As many Australian IBA members will be aware, 6th May was a FarRide to Lightning Ridge. As I usually do when I learn of an upcoming ride opportunity, whether it be an IBA Muster or a FarRide, I look at the map, choose a possible route which covers the required km and gets me to the destination on time, and then I book some accommodation in advance. This way, if I forget about it until later, I have my accommodation bookings already confirmed, and I don't have to worry about all the available beds already being booked if it becomes a last minute affair.
My plan for this ride was simple. Friday, all day to ride from Melbourne to Cobar. Leave Cobar and get a start receipt about 6am Saturday, about 470km to lunch and then about 550 after lunch to Parkes would see me with 1000km under my belt around sunset, the FarRide completed and me having a nice sitdown meal and a few beers and a warm bed somewhere before riding the last 700km or so back to Melbourne on Sunday.
That WAS my plan. Then a whole bunch of big dogs in this forum started knocking over some epic rides. Round the Paddocks, Dusty Butts. I know I am capable of a 1000km day with little effort. I decided I needed to push myself a little harder. I decided to cancel my Saturday night accommodation booking and carry the swag instead.. a little later I decided that I was still being soft.. so I decided against carrying the swag too...
Having recently become a premier IBA member, I am also eligible to submit IBA applications without requiring witness forms, so I would be relying on my ability to photograph a receipt with my dashboard and my Spot tracker for verification purposes if I completed an IBA ride.
My plan for this ride was simple. Friday, all day to ride from Melbourne to Cobar. Leave Cobar and get a start receipt about 6am Saturday, about 470km to lunch and then about 550 after lunch to Parkes would see me with 1000km under my belt around sunset, the FarRide completed and me having a nice sitdown meal and a few beers and a warm bed somewhere before riding the last 700km or so back to Melbourne on Sunday.
That WAS my plan. Then a whole bunch of big dogs in this forum started knocking over some epic rides. Round the Paddocks, Dusty Butts. I know I am capable of a 1000km day with little effort. I decided I needed to push myself a little harder. I decided to cancel my Saturday night accommodation booking and carry the swag instead.. a little later I decided that I was still being soft.. so I decided against carrying the swag too...
Having recently become a premier IBA member, I am also eligible to submit IBA applications without requiring witness forms, so I would be relying on my ability to photograph a receipt with my dashboard and my Spot tracker for verification purposes if I completed an IBA ride.