Iron Butt = 1000 miles, one day. #1

Scott’s comments after the Iron Butt Ride

Ok so here is what I have. Not too many pictures when you trying to turn 1,000 miles in 24 hours and make it back alive. You basically fly by things and occasionally ride by something and you say, “That looked cool.” Then you turn your head and keep going…no time to stop or think some more. So you end up with pictures at gas stations and stuff. I ended up only taking a couple pictures the whole trip and it happened to be at the Navajo Bridge parking area and visitors center. Mike got a few at gas stations and such.

So we left Draper Friday morning at about 6:30AM and returned at about 1:00AM Saturday Morning. It was about 17 hours in the saddle and maybe 19.5 total. It is cool to tell people that you rode a 1,000 in a day and see their faces. But I am not sure right now that I would want to do it again? I  am still pretty blazed over the whole experience and its 3 days later.

Yet the trip was awesome! I couldn’t help but get a grin throughout the ride when I looked down at my trip meter and thought about what we were doing. Plus this route was the best choice for the scenery. It made it all worth it and a straight highway would have just sucked. When we left in the morning and started riding I was confident that we could make it and I felt good about the task at hand. High fives all around…

Mike’s take on the experience

I had a god time! Nice to do it just to see if you can – kind of like that first marathon some people will run. Only they train their whole body… us just our asses.

Just some thoughts after the ride.

I thought we chose well on the route. Enough scenery, twisties, and fluctuations to keep it mildly interesting – and keep you awake. Some have said that the easiest Ironbutt rides are all freeway – I think the boredom would have made me feel more tired/sleepy. The last 4 hours coming up I-15 were the straightest and flattest section and the most difficult to stay focused on.

Though I felt fine till the end I realized that I was making minor mistakes that can be attributed to fatigue. In the Orem area a nice pick-up passed us and I was admiring it – when I looked up I was 10′ off of Dave’s rear tire and gaining fast. Just some minor concentration glitches that can become deadly at 70mph.

Though I like to ride for the sake of riding… it is nice to stop and smell the roses while you are at it. When we rode to Canada this spring we had no real destination. We got up in the morning checked the weather and decided a direction to head – not sure how far we would go, what we would find, or where we would stay. We stopped and experienced some incredible things because of our free attitude. An Ironbutt ride takes this opportunity away – not that it’s a bad thing… just a different experience.

Having a goal and doing whatever it takes to complete it is rather satisfying. Completing it with friends makes it even better. Though we ride in our own little cocoons of gear and helmets, with no real communication save for the occasional hand signals, each listening to our own music, we forge a bond by having survived this together.

It’s called “adventure riding” for a reason – each of us has our own definition of an adventure. To some a jaunt over the Alpine Loop is an adventure – for others a weekend exploring the West Desert – still others a must ride through Africa. This Ironbutt is just another adventure that pushes our limits and spits out stronger riders and people – and just maybe a little more in tune with their abilities and comfort levels.

I’m glad I went… and thank you Scott for taking the time to join me.

Route Map

View Larger Map