MTF 50/100CC Iron Butt Association Ride Marty Hamilton 100CCC Ride Report March 2003

Half a 100 CCC

I tried to complete a 50CC last May as part of a 4 Corners Tour and didn't complete the mission. Details about that are contained in my 4 Corners write-up and on the MTF 2002 50CC ride report. As I don't like to be skunked it was my plan to have another attempt that October but a hurricane decided on the same week to mess up I-10 in the South so I put off a rematch till this March. 

The Motorcycle Tourer's Forum was hosting a mass 100CCC and 50 CC attempt and somewhere around 60 - 70 riders had signed up for the jaunt. Me included. I signed up for the 100CCC but made sure the originator of the ride, Alan Leduc, knew my goal was a 50CC and that if I didn't make it one way I could try the other and not have to hassle for an official witness at the end. If all went well I might complete the 100CCC. An IBA prerequisite for a 100CCC is to complete a 1500-mile ride in less than 24 hours. I had not completed one but Mike Kneebone allowed me a waiver based on other rides I have done and wished me well. With that kindness in hand, I decided to try and bag the BBG as part of this adventure anyway so I could be right with the IBA rules anyway. What follows is what I can recall of the trip.

Day 1. Sunday March 10, 2003.

Last May I got to San Diego for the 500CC start with plenty time to rest. I thought that would be an advantage again and I was riding a new BMW R1150RT that I was a bit unfamiliar with. There were less than 1200 miles on the odometer when I pulled out of the driveway. I thought a leisurely 3-day ride to the start would be just right. 

It was pouring rain and snowing in the mountains and I had a concern with Southern Oregon's passes but they were no problem. I stopped in Hollister for a Corbin saddle. The "Comfort" seat on my RT did to my butt what a sea kayak seat did on a long paddle on western Vancouver Island did a few years ago. Complete incompatibility. Corbin saddles are hard and take a few hours to break in. Despite the adage of making no last minute changes to your bike before a long ride, I figured I would be in no more pain breaking one in than sticking with the stock seat. Good gamble - it worked quite well and I now know what to tweak to make it prefect.

Day 3. Tuesday March 12. 100CCC Start

I have been unable to sleep! I asked to be moved from a room above the swimming pool thinking that would be noisy. The one I moved to was in the flight path of incoming 100CCC riders from the East and other noisy folk. I'm sure that, and the anticipation of the ride - something I looked forward to and planned for some time - just made sleep impossible. I got up before my wake-up call and geared up the bike. Al Carey who rode down with me had a similar experience so, I figure, did most everybody else. 

This event was super well organized. Ride coordinators volunteered time and money to ensure we had coffee, tools, air, and you name it at the starting point. I did a doughnut and drank some OJ - didn't really want it but was just nervous I think. IBA witnesses were there to sign off on our paperwork and I departed for my starting receipt. Note: Special thanks to Tom Offill, those who helped him, and our IBA witnesses Dave and Glen.

Starting fuel 04:23:13 Pacific - I'm off. I-8 was clear for a while then I ran into fog that I slowed down for but soon that cleared with an elevation gain and as daylight approached I got a great view of the scenery. The road that was so scary on my ST1100 last May, when it was windy and dark, was super fun this time.

I had calculated some time gates I needed to make for the BBG and began to check those off. I only had the stock fuel tank so used the 220 mile waypoint list offered by the MTF. After a few of those I departed from the flight plan when a fellow from Kansas, I think, roared past on a Gold Wing. What the hell, nobody around, so I tag along at a "brisk" pace for a tank full of fuel and added considerably to my moving average. I notice Al, who had caught up to me, isn't behind me anymore so I hang out a the fuel stop for a bit to see if he shows, but I don't see him again on the trip.

I'm through California, Arizona, and New Mexico before I know it. I decide the fuel stops are a good pick as I get fuel outside big cities so I can motor on through and it seems the departure time and my moving average are keeping me out of the traffic density. I’m good at fuel stops and get in and out in no more than 10 minutes. Life is good.

I expected to see a lot of riders on this trip but actually I rode solo most of the time. In all I saw about a half a dozen that passed me as I generally held to a speed a criterion that was slower. I saw one fellow on the side chatting with a Texas LEO and three riders passed me on the approach to San Antonio. I hung with them for a while. I had fueled up in Ozona and they pulled off going into San Antonio so I just motored on. Just as well, I was a bit concerned with the speed as there was some fog and other moisture about as well as plenty of deer. 

One of the riders in that group on a GS had some killer lamps - a HID variety I bet based on the output - so they were better equipped than I was. The stock fog lamps on the 1150RT do an OK job illuminating the critters but I was hyper vigilant and used a lot of energy keeping up with that while riding at their faster pace. Note to self: You know better, ride your own ride!

Day 4. Wednesday March 13.

I was well into the approach to Houston when the need for sleep happened onto me all at once. I needed to get to the other side toward Beaumont for the BBG so with a favorable ETA on the GPS I pulled into a gas station parking lot and lay down next to the bike to get 2 hours sleep. My Meanie didn't fire off before I awoke. I was pissed off because I had not set it right (still wondering how to screw that up) and, though I could not believe it, 3 hours had gone by!

I missed my BBG by about 90 minutes - Note to self: Practice using your Meanie!

Houston scared the hell out of me last May with heavy rain and aggressive motorists. On my way in this year I have fog to deal with. I'm hanging with a guy ahead of me and notice some behind me are doing the same but a bit closer than feels comfortable. I'm having images of me and my RT in the middle of a fog induced car sandwich and make a few evasive moves to get them off my tail. The fog lifts and there is now the morning commute to deal with. Damn if I don't blow past the entrance to the HOV lane. Now I'm in Houston traffic and pissed off. I let go of that as after a while traffic flow in the HOV lane is no better, and besides, I'm through Houston a lot quicker than I expected. It is raining heavily now though and there is lightning and some wind picking up. Just like last year. I open the RT up a notch or two and try to get out of there quicker. I’m convinced the place is haunted.

I feel sleep coming on so bail for a motel in Jennings, LA and get 4 hours sleep. I had time for more but simply woke up and was ready to go. A Shower and clean dry gear felt good. My Stich normally keeps me dry if I'm careful about the flap covering the main zipper. If not one gets a wet crotch. I wasn't careful enough.

It was raining more heavily as I departed and the munchies I prepared in my tank bag were now soggy. Did a poor job of securing my rain cover and it blew off the bike enough to get my stuff wet while I slept. I just hate pre-moistened Power Bars.

The best of it is I was wondering why my radar detector wasn't producing an audio signal in my headset. Figured it got too wet. I was fooling with it when I noticed I wasn't plugged in to my AUTOCOM. Somewhere, in that sleepy stupor one gets after an IBA motel slumber, I decided to motor off unplugged and left the connecting cord behind. I’d failed to notice being unplugged as I left the motel. Note to self: Use a stop checklist like the big dogs do, and follow it.

It is raining, my helmet visor is leaking so I have rain on the inside and the outside to look through, and my radar detector is useless. I put it away not wanting to get fixated on the warning lamps and decide to fall back on pre-detector riding strategy of 5 over the limit and faster if there is a rabbit. Problem with the weather was few rabbits were out. Making good time though and I'm feeling in that zone where life feels grand, nothing hurts on the body, and I could motor indefinitely.

By Mobile, AL that feeling was way gone. The rain just kept pounding from Jennings on through the night. Though little problem in the daylight I find the night really spooky with the visor leaking like it was. I could vary the RT's windscreen to blow most of it off the outside but headlight beams from folk in front as well as those behind would get refracted off the raindrops on the inside. I almost chickened out because of that in Biloxi when it was really pouring but talked myself out of it, but by Mobile nearly bailed again. I was most motivated after a guy following me too close just would not respond to my flashing the brakes. When we had to do an emergency stop he had to bail for the Jersey barrier. I sort of rejoiced, frankly, at his misfortune and my good luck and that was good for 40 more miles.

I got approached by a couple of kids seeking gas money at my last fuel stop. I initially refused then felt bad as they were clearly stuck, so we pumped some fuel into their old car - hope they got home OK. Must have been the right thing to do as the rain let up. 

Florida has some well-maintained roadways and even in a light rain one can see the cats eyes for a long way off - riding is fun again. There were deer all over the place though - more than I have seen in a long time so they helped keep me awake! 

Day 6. Friday March 14

I'm moving into Jacksonville and have a mental image of the map to the finish point. I disregard my GPS as I often do when I have a map in my head. After it recalculates a few disregarded instructions I finally see another rider and then the Shell station. Two riders from Chicago, that ride twin ST1300s, pull up a couple minutes later. Stop fuel: 03:28 Eastern. Something around 44 hours for the trip.

Next steps: The two ST riders said they would seek signatures from the local Police - I tag along. I decided to augment our map reading with the GPS – took us right to where the police station used to be. Marty was no help. Asking directions does however, and Sgt Shaughnessy obliges with a signature.

With that done I check to see if there were any rider cancellations at the motel. None. What I should have done was follow my instincts and acquire a start fuel receipt for the second leg and immediately ridden West till I needed sleep. Instead I found a motel a couple of miles away and lay on the bed trying to sleep. I finally dozed off but awoke after a couple of hours. Though I felt fine this error would catch up with me later. Note to self: Trust your instinct - has never let you down in the past

I met Alan Leduc and a few other happy riders who finished their EWE 100CCC and after some chatting and provisioning I got a starting fuel receipt and headed off on leg #2.

It was amazing how fast I covered ground that only a few hours ago had me wondering if I could maintain. Good weather makes a huge difference. I'm through Florida and all and finally bonk outside New Orleans. I put my head down for an extra few Zs after my wake-up call and used another 40 minutes. Get moving!

Day 7. Saturday, March 15

It begins with fog. The fog lifts and I'm in the sun feeling completely blissful. One of those mornings when the temperature is perfect, the sun is out, there are few cars, the bike purrs like a kitten, and LEO is still sleeping. Beaumont, TX is a blast and I'm feeling pretty much at home on the RT so take the two freeway sweepers in town at a higher pace than allowed. Pure joy. And so is Houston. It is the first time I've seen the freeway in the sunlight. Sure is clean - bet the rain washes away the funk with regularity.

I keep moving through Texas stopping only for fuel and fluid exchange activity. I like that I don't have to pound through this place in the dark again. At one stop I gulp down a meatball sandwich and at another do a ham and cheese. I'm done with the Power Bars for this trip. I keep Rolaids in the right arm pocket of my Stich for such things and yes, I get into those an hour or two later. A flip front helmet allows for on-the-move medication.

My goal is to get out of Texas before the nighttime speed limit of 65 descends on me at sunset. I don’t quite make that but everything is fine and as I approach El Paso I see my GPS calculated ETA in San Diego is 04:13. I figure a couple hour nap, or so, and two more fuel stops and I'm there. I'm feeling like a bad ass even if I've done some dumb things.

I should not have been so smug. I do not know what befell me but my vision went very weird. I could not distinguish one sign from another so all was one blend of colored light. I could not read freeway signs and I was struggling to make sense of the info in my rearview mirrors. I could not read my GPS. Kind of like an acid trip in some respects.

I had been drinking plenty fluid from my hydration system and I had been eating lightly. I made it through town mostly but things seemed worse with each mile. I now can’t maintain speed and I’m weaving so I pull off the freeway and hang out in a Wall-Mart parking lot to see if, with a little off-bike time, I can get in better shape.

That didn't help. I tried some food at a Denny's and drank the first coffee of the trip. Didn't work. I actually was getting a bit scared wondering if I'm having a stroke of some kind but I finally decided/hoped I was just tired. The more I pondered on this the more it was clear to me that I was really done. I got the last room in the motel and called home. I didn't make a lot of sense. I was then asleep instantly.

Day 8. Sunday March 16

I feel great again. Disappointed for sure but on reflection OK with the 50CC and all that I had either learned or relearned. Most of all I just love to ride and this was one hell of a ride. I called Tom Offill from Tucson to let him know I was headed home. 

I decide to head through Phoenix on I-10 to cut some time off my run to Puyallup, WA. I guess it had been pounding rain in the LA area on Saturday and I have to think that Tucson and Phoenix got their water supply from that system on Sunday as I was passing through. Man, when it rains in these parts it happens all at once I think. 

Phoenix has a way cool HOV lane though. Outside there I blast into a wall of rain that instantly obliterated my vision. Complete whiteout. Thankfully I was blind for only seconds. Spooky though.

After that it was a high speed run to LA. The plan was I-10 to I-210 then over the Grapevine on I-5 and home to the Seattle area. I felt like I dodged a big weather bullet as the descent into the LA area avoided these huge black clouds and heavy rain. I made it around the I-210 freeways just fine but ascending out of the LA area on I-5 the electric sign warns of gusty wind and heavy rain. Marty can deal with that.

Plenty dry going up but near the top and down the East side I'm thinking about how to build an Ark. I decide the plan is get into the 35 mph lane and ease on down. It is very cold and I can't see a damned thing. An 18 wheeler pulls in front of me and at 25 mph we make it down to where it isn't so bad. The truck then makes off. I really appreciate the help - I'm convinced he didn't need to provide an escort as all the other trucks went by us about 10 mph faster, but I figure the driver understood I needed a reference point and simply gave it to me till I didn't need it to be safe. I gladly paid for the expensive motel room at the bottom.

Day 9. Monday March 17

It is 1088 miles home and I leave at 06:00 feeling well rested. The weather channel has been calling for rain but it is warm and sunny up through Redding, CA. Pretty good headwind that eats into the fuel economy – oxygenated fuel sucks hard, if you ask me. Bike uses a lot of it. 

I begin to freeze my butt off going up to Mount Shasta and get a chill I can't shake for the rest of the trip because I have this not wanting to stop to add clothing thing going on. It is another stupid move. I have an electric vest turned on but my arms are cold. 

Oregon is a nice ride but it is endless given the low speed limit and plenty police protection. But it is dry. The approach to Portland looks ominous though with light showers here and there, and I'm still cold. Getting pretty tired of night riding in rain. I finally stop and put on every warm thing I own. The struggle to zip up my Stich is nowhere near as interesting as the struggle to mount the bike. I feel like a sausage. I figure if I have a get-off the medics will have great fun cutting though all the material to get to the broken Marty inside.

I'm warmer - a little - and happy there is finally no rain. Once into Washington I wick it up a bit over the 70 mph limit and frankly, and apart from an initial concern with fog and maybe some black ice, I begin to really enjoy the ride. The roadbed dries out and there is a full moon and it gets warmer with each mile North.

I'm home at 11:00 pm.

Thoughts: 

I had a good plan for the 50CC and BBG just blew the BBG with a dumb move with the Meanie. 

I knew I had the fuel and food stop time management thing down but didn't follow my instinct about riding when I felt good and resting when I felt tired. 

I should not have tried to rest in Jacksonville. That set me up for hitting the wall in El Paso. It would have been better to get to a motel for a longer rest when I needed it, rather than to try short sleeps that worked on the first leg.

I viewed the idea of a fuel stop/rest stop checklist as a kind of anal-retentive overkill. I never needed one before but I learned, after losing my comm. gear, that one is required. I actually forgot I had Laurie's lead in the tail of the bike and discovered it before I dropped into the LA basin. I used that for the trip home. 

I also think this is true; the East to West leg seems easier. On this trip and the previous attempt it seems like the tougher part of the ride is headed East when tired and you have to contend with the more dense traffic. The East to West leg for me, even though I didn't complete it, was progressively more fun and with a greater sense of freedom.

The BMW R1150RT simply Rocks! I didn't hurt except for a little lower back pain from slouching when I got tired. I was a bit concerned about continuing the wear-in on a ride like this but I sensed it becoming much more happy as the miles piled on. I have a little over 8000 on the clock now and it runs smooth, powerfully, and averages 44 mpg. It currently has D205s and the rear looks only slightly worn at 42 psi. The front is cupped moderately, with most of that happening at the recommended 36 psi. I raised that to 40 psi for the ride and the cupping seems to have abated considerably. Too bad these aren't made anymore. I liked how they performed. Most of all though is the bike’s management of wind. My ST1100 got knocked around a lot. Not this machine. The fairing is well designed.

Final thought: 

I'll get the 100CCC next attempt.