Rule the Rockies, SS1K

[crazykz]

Well RC and myself were talking about an Ironbutt ride that no one has done before. I'm not sure this is really what we were looking for but this would be a tough one I think.

There was an article published in American Motorcyclist last here that had 9 roads that are a must do in the Colorado Rockies. So I put them into MapSource and a friend came up with a route. It's 1024 miles long.

I'm going to Colorado in a few weeks but it will be during Labor Day weekend so I'm not sure I want to attempt this then. This route covers all 9 roads and goes over several mountain passes.

So maybe this is an SS1K with 100,000 feet in elevation change for the ride, or something like that.

Curt

[stg1]

The only thing I would be concerned about would be road construction, traffic, and mountain passes cutting down your average speed. You might be able to make up some time on the open stretchs but most towns have a 25 to 30 MPH speed zones. Also riding at night with the insaine deer population would be enough to put me in a rubber room. :eek:

[crazykz]

I didn't say it would be easy. ;) Planning and execution. Planning and execution.

Curt

[stg1]

Yea, that would be one for the record books for sure. I just got back from a trip to Colorado and was on many of the roads on your map. Make sure you don't travel 160 thru Wolf Creek Pass at night. They close the road early evening till 6.00 am because they are building a new tunnel. I think the alternate route is going thru Chama NM. I hope you can do this and would love to read the ride report.

[krishl]

Sounds like an excellent and challenging ride. Randy Bishop has a nice writeup of a 500-mile day of Colorado pass-bagging:
http://home.earthlink.net/~bishoprl/mc/rpt9008.htm

I highly recommend either not riding Red Mountain Pass (US 550 between Durango and Ouray), or putting it early and in daylight. There are many miles where nothing separates you from oblivion except a white paint stripe. While we were riding north over Red Mt in June, a bull elk trotted up from oblivion on our right and up into the wilderness on our left, just about 50 yards in front of our lead rider, and that was in the middle of the day.

Have fun! Looking forward to the report.

Chrish

[sttourer]

That looks like a great route. It makes me think of the 1000-in-24 from last August. Out of the approximately 65 riders, I think at least 2 had deer-related crashes toward Steamboat Springs. The ride started at 2:00am. That left 4-5 hours of mountain riding before the sun came up.

It was a wonderful ride and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[Mark]

I agree with the daylight constraint mentioned.

How much day light will you have to ride in on Labor Day? From the USN Observatory:
-----------
The following information is provided for Denver, Denver County, Colorado (longitude W105.0, latitude N39.7):

Saturday
3 September 2005 Mountain Daylight Time

SUN
Begin civil twilight 6:02 a.m.
Sunrise 6:30 a.m.
Sun transit 12:59 p.m.
Sunset 7:28 p.m.
End civil twilight 7:55 p.m.
---------------
So you have 6am to 8pm light that gives you, with marginal light for 30 minutes at sunrise and sunset just 18hrs.
That is a good number because I figure 1k miles will run about 18hrs if you avg 55mph; on good roads where you can keep your speed in the 65-70mph range this isn't difficult. (tiring; yes, difficult: no).

I will not set myself up for 1k miles of twisties again. When Chris and I attempted a ss1k we only had 500 miles on twisties. We did the 1st .5k no problem then found 4 different road crews that had us wait for a lead car. We missed by 1 hour... from Ferndale WA to Whoa Nellie Deli at Tioga Pass and 395, the ride was great though! :-)
Live and learn...

I recommend some eye lubricant as well... DAMHIK :o:

Mark

[crazykz]

I just did the 100,000 foot run and ran some of these roads. I think it would be difficult but may be worth a try at some point but I would like to have a little more exposure to these roads before I do.

I could also cut out some of it and head back into Denver to make it a little easier.

Curt

100,000 Foot Run (http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5303)

[EdsST]

Good luck trying it - I think it will be a real challenge to get in 1000 miles on roads like those within the time limit. Hope you make it -either way maybe one day I'll get lucky enough even to ride those roads.

[sttourer]

I'm betting they do on the actual Iron Butt Rally. Since you mail in the application and money after you complete your IBA ride, I'm not sure how they would collect stats on incomplete rides.

[Mark]

:confused:

Would you turn in your documentation and pay your fee if you did not meet the requirements for a certificate?

How could the IBA possibly know of any problems on a private parties attempt?
I would think their early knowledge of attempts would invite every slimeball class-action lawyer in N.A. (well okay not so many in Canada) to gather slavering at the bar (intentional pun).


Mark

[Horst]

... I would go for a more 'normal' route. Not sure how much wildlife you have in WI but no doubt less than CO. In BC we have lots ... plan your SS1000 closer to home, not strange (to you) roads.

As for the IBA, of course they don't keep silly records like that ... good grief. But the actual Iron Butt which starts next week, yes. Every two years someone has bad luck of some sort ... and only one death so far.

Ron Major (ST1100 rider par excellance) - rest in peace.

[crazykz]

Honestly I do not think I'm going to be attempting this, this year. I've got enough on my plate for the rest of the year. I think it is a challenge and yes it has it's hazards but that is what makes it desirable. I know of SS1K's being done all off road so I believe that this is possible.

I borrowed this route from a friend and possibly a route that worked it's way back towards the interstate and into Denver for the end would cut down some of the remote riding. I still think it's appealing because you have to be a little nuts to try it.

Curt

[gstanfield]

That is a nice route planned, and I have ridden most all of it in various sectons on my ST and my VTX, but I do think it would be a waste to try and do it all at once. take two days, enjoy the ride. I'm dying to do a SS1000, but I'd hate to ruin a good ride by stressing myself too hard and trying to fit too much in. If you do try it, good luck and enjoy the scenery. I'm sure it can be done, but it will be a hard, grueling ss, and worthy of the award, if not special recognition for doing it the hard way.

George

[Putt]

Curt,

Some of those roads are going to be pretty tough to average
even 50mph on, and that would be in the daytime....
gonna be a tough one under ideal circumstances...

Putt..

[crazykz]

To do this ride if I use all 24 hours I only need 42MPH. It would be a long day but I think this is do-able. But I've never ridden in the mountains at night so it would be a challenge and maybe too much to try. We'll see.

Curt

[sttourer]

But I've never ridden in the mountains at night so it would be a challenge and maybe too much to try. We'll see.

Curt

I've got the solution for you. You need MORE LIGHTS!

:) Pat

[crazykz]

Your point is well taken and I would not consider the ride unless I can feel comfortable meeting a pace that is within a normal ride. Let's face it we do get through the mountains at a faster pace in places where it feels safe, although it's always a risk. I don't think this has to be run like race. You have to stay focused and keep your gas stops down and time stopped to a minimum. Running in the mountains helps because you're using less fuel so it will increase your range or at least it did for me. I'll have to stop more for proof of what roads I took than anything else.

I would like to attempt it but only after I've had time to look at some of these roads and analyze the route. I can make a decision then as to whether I think it's do-able or not. Need a day with a lot of light, in the middle of the week, with no construction, and good weather. Also need to plan gas stops as getting gas in the evening/early morning hours might not be that easy.

The reason it interests me is because it's out of the ordinary and presents a challenge. It doesn't require as much time and money as a state parks run which takes more time than I have. It is something I think worth trying to achieve but that comes with the huge caveat of whether or not it can be done safely and within the limits of my riding and the conditions.

It's not something I'm rushing into and I still realize even the best laid plans can still fail with disasterios results. I like riding and want to continue that for a long time. I don't plan on making a suicide run in the mountains, when it's raining, in the dark for hours on end.

Your point is well taken.

Curt

[krishl]

Last summer, I completed a SS1K almost entirely on two-lane roads, here in the Appalachians. Beginning at 4 AM, the first 20 miles or so were on the four-lane US 460, then all two-lane North to Monterey VA and East to Waynesboro VA. Most of these roads were fairly twisty. In Waynesboro I picked up Mile 0 of the Blue Ridge Parkway and proceeded to ride the entire 470-mile length to Cherokee NC in about 10 hours. From Cherokee it's a short ride to the eastern end of the Dragon, which I rode in early evening with relatively light traffic (meaning I was only passed by a few squids :^). In Tennessee, I took a variety of roads to eventually get to I-81 which I rode on back to Blacksburg. As I recall, it took me about 21 hours, more than my 16-hour SS on the ST1100, but less than my 23-hour 56-minute SS on the KLR650.

I think your proposed Rocky Mt SS is feasible, especially if you have pre-ridden some of the gnarlier bits. I think my biggest concern would be Red Mt Pass, but maybe at night, vertigo won't be a problem.

Chrish

[crazykz]

I think my biggest concern would be Red Mt Pass, but maybe at night, vertigo won't be a problem.

I haven't been up that pass so I might have to go on that one when I go out there in a couple weeks.

Thanks for the heads up, I think you're the second person to being that up.

Curt

[gstanfield]

I think it is doable, safe, no, but heck you can't walk over a safety net all the time. I would hope that if you try it you will let yourself quit if things get too bad and not risk hurting yourself. It is nutty, which is a good thing by my standards and you would definatelyhave a sense of accomplishment if you complete it. I'll ecco some and say pre-ride it if possible in sections, then make a go for it, just be willing to say enough is enough and not risk life or limb to complete it.

George

[crazykz]

That looks like a great route. It makes me think of the 1000-in-24 from last August. Out of the approximately 65 riders, I think at least 2 had deer-related crashes toward Steamboat Springs. The ride started at 2:00am. That left 4-5 hours of mountain riding before the sun came up.

It was a wonderful ride and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Crap. Well now that I know it's already been done pretty much that takes all the fun out of it. I'll have to find something else I guess.

Curt