Thinking of going for iron butt ride

[Fencer]

Mapquest says EOM is +/- 650 away from my front door. I am thinking of tacking on another 350 or so for the ride.

Would anyone care to offer some suggestions for route travel from Birmingham, Al to Boone. post new iron butt'er mistakes to watch for. Bike prep suggestions. Anything else you can think of.

thanks for your wisdom

 

[Bounce]

Tips

Boone? How many Boones are there in the US?

AR, CO, NC, IA, KY, NE, OK, PA, TX, TN, VA are just in the first page of my search.

For a first attempt at a SS1K, pick the easy route (interstates) for the best time and fuel availability. Get a success under your belt and then increase the difficulty.

 

[Valueman]

FJRFencer,

I started playing with routes. My first suggestion is to check Map Quest again. Delorme shows that it is less then 450 miles from Alabaster over to Boone.

Here is an easy IB route over to Boone

VM

 

[Fencer]

Bounce, Thanks for the link for advice (now for the smart -ass) I thought you might have known that EOM was in Boone, NC.

Valueman, you were correct on the short distance to Boone, I negelected to add that in my trip plan I was going to see a friend on the way. I like your proposed route with 2 exceptions. 1. isn't 95 up the coast fairly heavily watched by LEOs? I know its the drug-runner highway of the east coast. 2 that close to coast would prob be all flat boring put you to sleep scenery ( not that any highway route is overly stunning). I was thinking somthing along these lines:

If I run into trouble I am hopefully close to a support network, either my friend in northern TN, or hopefully EOM travelers. And If I just wimp out the route has cut-offs over to EOM. Mapquest puts this route at 1,052 miles. Any comments on this route?

And I guess I'ld have to stop to see my friend on the way home from EOM

 

[NoCage]

Bounce, Thanks for the link for advice (now for the smart -ass) I thought you might have known that EOM was in Boone, NC.
Valueman, you were correct on the short distance to Boone, I negelected to add that in my trip plan I was going to see a friend on the way. I like your proposed route with 2 exceptions. 1. isn't 95 up the coast fairly heavily watched by LEOs? I know its the drug-runner highway of the east coast. 2 that close to coast would prob be all flat boring put you to sleep scenery ( not that any highway route is overly stunning). I was thinking somthing along these lines:

If I run into trouble I am hopefully close to a support network, either my friend in northern TN, or hopefully EOM travelers. And If I just wimp out the route has cut-offs over to EOM. Mapquest puts this route at 1,052 miles. Any comments on this route?

And I guess I'ld have to stop to see my friend on the way home from EOM

Valueman had a good route, except that during the summer, it may be a little warm. Your route looks okay... but do something to get around Atlanta traffic... it's murder.
Good luck... I wish I was going to EOM... hopefully, next time.

 

[Valueman]

I would definitely route around Atlanta. I have never really ridden the eastern leg of the route I posted. I was just looking for easy miles. You might be right about I-95.

Also, you correctly point out that your route has the advantage of many bail out points. That can be a real plus if you have not done an IB ride before. But, mentally I just couldn't take all that back tracking (personal preference) Plus, the stretch from B'ham up to Nashville on I-65 is one of the most boring in the world. I have a friend in B'ham, and I have ridden down there several times. I really try to avoid I-65, so its not how I would want to start my ride. Again, personal preference.

How about this. I have ridden this route.

This is fairly scenic. The ride through Monteagle (near Chattanooga) is fun, and the West Virginia Turnpike is really good (for slab anyway), even with the three toll booths. I did a group IB ride earlier this summer that inlcuded a stretch from Chattanooga, up to Lexington via I-75, then over to Charleston, WV and down the WV Turnpike. The mountains of WV were good for the mental attitude, especially so far into the ride.

I would try to time it to avoid rush hour in ANY city. For my IB rides I almost always leave around midnight. About five days before I leave I start getting up an hour earlier each day. That means the day I leave I get up about 2 or 3. Go to my office and work a "full day". Then come home and sleep (say from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm), then hit the road at midnight.

This means I am fully rested when I leave at night. I get to see the sunrise (which has been a big mental boost on every IB ride I have taken). When I start getting tired the sun is fully up, and it is much easier to fight off the fatigue. It is also cooler to ride at night.

If you don't already have it, invest in some Under Armor-type shirts and underwear. You will be much more comfortable. Avoid cotton underwear!! Your butt will really burn with that stuff. Also, remember to pack an extra layer. It can get colder than you expect riding through the mountains. Even in the summer, I pack my heated vest. On a group IB in July it was in the 50's riding through WV. I was gald to have the vest.

I'm a cigar smoker, so I take a box of cigarillos. I stop about every 90 minutes and have one while walking around. This keeps my legs stretched.

I also pack a few of my wife's excellent tenderloin and biscuits. When I stop for gas I pop them in a microwave, and I have hot food without a wait.

I think planning the route is a MAJOR part of any IB ride. Have fun with it, but for your first one concentrate on the easiest way to get the miles in.

I personally recommend a cool vest and CamelBack. Stay hydrated. Read the tips on the IB site. Lots of experience went into compiling that advice. I also recommend satelleite radio for sanity.

Good Luck

VM

 

[mdisher]

Mapquest says EOM is +/- 650 away from my front door. I am thinking of tacking on another 350 or so for the ride.
Would anyone care to offer some suggestions for route travel from Birmingham, Al to Boone. post new iron butt'er mistakes to watch for. Bike prep suggestions. Anything else you can think of.

thanks for your wisdom

Echo what others have said... 1k isn't that bad.

1) Find a good start witness, your end witness should be easy at the EOM

2) Stay alert, and hydrated.

3) Keep hard candy and goodies in your tank bag.

4) Tunes help melt the miles away too, (iPod, XM, what ever floats your boat).

5) First time, stick to the slab and don't get fancy, if you average 65~75/80 it's a piece of cake.

6) Don't dally at your stops though.

7) Get something to organize your receipts in and plan and practice your fuel routine, you will mess it up when you get tired. One missing receipt can cost you a cert.

I have a small pouch in my tank bag that I stuff them into with a pen. I pull into the pump, get my gas, I don't get off my bike to fuel up. I check the receipt for date and time stamp as well as location. If the receipt doesn't have this I still write the mileage on it and go in and get one that does from the cashier. But 90% of the pay at the pump receipts do have this. Even a store number can be turned into an address so that's good.

Write your odometer on on your receipt. Some people use log books, put the receipt in the envelope so you don't lose it. Pull away from the pump, then go pee, rest, drink up, eat, stretch what ever.

Before now and then practice a couple stops. You should be able to do 5 minute stops if you need too.

(Dealing with minimal gear, having a small flashlight on a zipper or key chain, etc, etc.)

8) Avoid Caffeine, it dehydrates you and makes you pee.

9) Snack and snack often, powerbars and what not so you don't have to stop for meals. You should have time for one reasonable meal. You should also be able to have some reasonable stops as well. Take breaks as you need them.

10) Use your GPS and watch your average, keep it above 50 if you can

11) Good undies cannot be OVER STATED, no cotton.

12) pack a couple extra layers, stuff you can get in and out off, especially through mountains. Heated gear rules, even at night in the summer.

Good luck.

Oh and most of all, have fun, it's supposed to be fun!

 

[Bounce]

Bounce, Thanks

Not being able to make EOM, any of the details have never been researched.

 

[Fencer]

Valueman, I like this route better than the first, I don't like Atlanta when I in a crew cab dually!

Not really having any toll roads around here... do they slow you down much?

Is anyone familiar with this route and construction zones?

One question on the undergarments. I typically only do day rides of 2-400 miles with a lost of stop and looksies at whatever the destination was. I geneally wear spandex bike shorts on the longer routes. would underarmour be diff than spandex?

 

[mdisher]

One question on the undergarments. I typically only do day rides of 2-400 miles with a lost of stop and looksies at whatever the destination was. I geneally wear spandex bike shorts on the longer routes. would underarmour be diff than spandex?

6 of one, half a dozen... Some older spandex doesn't relaly have any wicking properties. You don't necessarily have to have underarmor brand, but of all of those I have tried, I like those the best.

Followed by some Nike shorts, then some of REI's...

YMMV... (keep a small think of powder with ya just in case though, cause "Ya Neva Know")

 

[Valueman]

The toll stops are not bad. You just need to be able to get to the toll money easily. Only takes a minute or so to roll through. I think there were three of them and the toll was $1.50. We rolled two quarters up in a dollar bill, and had them stashed in a side pocket on the tank bag.

For underwear my favorite is a dual layer "tech mesh" made by Champion. I buy them at Target.

For day riding, I use long sleeve Under Armor shirt, Silver Eagle cooling vest, mesh jacket. At night, I swap cooling vest for heated vest and mesh for Marsee jacket.

VM

 

[Blueliner]

Some great advise has been posted here.

One thing I try to do is to compose the ride report in my head as it happens. But then I usually forget it all after I get home and get some sleep. Damn memory

 

[mdisher]

Some great advise has been posted here.
One thing I try to do is to compose the ride report in my head as it happens. But then I usually forget it all after I get home and get some sleep. Damn memory

Twice I have taken a voice recorder planning to record thoughts n stuff along the way, but man you don't have time for that (at least I haven't figured it out yet). After 400 with 600 to go, you need to be thinking about your gas stops and not fooking it up.

Did I get a receipt? Is it right? Did I write down the mileage?

Did I pee?

Am I hydrated enough? I didn't pee, I need to drink more, wait, did I pee?

Snack on something.

Get back on the road.

It's tough enough, plus you're all juiced.

After a ride I almost always say, damn, I'll never do that again, then I wake up ready to, willing and wanting to go do it again... Go figure.

 

[Go Far]

Mapquest says EOM is +/- 650 away from my front door. I am thinking of tacking on another 350 or so for the ride.
Would anyone care to offer some suggestions for route travel from Birmingham, Al to Boone. post new iron butt'er mistakes to watch for. Bike prep suggestions. Anything else you can think of.

thanks for your wisdom

I'll add my 2 cents to the replies :blink:

Nothing drags down an average MPH like sitting at 0 mph getting gas :angry2: . Quick gas stops really take the time pressure off and the need to speed h34r:

Save that 0mph time for when you really need it, like when the need for a nap hits. -_-

:boredom: :lazy3:

Then, when you're done with the ride, make a list of what you liked, and things that bug you about your setup. Then, deal with them before the next ride. Then make another list, and pretty soon the distractions will fade and your miles will come easier. B) B)

 

[chickey191]

read the archive of wisdom - on click here for naked girls giving Saddle Sores a bad name

if you ride the mapped route you will need to fully document your stops because there are LOTS of short cuts that I can see in there - just make sure you document all the turns.

 

[Fencer]

Alright, now I have another question on the ride report. Say I take Valuemans 2nd route, and I stop for fuel every 150-200 miles at the major cities along the route, Chat, Nashville ,franfort, etc. would the gas tickets not be good enough? Chicky, are you saying i'll need to say odo reading was 735 miles at junction of 35 and 78(still easy enough to fake with a map program) or I'll need some ticket to prove I was there.

 

[mdisher]

Alright, now I have another question on the ride report. Say I take Valuemans 2nd route, and I stop for fuel every 150-200 miles at the major cities along the route, Chat, Nashville ,franfort, etc. would the gas tickets not be good enough? Chicky, are you saying i'll need to say odo reading was 735 miles at junction of 35 and 78(still easy enough to fake with a map program) or I'll need some ticket to prove I was there.

I'm not Chicky but I can answer that.

If you're route has a possible 'short cut' ...

Here's an example: The lake Michigan SS1000. It's not really 1000 miles around lake MI. More like 950, so you need to come up with a few extra miles somewhere.

We chose to just run out one leg of 43 the wrong direction on the way back.

We had to stop, get a reciept to prove we went out to Mukwangago, and not short cut it straight over to I-94.

We just pulled into a gas station all went in and bought a candybar and got a reciept to prove we were there.

The IBA guys aren't dumb. They check the time stamps and things need to line up.

What we didn't account for though was that there was a shorter route from Mukwanago to where we ended the route depending on which mapping software you used, but if you have supporting documentation (receipts) your good. We still ended up with enough miles but we could have ended up short.

Linky: Lake MI Route

 

[GunMD]

Alright, now I have another question on the ride report. Say I take Valuemans 2nd route, and I stop for fuel every 150-200 miles at the major cities along the route, Chat, Nashville ,franfort, etc. would the gas tickets not be good enough? Chicky, are you saying i'll need to say odo reading was 735 miles at junction of 35 and 78(still easy enough to fake with a map program) or I'll need some ticket to prove I was there.

Another example...the WFO SS1K that GZ setup for us. Note the "spur" going North from near Reno...we had to obtain proof that we arrived at Gerlach in order to get credit...otherwise, who's to say that we actually went up there, as it wasn't exactly on the way to the hotel :huh:

 

[Bounce]

Alright, now I have another question on the ride report. Say I take Valuemans 2nd route, and I stop for fuel every 150-200 miles at the major cities along the route, Chat, Nashville ,franfort, etc. would the gas tickets not be good enough? Chicky, are you saying i'll need to say odo reading was 735 miles at junction of 35 and 78(still easy enough to fake with a map program) or I'll need some ticket to prove I was there.

Read the rules

gas receipts should have:

location (city, state, store name)

time

time zone

date

and you should include:

odo reading

sequence number of the receipt (for your benefit later)

Keeping a gas log that has date, time, time zone, location, odo reading (in addition to receipts) is a requirement of the certification process. It serves as a double check for your receipts when you get home and start organizing your paperwork prior to mailing it off.

Read the rules on the iba web site (link above) and they will tell you exactly what's needed. No one else is an authority for the IBA and is expressing personal opinion (including me). The IBA site will have the forms you can edit and print out. Change the name from "Witness" form to something that sounds less legally binding like "Verification". Some people have had problems with people hying away from "witnessing" a document.

The SS1K is the easiest of the rides, requiring an average speed of only about 42 mph. As such, speed isn't as important and avoiding sitting around doing zero mph at yet another gas station. Fill up, and go as quickly as possibly. People try to shoot for 5 minutes (10 from the time you hit an exit ramp to the time you leave the entrance ramp at highway speeds). In fact, the IBA loosened the requirements of the SS1K some time back. Now you can use your spouse as your start/end witness. It used to require the same 1 cop/fireman/Notary (or 2 bike shop employees, or 3 civilians on the street) that the BBG requires.