Iron Butt Frustration

dunedain · 02-11-2007, 1:22 PM

Well it's been 7 months since I submitted for my Saddlesore Cert. I pingged Ira Agins at IBA that it's kinda anticlimactic now and that their "16 week turn around" is a little off. He said they'd send my check back and then promptly cashed it without sending anything. I have reverified all my witnesses and the route so I know I'm good but I got nothing.

Just a warning for you wanting the IBA creds. You may get them timely and you may not. I for one feel like I got ripped off and will never hear from them again. I know others have done OK and these guys get tons of applications a year but I'm pretty sure I got hosed.

ConqSoft · 02-11-2007, 1:32 PM

That sucks...

But, I never plan to apply for any of that stuff anyway. I ride to ride, not to get certificates from some "authority" on long distance riding.

shovelstrokeed · 02-11-2007, 2:27 PM

They really are very understaffed. All volunteers as well.
They don't want or need your 10 bucks.
Give them a little more time. Their usual practice is to cash your check just as they verify your information so you should be getting a package from them soonish.

testrider · 02-11-2007, 3:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

That sucks...

But, I never plan to apply for any of that stuff anyway. I ride to ride, not to get certificates from some "authority" on long distance riding.

That's exactly what I thought too...

May be we can do our own certification for "CBRXX Steel Butt Association" (that's just more durable than "iron butt")? :-)

Warchild · 02-11-2007, 3:51 PM

From Mike Kneebone, posted on the IBA forum:

Quote:

Why does it take so darn long to get my certificate?!

To kind of let everyone know what is going on - in part so you can help spread the word as needed. The Iron Butt Association depends on a combination of volunteers and paid staff for ride certifications. Compared to last year, we have two additional paid positions, but we also had more rides come in for June. July was lighter, so we are now catching up quickly, but I felt like I was living in June until a few weeks ago! (As a side note, when I wrote that, in mid-September as the weather turned cooler in much of North America, ride submissions greatly increased again).

I want to let everyone know that obviously I press our staff to hussle, but I personally review each and every ride before it leaves so I can be a big part of the bottleneck also as I work a full time day-job and try to monitor e-mail (even with Ira Agins answering all the mail that comes in through the web site, I still get 50 to 100 messages per day that I obviously try and route to whom ever can answer them, including this forum), various long distances lists and obviously this board also.

On that note, the real value of those certifications are that they are reviewed. You are not really paying for the 75 cent sheet of paper, you are paying to know that when you see an IBA plate back (our default membership card) that the rider you are meeting had to go through the same intense process your ride went through. That is what gives the certification real value.

Believe me when I say it would be so easy for us to rip open your envelope, cash the check and issue a cheesy certificate. But so long as I am breathing, each ride has to go through the process. That is why I keep my (very good) day-job. So that I am not tempted to move rides out because I need to make a living doing this. On the other hand, no one realizes more then me that we need to work on speeding up the processes. I thought two new employees would do it, but a big June put us really behind. The problem on my side is that that I cannot train someone in two weeks how to do the verification (competently that is), so adding last minute help is difficult.

Believe me when I say that I understand how hard it is to wait 2 or 3 months and maybe more, for a ride verification. If we had good weather year round, that would not be the case as we could have a mountain of the right people year round. But to hire people for 3 months (and train them) and then say goodbye expecting them to return the next year is not workable either.

So I guess this is a nice way of saying I realize we need to speed up the process and I am trying to balance to many employees (and the cost associated with that) and the need to get the rides out more timely.
If you do write me, I do ask you include your phone number. ATT, MSN and AOL can sometimes (seems to come and go) block our e-mails because of some of the wording, such as Iron Butt and e-mails do not always get through. If you do not hear back from us in a week, please write back but also please include a phone number. If I replied to you and you did not get the first message, I will have Donna call you if needed.

Thank you to everyone for their patience!

Michael Kneebone

dunedain · 02-11-2007, 7:46 PM

Yep, I read that and understand some of the dynamics involved. I ride close to 1000 a miles in a day every year (once on a Millie R!) but had some local dickheads say I could not ride from OK to AK and back by myself.

Kinda rubbed me the wrong way and normally I could care less as I too ride to ride but I told them I would, I told them I did. While I have the photos to prove it I dont have the cert. Now that I'm a liar (not that these fookers opinions mean anything to me) I'd just as soon have my money back and free up the IBA team to get to their obvious backlog.

Jason-1999-XX · 02-12-2007, 12:18 AM

Sorry to here of the trouble dunedain, I hope it works out

dunedain · 05-16-2007, 2:48 PM

Update! IBA sent me my money back and my certification (with a letter explaining the hic-up)!!!! Thats pretty classy even if it took 10 months. Makes me want to volunteer to help them out but I'm covered up too. Anyway they made it right so I thought I'd make sure you guys know in case you decide to ride one (I did not want anyone not to do it based on my trouble).

I'm now IBA Certified! (but not on the website yet

) I know that it really dont mean much to some folks but for those who have done 1000 miles you know what it means.

Warchild · 05-16-2007, 3:20 PM

Congrats!

And, yes, I know EXACTLY what you mean!

XX4me · 05-16-2007, 9:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunedain

Update! IBA sent me my money back and my certification (with a letter explaining the hic-up)!!!! Thats pretty classy even if it took 10 months. Makes me want to volunteer to help them out but I'm covered up too. Anyway they made it right so I thought I'd make sure you guys know in case you decide to ride one (I did not want anyone not to do it based on my trouble).

I'm now IBA Certified! (but not on the website yet

) I know that it really dont mean much to some folks but for those who have done 1000 miles you know what it means.

You probably won't show up on the website due to the fact that they refunded your money.

Not really.
Congrates on having a verified 1000 in 24. It's one thing to tell people you do that sort of thing quite another to be able to prove it.

John01XX · 05-16-2007, 10:56 PM

Rick from Clearwater Florida, Speed99, just did the 1500 mile run in 24 hours last month and did two passes through Deals Gap as his turnaround point !!
Rob from Orlando was also along as his escort on a 2002 Bird so he made it also.
By the way Rick was on a Aprilia !

Pretty exciting and funny story written about the Run also on the .org board.

Rick is also hosting the 4th annual FUXXT run on June 9th if anyone wants to join us for a 300 mile fun run.

XX4me · 05-18-2007, 12:01 AM

That's nuts!!!!!!!!
I guess I'll have to go read the story.

dunedain · 05-02-2008, 11:55 AM

IBA gets some help and gets things going again. I know they've had some help issues but I also think the popularity of this has grown into something way biggeer than they thought. I'm now on the site with my trip as is some othe XX'er later in 06 from SD.....yo mate you on here?

from IBA website........and would'nt you know it now I want to do it again or something sicker. Hooah!

Stan Raines Greenville, SC 07/02/06 H-D Heritage 1,035Robert Krugerud Lake Zurich, IL 07/02/06 H-D Road King 1,162Ken Breedlove Kansas City, MO 07/02/06 H-D Road King 1,079Mark Webster Sand Springs, OK 07/02/06 Honda CBR1100XX 1,067Matt Nemec Mentor, OH 07/02/06 Honda Gold Wing 1,068Kevin J. Klinger Coplay, PA 07/02/06 H-D Sportster 1,022