Iron Butt Association - Double standards ?

I just read "To Hell and Back" (Cycle World May. 07) and laud Dale Wilson's Iron Butt ride of 7 days/1500 mile a day feat. However, last year, Motorcyclist editor Aaron Frank had his IBA ride denied because his speed was judged excessive by IBA Prez Michael Kneebone. Hmmmm ? I know it is illegal to speed but what can be more dangerous, speeding or riding a motorcycle for 20 consecutive hours for 7 days straight? New studies have clearly shown that DWT (driving while tired) can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Somehow, I don't think that Wilson was riding at the posted limit during his 20 hour stints. I think Kneebone has to draw the line somewhere in regards to safety judgements and 20 hours at a pop on two wheels isn't one of them....  

I've been wondering how long it would be before the "stuff" hits the fan and this ride goes "underground", if you know what I mean.....  
Steve

Ride for one - Ride for all

Several points are raised here and while I am not Dale or Mike Kneebone I might be able to shed a little bit of light on this subject since I was mentioned in the article as assisting Dale.

1.  Aaron Frank's denied IBA Certificate.
2.  Safety of riding 7 days straight 20 hours per day.
3.  Riding at posted speed limits.
4.  20 hours on two wheels should not be an IBA ride (Kneebone needs to draw a line)

1.  Aaron Frank's denial

This is the issue I am least able to address (and Mike Kneebone did address it publicly in the Magazine if I remember correctly) but I did read Aaron's article and the emphasis of that article was his speed while riding 2200 miles in 44 hours.  Not how the ride went, what he saw, how he was efficient, it was how he was speeding to make up for loafing and being inefficient.  The emphasis of the article was on doing unsafe activities and those specifically discouraged by the organization (go to the website and find the 29 tips for riding - Aaron was promoting everything that is an anathema to these posted tips).


2.  Safety of riding 7 days straight at 20 hours per day.  

I cannot deny that riding 20 hours a day is roughly what it took as even the most casual observer will realize that riding 1500 miles at 75 mph will take 20 hours.  I can say that it has much to do with your normal sleep patterns.  While sleep experts will say their is a minimum number of hours a human needs (it's like 7 hours) I also know from experience that many can function quite well and do so on a regular basis on much less. If you normally live on an average of 6 hours a day or 5 hours a day then you have an edge and we all know people who do that quite capably (at least I know quite a few being active in IBA activities).  The article was a very abbreviated version of what went on.  We continually scrutinized Dale looking for signs that it just would not be safe for him to continue, that he got sound sleep, that his injuries were not impairing his safety.  Once again, I'm not a medical professional but I am his good friend and would have taken his keys away in a heartbeat if I thought it was in his better interest.

3.  Riding at posted speed limits.

Dale has never talked about what speeds he was running at.  I assume it was probably right around, but sometimes slightly over that which was posted (70 to 75 mph on the roads chosen)as is pretty normal.  That was one of the reasons for the choice of location to do this because of the abundance of higher speed limits so that traveling the normal 5 over or so could get the job done.  The article in Cycle World was quite specific about that so I am really only repeating it here.  IF you want a certified ride to be absolutely certifiably run under speed limits - I want to follow you to work for a week and see how you are doing with that.  What has been presented is the average required and that it was right around the posted limits - those are facts.

4.  20 Hours on Two Wheels should not be an IBA ride.  

This really dovetails with number 2 when taken in the context of multiple days of this activity such as a BBG3K (Back to back 1,500 mile days), a multiple day rally, or even back to back 1,000 mile days.  By far the predominance of IBA certificate rides are the more "garden variety" SS1K or 1,000 miles in a single 24 hour period.  Most people can stay up for 24 hours at a single period without loosing too much mental acuity especially if you prepare for it (getting good sleep before).  Still there are others that might be unsafe after 5 hours in the saddle.  The IBA and the active members promote safety in our activities and looking at those 29 tips you will find those associated with getting tired, how to avoid it, what to do when it happens and finally all members like myself will tell you that no certificate is worth your life or danger to others.  Yes, we are pushing envelopes but it is also an organization that values and requires the exercise of personal responsibility in our activities, I think one of the most valuable intangibles of active membership.


My Commentary on the Article;

Dales ride was an incredible feat.  I would hope that the article (something I knew nothing about until it showed up on my doorstep in the magazine)portrayed Dales effort for what it was;  A masterful act of planning and execution to accomplish something, which appears at first glance impossible, but once the magician lets you know the secret - well , it seems at least plausible.  I think that is how they built it up on the cover and how it was then explained in the article.

That portrayal is the primary difference between the two rides (Dale and Aaron) and associated write ups.  It is an issue of emphasis and portrayal of what was accomplished In Accordance With the Organizations Stated Beliefs.    Seems that when you look under the hood maybe Kneebone and Co. are being quite consistent.  Certificates for stretching what a normal person views as the limits while doing it safely and within your own personal limits is what the IBA is all about.  Aaron presented an article that without question did not do that, while Dales feat sounds absolutely unsafe a first blush (magazine cover) but when you get a peek under the hood it starts to appear as just another stretch of personal limits done very methodically.

I hope that clarifies some of this as it is easy to see where it can be viewed as a double standard.

Brian R.  

I work in a profession where 16 hour work days are not uncommon, and sometimes longer in all kinds of weather and road conditions. But I also have the ability to get out, walk around, splash water in my face, stretch, grab some caffiene, etc. None of which you can do on a m/c if you want to accomplish your stated goal. And yes, people can function for 16-20 hrs with pre-planned sleep but certainly not for a period of many days in a row. We're talking about 70-75 mph for hours at a time in daylight, darkness, wet and dry. While you can do alot of preperation such as routes, stops, and equipment I don't believe you can prepare for that deer in the road, semi tire gator or even a basic flat tire on day four, 17th hour and in darkness while not possibly having full mental acuity. I think the accomplishment is pretty incredible but the bottom line for me is I think it's just not a safe accomplishment and how IBA Prez Kneebone thinks it is.....  

So what we are down to is that this ride would not be safe for you.  I can accept that no problem at all as it would not be safe for me either (I could barely hang in there being the support staff).  What I do not consider is any implication that it is not safe for anybody.  

As I pointed out in my first post this organization depends upon personal responsibility for our activities and that is one of the best reasons to participate (I'm guessing 8 out of 10 non-motorcyclists would opine that riding 1,000 miles in 24 hours is not safe and should be outlawed).  Where the "safety marshals" will make restrictions and limitations on all of our everyday activities, this is one area of my life where that is not the case and I relish that freedom.  It is completely up to us to define what is enough and we take that responsibility seriously as we do have friends and family that depend upon each of us.  Meanwhile;

I would die trying to run a four minute mile - but I do not begrudge others from doing so.
I cannot press 500 lbs but will spot the man who wants to attempt it.
I cannot ride a dune bike but support those who do over the objections of environmentalists who want them stopped to protect some rare bug (local issue).

Everybody has different capabilities and limits.  We are no doubt stretching the individual limits in the Iron Butt Association and that is exactly what makes it fun.  For some that is riding 1,000 miles in a day, for another 1,500 miles in 24 hours for Dale it happens to be 7 days like that.  I also know of another person who looks at that as achievable and I believe given the correct circumstances he could do it also.  

One thing the organizations does is classify the certificate rides into two categories;  Entry level and the Extreme rides.  Before someone is issued a certificate for an extreme ride they do have to complete one of the basic rides to prove their capabilities.  Most work their way through the Extreme rides from the easier ones to the more difficult multiday rides as they hone their skills and find what works for them.  Just like any craft you get better and more efficient with experience.  You also learn when enough is enough and it is time to get off the road (one of the most critical skills that a rider acquires with experience).  My first 1,000 mile day took over 21 hours to complete and now I do those routinely in about 14-15 hours.  My first multiday ride was to go to all lower 48states and Alaska in less than 10 days and I rode 8,200 miles in 9 days and 21 hours. Last year in the Iron Butt Rally I rode just under 10,000 miles in 11 days and felt like I was loafing.  That is the benefit of years of learning how to do this and do it well.

Dale is very experienced, at the top of his craft.  He is also very smart and planned this so it just MIGHT work given his capabilities.  Gladly, everything worked out in his favor but any mechanical issue (flat tire as you suggested) would have put an end to the ride and we would be talking about the amazing ride of 4 1500 mile days in a row instead of 7.  As it was there were issues that did crop up but that was why Dale had me working on the bike while he slept. (Others have attempted similar rides but you will never hear about them as they fell way short due to such issues cropping up).

As for the certificate, there was no plan for getting any official recognition for this ride and as one poster said it was destined for the cubbyhole of Urban Legend with only the knowledge of the few eye witnesses associated with it knowing for fact it had been accomplished.  It was always just something for Dale to do for himself because some folks said it could not be done.  I cannot speak for Mike but I believe he wanted to recognize Dale for putting together such a masterful test of his personal limits.

You can easily put this under the classification "Kids, don't try this at home" for many reasons (lack of sleep, carrying 21 gallons of fuel on a motorcycle, improper diet, riding in a desert storm that actually closed another freeway, riding at night) but I for one am glad that we can still stretch the limits of man and the machines they love without the interference of those who want to protect us from ourselves, or say they want to protect everyone else from us.  That day will undoubtedly come as we are becoming a society that likes to rule the activities of others.  For now I will fight for the right to enjoy these personal challenges and enjoy my freedom to do so.

Brian R.