what did Gary Buy???

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Mark,

Thank you for your kind words and wishes. I sincerely appreciate it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As to your prize for "closest to the pin," I think the contest organizer/moderator (Henro) would be the one to ask about that. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[AMP762]

Gary,how could you call it an iron butt ride on a two wheel limo like that /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> As to your prize for "closest to the pin," I think the contest organizer/moderator (Henro) would be the one to ask about that. </font>

Boy I'm glad he didn't ask! I'm not sure I have an answer... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Maybe a ride on the back of that nice machine if Gary ever installs a third seat??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Well, it's still a ride covering 1,000 miles in just 24 hours. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

When you think about it, that would be covering a fair amount of ground in a car, much less on a motorcycle, in 24 hours. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Factor in that I'll only have a six gallon tank which translates into a safe range of about two hundred miles between fuel stops so there are more of those than you'd make in a car.

One thing that has helped since these began has been pay-at-the-pump stations but it still takes just as long to get something to drink and eat as well as answer nature's calls.

Having to slow down or stop for an accident or just rush hour traffic around a larger city can make the difference between finishing in time or not. Planning not only the route but the timing of where you'll be at those times is crucial to success.

All the planning in the world can't substitute for good luck sometimes, either. An unexpected heavy thunderstorm or an accident blocking traffic for a couple hours or more is something you can't make up for. Something so simple as a flat tire and you're out of the running.

I think it'll be something to try just to see if I can pull it off or not. It'll be something to celebrate my upcoming fiftieth birthday in June. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I went spelunking for my twentieth, did a parachute jump for my thirtieth and went rappelling down the side of a building for my fortieth.

The SO and I were talking about these things all having a degree of danger in them and requiring a certain degree of bravery. She thought something a bit more tame like maybe a stroll down the aisle would be good for my fiftieth. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I'm not nearly THAT brave. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Well, it's still a ride covering 1,000 miles in just 24 hours. )</font>

Where is that Iron Butt ride? I don't think I'd want to do that now, but a few years ago, I might have. I never rode quite that far, but did make three 800 mile rides in about 18 hours each time in no particular hurry. First time, when I was 46, on the Gold Wing Aspencade pulling a trailer from southwest Dallas to near Atlanta, GA, (then on to Quantico the next day), a very enjoyable trip. Then I rode my R80RT BMW to Colorado Springs one day. That was a nice trip, too, but a couple of days later, enroute back to Dallas, I made a side trip up Pike's Peak and then back to Dallas; over 300 miles of it in a terrific thunderstorm, went through one little town very slowly with water depth over the footpeg, and out in the open in the Texas Panhandle when you're the tallest thing in sight and lots of thunder and lightning; not enjoyable at all. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Bird,

The Iron Butt Association has a website that will tell you a lot about the group and has some interesting stories from riders as well. The actual rules can be found here. As with many things, they look worse than they are. Basically they're looking for witness statements, time stamped gas reciepts and a log from your ride.

You can establish your own route and time to do this or go on an organized ride. I'm going to go with setting my own route just so I can check weather, etc., and plan accordingly. The rides can be straight line or circular in nature starting and ending in the same city. This is the same for the Saddlesore 1,000 (1,000 miles in 24 hours), Bun Burner 1500 (1500 miles in 36 hours) or the Bun Burner Gold (1500 miles in 24 hours).

If that's not enough, the have longer rides, too. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Without checking I remember one that circumnavigates the Great Lakes in five days and what is probably the ultimate Iron Butt ride called the Forty-Eight plus One. That ride covers each of the 48 contiguous states plus Alaska in 22 days! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I don't have the ability to take that much time away from work but I thought that since you were retired it might be right up your alley. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

Interesting website, Gary, but I don't believe I'd care to ride just for "endurance". But I did enjoy riding the bikes instead of driving a car for transportation. A former co-worker and his wife rode their Gold Wing to Alaska in 1984 or '85. He had a birthday (number 65) in Alaska, and said they just really enjoyed the trip. My wife flew to D.C. and rode back to Dallas with me, and rode on short trips around here, but she really didn't care for motorcycles, so I'm afraid there's no way she'd have ridden to Alaska with me. And on our way back on our last trip to Alaska (in the truck with a fifth wheel) we encountered a big, husky lady from Michigan on a full dress Harley with her little 15 year old nephew on behind. They, too, were on their way back south and she said she couldn't ride any farther because of back trouble, so we gave them a ride to the next town. She thought that after a day or two of rest in a motel, she'd be able to ride again, but the little nephew had had a rock hit the face shield on his helmet and shatter it (in spite of the full fairing on the bike) and said he'd had enough; that he was going to call his parents to let him fly back to Michigan. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

Nice bike Gary!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

But where's the cup holder and the coffee maker?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( where's the cup holder and the coffee maker )</font>

Garry, I think you have to buy the cup holder separately. I mounted mine on the left handlebar. Never did figure out a way for a coffee maker; just had to stop frequently to refill the cup from the Thermos in the saddlebag. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( just had to stop frequently to refill the cup from the Thermos in the saddlebag. )</font>

Well, he could always use this to avoid having to stop.