going for a long, cold a$$ ride....

MotoRacerGabe · 10-26-2007, 2:54 PM

Tour of Texas

On November 20th i will be departing from El Paso, TX heading to Austin, about 575 miles. I will be in Austin, where my brother and sister live. I'll spend thanksgiving with them. The day after thanksgiving, me and my brother will depart Austin heading to El Paso, he rides a Triumph Trophy 900.

Our goal is to complete the Iron Butt SaddleSore 1000 ride.

so, we will be taking the long way to El Paso. From Austin we will ride up to Dallas, then Wichita Falls, across to Lubbock, down to Odessa, then to El Paso. Total miles is about 1050 miles.

yeah, i know it's going to be freakin cold!

but i have gotten some pretty good gear. i have a tour master Coaster leather jacket with tour mater pants to zip up together. i also got the tourmaster winter gloves. i'll be wearing my riding boots with wool socks. i have one of those things that attatch to your helmet that cover your neck, and i'll be wearing a face mask also.

IS there anything i'm forgetting? i know i'm gonna be freakin cold so i must wear the right clothes if i want to do this ride.

As far as the bike goes, it's been running good. i rode to Phoenix and back to El Paso last weekend with no problems at all and got some good mileage. I ordered the zero gravity sport touring wind screen which should help out alot. i also just got some nelsen rigg saddle bags and a tank bag.
anything i should be considering? i've also been fill up my ipod with a bunch of music for the ride.

the bike just passed 29k miles, i replaced the CCT already, i ordered an R1 r/r and a new oem bettery. i should be gettin them anytime now, so i wont have to worry about those issues. i'll of course check my coolant, oil, chain and such... anything i should do or take a look at before i take the trip?

i cant wait!

raymondo · 10-26-2007, 10:38 PM

Sounds like your ready

Are you taking the rr and battery with you just in case or replacing them first?

Have a safe trip and stop for coffee

when you get cold

Spicholy · 10-26-2007, 11:32 PM

How cold is cold. I live up in Michigan and didn't know it got that cold down in Texas.

MotoRacerGabe · 10-27-2007, 4:50 PM

well it really doesnt get that cold, but it does snow up in Lubbock, not alot, but it does snow. and i'm just worrying about the wind chill factor. 45F at 80 mph is 19F. i think it's better to go over prepared than not to.

i'll be changing my r/r and battery before i go. i should be getting them in the mail any time now and put them on next weekend.

CanadianBird · 10-27-2007, 6:42 PM

Why do you need a new battery at that milage? No battery tender? Heated grips? Chemical hand/feet warmers? Good luck.

MotoRacerGabe · 10-27-2007, 8:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianBird

Why do you need a new battery at that milage? No battery tender? Heated grips? Chemical hand/feet warmers? Good luck.

it's died on me twice within the past 3 months. no heated grips or anything... i'd just rather not worry about it on this ride. it's got the original r/r, i've read about them going out around 30k, so i figured why not?

Maxx409 · 10-27-2007, 10:01 PM

Sounds like GREaT fun. not to state the obvious but... make sure you get that stuff in and test it a bit before the ride. Your gonna see ALOT of scrubland and it's better to work out the glitches at home. Good luck and make sure you post the results when you get back. Maybe a few pics? Oh yeah, you forgot the most important thing Anti Monkey Butt Powder Have fun!

Spicholy · 10-27-2007, 11:46 PM

I didn't realize it got that chilly. I go in layers. Long sleeve t-shirt, fleece pull over, mesh riding jacket, nylon Columbia anorak. Long johns under my leather pants.
Good luck and have fun. Be sure to stay hydrated. Cold dry air will dehydrate you quickly.

00CXBXR · 10-28-2007, 1:05 AM

Advice from a Mass. Outside layer wind/waterproof lightweight and small, also Zero Gravity Double Bubble

CanadianBird · 10-28-2007, 12:02 PM

Agree, use Under Armour or the like to keep you warm and wick away sweat. I'm on my original RR/'02Bird. Bikes on a Battery Tender now. Lot's of places to buy heated grips, Jaws for ex. My 2 cents, avoid night riding. Good luck

HukitAK · 10-29-2007, 3:07 PM

Heh, I live in alaska and until last week when it snowed I was riding every day. Average temp about 36-40 degrees. When riding to work I wear an Intake jacket with the zip in liner and my suit (yes, dress clothes). I got cold a couple times, but then I got some thicker gloves. I was using plain cloth mechanix gloves but switched to leater to keep the fingers warmer. When not going to work its jeans, t shirt and jacket. But then again, I ski all winter in a t-shirt and jacket shell so im semi oblivious to cold.

XX-TECH150 · 11-07-2007, 2:51 PM

does the iron butt regulations state that you have to complete that ride in 24 hours? i thought i read that somewhere. Also, do you have a beefed up battery for your Ipod? Or do you have a connection to charge it? Moreover, Having lived my whole life here, I have been through every part of Texas during every part of the year and I can tell you firsthand that the country you will be riding through during your trip will likely reach mid to high 30's at some points possibly lower 30's during this part of year, mostly around central Texas and the lower panhandle. Just keep an eye on the fronts that like to sprint down through the midwest all the way from the Arctic circle! I wish I could go with you, bro, as my family is in Dallas but you know Jessica is about to pop anytime now and I'll be busy with that! Don't forget your 'ORGANIZED CHAOS' brothers and sisters and if you need any help just shout I got plenty of friends with pickups out that way! Also watch out for the drunk cagers!

MotoRacerGabe · 11-07-2007, 3:14 PM

yup, it's gotta be done with in 24 hrs, and we're crazy enough to do it.

i really cant wait. i've gotten all my gear, i have 2 ipods, just bought the new model, so i'll have plenty of music to entertain me during the ride.

it's gonna be cold as hell and i think i can hack it. i'm just worried about my brother. he cant take the cold very well. if he cant hack we'll just end up staying at a motel for the night and ride back home. i know i can push myself even if i am freezing but i dont think he can.

only 19 more days until the ride!

Quote:

Originally Posted by XX-TECH150

does the iron butt regulations state that you have to complete that ride in 24 hours? i thought i read that somewhere. Also, do you have a beefed up battery for your Ipod? Or do you have a connection to charge it? Moreover, Having lived my whole life here, I have been through every part of Texas during every part of the year and I can tell you firsthand that the country you will be riding through during your trip will likely reach mid to high 30's at some points possibly lower 30's during this part of year, mostly around central Texas and the lower panhandle. Just keep an eye on the fronts that like to sprint down through the midwest all the way from the Arctic circle! I wish I could go with you, bro, as my family is in Dallas but you know Jessica is about to pop anytime now and I'll be busy with that! Don't forget your 'ORGANIZED CHAOS' brothers and sisters and if you need any help just shout I got plenty of friends with pickups out that way! Also watch out for the drunk cagers!

dunedain · 11-07-2007, 4:46 PM

Start early as you can 04:00-05:00 and get two witnesses when you start & finish as it makes it easier for the IBA guys to verify. Dont stop for too long but when you do - stretch, get gas/water, pee, nibble on a energy bar or something light but healthy, and blaze as soon as you can. If you can sinc your gas and bladder stops so that only every other one requires you even get off the bike that helps your time. Just swipe your card, fill, get receipt and split then stop a little longer on the next stop. I dont know about TX but the Rut has started here in OK so watch out for deer as they lose their minds during the rut. You just missed daylight savings so your gonna drive dark FWIW. Most people dont find riding near truckers a good thing but I finished my SS1000 with a semi a couple of hundred yards (not drafting) ahead of me. Using his headlights and even thought I felt like I was a safe distance from the truck I cou;ld tell he had cut through the air making it less impacting on me. It was a good thing.

100-400 no biggy
400-700 starts to get a little unfun towards the end
700-1000 straight up hurts so just accept that at 800 or 900 you'll be wanting to quit but you'll 80% to 90% done which yeilds you nothing as the prize is at 1000 miles.

Remember the speedo on the XX is off. Mine is ~4% off so I rode 1087 indicated and IBA said my run was ~1053 my GPS said I did 1048.

Good luck! Be safe! Ride Well!

KiwiBird · 11-07-2007, 5:03 PM

Best of luck on the Iron Butt, you'll feel a fantastic sense of achievement (after you've stopped hurting

). I've done 4 of them in New Zealand - they're called the Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge over here. The organisers are evil, with most of the routes being set on twisty back roads rather than freeways. My best time was 18 hours and I was nearly out of my mind with pain at the end. Have attached one of my write-ups for your interest.

Best of luck,

Geoff

monsieurnet · 11-07-2007, 5:53 PM

cold weather
suggest youbring windstopper / windproof jacket to wear over the leathers same for the pants.
makes a big difference and also is water resistant (just in case)

enjoy!

Thruxton · 11-07-2007, 6:33 PM

Get yourself a "Breeze Buster" from Chase-Harper and a set of those thin wicking glove liners. Both are simple, effective solutions to extending your tolerance for temperature changes. Neither one is very expensive and they won't take up much room when you're not using them.

KiwiBird · 11-07-2007, 6:38 PM

I might be telling you what you already know but for our Grand Challenge in terms of preparation, I tried to do a practice ride of at least 600 km about a month before the event. I’d try and set a route that I was not all that familiar with, particularly for riding in the dark. As the organisers always send you down some twisty, horrible unlit back road in the small hours, I do the same on the practice ride, setting off early evening so that the bulk of the ride is in the dark. The only stops I make are 10-15 minutes for fuel, a quick bite to eat and rehydration. Long stops do nothing for you

In terms of nutrition for the ride, that’s totally contentious. I started off with pies, chocolate bars and coffee but didn’t feel all that well on that diet. I also drank too much Red Bull on one of the GC’s and ended up feeling wired and ill. I subsequently stuck to bottled water or dilute sports drink and had a can of RB in reserve for the last but one checkpoint. For food, I made up my own energy mix for the last event I did, consisting of dried banana rings, cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds and chocolate chips. The energy release is slower and more even than the “high and crash” cycle associated with high sugar foods. However, a mate who does it with me survives on pies and sugared coffee! I’ve never taken medication but I was just about hallucinating with pain in the wrists and knees towards the end of the ride when I did it on the Blackbird. If I did it again on the ‘bird, I might think about swallowing a couple of Voltaren tablets when I started to hurt.

On the ride itself, minimising stopping time is what gets you through, rather than blasting along for long distances and stressing yourself out. On long stops, you just stiffen up so I prefer to stop for 10-15 minutes to gas up, stretch, re-hydrate, eat something and get under way again. I do a few arm and hand stretches on the bike and stand up on the pegs occasionally to keep the circulation going in the nether regions! Some people use a sheepskin, some tape on bubblewrap for additional comfort. I used to have a dense sheepskin but since I fitted an aftermarket brand seat, I’ve never had problems on a long haul.

The other thing I did on my first GC was to make up a small time-distance chart in Excel and laminate it. One axis had the distance out to 1650 km and the other had time up to 24 hours with an intersecting line between them for a 24 hour schedule. If you’re above the line for a given distance, you’re ahead of time, and the opposite below it. I know it sounds terribly anal (and undoubtedly is!) but when your brain isn’t functioning terribly well in the middle of the night, it’s a handy ready reckoner.

I also fitted 100 W headlight bulbs which made a big difference to nightime riding. Halogen on my BMW and Xenon to the Blackbird. I know Warchild uses spotlights for his long hauls - a great idea.

I think that’s most of the important bits. The notes above are simply my approach. There is no “best way” and I’m sure that other IB “survivors” will throw in their own experiences too and you can pick out what suits you the best. More than 70% of the ride and maybe a sight more than that is all about mental toughness rather than the bike you ride.

Best of luck. When you've done a ride like that, there's nothing left to prove to yourself or anyone else come to that!

X1rider · 11-07-2007, 11:36 PM

Welcome to Widder Enterprises

I have the System 2 Vest. It works great! I will be getting the arm chaps that attach to it this week. An AeroStich Roadcrafter is an outstanding garment as well. I have had mine for about 9 years and it has preformed flawlessly.

MotoRacerGabe · 11-24-2007, 5:32 PM

the ride turned out okay. we didnt even attempt the Iron Butt SaddleSore though... the weather got pretty bad and i had to ride home yesterday before the storm hit. good thing i did ride home yeserday because it was raining like crazy in Austin and it's snowing alot here in El Paso.

But the ride to Austin and back was okay. i had my heated glove liners, my body was really warm, but my feet did get a little bit cold.

maybe we'll do the Iron Butt ride we planned in the spring when it's warmer.