Finally did it - BBG - ST-Owners.com Forums

LDMike · 07-22-2007, 10:46 AM

Well, after a week or two of fence sitting, I finally did a Bun Burner GOLD.

I had originally mapped out a squarish route, going from Milwaukee to Sioux Falls, SD, then down thru Omaha and Kansas City, then east to St. Louis and back north. but when I showed the route to the King of LD riding, Curt (crazykz) took one look and said that I'd be spending way too much time in 65 mph states - back to the drawing board <sigh>.

This time I made it easy on myself and the Iron Butt staffers: Milwaukee to Wall, SD (home of the "(in)famous" Wall Drug) 774 miles one way. This route would put me in 65 mph in WI, 70 mph in MN and 75 mph in SD. Much better.

Curt signed me out about 1800 Friday evening. I figured I'd get the night riding out of the way early. Took off, got on the Interstate and BAM - massive traffic jam. A tanker had gone off the road and crossed the median, ending upside down across the road. I sat and sat and sat, watching the overall mph on the PGS go down from 65 to 55 to 45 then to 32.9. (The backup on the other side of the Interstate was 12 miles long...) I began to think that this may not be a good sign and decided that I would at least go to La Crosse, WI, 180 miles away. If I could get there in CLOSE to 3 hours, I still might have a chance of salvaging the ride. After some SERIOUS hustling, I made it to La Crosse and decided to keep going.

Traveling across southern Minnesota is pretty boring, even on a good day. It was nicer at night because there isn't much to see anyway. As the time got later and the traffic thinned out, I started using the "big PIAAS" (910s) and they turn night into day. The weather cooperated and temps went down into the 60s for a time, but I must have gotten into another weather system, because temps then rose to low 70s and stayed there the rest of the night. Pleasant riding.

Got to Wall, SD at 0553 CDT - almost exactly 12 hours. Okay, time to head the other way and I took off. About an hour later I started to get a serious case of the nods and pulled of in Murdo, SD for a quick power nap (30 minutes) That made all the difference and I went back down the road feeling much better.

By this time, the sun is up and although it's overcast and a bit windy, temps are great and there is no rain. I saw lots and lots of bikes heading west: H-Ds, Wings, Wings 2-up, Wings 2-up with trailers, Beemers, even an odd sidecar or two.

The Garmin 2610 does a great job of keeping you on track, especially when you're on a route. It will tell you your ETA given your average speed. I was following that ETA as I rode the route, knowing that I had x more gas stops, probably another rest time, etc, so by the time I got to La Crosse again, I knew I had enough time, but I couldn't dally. I also wasn't sure I could make it on gas - I had filled up in Rochester, MN - and it's about 270 miles to finish, so it was going to be close. As it turned out, I hit reserve about 20 miles from the finish - piece of cake. Finished back where I started at 1710 CDT.

Stats:
Total miles: 1548.3 (GPS)
Total time: 23:12:06
Drive Time: 20:59:37
Stopped Time: 2:12:20
Overall average speed: 66.7mph
Driving average speed: 73.7mph

Although a lot of people have done a BBG, it is way too easy to underestimate the difficulty of it. There's no question that it's a big ride. The thing you have to concentrate on is to keep the wheels rolling for as long as you can. Sure, you need to stop for gas, take a break and rest, but after a short rest, get back on and git 'r done!

After all is said and done, it made me realize how truly impressive Curt's Trifecta was - THREE of these rides back to back to back - incredible!

AzDesertRider · 07-22-2007, 10:54 AM

Well done Mike, Congrats!

Byron · 07-22-2007, 11:03 AM

Congradulations! Guess it paid to keep going in this instance.

BigTom · 07-22-2007, 11:13 AM

How to be, Mike! That's a big one! Good for you!

motomac · 07-22-2007, 11:15 AM

Congratulations Mike. I second your thought on the trifecta!!!

Scooter · 07-22-2007, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by LDMike

Well, after a week or two of fence sitting, I finally did a Bun Burner GOLD.

Mike,

Was this done to get your arse in shape!?!?

Congrats! I was telling Curt, between you two guys you are really putting pressure on the rest of us Wisconsin boys to follow suit.

Scott

TOM BOGNAR · 07-22-2007, 03:02 PM

Way to go Mike

See you in 2weeks in Galena.

MNwing · 07-22-2007, 03:05 PM

Mike....Congrats!

STeve1300 · 07-22-2007, 04:00 PM

Welcome home Mike..... You and Curt are impressive, but I guess I'll never understand why anyone would ride all that way without a purpose other than to ride all that way. May you have many more safe miles to come!

jasonJonas · 07-22-2007, 04:48 PM

right on, mike! congrats. that's a booger of a ride, for sure.

07-22-2007, 10:46 AM	#1
LDMike LDMike Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 257	Finally did it - BBG Well, after a week or two of fence sitting, I finally did a Bun Burner GOLD. I had originally mapped out a squarish route, going from Milwaukee to Sioux Falls, SD, then down thru Omaha and Kansas City, then east to St. Louis and back north. but when I showed the route to the King of LD riding, Curt (crazykz) took one look and said that I'd be spending way too much time in 65 mph states - back to the drawing board <sigh>. This time I made it easy on myself and the Iron Butt staffers: Milwaukee to Wall, SD (home of the "(in)famous" Wall Drug) 774 miles one way. This route would put me in 65 mph in WI, 70 mph in MN and 75 mph in SD. Much better. Curt signed me out about 1800 Friday evening. I figured I'd get the night riding out of the way early. Took off, got on the Interstate and BAM - massive traffic jam. A tanker had gone off the road and crossed the median, ending upside down across the road. I sat and sat and sat, watching the overall mph on the PGS go down from 65 to 55 to 45 then to 32.9. (The backup on the other side of the Interstate was 12 miles long...) I began to think that this may not be a good sign and decided that I would at least go to La Crosse, WI, 180 miles away. If I could get there in CLOSE to 3 hours, I still might have a chance of salvaging the ride. After some SERIOUS hustling, I made it to La Crosse and decided to keep going. Traveling across southern Minnesota is pretty boring, even on a good day. It was nicer at night because there isn't much to see anyway. As the time got later and the traffic thinned out, I started using the "big PIAAS" (910s) and they turn night into day. The weather cooperated and temps went down into the 60s for a time, but I must have gotten into another weather system, because temps then rose to low 70s and stayed there the rest of the night. Pleasant riding. Got to Wall, SD at 0553 CDT - almost exactly 12 hours. Okay, time to head the other way and I took off. About an hour later I started to get a serious case of the nods and pulled of in Murdo, SD for a quick power nap (30 minutes) That made all the difference and I went back down the road feeling much better. By this time, the sun is up and although it's overcast and a bit windy, temps are great and there is no rain. I saw lots and lots of bikes heading west: H-Ds, Wings, Wings 2-up, Wings 2-up with trailers, Beemers, even an odd sidecar or two. The Garmin 2610 does a great job of keeping you on track, especially when you're on a route. It will tell you your ETA given your average speed. I was following that ETA as I rode the route, knowing that I had x more gas stops, probably another rest time, etc, so by the time I got to La Crosse again, I knew I had enough time, but I couldn't dally. I also wasn't sure I could make it on gas - I had filled up in Rochester, MN - and it's about 270 miles to finish, so it was going to be close. As it turned out, I hit reserve about 20 miles from the finish - piece of cake. Finished back where I started at 1710 CDT. Stats: Total miles: 1548.3 (GPS) Total time: 23:12:06 Drive Time: 20:59:37 Stopped Time: 2:12:20 Overall average speed: 66.7mph Driving average speed: 73.7mph Although a lot of people have done a BBG, it is way too easy to underestimate the difficulty of it. There's no question that it's a big ride. The thing you have to concentrate on is to keep the wheels rolling for as long as you can. Sure, you need to stop for gas, take a break and rest, but after a short rest, get back on and git 'r done! After all is said and done, it made me realize how truly impressive Curt's Trifecta was - THREE of these rides back to back to back - incredible!
	LDMike, Milwaukee LD riders don't need a map, they need an atlas. My 2007 IBR Page

07-22-2007, 10:54 AM	#2
AzDesertRider Site Supporter Bike: st1300 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Yuma AZ. Age: 48 Posts: 1,544 Tip Overs: 1 2010 Miles: 004323 Total Awards: 1	Re: Finally did it - BBG Well done Mike, Congrats!
	Bob Smith STOC# 4420 IBA#16332 Twitter @ azdesertrider1 03 ST1300 03 V-Strom 1K 99 605 ATK DS

07-22-2007, 11:03 AM	#3
Byron Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: So. Cal Posts: 4,209 Tip Overs: 4 Total Awards: 2	Re: Finally did it - BBG Congradulations! Guess it paid to keep going in this instance.

07-22-2007, 11:13 AM	#4
BigTom Site Supporter Bike: '08 Connie C14 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona. AKA Paradise Lost Age: 59 Posts: 5,399 Tip Overs: 2 2010 Miles: 015800 Total Awards: 1	Re: Finally did it - BBG How to be, Mike! That's a big one! Good for you!
	Twitter: @bigtom33 http://picasaweb.google.com/tom.bigs http://community.webshots.com/user/bigTomW53

07-22-2007, 11:15 AM	#5
motomac Mac Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canton OH/San Diego CA Age: 67 Posts: 6,149 Total Awards: 2	Re: Finally did it - BBG Congratulations Mike. I second your thought on the trifecta!!!
	'06 ST 1300 79,673 miles (gone but never to be forgotten!!!) '09 GL 1800 100,414 Total miles '10: 30,204

07-22-2007, 03:02 PM	#7
TOM BOGNAR Booger Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: DEFIANCE,MO Age: 58 Posts: 1,377 2010 Miles: 010247 Total Awards: 1	Re: Finally did it - BBG Way to go Mike See you in 2weeks in Galena.

07-22-2007, 03:05 PM	#8
MNwing Bike: ST1300 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Maple Grove, MN/ New Port Richey, FL Age: 68 Posts: 1,179 2010 Miles: 000200 Total Awards: 1	Re: Finally did it - BBG Mike....Congrats!

07-22-2007, 04:00 PM	#9
STeve1300 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kewaskum Wisconsin Age: 51 Posts: 1,734 Tip Overs: 3 Total Awards: 1	Re: Finally did it - BBG Welcome home Mike..... You and Curt are impressive, but I guess I'll never understand why anyone would ride all that way without a purpose other than to ride all that way. May you have many more safe miles to come!
	_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________ Steve Schwan 2005 ST1300 STOC #5549 "I'm not lost... I'm recalculating" (Steve1300 at CT STOC 2007)

07-22-2007, 04:48 PM	#10
jasonJonas Saver of Turtles Join Date: May 2007 Location: bowling green, ky Age: 43 Posts: 571	Re: Finally did it - BBG right on, mike! congrats. that's a booger of a ride, for sure.