I just finished the Iron Butt Association Saddle sore ride and wanted to share how it went with other Texans. The ride requires 1000 miles in 24 hours. I went solo and ended up with 1010 miles over 19 hrs. I suspect this long distance riding is not for most people in TWT but it was a new challenge for me and an opportunity to see parts of the state I have never been.
I went lite on the Vstrom 1000, no panniers, only a GPS, tank bag and and stuffed dry bag strapped to the back.
Also my AirHawk seat pad. I thought the Vstrom seat was very comfortable when I got it until after 200 miles in the Texas heat had me asking for mercy. The AirHawk provided excellent comfort. The secret is the amount of inflation. For me I found just enough inflation to keep your lowest point from touching the bikes seat.
I left at 2am and generally followed 35E/181 south to Corpus Christi and 281/67 back to Dallas.
Arriving in Corpus Christi about 8am, a major storm just passed through and there was a still some short light squalls on the tail end that I got caught in. Not heavy or long enough to get out the rain gear and I just rode through them.
A stop at the USS Lexington (see pic) and I got my feet wet in the Gulf of Mexico for my first visit to this coast.
From there I took a ferry to Padre Island then rode its length and when back on the mainland went southerly to get the miles I needed to the exact ½ way point of 505 miles. To my surprise and joy exactly at that turnaround was a Dairy Queen. I celebrated my good luck with a root beer float and Texas sized fries (or the adventurer lunch)
Due to time and/or route there was little or no traffic except for San Antonio and as always, friggin Dallas. One stall before Lampassas had me stuck behind a wide load taking both sides of the highway. Lots of feet on pavement time watching the utility company lift power lines out of the way.
Passing westerly of Austin towards late afternoon, I saw tons of bikes and sports cars. I know this hill country has some of the best riding in the state. I wonder how fun it would be on a weekend. Literally cavalcades of sports cars and Harleys. I saw a dozen mustangs in row all painted identically and the Racetrac looked like a Harley dealership
In general the ride was easy with the help of some good ole trucker’s coffee along the way and of course that adventurer lunch.
Next I think is the Bunburner which is a 1500 miler in 36 hours. Maybe start Dallas west to Cadillac ranch, Roswell NM and back, then on to Talimena highway.
I went lite on the Vstrom 1000, no panniers, only a GPS, tank bag and and stuffed dry bag strapped to the back.
Also my AirHawk seat pad. I thought the Vstrom seat was very comfortable when I got it until after 200 miles in the Texas heat had me asking for mercy. The AirHawk provided excellent comfort. The secret is the amount of inflation. For me I found just enough inflation to keep your lowest point from touching the bikes seat.
I left at 2am and generally followed 35E/181 south to Corpus Christi and 281/67 back to Dallas.
Arriving in Corpus Christi about 8am, a major storm just passed through and there was a still some short light squalls on the tail end that I got caught in. Not heavy or long enough to get out the rain gear and I just rode through them.
A stop at the USS Lexington (see pic) and I got my feet wet in the Gulf of Mexico for my first visit to this coast.
From there I took a ferry to Padre Island then rode its length and when back on the mainland went southerly to get the miles I needed to the exact ½ way point of 505 miles. To my surprise and joy exactly at that turnaround was a Dairy Queen. I celebrated my good luck with a root beer float and Texas sized fries (or the adventurer lunch)
Due to time and/or route there was little or no traffic except for San Antonio and as always, friggin Dallas. One stall before Lampassas had me stuck behind a wide load taking both sides of the highway. Lots of feet on pavement time watching the utility company lift power lines out of the way.
Passing westerly of Austin towards late afternoon, I saw tons of bikes and sports cars. I know this hill country has some of the best riding in the state. I wonder how fun it would be on a weekend. Literally cavalcades of sports cars and Harleys. I saw a dozen mustangs in row all painted identically and the Racetrac looked like a Harley dealership
In general the ride was easy with the help of some good ole trucker’s coffee along the way and of course that adventurer lunch.
Next I think is the Bunburner which is a 1500 miler in 36 hours. Maybe start Dallas west to Cadillac ranch, Roswell NM and back, then on to Talimena highway.