thought on solo saddle sore

[luxrybound]

I want to do a iron butt ss1000. A friend wants to do it also but keepsake changing his mind and don't wont to waste the tires on it. Is it a bad idea to do one solo. I ride mostly solo anyway. I have had plenty of 500 - 700 mile mountain day rides. I believe I can do it but that last 300 miles could be a chore. Any opinions are welcome thanks

 

[juniorfjr]

I think you would be better served to go it alone, ride your own pace, make your own stops. You have 24 hours to make a trip that if not too difficult of a rout should take 16 to 17 hours. That gives you a chance to take a short nap if you feel you need it. Safety should be your first priority, if you need rest then get off the bike. Good luck

 

[rushes]

I want to do a iron butt ss1000. A friend wants to do it also but keepsake changing his mind and don't wont to waste the tires on it. Is it a bad idea to do one solo. I ride mostly solo anyway. I have had plenty of 500 - 700 mile mountain day rides. I believe I can do it but that last 300 miles could be a chore. Any opinions are welcome thanks

I did mine with 2 other riders, but it would have been easier by myself.

(I'd never met them, and didn't know I'd be babysitting.)

I say go fer it.

Keep track of your time and take a break when you know you need one.

The hardest part is all the damn receipts and paperwork bs...

 

[jwhite518]

I want to do a iron butt ss1000. A friend wants to do it also but keepsake changing his mind and don't wont to waste the tires on it. Is it a bad idea to do one solo. I ride mostly solo anyway. I have had plenty of 500 - 700 mile mountain day rides. I believe I can do it but that last 300 miles could be a chore. Any opinions are welcome thanks

Many, many people do their Iron Butt rides solo. Probably because many of us just like riding solo, period. If you're not comfortable riding solo, this is a good chance for you to prove to yourself you can do it. The SS1K is all about breaking personal barriers. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

As for your concern for the last 300 miles, just be prepared to take a break if you get tired. Plan your route to include a fair amount of interstates or high speed roads. That way you'll build up a time buffer while you're freshest. Then if you get tired as the miles pile on, you can afford the time for a break. An all-interstate SS1K only takes 16 hours if you keep your gas breaks short.

 

[SkooterG]

Did my first solo. Many other BBGs solo. I have never done an IBA ride with others.

IMHO, it is MUCH easier solo. You stop when you want to stop, pee when you need to pee, rest when you need to rest. You ride as fast or slow as YOU want to ride.

I can see some advantages to riding with another, but much more disadvantages. Especially as the number of riders go up.

And you CAN do it. Even the last 300 miles. I know you don't believe it now, but the ride is more mental than physical. Most important is to have a positive and CAN-DO attitude. And enjoy it. The first one is always the most significant/fun. I still vividly remember my first SS1000 back in 2004 on my way to WFO-3 in Moscow, ID. Only had 16k miles on my 10 month old FJR. What a day!

 

[frito1]

Going distance with other riders is difficult unless your riding styles match up well. I've rode with folks that helped you keep on the road and with folks that drag you down. If your friend isn't totally committed you're better off alone.

 

[fjrob1300]

One trick I used for my first Iron Butt (with a friend) was to start at midnight. By the time the sun came up at 5-ish I had a good start already. Rode almost all my ride in the daylight.

Good luck

Rob

 

[Bungie]

Rob's giving you good advice. I started mine at 4:30 in the morning and rode for 2hrs in the dark. Then again later that day from 9 till midnight in the rain. The last part was No fun (I did almost all mine on secondary highways with an 80-90km/h speed limit). Riding at night in the rain when your wiped is not the smartest thing I've ever done.

Since then I've done a bunch of 700-800 mile days, with Rob actually. The other posters are right, it is mostly mental. Or, I am.. or.. something.

 

[101stpathfinder]

As I think everyone has stated, SOLO is better. Focus is clearer when there are no distractions.

Timing yourself a pace, having a system for receipt storing, download the witness & log from

the IBA site. Also having witnesses lined up ahead of time will remove some stress.

I agree it is much more a mental test than a physical one. I might be different with my

experience, butt in almost every Certificate ride that I have done, I have come to a point in the

ride when I question "WHY ?".... Expect this, and have an answer for reasoning. You will be amazed

at what you are able to do IF you have the mindset to do it! Do not be afraid to take a roadside rest.

I myself love to start a ride around 8 PM. Avoid any rush hours in traffic and you will be fine.

Have a great ride!!! Report your ride back to us...

 

[escapefjrtist]

As many have said, make the ride solo. Much easier to plan your ride, run your own pace and take time to scratch your a$$ when you want to.

Keep the wheels turning and even with a couple short meal stops you'll be done in under 18 hours!

--G

 

[luxrybound]

Thanks for your thoughts here is a route i have come up with. I know its all major interstates and a boring looking trip but for my first iron butt I'll keep it simple if that is possible

iron butt route

 

[johnny80s]

I did my ride with a friend. We get along well so it was more fun even though my radio broke before we left. We also road towards a goal, San Diego to the Big Texan Steak House in Amarillo. We did leave at 3am. I love riding in the very early morning.

 

[jwhite518]

iron butt route

I think that's a really good route for a first SS1K. Be sure to get receipts at each of the four corners. You're good to go! Let us know how it turns out.

 

[dj bill]

I did my ride with a friend. We get along well so it was more fun even though my radio broke before we left. We also road towards a goal, San Diego to the Big Texan Steak House in Amarillo. We did leave at 3am. I love riding in the very early morning.

were you riding ***** johnny.lol

 

[Bounce]

+1 on solo. Your own pace, your own stops, your own style. Much easier.

 

[juniorfjr]

The route looks great. Try and time it as to avoid the major urban areas during rush. Or at least keep them down to a minimum. You guys down south don't experience the daylight shifts that we do up north, but the closer we get to June 21 will give you the most daylight.

 

[Peter Murray]

The route looks OK at best... There are to many large city's to deal with, I would avoid Atlanta like the plague !

I have done plenty of these IBA rides in the past from SS to almost all the extreme rides and here is my suggestion. Start at I-85 and 76 exit # 19 take 85 N to 77N to 81 N exit Williamsport MD junction rt. 11& 81 distance 522 miles. There are plenty of gas stations here plus a Mickey D's . Document properly and double back to start point . Total miles 1045 time 15 hours 8 min, 70 mph average. You will do well..

 

[rickcorwn]

Riding together on LD rides isn't the problem, it's stopping together. I've done several LD rides with a group and the key is to agree before the start that we don't have to be joined at the hip the whole time. If I need to stop I stop but you can keep going if you don't need to stop. What you kind of end up with is people riding alone together :blink:

My idea of the perfect group ride, two guys 1/4 mile apart.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

My idea of the perfect group ride, two guys 1/4 mile apart.

Jim Carroll once told me about touring with another rider in Mexico -- he said: "It was so dusty we had to ride 5 miles apart."