While I was under the IBR Social Media blackout I saw several posts on this forum about the IBR, some asking basic questions about format/strategy and others supportive of riders. I can share some of my experiences that will hopefully answer some of those questions.
To provide some context, I have participated in five IBRs in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. I have finished as high as 16th as well as in the bottom half of the pack (ask me about getting sick in the middle of leg 3 in Glacier National Park. Not a pretty story).
First, the Iron Butt Rally is NOT a race. The first one to the finish is definitely NOT going to be the winner, nor is the rider with the fastest average speed. Some people look at the event the same way they look at a NASCAR race and assume that it’s all about going very far very fast and everyone’s goal is to win. This is a very uninformed view of the event.
It is a very large (covering the entire US and Canada this year) scavenger hunt-type exercise. This year, as in most, the event was divided into three legs. Leg one: Pittsburgh to Tulsa, leg two: Tulsa to Denver, and leg 3 Denver back to Pittsburgh. Legs one and two were two and a half days each, with leg three being the remainder of the 11 days. The night before leg 1 riders receive a rally book describing the various bonus locations and directing what the rider needs to do to achieve that bonus. Typically, this is a photo of an object including your rally flag and/or motorcycle. Other times it is to buy a trinket, get a receipt from a location, etc. At the start of legs 2 and 3 the riders receive the same information at 4am at the start of the leg. Riders also receive several electronic files via email (in various formats (gpx txt kml csv). Riders will need to use two of these files as one will contain the bonus code and the location coordinates and the second will contain the bonus code and the points associated with that bonus. Riders must combine these files and get the information into a routing program (most riders use Basecamp) with a coding system (colored flags, dots, etc) that indicate the points, time availability, or any restriction on the bonus. From there you take the allotted time, subtract the amount of time you think you need to sleep, gas up, care for your bio needs, etc. and then take the available riding time and see what combination of bonuses you can score in that time. There will sometimes be combo bonuses (score the statue of liberty AND the Santa Monica pier for an additional XXX points) or a theme where collections of bonus locations can add additional points (this year it was fast food joints laid out on a bingo card and if you scored all the fast food places in a column, row, or the entire card you would score a combo bonus). And then of course you need to make it to the checkpoint prior to the close of the leg to avoid being time barred. Easy peasy.
This year there were bonuses that were only available on one leg and others that were available rally-wide.
There are a variety of riders and they are riding different rallies. This is the rally within the rally. I like to think of it as riders in three classes: X, Y, and Z. X riders would include rookies and some vets who view the rally as an epic adventure. Can I do it? Can I be a finisher in the toughest motorcycle rally in the world? These riders may never come back for a second bite at the apple and will see finishing the rally as a great achievement and brag to friends and family (and tell their grandkids) about the epic ride they took. Getting their three digit IBA number is the primary goal, along with having some fun and seeing things they didn’t know existed.
Y Riders are vets and some rookies who have the talent to do well in the rally, that being a gold level finish, top 20 or even a top ten podium finish. They may be riding for those goals or not. Alternately, they may choose their route based on where they want to go (the epic Yellow Knife adventure) weather they want to avoid (no desert SouthWest for me!) or where they want to avoid (no NY city for me!).
Z Riders are in it to win it. In every field of 100 riders there are probably 20 who are riding with the primary goal of being in the top ten and a possible win. Occasionally this group will include a rookie or two, but these are usually battle tested vets on a mission. Their choice of routes is entirely dictated by the points available and they will go anywhere, into any weather, as far as it takes, in order to do well.
There are other riders with different priorities. It might be a goal of being the oldest finisher ever, or to survive having a spouse or child as a pillion for 11 days of hard riding. The goal might be to make healthy decisions or to ensure a safe return to a good life without a moose encounter or making use of your Medjet insurance. Or the goal might be to place ahead of your friend who is also in the rally. Finishing position means little whereas the battle is against the minimum points to be a finisher.
Personally, in my five IBR appearances I have been in each of these classes of riders as my goals have changed each time I have ridden. Upon returning home I am asked by my family and friends about my finishing place and I try to explain that finishing place isn’t really the point except for the Z Riders (and yes there were a couple of years when far too much of my emphasis was placed on finishing position).
If there is any interest I can say more about my own experience or talk about what I say (with names withheld to protect both the innocent and guilty).
To provide some context, I have participated in five IBRs in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. I have finished as high as 16th as well as in the bottom half of the pack (ask me about getting sick in the middle of leg 3 in Glacier National Park. Not a pretty story).
First, the Iron Butt Rally is NOT a race. The first one to the finish is definitely NOT going to be the winner, nor is the rider with the fastest average speed. Some people look at the event the same way they look at a NASCAR race and assume that it’s all about going very far very fast and everyone’s goal is to win. This is a very uninformed view of the event.
It is a very large (covering the entire US and Canada this year) scavenger hunt-type exercise. This year, as in most, the event was divided into three legs. Leg one: Pittsburgh to Tulsa, leg two: Tulsa to Denver, and leg 3 Denver back to Pittsburgh. Legs one and two were two and a half days each, with leg three being the remainder of the 11 days. The night before leg 1 riders receive a rally book describing the various bonus locations and directing what the rider needs to do to achieve that bonus. Typically, this is a photo of an object including your rally flag and/or motorcycle. Other times it is to buy a trinket, get a receipt from a location, etc. At the start of legs 2 and 3 the riders receive the same information at 4am at the start of the leg. Riders also receive several electronic files via email (in various formats (gpx txt kml csv). Riders will need to use two of these files as one will contain the bonus code and the location coordinates and the second will contain the bonus code and the points associated with that bonus. Riders must combine these files and get the information into a routing program (most riders use Basecamp) with a coding system (colored flags, dots, etc) that indicate the points, time availability, or any restriction on the bonus. From there you take the allotted time, subtract the amount of time you think you need to sleep, gas up, care for your bio needs, etc. and then take the available riding time and see what combination of bonuses you can score in that time. There will sometimes be combo bonuses (score the statue of liberty AND the Santa Monica pier for an additional XXX points) or a theme where collections of bonus locations can add additional points (this year it was fast food joints laid out on a bingo card and if you scored all the fast food places in a column, row, or the entire card you would score a combo bonus). And then of course you need to make it to the checkpoint prior to the close of the leg to avoid being time barred. Easy peasy.
This year there were bonuses that were only available on one leg and others that were available rally-wide.
There are a variety of riders and they are riding different rallies. This is the rally within the rally. I like to think of it as riders in three classes: X, Y, and Z. X riders would include rookies and some vets who view the rally as an epic adventure. Can I do it? Can I be a finisher in the toughest motorcycle rally in the world? These riders may never come back for a second bite at the apple and will see finishing the rally as a great achievement and brag to friends and family (and tell their grandkids) about the epic ride they took. Getting their three digit IBA number is the primary goal, along with having some fun and seeing things they didn’t know existed.
Y Riders are vets and some rookies who have the talent to do well in the rally, that being a gold level finish, top 20 or even a top ten podium finish. They may be riding for those goals or not. Alternately, they may choose their route based on where they want to go (the epic Yellow Knife adventure) weather they want to avoid (no desert SouthWest for me!) or where they want to avoid (no NY city for me!).
Z Riders are in it to win it. In every field of 100 riders there are probably 20 who are riding with the primary goal of being in the top ten and a possible win. Occasionally this group will include a rookie or two, but these are usually battle tested vets on a mission. Their choice of routes is entirely dictated by the points available and they will go anywhere, into any weather, as far as it takes, in order to do well.
There are other riders with different priorities. It might be a goal of being the oldest finisher ever, or to survive having a spouse or child as a pillion for 11 days of hard riding. The goal might be to make healthy decisions or to ensure a safe return to a good life without a moose encounter or making use of your Medjet insurance. Or the goal might be to place ahead of your friend who is also in the rally. Finishing position means little whereas the battle is against the minimum points to be a finisher.
Personally, in my five IBR appearances I have been in each of these classes of riders as my goals have changed each time I have ridden. Upon returning home I am asked by my family and friends about my finishing place and I try to explain that finishing place isn’t really the point except for the Z Riders (and yes there were a couple of years when far too much of my emphasis was placed on finishing position).
If there is any interest I can say more about my own experience or talk about what I say (with names withheld to protect both the innocent and guilty).
