The 1000 Mile Ride

The 1000 Mile Ride… in 24 hours or less…

Eugene, Oregon to McCammon, Idaho

1072 Actual Miles: 1044 Calculated

Today feels like magic. I am up and alert at 4:15 this morning. So I feed the cats early and walk out to the garage where my bike is already pointed out the door! It’s fully packed and ready to roll!

Today’s the day to attempt a 1000-mile ride in 24 hours. I’ve been doing calculations for the last three months! I’ve looked at heading south, east, north or… well I can’t really go west. I finally decided that heading up toward Idaho and Montana would be best. I’ve been preparing maps and fuel stop options so as to reduce non-riding time as much as possible… that’s the key to a successful 1000-mile ride attempt. Keep stops efficient, stay relaxed, alert and focused, and keep those wheels turning. June is the best time for this attempt as the days are long and it is possible to get the entire 1000 miles completed mostly in daylight. I’m actually starting my 28 day Moto Tour with my wife Linda and friend Sean. I meet Sean in Durango on Saturday so if I make it early… I’ll probably need the rest. If I don’t make it… well, I’ve got some beautiful country to see and plenty of time to get there. Perfect…

It’s been a long time since I saw the sun rise. Oh, I’ve gotten up early and sat on the porch to see the sun coming up. This morning I was riding northbound through the Willamette Valley and I literally could not help but look in awe. The entire eastern sky was bright orange filtering through wispy clouds. Northern latitudes take a long time for the sun to rise, and the beauty is astounding! I have a good feeling about today.

I didn’t think to get that wonderful sunrise. That’s really how it goes. If you want that picture, you gotta get out there and ride!

The Iron Butt Association certifies long distance rides with time goals. There are rules and certainly guidelines. Numero uno is that you know your limits and do not continue if unsafe. In following that rule, one plans and begins a Saddle Sore 1000 mile run knowing that it may end well before you actually complete 1000 miles. I’ve been playing with charting out the perfect route from Oregon and settled on a plan to go north to Portland, OR, then east and north through Spokane WA, continue across Montana to Butte, where I turn south toward Utah. That route takes me through areas with speed limits of 75 and 80 MPH. A plan that reduces total time of my ride. IF I leave very early, I can actually arrive before the sun is completely gone. That’s my plan, and I’m sticking to it. That became my mantra and first rule. Plan the ride, and ride the plan.

The clouds are always taking my attention on the road. J

To validate the ride, I need to get gas receipts at each corner wherever possible. This makes it easier to verify miles ridden. I’m riding northbound through the valley and getting ready for my first turn to the east. Uh oh, my first problem. I’ve scheduled gas stops based on fuel capacity, not for when I need to get a receipt… Luckily I know the area well and quickly pick a gas station with easy off and on. Problem solved, but I’ve just added another stop to my plan. Second rule, if your not moving, you’re not advancing.

More clouds… the sky is huge in Montana

I feel refreshed after that first stop and decide to add a quick stop between each fuel run. I’ll rest, stretch my legs, maybe have a snack, wipe the bugs off of my helmet visor. The added stops are absolutely the best change that I make to the plan. I remember reading that a stop every 125 miles is best for efficiency over the long run… What the heck, works for me!. Third rule, relax the mind and body every chance and at minimum every 125 miles.

Even more clouds… still in Montana. Montana is a large state.

I won’t bore you with details but everything was working like a charm… until Missoula, MT… when my insulin pump went crazy. I’m diabetic and use an insulin pump to keep a constant flow of medicine. It’s very convenient. But here I was on the road where every minute counts, and I was going to run out of insulin soon. A refill was going to be necessary before the end of this ride. Since now is always a good option, I decide to make this stop an extended one. I eat some food, get extra rest, and take the time to refill my insulin pump. I was almost ready to leave when a guy came up behind me and said…”is that your Road King out there?” Yup… “I’ve got one just like it, but blue!”, he says. Now there’s just not a lot of us CVO 2013 Road Kings out there, so we end up talking and talking. My wife is not going to be surprised to hear that. I was showing him the modifications that I have on my bike and he nodded his appreciation and smiled. He and his wife were very nice and had recently ridden their Road King to Portland, OR to see relatives. Cool.

Found some new chip seal construction going on. After that broken headlight, I like to stay waaay back when riding through this.

So, with that extra time spent, I started calculating my ride time and ETA in my head. Wow, there’s a second issue for this stop, I haven’t taken into account the time zone change. My dream of arriving in the daylight is disappearing. This brings me to my third and final issue of the ride. There are lots of clouds brewing in the south near Pocatello Idaho. I check the weather app on my iPhone and it shows… rain. Just a bit of it, and I may actually skirt the rainy parts. There looks to be a window of opportunity right now anyway. Looking good… AOK.

Idaho was a challenge; I couldn’t miss the rain and the clouds made everything dark. Doesn’t look bad here, but believe me, it gets worse.

As I am heading south on I-15, the cloud cover gets worse. I stop and put on my heated gear once again. I end up riding through some rain, but only enough to clean the bugs off my helmet visor. It starts to get chilly and the heated gear is wonderful. The rain clouds make the last hour or so a ride in the dark. No moon or evening twilight for me. I decide to make my last stop in McCammon ID. I found McCammon while getting fuel and a snack. I checked Google Maps for hotels that would land me at 1070 (plus of minus) miles. This will give me enough leeway to get a solid 1000 miler. I happen on The Harkness Hotel, a wonderfully creative hotel in McCammon that had a luxury bed and bath/shower. They have great reviews and wonderful pictures. What a nice thing to look forward to after 11 fuel stops, 2 meals on the go and 1072 miles on a bike. The ride itself was actually quite enjoyable the entire way. And with my diligent stretching and movements learned from my Physical Therapy sessions, I don’t feel bad or achy at all. I’m still very alert and loose. Thanks for all the great advice from IBA tips and from all of the other sources that allowed me to plan and do this ride healthy and safe.

The Harkness bathtub is relaxing. The odometer says 1072 miles, the picture is of beautiful Idaho… before the weather set in.