuel more often than if he just cruised.

Actually the position I take is what is the road, how long is the run and how motivated and good is the rider I am with. I avoid riding with more than a couple of others on any IB.

Hope this is useful.