Posted: 04 December 2006 at 7:36am | IP Logged

The Holy Grail

Could it or couldn’t it? Who knows? I certainly didn’t and to be honest, I doubted whether it could because of the restrictions we have here in the UK. Weather, Huge traffic volume, poor road ways etc. I had trawled the Iron Butt Associations Role of completed rides and couldn’t see any UK rider who had completed a BBG in the UK at that time (guess I missed them)

What am I talking about?

The Iron Butt Associations of America’s extreme endurance challenge called the

                                           Bunburner 1500 GOLD.

A mere one thousand five hundred miles in only twenty four hours.

The nearest i had come, was the Saddlesore 1000, 1,000 miles in 24 hours but to add another 500 in the same time frame was indeed the ‘Holy Grail’ of long distance motorcycle riding here in the UK

The ride I had been looking at was the ‘normal’ Bunburner which is 1500 miles in 36 hours which I felt confident that I could achieve if, and it’s a big ‘if’’,  everything fell into place. I also decided that if I was doing ok when I had completed the 1500 miles I may even carry on for a further 500 miles to ‘bag’ the Saddlesore 2,000 (2000 miles in 48 hours)

The route had been planned for many months. I had gone through it in my mind all season, but other events such as trips to HOG Rallies in Monte Gordo, Portugal and St Tropez, South of France took precedence over any chance of a long distance ride. Both of those events would give me good chance to ‘test’ the Ultra for long distance as we frequently covered some 500 miles a leg to and from each event. The Ultra proved its worth even to the point of coming ‘Runner up’ In the Full Dresser category at the ‘Fun in the Sun’ Rally Bike Show in Portugal despite being covered in dead flies and the like. For once a bike show wasn’t judged on how little miles you have done which made a welcome change

For me it has always been about riding. Sure it’s nice to pose and show off such a beautiful beast as the Ultra but it was and always will be better to actually ride it. OFTEN

Anyway back to the Iron Butt

The route selected is probably very predictable as there are only so many roads suitable in the UK.I am also fortunate enough to have travelled so much in the UK that I know all the Motorways very well indeed

In general it was like this

Home is near Ilford Essex to M25 clockwise round to M1 to Newcastle A69 to Carlisle and up to Glasgow, Scotland

Back down to Bristol Across to Cardiff, Wales, then down to Exeter then up to Manchester

Back down to M25 anti clock to home (the 500 mile add on for the 2000 miler would then be M1 to Darlington and back)

Now this is where you might think I’m mad  (my missus does) but I can assure you that there is no greater feeling than having pushed yourself to the limit and come through successfully and also when your ride is verified by the Iron Butt Association you know that it’s the real deal and if anyone else has a ride certificate then they also went through not only the pain of the ride but the same stringent checking procedure

I have always loved Motorway riding. You can cruise at a reasonable speed and see for miles which allow you to avoid any potential problems there may be ahead. There is a time and a place for A and B roads and running an Iron Butt ride isn’t one of them

I had booked the Friday off and the Monday was Bank Holiday which I figured I might need to recover (I'm getting old now). Having checked the weather for a 15 day countdown prior up to the actual day, it was looking good. I always split the country into 4 quarters and fully expect to get wet in one of the quarters. Which is manageable? If its two quarters then I may postpone the ride. Thinking logically about this, 2 quarters is half the ride distance, 750 miles, 12-18 hours. That’s a serious amount of continuous time and miles in bad weather. (Remember you only stop for fuel and a pee) 1 quarter = 375 miles, 6-9 hours is manageable

As it turned out I got wet for over 300 miles

The week leading up to the ride was testing to say the least. Lots going on at work but all I could think about was the ride. It was on the Tuesday, 3 days before the off that the penny dropped and I really begin to wonder if the Gold could be done. The thought excited me, so much in fact that I pushed to one side the thought of a 36 or 48 hour ride. I reassessed my timings and re studied the route then decided I was going to give it my best shot. I was going for GOLD

Friday came and I tried to chill and sleep a little but no luck. My other half, Esther left me alone as I was getting in ‘the zone’

I had set the Harley up earlier in the day and got the GPS and all my paper work ready. I had purchased a camel back water system that I could drink out of on the way which would reduce my time off the bike drinking. It was vital that I kept hydrated as we are still officially in summer and it may be hot, which would in turn keep me motivated and alert. I had also rehearsed my fuel stops and got it down to around 8 minutes dependant on the queue

All too soon it was bed time. 8pm. I tried but couldn’t really sleep finally getting up at 2 30am. After a shower, corn flakes and juice I packed my food for the day. High energy bars, bananas, mars bars etc. Stuff I could eat on the go without deterring from the job in hand. Covering the miles

At 03 30 am, my better half and step son signed my start witness form (I think he had just got in) and I set off to the local Esso garage to get my start receipt. I fuelled up and got the receipt timed at 03 59. Spot on time as I had planned for a 4am kick off. The morning was fresh, very fresh and crystal clear as I headed along the A12 to the M25 and over the Queen Elizabeth Bridge. The M25 was pitch black and I was surprised at how many vehicles were on the road. Far busier than I had hoped but was still doing good speed.

I guessed people were taking advantage of the early start to get away for the weekend.

Around the M25 to the M1 and up to Northampton Services for the first fuel stop in a little under two hours. I was feeling fantastic and the gel seat pad, imported from America (can you believe I couldn’t get one in the UK) and my padded cycling underwear was doing the business. The fuel stop took only 9 minutes. Very pleased. Next stop Durham to get the ‘corner’ receipt

Durham is a funny services as its set back from the road way and takes time to get to .I decided to have a snack of one of the Tuna rolls Esther had made me and a banana and off again up to Newcastle and across the A69 to Carlisle M6.

This is the one flaw in the plan. An A road and it was a bugger. Lots of traffic and farm vehicles. I hated it and could see all the good time I had made slipping by. Finally I was on the M6 then the M74 to Glasgow. The weather had deteriorated badly and it was now hail stoning house bricks. About 6 miles from Glasgow I turned and headed back stopping at Gretna services to get this corner receipt. The hail had knocked me to bits and my face was burning despite having my visor down and a face neck scarf on. The M8 south bound is an excellent road as it cuts through the Lake District and I have always loved the highest point of Shap. Breathtaking

Lancaster Services loomed and my first cuppa tea from the flask I had brought. Dam was it good. A 20 minute stop was called for and needed. I also finally changed into full leathers from FX weather gear as the sun was finally out and put my shades on. I did this for two reasons, firstly because I needed to take advantage of the slightly warmer weather to get some air to my body. I had been regulating my fluid intake against my sweat and was doing well with only need to pee once so I had got the balance right

Secondly, as a moral booster. Although I was feeling surprisingly good considering I had covered almost 800 miles, to ride in leathers with shades on in the sun just brings out the best in riding a Harley and it became fun

I took the Toll Expressway round Birmingham which I think is fantastic and saved me lots of time for only £2.50. I love that road and would pay a toll for any road that was as good and fast as this was

Down to Bristol and over the river Severn into Wales turning round at Cardiff and getting my receipt at Magor (don’t you just hate that services) I met a fellow New Forest HOG member at the till who was on his way to Ireland. I didn’t catch his name but both him and his wife looked good riding off on their Harley. I wondered what they would have thought if they knew what I was up to

The ride down to Exeter saw even more heavy rain which I covered ok. The slog to Exeter seemed to last for ever and I had forgotten how long a drag it was. The good thing on arriving was I had just clocked slightly over 1000 miles so I knew I had the Saddlesore 1000 in the bag and in only 16 hours, averaging 62.5 MPH which was amazing. The Ultra was certainly making this a lot easier than the Heritage ever did. I realised then that similar to the trips over seas I hadn’t used the music system once. On the contrary I had turned it on and turned it off straight away as it stopped me focusing on the job in hand

I put my cold weather gear on again and grabbed another roll and some fruit. It was getting late and I really wanted to get onto the M4 before dark. I had decided to change the route somewhat as I noticed heavy road works on the M6 north bound for miles (Birmingham to Manchester) so I decide to do extra miles on the M1 which I knew was clear. It’s important to mention here that the Iron Butt rides aren’t just head down arse up and cover the miles. You need to think things out and use sensible strategy and your brain to achieve your goal. I was constantly calculating my time speed and distance to see what MPH I would have to average as the clock ticked away. I could at any time tell anyone who would listen what my MPH was, how long it would take me to get to a certain point etc I knew also that at this point barring accidents and with a HUGE chunk of luck I just might make it.

 It would be close but I just might squeeze in. The thought of ‘the Gold’ was spurring me on far more than I had imagined. I refuelled at Leigh Delamare as dark arrived and headed off down the M4. I hit the M25 and went anti clockwise around to Clacketts lane services to refuel and a well needed pee break. It was then through the Dartford tunnel and all the way round to the M1 and up to Nottingham

I called home to give an estimated time of arrival and really felt rough. My butt was killing me, god knows what it would have been like without the gel seat, and my throttle hand was bad again despite using the cruise control as often as I dared. The final leg would prove to be the hardest thing I have ever done on a motorcycle. It was painful and there is no point me denying it. It was hell and dragged on forever. I back tracked down the M1 to the M25 and again went anti clockwise round to Clacketts lane, calling home to confirm that I was nearly there, thank god

Around the M25 anti clockwise through the Dartford Tunnel ‘again’ (the attendant is almost using my first name now) to the M11 and down back onto the A12 stopping at the final fuel station where my missus was waiting with my step daughter to sign my end witness forms. Having put a tenner into the tank I clocked my finish receipt at around 22 ½ hours and the odometer showing 1647 miles. An overall average speed of a little over 70 with some legs more and some less

I got home and felt like sh*t but absolutely elated that I had bagged the Gold. All I had to do now was get my documentation together and have it all audited by the Iron Butt Association of America which is a task in itself, but believe me, I wouldn’t want it any other way

Esther had a bath waiting for me but once I came down to earth and the adrenalin left my body I was just too tired and crashed out and slept for 6 hours non stop. (For me that’s a miracle) It was around 3pm the following day that the realisation of what I had achieved hit me and I got pleasantly drunk in jubilation

To sum up, the ride was hard. It’s meant to be, that’s why it’s the ‘Gold’. Long distance riding isn’t for everyone. It demands a lot of man and machine. Mine did perfect for me and I guess I did perfect for it, even though I pushed it very hard. Who said that Harleys are no good for Iron Butt stuff? Really all this has done is increasing my love of this crazy sport and of the Iron Butt Association.  I know now that I can achieve such almost, dare I say it, minor rides like the Saddlesore 2000, (2000 miles in 48 hours) as you have more time to complete it. At 16 hours for 1000 miles that would in real terms give me an 16 hour break to grab some kip and food. My missus however still thinks I'm mad

Sadly the season is nearly over now but you never know. You often get some lovely autumn days which make great if not cold riding weather

So the next time you’re out and about, if you see a solo rider on a black Harley Ultra Classic Electra Glide give him a wave. It jus might be me

Roger Allen

Iron Butt UK

IBA 18657

Post note: The lessons learned here served me well in completing the new UK End to End ride in June of this year, Sadly though after an horrific 'off' in August the season ended before i could complete the SS2000. theres always next year though