My Iron Butt - part zero point one

I don't remember how I first heard of the Iron Butt Association. I do know that the winter of 2002 was in full swing and the idea of riding at least 1000 miles in 24 hours or less (aka The Saddlesore 1000) was intriguing. I had just gotten my Kawasaki the previous year and had become very comfortable with it. The more I thought about this ride the more exciting it sounded. An new challenge.

A ride of 1000 miles in 24 hours. On a motorcycle. Facts - It takes a lot more physical effort and stamina to ride a motorcycle 1000 miles than it does to drive a car that distance. The gas tanks are smaller so you have to stop more often. You are exposed to the elements, there is no heater or A/C. Wind chill and dehydration can be deadly. You are harder to see than a car so people sometimes try to run you over. 1000 miles in a car? No problem. I've done that twice already. In a 1966 Ford pickup. This isn't the same. A comfortable bike with some type of windshield or fairing can make a big difference, but it's still not a car. Not even if you squint your eyes just right.

This ride is really about time management. You don't have to break any laws to do it. 1000 miles in 24 hours equals a constant 41.67 mph. That's easy! Now factor in gas stops, eating, drinking water, potty breaks, rest breaks, and a little extra for unplanned whatevers. Being extremely generous, we'll say that uses 4 hours. But 1000 miles in 20 hours is still only averaging 50 mph over the route.

I started planning my route almost immediately. I used an early copy of Delorme's Street Atlas (I still have it somewhere) to plan my route. It was easier than using paper maps. Mapquest was OK, but you couldn't save the maps back then and Google Maps was nonexistent. I went through many dozens of versions before I settled on one route. It wasn't very exciting if you compared it to rides that I would usually take. There were way too many interstate miles and a distinct lack of twisty mountain roads. But the objective of this ride was very different than ones I had taken in the past. I knew that I could always do another one that was more challenging. I just wanted to be sure that I could do it before I stepped it up another notch. I think the farthest I had gone in one day before this ride was around 550 miles, which is normally a very long day on a motorcycle.

I had saddlebags and a large tank bag on the bike and had plenty of room for everything that I might need. Extra oil, snacks (trail mix, raisins, M&Ms, and Clif Bars), plenty of water, rain gear, a small homemade first aid kit, toilet paper, chain lube, flat repair kit, duct tape and zip ties, and so on. No coffee or energy drinks because I didn't want to deal with the inevitable energy crash that would come later. I spent a lot of time tuning up the bike and making sure everything was ready to go.

Next: The journey begins (cue dramatic music)