crazykz
07-27-2005, 09:04 PM
I'm posting this email from Steve Broadhead who attempted an unofficial Ironbutt ride. He rides an 03 ST1300. His attempt was to ride 1500 miles a day for 4 days straight. This would be know as a Bun Burner Gold 6000 if it was an official ride. I believe this ride is within Steve's grasp but other issues gave him complications in completing this ride. The amount of miles he covered though is still impressive.
Curt
From: Steve Broadhead
To: ldrider@ibdone.org
[LDRider] BBG6000 Ride Attempt Report
Fellow Riders,
Well, I arrived home safely last evening after this long ride attempt.
There were lots to read and get caught up on when I started looking through
messages on the list. Wow! I certainly want to express my appreciation for
all your kind thoughts and words. I really didn’t mean to cause a ruckus; I
simply wanted to go for a long ride. Thanks for your patience with me, while
I mature and learn in this sport.
The bike I rode was my 2003 ST1300. Farkled with aux tank, 2 sets of PIAA’s,
highway pegs, throttlemeister, GPS, radar, dash shelf, and a sheepskin (the
only effective solution against the groin cooking heat this bikes puts out
on extended ride in warm weather).
This adventure was full of successes and a failure; highs, lows, and an
earthquake.
The earthquake was 5.6 on the scale and rattled me around in my Dillon,
Montana motel room Monday night. Scary stuff.
The ride began from Calgary, Alberta early Friday morning with the first BBG
going through Salt Lake City to Reno. Then from Reno back a few miles to
Fernley, Nevada.. This first BBG went well. Completed in just under 21 hours
with the GPS reading overall average speed of almost 72 miles per hour. Had
100 miles or so of rain in southern Idaho, otherwise very good weather with
temperature variances between 14C and 30C. Grabbed almost 2 hours of sleep
and a quick breakfast, and then picked up a gas receipt near the end of the
first 24 hour time period to end the first BBG and start the second.
BBG two was from Fernley, Nevada to Des Moines, Iowa. Ran into heavy traffic
through western Salt Lake to Park City, rain and construction around Laramie
and Rock Creek, Wyoming, and more construction in Omaha. Arrived at the end
of my second BBG with 1.5 hours to spare and 1556 more miles showing on the
GPS. Very hot and humid in Iowa. 37C heat already at 7AM. No time to sleep
at this stop like I had hoped. However, I was surprisingly alert. Still
pumped, eager and aggressive. Took this opportunity to changed my shorts,
sweat drenched shirt and socks. Left this stop feeling pleased with my
performance to this point. I had completed my first BBG3000 last September
(during the NW Passage Rally) and found that a very tough ride. Particularly
the last ½ of the second leg. That didn’t happen this time, I still felt
good and had cut over 4 hours off the time of my first BBG3000. I still felt
very positive about being able to complete the BBG4500 on this attempt.
Made it about 40 miles into BBG three – back towards Reno – and suddenly
felt very tired. Pulled over at a rest stop and slept on the grass under a
shady tree. Set the Screamer at 2 hours, but woke on my own after only 30
minutes feeling refreshed. Headed out again, knowing that this BBG was
going to be a lot harder that the last, and would take more time. Here is
where I need to tell you about a mechanical problem that was irritating me
and costing me time. My aux fuel had been giving me trouble for the last two
days and it needed to be fixed today, and early today or I wasn’t going to
make the miles. Sometimes it would feed and sometimes not, as due to the
heat and some poor tubing routing on my part, the hose would kink from time
to time, which would block the gas flow. I ended up stopping 3 times during
this leg until I got it fixed correctly. Ended up cutting out both my quick
connects and extra fuel filter before I got it right. Wasted a fair bit of
time and greatly added to my stress level.
Still, I made really good progress until a few miles out of Evanston,
Wyoming. That is about 80 miles east of Salt Lake City. By Evanston I had
ridden almost 1100 miles into the third BBG and was still on schedule for
finishing on time, though it was starting to get tight. However, the
cumulative effects of this extended ride had caught up me with pretty good
by this point and it was time for some serious and honest self assessment.
So, after a half hour of mulling things over I came to the conclusion that I
had to stop here for extended rest. A tough decision when I had worked so
hard, ridden so far and was within a few hundred miles of a BBG4500.
My failure on the ride was not being able to complete the BBG4500 (or ride
further). My successes were more numerous and ultimately meaningful.
I rode 4100 miles in under 63 hours. I was smart enough to end this attempt
when I needed to.
I finished my second documented BBG3000 and made significant improvements in
time and technique.
I did three Saddlesore 1000’s and two BBG’s as part of this ride. Two of the
Saddlesore under 15 hours and one under 14 hours. And both of the BBG’s were
completed in good time and with me feeling alert and confident at the end of
each one.
I rode the 1000 miles home from Evanston after I had rested, within time to
qualify for a SS5000.
I have changed my thinking somewhat from when I started this ride. More
subdued, with much more respect for the BBG series of rides. I see them as
our toughest rides and demanding of our utmost respect. The almost 24 hour
riding commitment, particularly when combined with the cumulative effects of
multiple BBG’s cannot be underrated.
The BBG4500 is really, really difficult. Arguably the most difficult
challenge within the IBA series of rides. Certainly, worthy of my further
sincere attempts to complete. How do I feel at this point about the BBG6000?
Well, I understand very clearly now, why it is not an official IBA ride. It
is just so far out there.
My sincere thanks to my witnesses for their time and hospitality (Brian
Roberts, Lorin Potter, and Marc Prymack), and to Mike Collins who was
willing to meet me and ride the last 800 miles of the BBG6000, should I have
made it that far. And to Julie (my wife) for putting up with me.
Best regards,
Steve Broadhead
Calgary, Alberta,Canada
SS1, 2, 2K, 3, 5, BB15, BBG,
BBG3, B2B24, B2B2B48, 48+
“During a long ride: thoughts, senses and energy are focused, allowing the
mind to feel at peace.”
Curt
From: Steve Broadhead
To: ldrider@ibdone.org
[LDRider] BBG6000 Ride Attempt Report
Fellow Riders,
Well, I arrived home safely last evening after this long ride attempt.
There were lots to read and get caught up on when I started looking through
messages on the list. Wow! I certainly want to express my appreciation for
all your kind thoughts and words. I really didn’t mean to cause a ruckus; I
simply wanted to go for a long ride. Thanks for your patience with me, while
I mature and learn in this sport.
The bike I rode was my 2003 ST1300. Farkled with aux tank, 2 sets of PIAA’s,
highway pegs, throttlemeister, GPS, radar, dash shelf, and a sheepskin (the
only effective solution against the groin cooking heat this bikes puts out
on extended ride in warm weather).
This adventure was full of successes and a failure; highs, lows, and an
earthquake.
The earthquake was 5.6 on the scale and rattled me around in my Dillon,
Montana motel room Monday night. Scary stuff.
The ride began from Calgary, Alberta early Friday morning with the first BBG
going through Salt Lake City to Reno. Then from Reno back a few miles to
Fernley, Nevada.. This first BBG went well. Completed in just under 21 hours
with the GPS reading overall average speed of almost 72 miles per hour. Had
100 miles or so of rain in southern Idaho, otherwise very good weather with
temperature variances between 14C and 30C. Grabbed almost 2 hours of sleep
and a quick breakfast, and then picked up a gas receipt near the end of the
first 24 hour time period to end the first BBG and start the second.
BBG two was from Fernley, Nevada to Des Moines, Iowa. Ran into heavy traffic
through western Salt Lake to Park City, rain and construction around Laramie
and Rock Creek, Wyoming, and more construction in Omaha. Arrived at the end
of my second BBG with 1.5 hours to spare and 1556 more miles showing on the
GPS. Very hot and humid in Iowa. 37C heat already at 7AM. No time to sleep
at this stop like I had hoped. However, I was surprisingly alert. Still
pumped, eager and aggressive. Took this opportunity to changed my shorts,
sweat drenched shirt and socks. Left this stop feeling pleased with my
performance to this point. I had completed my first BBG3000 last September
(during the NW Passage Rally) and found that a very tough ride. Particularly
the last ½ of the second leg. That didn’t happen this time, I still felt
good and had cut over 4 hours off the time of my first BBG3000. I still felt
very positive about being able to complete the BBG4500 on this attempt.
Made it about 40 miles into BBG three – back towards Reno – and suddenly
felt very tired. Pulled over at a rest stop and slept on the grass under a
shady tree. Set the Screamer at 2 hours, but woke on my own after only 30
minutes feeling refreshed. Headed out again, knowing that this BBG was
going to be a lot harder that the last, and would take more time. Here is
where I need to tell you about a mechanical problem that was irritating me
and costing me time. My aux fuel had been giving me trouble for the last two
days and it needed to be fixed today, and early today or I wasn’t going to
make the miles. Sometimes it would feed and sometimes not, as due to the
heat and some poor tubing routing on my part, the hose would kink from time
to time, which would block the gas flow. I ended up stopping 3 times during
this leg until I got it fixed correctly. Ended up cutting out both my quick
connects and extra fuel filter before I got it right. Wasted a fair bit of
time and greatly added to my stress level.
Still, I made really good progress until a few miles out of Evanston,
Wyoming. That is about 80 miles east of Salt Lake City. By Evanston I had
ridden almost 1100 miles into the third BBG and was still on schedule for
finishing on time, though it was starting to get tight. However, the
cumulative effects of this extended ride had caught up me with pretty good
by this point and it was time for some serious and honest self assessment.
So, after a half hour of mulling things over I came to the conclusion that I
had to stop here for extended rest. A tough decision when I had worked so
hard, ridden so far and was within a few hundred miles of a BBG4500.
My failure on the ride was not being able to complete the BBG4500 (or ride
further). My successes were more numerous and ultimately meaningful.
I rode 4100 miles in under 63 hours. I was smart enough to end this attempt
when I needed to.
I finished my second documented BBG3000 and made significant improvements in
time and technique.
I did three Saddlesore 1000’s and two BBG’s as part of this ride. Two of the
Saddlesore under 15 hours and one under 14 hours. And both of the BBG’s were
completed in good time and with me feeling alert and confident at the end of
each one.
I rode the 1000 miles home from Evanston after I had rested, within time to
qualify for a SS5000.
I have changed my thinking somewhat from when I started this ride. More
subdued, with much more respect for the BBG series of rides. I see them as
our toughest rides and demanding of our utmost respect. The almost 24 hour
riding commitment, particularly when combined with the cumulative effects of
multiple BBG’s cannot be underrated.
The BBG4500 is really, really difficult. Arguably the most difficult
challenge within the IBA series of rides. Certainly, worthy of my further
sincere attempts to complete. How do I feel at this point about the BBG6000?
Well, I understand very clearly now, why it is not an official IBA ride. It
is just so far out there.
My sincere thanks to my witnesses for their time and hospitality (Brian
Roberts, Lorin Potter, and Marc Prymack), and to Mike Collins who was
willing to meet me and ride the last 800 miles of the BBG6000, should I have
made it that far. And to Julie (my wife) for putting up with me.
Best regards,
Steve Broadhead
Calgary, Alberta,Canada
SS1, 2, 2K, 3, 5, BB15, BBG,
BBG3, B2B24, B2B2B48, 48+
“During a long ride: thoughts, senses and energy are focused, allowing the
mind to feel at peace.”