Posted: 23 October 2006 at 8:36am | IP Logged

THE INAUGURAL END TO END GOLD

Funny how things turn full circle. Several years ago I was heading out for a HOG rally in Perth, Scotland and while there I decided to complete John O’Groats to Lands End, completing the 874 miles in a little over 22 hours.

A friend mentioned the Iron Butt Association of America and after several emails to the President, Mike Kneebone, I was sadly turned down for certification as the ride was only 874 miles, well under the entry level ride of 1,000 + miles in under 24 hours.

Two things emerged. I realised that I needed more from my riding than just HOG jaunts, I actually loved the solitude and mental agility that was required to complete Long Distance Motorcycling rides, as a former soldier I still needed to push myself. Secondly, I became determined to become a member of the Iron Butt Association and set about planning my first SaddleSore.

That done, (raising £2,500 in the process for Dreamflight)  together with a few others including a BunBurner GOLD (1500 miles in under 24 hours), all within the confines of the UK, conversation flowed between Mike and I and almost out of the blue the End to End rides emerged as a potential ‘new’ ride for the UK.

We discussed several options but agreed on two rides. The basic End to End, 874 Miles in less than 24 hours (the tip of Scotland to the Tip of England or visa versa)  and the End to End GOLD whereby the rider must accumulate over 1,000 miles between the two points, again in under 24 hours. Could it be done?

I decided I would give the ride a try on the weekend of 10/11 June 2006.

When planning I was spurred on by something Mike said and that was that if I did the first ride I would always be at the bottom of the list on the IBA site. The first. Everyone else who completed it would be added above me. Now that was indeed a motivator, not that I needed it as I was dying to get going on my first ride of the season. It had been a long winter and a new job had delayed my normal antics by several months.

I planned meticulously and I remembered what I had learned the first time a few years ago.

I decided to start at John O’Groats, Scotland (JOG) and end at Lands End, (LE), as it was less distance home afterwards.

A steady trot up to JOG saw me check into the Seaview Hotel around 3pm the day before and walk around the sea front and village that is John O’Groats. It was freezing cold and misty. I booked in with the ‘Groats’ Hotel to pick up the paperwork to allow me to re-join the Lands End to John O’Groats club, an added bonus and well worth other riders doing the same.

At 5.55am on Saturday 10 June, and sticking to the BBGOLD rules, I had my two witnesses sign my forms and stamp them with the Seaview stamp which actually wishes you luck, a nice touch; I then set off for my start receipt at the ATM in the next village 10 minutes away. I was on my way.

I’m going for GOLD.

For over a day previous there had been a heavy sea mist, which had brought visibility down to around 30 feet so the first 100 miles or so were spent trying to see through the mist on mountain and country roads, (the visor was useless, but I was glad I had left the short screen on so I could see over it) and down to 20 MPH, too slow. Once on the A9 I managed to get going but knew I had to make up time or I would have to leave the GOLD and go for a basic End to End.

All was going well until just after Perth, at around 10.40am and 233 miles, the much promised sun was out but as I neared the Firth of Forth Bridge I sighed again, it was deadlocked with road works leading into one lane traffic with nowhere to sneak through. Finally I got over the bridge and refuelled, calling home before getting going again.

The BunBurner GOLD ride had taught me many things, my fuel stops were down to an average of 9 minutes in and out and last but not least to have sunscreen, as the bottom of England, and the direction I was travelling was due south. On this ride I would ride into direct sunshine at over 28 degrees for nearly 14 hours facing into the sun as it moved round on its axis to the west. My destination.

Rule number 30 for the IBA, USE SUNSCREEN (and drink gallons of water)

After hitting the A1 then the M1 I was doing good and feeling fantastic. I passed many riders in t-shirts and jeans who must have looked at me in full leathers as though I was insane but I knew the consequences of riding un-protected. Sadly this thought proved prophetic for me and my good lady, on the way home from the Norwegian Iron Butt Rally 6 weeks later when hospitalised after a rear tyre blow out..

At the end of the M1 Motorway looms the M25 which is normally classed as the biggest car park in the UK, 3, sometimes 4 lanes of static traffic circling the whole of greater London, no problems this time, I flew round to the M40 but made sure I had receipts from service stations on all sections to enable the verification team at the IBA to prove my route. The temperature was in the 30’s.

I love the M40, it’s my favourite UK Motorway and lends itself to excellent countryside and most important for running an Iron Butt, it’s quick.

I stopped at Oxford services for fuel and the toilet at 19.10 hrs with 733 miles recorded. My water intake had been timed to perfection. Nearly 800 miles in 30+ degrees direct sunshine and I was neither sweating nor peeing all the time.

Shortly after saw me on the M5 southbound.

This was the ‘drag’ bit, and is the part I hate from every ride I have done. The road to Exeter seems to last forever but I was on a high. I had made up time to such an extent that I realised that if I changed plan and didn’t have an extended break for food at Exeter Services I could make Lands End in the early hours of the morning. I needed to think this out, as at that time I hadn’t booked accommodation.

Arriving at Exeter at 22 46 hours I refuelled and called home, asking Esther to ring the Lands End Hotel and see if they had any rooms, no matter what the cost. As luck would have it they had one. It was booked and they were warned I would be there in several hours.

The ride down the A31 was in the dead of night. The half way point along this road is Bodmin and this would give me an idea of what time I would hit Lands End. Bodmin was also the point at which I would bag the SaddleSore 1000 should I fail to get to LE in the required time, which wasn’t an option now I was only 130 miles away.

Just after Bodmin at around midnight saw the first major problem of the ride, some idiot in a white van came up behind me while I was riding at 30mph in heavy road works and nearly had me off as he forced his way past me and almost took out a bollard in the middle of the road whilst doing so.

I stopped and composed myself. It was raining heavily and had been since I left Exeter. I knew that the final part needed to be treated with respect as it had no rain for days and the thin winding country roads with high-sided hedges would be like glass. I was right. Several times I felt the wheels slipping, but you don’t become an Iron Butter by being stupid and I slowed down and treated the road with the respect it deserved. The last 10 miles or so was at only 10 miles an hour in hard driving rain. I could see lights ahead, I was almost there, it took ages but I arrived at 01.51 hrs, 19 hours and 51 minutes after I set off.

I headed off to the reception of the Lands End Hotel but couldn’t find the porter, when I did eventually find him he said he couldn’t do a receipt, as he wasn’t authorised. I couldn’t believe I had come this far and couldn’t end the ride.

We eventually agreed that he would check me in and then give me a drink from the bar charged to my room, which was dated and timed. The ride was completed. I had my end receipt and cold lemonade. I wrote my entry in the Lands End book recording my ride achievement for anyone else who reads the Book.

 I then realised I was not only knackered but hungry as I had only eaten high energy foods and didn’t have the planned meal at Exeter.

As luck would have it the room had tea so I had my first hot drink in 23 hours, I then showered twice, called home, admired my suntan (neck to forehead) and got in bed. It was heaven. I had done it. I was the first ever End to End Gold rider, over 1,000 miles between JOG and LE all in less than 24 hours and I raised over £1,000 for Dreamflight in the process

A few hours later saw me skip breakfast still on a high, and head down to the mountain edge to see if the guy who takes the signpost pictures was there. He was, I moved the Harley into position and had the world famous sign post amended to read

IRON BUTT END-TO-END GOLD. 11/6. 1,079 MILES 24 HRS

I ordered 4 copies and then headed for home, a mere 240 miles away, and the route? You guessed it, back up to Exeter and up the M5 to the M4 into London. It rained.

Roger Allen

Posted: 24 October 2006 at 2:37pm | IP Logged

Great ride and wonderful report! Well done!

"Buck" Lemme

Effingham, Illinois ( The colonies)

Posted: 03 November 2006 at 11:34am | IP Logged

Way to go, Roger.

Very entertaining log. 

Thanks for posting.

Bob E.