Iron Butt Rally - 2015

[Alex]

A little birdie just confirmed for me that the 2015 event has a more west coast start & finish. Logistics just got that much easier.... I'll post up here as soon as I see a notice for open entries.

(link to 2013 Iron Butt Rally thread here)

[Alex]

Registration for the 2015 Iron Butt Rally is now open, here's the link:

http://www.ironbutt.com/2015ibr/

I've thrown my hat in the ring, and the drawing for entries is on 1/31.

[Gregg_VA]

I have thrown my hat into the ring as well. Hopefully my name will be drawn. I really enjoyed the Rally last year. It was hard work but fun.

[Alex]

Late night bump....

Both Gregg and myself made it past the draw and were accepted into the 2015 event. As rumored, it starts/finishes in Albuquerque, NM next summer. While I have half the entry fee in already, I'm still working on full permission to actually go from my better half, which might take much of this year to gain. Wish me luck.

(but just in case I'm already looking for some choice additions to the bike, including highway pegs...)

[NevadaWolf]

WHAA HOO!! Congrats guys, that's very cool!!

[Gregg_VA]

Let the farkling and planning begin. My biggest decsion point is how to get there and back. The start is 1,900 miles one-way from Virginia Beach so I am thinking about trailering out (I know... pussy) but it will make sure that the FJR stays within its tire range and I won't have to replace the rear tire during the rally (assuming no major issues other than wear). If I do this, my wife will fly out to ABQ one-way and ride with me in the vehicle coming home. She has never seen that part of the country from ground level should it should be a nice trip for her..... Can't wait for 2015 to get here.

[NevadaWolf]

Not sure if I should start a new thread for 2015....? Split this off if wanted.

@Alex, @Gregg_VA, anyone else who lucked out....

If I was maybe kinda sorta planning a road trip that was heading in the general somewhat direction of, oh, Albuquerque around about ish the end of June on a Monday...

What's your Sunday like? Time enough to squeeze in a mini meet up in between the chaos of the night before the Big Dance?

[Alex]

Would be happy to meet up, but Sunday might turn out to be a little late for much more than a quick "hi"; Friday or Saturday would likely have a little more flexibility.

[NevadaWolf]

I'll have to see if I can swing a late Saturday. Vacation time will be eaten up in the following weeks so not sure I want to burn one on Friday as I'll need it to get home.

.....

Wait, just realized I'm planning on bebopping around the country at the SAME TIME as you loonies! Oy, I'll have to keep an eye on the daily reports! Hahaha

I can just see this "As crazy as the IBA riders are, reports are coming in of sightings of two Ninja 250's all over the mid west. Mystery entrants perhaps?"

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by Alex

Would be happy to meet up, but Sunday might turn out to be a little late for much more than a quick "hi"; Friday or Saturday would likely have a little more flexibility.

I would agree with @Alex. Friday or Saturday are more social days (based on the 2013 experience). By Sunday we are in "game face" mode and things aren't quite as social as we scurry around making sure everything is done prior to the Sunday dinner and then Rally Books.

[NevadaWolf]

I'll see about heading to Vegas on Friday then making a run to NM on Saturday to be there Sat evening.

If all else fails, I'll be there at the start cheering everyone on. D

[Gregg_VA]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

I'll see about heading to Vegas on Friday then making a run to NM on Saturday to be there Sat evening.

If all else fails, I'll be there at the start cheering everyone on. D

Sweet......

[Alex]

Trying to find a notary tomorrow to get the last of the paperwork in...

[NevadaWolf]

*whispers* I think you need to start a new thread....

[Alex]

OK, you're probably right.

/new thread

[ally99]

How cool! Cheering you on from Ga!

[JohnnyBravo]

I like how Alex runs this forum like I dream of genie... Or is it bewitched?

Congrats on y'all's Entry's!

[Alex]

Looking for some help from the ninjette community. I'm having trouble locating a place to change my tire (maybe tires) at the second checkpoint. Here's the problem, I need it done on a Sunday evening, July 5th, anywhere near Kingsport, TN. Within 50 miles or even more might be doable. I'd plan to ship the tires to them ahead of time, so all I'd need to do is show up. I'll have the tools to swap the wheels, so all I really need is someone with a tire-changing rig.

If anyone has any leads or suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[Hero Danny]

Sorry for my ignorance, I don't know much about the rules of the competition. But why do you need to change your tire at the second checkpoint? Shouldn't you do it before the event?

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by Alex

A little birdie just confirmed for me that the 2015 event has a more west coast start & finish. Logistics just got that much easier.... I'll post up here as soon as I see a notice for open entries.

(link to 2013 Iron Butt Rally thread here)

I will be seeing you at the start.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Hero Danny

Sorry for my ignorance, I don't know much about the rules of the competition. But why do you need to change your tire at the second checkpoint? Shouldn't you do it before the event?

I will be starting with a fresh set, changed the Thursday prior to the event right in Albuquerque. I have another set staged to change them at the first checkpoint, back in Albuquerque the following Thursday, after 4 days of the event. The set I'm looking for in Tennessee may turn out to be optional, but I want the ability if I need it. Remember, this is 20+ hr a day riding, 1000+ miles per day, at sustained high speeds throughout the southwest that leg, under fully loaded bikes. I can't count on more than 5k miles out of any rear, if that.

Last time I misjudged, and didn't change my tires at the first checkpoint (a little under 3000 miles in), and then had to limp the last halfday into checkpoint 2, with a rear tire that really didn't look like it was going to get me there (a little under 6000 miles by the time I pulled in).

I don't think I'll end up changing both front and rear at both checkpoint 1 and checkpoint 2, but I want the capability depending on what the wear and the weather looks like. The one thing that you don't really have time for is to sort this out on the road while you're on the clock; you want contingency plans already sorted out. I'm having such trouble trying to plan it more than a month in advance, imagine trying to do it in real-time that Sunday night while sitting in Tennessee. This event is great fun, but it's not a pleasure cruise. Every minute matters while on the clock, and any wasted time means you're that much more likely to not only fall down the order, but not even make the finish.

Originally Posted by fishdip

I will be seeing you at the start.

Good thing I always travel under an assumed name.

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by Alex

I will be starting with a fresh set, changed the Thursday prior to the event right in Albuquerque. I have another set staged to change them at the first checkpoint, back in Albuquerque the following Thursday, after 4 days of the event. The set I'm looking for in Tennessee may turn out to be optional, but I want the ability if I need it. Remember, this is 20+ hr a day riding, 1000+ miles per day, at sustained high speeds throughout the southwest that leg, under fully loaded bikes. I can't count on more than 5k miles out of any rear, if that.

Last time I misjudged, and didn't change my tires at the first checkpoint (roughly 3000 miles in), and then had to limp the last halfday into checkpoint 2, with a rear tire that really didn't look like it was going to get me there (at 7000 miles by the time I pulled in).

I don't think I'll end up changing both front and rear at both checkpoint 1 and checkpoint 2, but I want the capability depending on what the wear and the weather looks like. The one thing that you don't really have time for is to sort this out on the road while you're on the clock; you want contingency plans already sorted out. I'm having such trouble trying to plan it more than a month in advance, imagine trying to do it in real-time that Sunday night while sitting in Tennessee. This event is great fun, but it's not a pleasure cruise. Every minute matters while on the clock, and any wasted time means you're that much more likely to not only fall down the order, but not even make the finish.



Good thing I always travel under an assumed name.

Its ok I will find you Also I am located in az in phx with all the tools you need to change a tire if you need a stop there.

[Alex]

Barring catastrophe, I don't foresee needing one in AZ, but I appreciate it.

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by Alex

Barring catastrophe, I don't foresee needing one in AZ, but I appreciate it.

Ok well its a option I and another form member will be there Saturday night. All day ride Sunday then back to see you off on Monday.

[NevadaWolf]

Are @MyLife, @mcnuggett, or @adurbin still active? They're in the neighborhood.

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by Alex

Barring catastrophe, I don't foresee needing one in AZ, but I appreciate it.

[Alex]

Getting through my checklist. Tonight I put together all of the tire changing tools, and confirmed all the computer steps are up and running on the new laptop. I updated the maps on all GPS gadgets a few days ago, with only a few hiccups. Today I went through the full process of converting IBR-style waypoints all the way through to a route on Basecamp, and pushed to the GPS.

I'm away much of this week, so packing for this shindig will start and finish next weekend.

[Alex]

Almost packed. Planning to head out tomorrow morning. I will check the board when I can until the event itself starts getting tense over the weekend. Here are some links that might be fun once the event starts:

Link to most bikes at once: https://spotwalla.com/locationViewer.php?id=283 (password is iBr@0!5 , IDs on that map will be scrambled periodically)
Link to daily writeups during the event: http://www.ironbuttrally.com/IBR/2015.cfm

[Annie]

Alex is all ready to go!


Here's a shot of the butt BEFORE the rally.

[Singh2jz]

Have fun and be safe!!

[iamjacob]

Originally Posted by Annie

Alex is all ready to go!

What!? You're not doing it on the Ninjette? You turncoat!


Have a blast! Godspeed.

["A"]

Good luck.

[Alex]

Safe and sound in Kingman, AZ for the night. Had to call 7 hotels before finding an available room! Not sure why it's so busy at the moment. It was almost unbearably hot all the way in. Stuck at 106 degrees for hours, even after the sun went down. Hoping for slightly cooler weather as I continue east to ABQ tomorrow.

[Alex]

Took the bike to a local shop here for my first set of tires. I had thought they would let me take the wheels off myself, and they could just mount/balance the tire; I'd replace them on the bike. But - they couldn't offer any space in the shop or any shade to do it, and it's already ungodly hot in Albuquerque, so I let them do everything. They wouldn't even let me watch! They did ask for the torque values for everything important, and the tires appear to be mounted just fine back on the bike. Will be interested to see how far these PR4's will go, and whether it will make sense to replace them next Thursday, 4 days into the rally.

[Alex]

Forgot a siphon hose at home, so picked one up at a hardware store a few blocks from that shop. I'm riding a bit squid-like while in town just a mile or two from the hotel. ATGATT, unless it's 100 degrees and you're only going 2 or 3 miles, I guess. So ATGAATT.

[Alex]

Laundry done, after 4 days on the road. This hotel doesn't have any self-service washers (unexpected!) so had to ride down the road a little ways to a laundromat. From there it was an easy walk to a supermarket for some more road food (Ensure, powerbars, beef jerky), and I'm now back at the hotel to cool down once again. This heat is going to be fun!

[iamjacob]

You sir are an animal!

It's been 100'+ here the last few days and my hour commute each way is about as far as I can make it. I couldn't imagine riding through the heat all day.

[Alex]

Some people have various techniques (wetting down a vest, or an LDComfort undershirt, putting ice in your lap, etc.), but what makes the difference for me is just being able to drink cool water reasonably often while riding. Without it, I don't think I could make it nearly as far. One downside of a bike with a very good weather protection is that the airflow when it is extremely warm can be a little weak. It's much appreciated when it is raining or cold, not so much when baking.

[iamjacob]

I have a cooling vest for my Rev'It jacket and it works great but once it reaches 100' the vest dries out enough to be ineffective after about 45 minutes or so.

I'm surprised that the flagship you're riding doesn't have A/C on it.

[NevadaWolf]

I found a new trick yesterday. My backpack is getting to me after two years of wearing it, but with it strapped to the back, the hose is too short.

Solution? Carry one of the bladders inside my jacket. Kept it shielded from the heat (and me somewhat cool) and let me take the weight off my back.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, Alex!