The last European IBA rally of the year was last weekend and started in Germany. Write-up here (http://www.thewellers.net/blog/motorcycling/european-roadrunner-rally-september-2013).
Kevin
Kevin, well done to you both on your superb result in the German Rally, and also for the fantastically detailed and 'easy reading' report, it really is such fun to read of your exploits, the accompanying photographs are nothing short of excellent.
Keep 'em coming :clap: :clap:
That's just outstanding!
Congratulations on 2nd place!
I've read the whole blog now, and am waiting for my better half to read it too. Hopefully this will inspire her to join me in such a caper one day...
Terrific write-up - storytelling, pictures. SUSPENSE at the end :mfr_lol:
Well done indeed! And, sincerely, thanks for sharing that with the rest of us !
Ros
Quote from: Ros on October 04, 2013, 11:15:28 AM
That's just outstanding!
Congratulations on 2nd place!
I've read the whole blog now
Terrific write-up - storytelling, pictures. SUSPENSE at the end :mfr_lol:
Well done indeed! And, sincerely, thanks for sharing that with the rest of us !
:agree:
What a fantastic adventure, write up, and pictures. Very interesting indeed and inspiring me to get out on a Euro tour!
I don't mean this in a negative way, but I can't imagine how tired you must be after a 24 hour ride, is it safe?
Once again, superb effort!
Mark
Thanks all. Ros you must have had a lot of time on your hands.
Quote from: shaggs147 on October 04, 2013, 10:51:39 PM<snip> I don't mean this in a negative way, but I can't imagine how tired you must be after a 24 hour ride, is it safe?
That's a perfectly valid and reasonable question and I'm sorry for the long reply.
The short answer is we felt fine and didn't go to bed for another 5 hours or so.
There are different types of 'tired' - physically tired and sleepy tired - and they both have to be recognised and dealt with, it's part of long distance riding. If either of us feels physically tired - aching, stiff - we'll stop for a walk around and stretch. When I feel sleepy tired I stop for a break and there are various pictures on our web site of me asleep on benches, tables, the ground, etc. Lyn tends to go to sleep on the back when she's tired; I assume the 'motorcycling' part of her brain is still functioning as she's rock solid apart from leaning in to me. I'd normally have a sleep during the mandatory rest break most IBA rallies have but I just wasn't tired on this occasion.
We have the same rules for riding as we do for diving - either one of us can call for a stop or abort the ride/dive without complaint from the other (if I'm honest I might confess to bitching a bit on occasion but I always comply and thirty seconds later I'm apologising as I'm in the wrong).
I realise tiredness can creep up on you but I'm lucky in having a fail safe on the back. Lyn knows how I ride and if she feels I'm getting a bit ragged she'll call for a stop. When I'm riding long distance solo I have to be vigilant and I hope I'll always recognise when I'm tired.
There obviously are increased risks because of the animals that are around at night and the reduced visibility but apart from that I believe it's as safe as riding a bike ever is.
I have read stories of people riding long distance where they describe hallucinations and/or not being able to function because they are so tired, including journalists who really should know better (the only time I was ever moved to write to a magazine was when I read such a story by a
Ride journalist). Assuming they're not saying it for effect, they're a danger to themselves and others. If they're saying it for effect they're idiots as it paints the 'sport' of long distance riding in a very bad light.
The Iron Butt Association says it is dedicated to the sport of
safe long distance riding and IBA rides will be denied, rally riders disqualified, if it becomes obvious a rider was impaired in any way or was deemed to be riding dangerously. No ride is ever worth having or causing an accident for.
Kevin (hoping this didn't sound pompous or arrogant)
I have to say that like Shaggs147 I did wonder if you needed an intravenous caffeine supply to perform the task.
Your reply and absorbing website has answered many unasked questions ..........................You may just have found / motivated another competitor :mfr_lol:
Hoping to meet up with the pair of you some day
Charlie :ninja:
That'd be great :smiley: . I've tried to drum up interest in these rallies on here before as they really are a lot of fun and take us to places we'd never have dreamt of going to. Problem is I think all the in-breeding Up North makes many of the forum members frightened to leave their beautiful lanes and roads (not that I'm jealous at all, oh no, not me).
There's a 12 hour rally in the UK every year - the Brit Butt Light - which is a good starting point, usually around July. It will be announced on the Iron Butt UK web site (http://ironbutt.co.uk/) when they have the date for 2014.
If you wanted to have a go at 1000 miles in 24 hours there's the Royal British Legion SS1000 (http://www.rblr1000.co.uk) in June 2014 where you'll find many people attempting their first IBA ride.
Kevin
QuoteRos you must have had a lot of time on your hands.
It's taken weeks! :mfr_lol:
Nice one Kevin and once again great effort!
You really do get to see some fantastic sights, I'm very jealous! I remember having a few beers in the Hofbrauhaus a couple of years ago, and its very nice on the inside too! :wacko:
Every time I've been to Germany I've loved the scenery, the way of life and the hospitality too. The Germans really know how to enjoy themselves without turning into Lager louts
Apologies if I missed it in the write up, but how many miles did you cover in the 24 hours and how many miles did you cover for your trip in total?
Regards
Mark
Quote from: Kevin on October 05, 2013, 10:26:37 AM
That'd be great :smiley: . I've tried to drum up interest in these rallies on here before as they really are a lot of fun and take us to places we'd never have dreamt of going to. Problem is I think all the in-breeding Up North makes many of the forum members frightened to leave their beautiful lanes and roads (not that I'm jealous at all, oh no, not me).
OY ! ................"in-breading"................how very dare you, I'll be sending my twelve brothers and seventeen cousins (once removed) around to your Gaff Kevin
The very idea...tut tut :mfr_lol:
BTW you are right we really do have some stunning scenery up here :punk:
Quote from: Ros on October 05, 2013, 12:22:10 PM
It's taken weeks!
Oh!
Quote from: shaggs147 on October 05, 2013, 01:07:13 PMApologies if I missed it in the write up, but how many miles did you cover in the 24 hours and how many miles did you cover for your trip in total?
The mileage for the rally is at the bottom of the map - 961 miles. We were only away for the long weekend so the rest of the mileage was just the journey to Bamberg and back home again - 1281 miles - making 2242 in total. (OC's cousins have arrived and as they have six fingers on each hand they were able to aid my calculations...)
Kevin
Quote from: Kevin on October 05, 2013, 04:04:28 PM
Oh!
The mileage for the rally is at the bottom of the map - 961 miles. We were only away for the long weekend so the rest of the mileage was just the journey to Bamberg and back home again - 1281 miles - making 2242 in total. (OC's cousins have arrived and as they have six fingers on each hand they were able to aid my calculations...)
Kevin
:mfr_lol: :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol: :mfr_lol:
Yet another excellent report. :clap:
certainly some hard core milage that!
Quote from: Kevin on October 05, 2013, 10:26:37 AM
There's a 12 hour rally in the UK every year - the Brit Butt Light - which is a good starting point, usually around July. It will be announced on the Iron Butt UK web site (http://ironbutt.co.uk/) when they have the date for 2014.
If you wanted to have a go at 1000 miles in 24 hours there's the Royal British Legion SS1000 (http://rblr1000.co.uk/) in June 2014 where you'll find many people attempting their first IBA ride.
Kevin
Thanks for the info.........................I spent some time last night checking out the sites, rules of engagement etc and PCpete's RBL Link
If work commitments allow I fancy a bash at this. :smiley:
:ninja:
Quote from: Charlie747 on October 06, 2013, 10:05:48 AM
Thanks for the info.........................I spent some time last night checking out the sites, rules of engagement etc and PCpete's RBL Link
If work commitments allow I fancy a bash at this. :smiley:
:ninja:
Good :). I'm not sure what happened to my link to the RBLR1000 but I have just corrected it.
Kevin