Posted: 28 July 2010 at 1:17pm | IP Logged

Ive just looked at the first day I joined this fine institution called The Iron Butt UK. It was today one year ago. Since I joined Ive been researching, reading all the posts, cross referencing and planning my own SS1000. Al tho allot of people have done the "entrant" ride very soon after joining I don't rush into things,

I suppose you could liken me to James May, Slow and methodical and checking all possibilities ..Just in case..

So a few weeks ago I started looking at the weather hoping for a window in the rain and winds that we call summer, and Yesterday looked like the best chance I would have this year.

I planned a ride and posted it on here about 6 months ago with allot of helpful friends they pointed out the flaws in my route and suggested some other routes to help me, Looking at all their routes it became obvious to me to make the route as simple as possible but always think of safety first and foremost..

So with safety in mind and riding on my own I planned a route that I could brake up into segments and have allot of rest stops to evade sleep deprivation and the aching of muscles due to sitting on the bike for nearly a day, Also if I needed to call it a day I had a nice warm bed to flake out on.

So I had the bike which I have made to fit me, I had the safest route and looked like I had the weather as well, The SS100 sister ride was on!!!!!!

Tuesday morning 5:30 the alarm screams into life awaking me from my slumber and looking again at the weather on the telly it was time to get gone. I had porridge for my Bekki ( I liked it when I was a little boy) It was hot and tasteless but I knew it would realise energy slowly so I ate it. Filled the back box up with layers of clothes and full water proofs (just in case), bottles of water, nuts, and a sandwich (just in case) I became hungry,The wife signed my start form and off I went on my adventure.

The first leg I planned was to my sister in London, Just over 250 miles away, It was warm and sunny and altho I only had my external textiles on I was sweating, So at every stop I had a swig of water (just in case) of dehydration."Dehydration can cause you to feel tired" I kept saying to myself. After five or six stops I hit the road works and took a deep breath, Now my average speed will plummet but it let me take the weight off my bum by standing up and doing exercises while the traffic stood still, Then I arrived at Lorraine's ( one of my sisters ) After a hug and a chat I sat down to a full English breakfast with enough calories to feed my body for the rest of the day, A kiss and a hug again and I got her to sign a witness form ( I know its not needed on a SS1000 but (just in case) Then off I went to Plymouth ( another sister).

The second leg led me around the M25, MASSIVE amount of road works all with average speed cameras most of the way to the M4.This was like pulling teeth and so frustrating but what can you do? When I hit the M4 I pulled into the services and had some more water and nuts. I still felt very good and fresh so on I ploughed to see my little baby sister ( Davina). She was on the doorstep when I arrived and stated I was very late!! Again after a hug and a chat along with a nice cuppa the witness form was signed (just in case)

The third leg back to Lorraine's (London) seemed to take a long time, Thinking about this whilst riding and scanning all the great advise from this site in my head I realised I was getting tired and stiff. Now the experience of others came to the front of my mind. How to deal with this, What other symptoms am I experiencing and what can I do to relive my pain and deprivation, So I stopped for fuel and parked the bike up. I took off my jacket and went for a walk, jumping up and down and swinging my arms, Running on the spot and star jumps helped with the stiffness, A full bottle of water and my sandwiches later I put my helmet back on and made a mental alarm clock if I started to get weary again STOP and do it all over again. Fortunately this remedy wasn't needed again for the remainder of this leg and I arrived back at London feeling a little rough but still OK to finish the ride.

After two cups of tea and a longer rest than I should of had my sister once again (just in case) signed a witness form, A kiss and a hug later and I was back on my trusty steed heading home, Isn't it weird how knowing that all the miles homeward bound give you a boost and a smile. Halfway home and I was feeling stiff and getting tired again, So off the bike again, drink and exercises and back on the bike, Because of the distance and the amount of time on the road and still feeling knackered I rode the rest of the journey home a little slower and allot safer giving everything on the road at that time of night a huge amount of respect. Needless to say at 2 in the morning there wasn't allot on the road but ( just in case) they might be as tired as me !!

So I hope Ive done it, 22.5 hours and over 1100 miles on my odometer and subject to the fine team at IBA-UK I have completed my SS1000, Finished on the same day as the first day I joined one year ago ...today..

Posted: 28 July 2010 at 1:31pm | IP Logged

Well done tosh    I hope you got some receipts to go with all those witnesses

Im back on the road on Sept 10......On sept 11 is it OK with you if i do your SS1000 sisters ride too?

Posted: 28 July 2010 at 1:53pm | IP Logged

tosh wrote: Yeah mate , My sister in London is divorced so you could be in there if you play your cards right .

Perfect - I'll just run the idea past the wife......