Unbelievably Hardcore!!

[Knighthawk]

BBG Hell Week - Mission Complete!

 

 

Wow!!

[Heck]

Kind of makes a CCC look easy.....

Impressive.

[BrianT]

Wow. Might be a while before anyone tops that. Nice find.

[John in VA]

While it's an impressive feat in the abstract, this guy almost certainly must have been "asleep at the wheel" more than once on that trip and was lucky to survive.

[Tony_K]

While it's an impressive feat in the abstract, this guy almost certainly must have been "asleep at the wheel" more than once on that trip and was lucky to survive.

 

Your statement is completely unfounded.

Dale planned extensively and worked within HIS limitations.

Making blanket statements that you know nothing about down right rude.

[John in VA]

While it's an impressive feat in the abstract, this guy almost certainly must have been "asleep at the wheel" more than once on that trip and was lucky to survive.

 

Your statement is completely unfounded.

Dale planned extensively and worked within HIS limitations.

Making blanket statements that you know nothing about down right rude.

 

Gosh, how unfortunate that you consider my opinion to be rude -- but tough noogies. Unfounded? You're right that I don't know "HIS limitations", but you don't either, and I can do the math. Assuming he got, say, 3 hours of sleep each 24 hours, that leaves averaging 71mph for 21 hours a day for 6 days. If he got more sleep, he must have averaged faster. If he got less sleep, well, yes I'd call that "hardcore" something -- but you'd probably denounce me as rude for saying so. Regardless, my "blanket statement" questioned whether anyone can actually "know" their own limitations while stupefied by fatigue and stress. So I consider the guy lucky to have survived. There's a reason Guinness won't touch such "feats" on public roads with a ten-foot pole.

 

Now, if you wish to make your own "blanket statement" that you KNOW this guy's reaction time to potential road hazards at that speed was unaffected during the 21st waking hour of each day and as a result he was never a potential menace to himself or others compared to if he'd been reasonably rested, I'd call that a foolish and naive statement. But I wouldn't call it rude.

[Dances_With_Wiener_Dogs]

[ Assuming he got, say, 3 hours of sleep each 24 hours, that leaves averaging 71mph for 21 hours a day for 6 days. If he got more sleep, he must have averaged faster.

 

From page 2 of the link:

 

Never got 5 hours per night (took a while to decompress after each run, and I had to wake up a good few minutes prior to departure in order to eat, dress, check weather on the route that day, etc. But I was able to get close to 4 1/2 hours of sleep every night, at least until Days 6 & 7

[smiller]

The photograph tells the story. Yeah, that's the guy I want coming at me on a two-lane road after his forth, fifth, or sixth 20-hour day in a row...

 

Within his (or any human being's) safe limitations? Spare me.

[Dennis Andress]

For me, these things always come back to one question. Why?

[KrazyHorse]

"For me, these things always come back to one question. Why?"

 

Because he can, my friend, because he can.

[DavidEBSmith]

Y'know the joke about the old comedians' home? Where they've all been there so long and heard the jokes so many times, to save time they just number them. So they sit around and one old comedian says "49!" and they all fall out of their wheelchairs laughing. And the next guy says "253!" and they all laugh until they cry. And the third guy says "87!" and everybody sits there stony faced until finally one really old guy croaks "You didn't tell it right."

 

Anytime somebody posts about a LD riding achievement, why don't we just have numbers for the responses so we can save time reading the thread?

 

41 = The rider is some sort of lunatic.

 

43 = He must have been sleeping while riding.

 

45 = Anybody who exceeds the speed limit on public roads on a motorcycle is a dangerous maniac.

 

47 = Think of all the natural resources wasted.

 

49 = I wouldn't want to do this so I don't understand why anybody else would.

[smiller]

You forgot:

 

51 = No one should state a negative opinion concerning long distance riding.

[John in VA]

You forgot:

 

51 = No one should state a negative opinion concerning long distance riding.

 

That's a downright rude thing to say!

 

OK, the LDer boasts that he slept less than 5 hours a day, so he was cruising an average of nearly 80mph for 19 hours to cover over 1500 miles every day for six straight days just to prove -- what? I still say he's lucky to be alive, as are other motorists who were in his path. The picture of him says it all.

[Stir]

While it's an impressive feat in the abstract, this guy almost certainly must have been "asleep at the wheel" more than once on that trip and was lucky to survive.

 

Your statement is completely unfounded.

Dale planned extensively and worked within HIS limitations.

Making blanket statements that you know nothing about down right rude.

 

I have to agree with this. He would get home, and rest while his buddy maintained the bike. He felt the only close call he had in a rain storm on day three. I think what this guy did is a bit risky but what a feeling of accomplishment he must be having. I know how I felt after one BBG.

 

M

[Stir]

[ Assuming he got, say, 3 hours of sleep each 24 hours, that leaves averaging 71mph for 21 hours a day for 6 days. If he got more sleep, he must have averaged faster.

 

From page 2 of the link:

 

Never got 5 hours per night (took a while to decompress after each run, and I had to wake up a good few minutes prior to departure in order to eat, dress, check weather on the route that day, etc. But I was able to get close to 4 1/2 hours of sleep every night, at least until Days 6 & 7

 

My grandfather hardly slept more than 4 hours a night plus a 1/2 nap around 1 p.m. He did it for years. He'd go to bed around 1-2 a.m and would be up at 4 - 5 a.m. Every once in a blue moon he would sleep in until 7 a.m.

 

If you read about sleep, you will see that most people need 7 to 8 with some people needing as little as 5 and others needing as much as 10. I usually go to bed around 12 and am up around 6:30. Kind of wish I had my grandfather's gift though.

[Stir]

"For me, these things always come back to one question. Why?"

 

Because he can, my friend, because he can.

 

AMEN to that.

[Timmer]

The picture of him says it all.

 

Maybe, but folks who complete in a triathlon don't look so hot with they cross finish line either.

 

This guy did some good planning. A mechanic to take care of the Honda and tire changes. A nutritionist to take care of him and make certain he ate properly. Minimum fuel stops. Did a good part of his riding in sparsely populated Nevada. Slept in the same bed every night.

 

It's still insane but excellent planning! A worthy LD achievement.

[John in VA]

My grandfather hardly slept more than 4 hours a night plus a 1/2 nap around 1 p.m. He did it for years. He'd go to bed around 1-2 a.m and would be up at 4 - 5 a.m. Every once in a blue moon he would sleep in until 7 a.m.

 

Betcha granddad didn't ride a motorcycle on public highways 19 hours/1500 mi each day for 6 days averaging 80mph.

[smiller]

Maybe, but folks who complete in a triathlon don't look so hot with they cross finish line either.

Were those folks traveling 80 mph on a 600 lb. vehicle?

 

I don't mean to harp but this stunt is considerably different than a Saddlesore. If you compared the judgment and reaction time of someone at the end of a long series of 20-hour days and someone who had a blood alcohol level slightly over the legal limit, I wonder who would come out on top? But then again, to be fair I don't personally know about the guy over the legal limit. Maybe his constitution, training, and endurance makes him a safe driver even still. Or at least I'll bet he thinks so.

[flyingreg]

While it's an impressive feat in the abstract, this guy almost certainly must have been "asleep at the wheel" more than once on that trip and was lucky to survive.

One should not make unfounded accusations. If you don't know the man, then your statement is careless at best. Just because it is beyond the reach of most mortals doesn't mean he was asleep at the helm, or reckless. I know better and know his abilities.

[flyingreg]

"For me, these things always come back to one question. Why?"

 

Because he can, my friend, because he can.

+1!

[flyingreg]

Y'know the joke about the old comedians' home? Where they've all been there so long and heard the jokes so many times, to save time they just number them. So they sit around and one old comedian says "49!" and they all fall out of their wheelchairs laughing. And the next guy says "253!" and they all laugh until they cry. And the third guy says "87!" and everybody sits there stony faced until finally one really old guy croaks "You didn't tell it right."

 

Anytime somebody posts about a LD riding achievement, why don't we just have numbers for the responses so we can save time reading the thread?

 

41 = The rider is some sort of lunatic.

 

43 = He must have been sleeping while riding.

 

45 = Anybody who exceeds the speed limit on public roads on a motorcycle is a dangerous maniac.

 

47 = Think of all the natural resources wasted.

 

49 = I wouldn't want to do this so I don't understand why anybody else would.

 

EB, for many, not just here on this list, er, DB, LD stories of accomplishment are lost on them. We do it because we can. nuff said.

[flyingreg]

Maybe, but folks who complete in a triathlon don't look so hot with they cross finish line either.

Were those folks traveling 80 mph on a 600 lb. vehicle?

 

I don't mean to harp but<SNIP>

When Ron Ayres rode through all 49 states in 6 days to make the new world record, I wonder how many thought as you do. Some people have the ability, some don't. These riders have it with some to spare.

 

And yes, you did mean to harp, or you wouldn't have.

[Matts_12GS]

Anytime somebody posts about a LD riding achievement, why don't we just have numbers for the responses so we can save time reading the thread?

 

41 = The rider is some sort of lunatic.

 

43 = He must have been sleeping while riding.

 

45

[bakerzdosen]

41

[repo]

68

[Lets_Play_Two]

One should not make unfounded accusations. If you don't know the man, then your statement is careless at best. Just because it is beyond the reach of most mortals doesn't mean he was asleep at the helm, or reckless. I know better and know his abilities.

 

I wouldn't call the comments careless, but I would call them judgmental. This group as a whole has a penchant for making personal and moral judgments about a whole lot of things with very little direct information. It isn't fatal but it is a flaw.

[SageRider]

This group as a whole has a penchant for making personal and moral judgments about a whole lot of things with very little direct information.

Amen!

[leikam]

Perhaps many people who don't do long distance riding don't recognize the grotty details because their riding doesn't look like that and if they look like that when they roll into the garage, something's gone very wrong.

 

Maybe some of the long distance riders are a bit defensive about the risks taken on in riding 10,000 miles over 6 days. If it were easy, everybody would do it. If it weren't pushing the bounds of endurance, it wouldn't be an achievement.

 

So at what point does a well-planned ride cross over from a good idea to a bad idea? Can you tell the difference from a couple photos and some routes? Some of us have clear opinions one one way or the other, but none of us were on the bike.

 

On a LD ride, does simply arriving home with bike and body intact mean it was a good idea? Does the end justify the ride? How far is too far? Clearly this sort of ride takes a lot of preparation, planning and training but in other domains, like mountain climbing, all of that sometimes fails to avert tragedy.

[Emerson00]

All good questions.

 

I don't know him.

 

I don't want to meet him at the end of the [last couple] days, if he looks like that when he gets off the bike.

 

Not trying to be judgmental, but i'd be nervous if I knew he was approaching me on my bike on the road in that condition.

 

[edited because I was thinking 10, 6, 10, 6... )

 

I think the answers to these questions are, simply, it's too far when you risk others lives for your achievements.

 

Dude, 10k in 6 days?

[Todd_Z1]

I think you are being unbelievably judgmental about the judgments that were made.

[russell_bynum]

I think you are being unbelievably judgmental about the judgments that were made.

 

[smiller]

I wouldn't call the comments careless, but I would call them judgmental. This group as a whole has a penchant for making personal and moral judgments about a whole lot of things with very little direct information.

Hey, we judge squids who think they are skilled (but we know better), helmetless riders who think that they have made a valid risk/reward decision (but we know better), riders who freely violate certain traffic laws if they feel it to be safe at the time (but we know better)... so why is someone who pulls off a stunt like this respected for his 'achievement'... shouldn't we at least be consistent in making our uninformed biased judgments?

[Twisties]

41

43

49

 

I could, I suppose rob a bank, but I've never wanted to. Because you can is not an answer.

 

To see if you can, that may be an answer, but, by inference, you then admit you are at your limits, maybe exceeding them, certainly not maintaining the margin of safety driving demands.

 

Many studies on the effects of lack of sleep. Add to this heat, the drain of maintaining focus, muscle fatigue. I think this is like driving after a 6-pack, or worse.

 

The difference between mtn climbing and this, is that the mtn climber doesn't use the public roadway.

 

My take: Like any driver working at the limits of himself and his machine, take it to the track!

 

As for judgmental: Well what did you post it here for, but for people to react to it? You sought judgment you have it. Just because that judgment is mixed is no reason for offense. People found the post interesting enough to reply to, that's success around here. If you don't want honest reaction, don't post.

 

Just my honest reaction.

 

Peace!

[Knighthawk]

As for judgmental: Well what did you post it here for, but for people to react to it? You sought judgment you have it. Just because that judgment is mixed is no reason for offense. People found the post interesting enough to reply to, that's success around here. If you don't want honest reaction, don't post.

 

Just my honest reaction.

 

 

 

 

I posted it here just to share and generate discussion...this IS a discussion board.

 

How can you possibly compare robbing a bank to completing 7 BBGs in 7 days?

 

Please show me where I sought judgement or took offense to anything posted in this thread (other than your post.)

 

Go back and read the thread again.

[Paul Mihalka]

A bit of a hijack to show that we are not made all the same, and can't judge what other people do by what we ourselves are able to do. Apparently some people manage to be productive without much sleep. One person like this is Admiral Don Arthur, Surgeon General of the Navy.

He rode over 100K miles in one year on his K1200LT while doing most of the maintenance himself. He is accomplished motorcycle mechanic who took apart his LT, painted it, and put it back together again. Besides his medical doctor's degree and his Navy schooling, he also has a lawyer's degree.

His description of his 4 day 6000 mile 4 corners ride is here:

 

http://www.usa4corners.org/don-arthur.html

 

On top of all, you meet him and he is just the regular Joe next door. When I sold him his LT after some nice riding conversations the way I found out who he is , was when I called him on the phone and his answering machine said: "This is admiral Donald Arthur, vice-surgeon general of the Navy".

[Paul Mihalka]

Here is a description of Don Arthur's medical/military history.

 

One of his regular rides was to work the morning in Washington DC, ride overnight to Pensacola FL, and run a work meeting there the next day.

 

http://www.military-medical-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=864

[flyingreg]

<snip>One person like this is Admiral Don Arthur, Surgeon General of the Navy.

He rode over 100K miles in one year on his K1200LT while doing most of the maintenance himself. He is accomplished motorcycle mechanic who took apart his LT, painted it, and put it back together again. Besides his medical doctor's degree and his Navy schooling, he also has a lawyer's degree. <snip>

 

On top of all, you meet him and he is just the regular Joe next door. <snip>

Paul, you forgot to mention that while riding 100,000 miles in that year, he also maintained his admiral duties each day at Bethesda NH and the Pentagon. Thought I should throw that in there, adds a little more perspective.

[Twisties]

Quote:

 

As for judgmental: Well what did you post it here for, but for people to react to it? You sought judgment you have it. Just because that judgment is mixed is no reason for offense. People found the post interesting enough to reply to, that's success around here. If you don't want honest reaction, don't post.

 

Just my honest reaction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I posted it here just to share and generate discussion...this IS a discussion board.

 

How can you possibly compare robbing a bank to completing 7 BBGs in 7 days?

 

Please show me where I sought judgement or took offense to anything posted in this thread (other than your post.)

 

Go back and read the thread again.

 

Did not compare ride feat to robbing bank. Responded to the many in this thread who tried to explain reason for doing this is "because he can". I can rob a bank, but don't. Ergo, because I can is not a reason to do something, I still need motivation.

 

I suggested that a better explanation is to see if you can, but postulated that that explanation implied the testing of limits on the public roadway.

 

My other point, about judgment, responds to all those in the thread who complain that not all reaction to this feat was positive, accusing respondents of being "judgmental". Perhaps the word "you" in my response wasn't the right word, I meant it in the collective sense, but your response does confirm my thesis:

 

 

I posted it here just to share and generate discussion...this IS a discussion board.

 

"share and generate discussion" = "react and sought judgment"

 

"this IS a discussion board" That is my point exactly. 100%

 

Anyway, I guess I just don't understand this. I don't understand why anyone would want to do this kind of riding, I don't understand why you all are so defensive, and so easy to take offense, and I don't understand why you all think all of the reaction should be positive. Sorry, don't want any fights, just really don't get it.

[bakerzdosen]

OK, you convinced me. I should rob a bank. I'm betting I could take out the US Bank at about 95th S State today at about noon today.

 

(Here's hoping no one actually DOES that today as that might look mildly suspicious... )

 

I think a better way of phrasing (to satisfy both sides of the arguement) would be "because it's a challenge that I'd like to look back on and say 'I did this' with pride."

 

For some, climbing Mt. Everest is a challenge. For me, it would be suicide. I think everyone's different.

 

This can be answer 76.

[Kraynak]

It would seem to me that anyone that would do this is either doing it for bragging rights or testing personal limits.

I would like to think that he rode safely all that time. If he did then that is amazing. I personally could not.

I personally don't enjoy riding for long periods of time, I ride for pleasure not pain. Thats just me though.

[Stir]

My grandfather hardly slept more than 4 hours a night plus a 1/2 nap around 1 p.m. He did it for years. He'd go to bed around 1-2 a.m and would be up at 4 - 5 a.m. Every once in a blue moon he would sleep in until 7 a.m.

 

Betcha granddad didn't ride a motorcycle on public highways 19 hours/1500 mi each day for 6 days averaging 80mph.

 

No, he drove trucks, busses and taxis.

[Stir]

I could, I suppose rob a bank, but I've never wanted to. Because you can is not an answer.

Peace!

 

Those two items don't equate. Alot of people have no desire to LD rider either so they don't.

 

When I took MSF, I asked my step dad to join me. He had terminal cancer at the time and he asked me why he should. I told him, because he could. SO, he went with me and did something that he would not have ordinarilly tried. He died 6 months laters but for me, I have that memory of him taking that class with me...just because he could.

 

M

[Stir]

Anyway, I guess I just don't understand this. I don't understand why anyone would want to do this kind of riding, I don't understand why you all are so defensive, and so easy to take offense, and I don't understand why you all think all of the reaction should be positive. Sorry, don't want any fights, just really don't get it.

 

Because as motorcycle riders, we face your view every day. WHY WOULD YOU ride a motorcycle? It is just as valid a question as why would you ride long distances? Why do YOU ride a motorcycle? Your chances of a fatal accident ar 4 times greater that driving in a car. The point is you made a decision to live further down the risk line. Why should your stopping point for risk be the everyone elses stopping point? Not getting on your case here, but explaining why riders are defensive. We have people out there who think riding motorcycles should be restricted. Smaller engines, lower horse power...ect...ect. I have done two documented long distance rides and a bunch of undocmented ones. When I tire, I pull over and rest. I was a bit fatigued, but no more distracted than say someone talking on the cell phone, putting on makeup or reading the paper while driving...

[Knighthawk]

 

 

 

 

"share and generate discussion" = "react and sought judgment"

 

So you are seeking reaction and judgement from your post.

 

Pot - Kettle - Black

 

Anyway, I guess I just don't understand this. I don't understand why anyone would want to do this kind of riding, I don't understand why you all are so defensive, and so easy to take offense, and I don't understand why you all think all of the reaction should be positive. Sorry, don't want any fights, just really don't get it.

 

So, by your own admission, you don't understand why people do this. You attack that which you do not understand.

[USAF1]

OK......WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE RETURN THE BUTTER AND THE WHITE CHEESE SPRINKLE STUFF!!

 

Pat

[flyingreg]

<snip>I could, I suppose rob a bank, <snip>

I guess you could but certainly do not see the comparison. If you did decide to rob a bank in my state, you might find yourself a guest in my Big House for the next 10-15.

 

Me, I'll stick to riding motorcycles for days on end. Last time I checked, it's still legal.