Ride Around Texas & RAT Rewind

HardTxRider

HardTxRider

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
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Ride 3,100 miles around the perimeter of Texas. Kick it up a notch, ride twice around for the RAT Rewind: 6,200 miles!
The iconic IBA Ride Around Texas & Rewind features the regular RAT 3,100+ miles, and the new RAT Rewind 6,200+ miles, two consecutive RATs, one in each direction.

RAT Rewind GOLD ride report.

Sign Up for the Iron Butt Association's annual Big As Texas "Ride-a-Palooza"
Party & RAT! Click on the Big As Texas button at theIBA eStore. BAT Party $69.22, RAT $60.22, RAT Rewind $90.22

Tim Masterson
RAT Wrangler
[email protected]
 
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Tim, according to the ride database, I attempted to do this ride two days after you did back in November. I went CCW from Galveston. Even though it seemed like everything was against me (Torrential rain, miles of road construction, the pass at El Paso being close, 30-45 MPH headwinds blowing parts off my bike, temps at and below freezing), I managed to earn Gold on my first lap by two minutes. I decided against doing the rewind because I didn't feel I could make it back around in less than 70 hours. The Rewind is still on my "Bucket List" but I'm doing the JBR this year.
 
The RAT Rewind was a hard riding adventurer. It is a 6,200 mile ride in less the 6 days for Gold. I had a great ride with minimal mechanical or RidePace issues.

I'm not surprised none of the BAT RAT 22 riders signed up for the Rewind.
 
Beware... Zombie post ahead...

Coincidentally, RAT was on my mind recently and then the BAT organizers dropped the hint that you'd be leading the RAT again. Unfortunately, I think I have a conflict this year, but it's still on my list. REGARDLESS, I'd like to talk about the posted rules that have a slight contradiction, and I'd like to understanding the thinking behind it... not to criticize... just insight into the mindset. The narrative on the ride rules page says that the rider can start at any of the mandatory cities, but then the list of cities shows Texarkana as start/finish. Obviously the guidelines were updated at some point, but the list may be from the original guidance. In addition, other State Ride-Arounds now allow the rider to start/finish from anywhere, as long as they visit the cities in order. One last comment... this ride requires a bunch of receipts! I know that I'm being petty, but I hate receipts!

I've had a Cert denied due to a technicality, and want to make sure that I can follow the rules to a "T". For example, since I live in New Orleans, it would be much more convenient for me to start near I-10 around Orange.

Thanks in advance!
--Bobby
 
The original ride that established the route started and ended in Texarkana. You have always been able to start/end in any required city. The creation of other Ride Around State rides have modified the start/end rules because some of them only had the corners and a whole bunch of space in between. Now you can start/finish in any city but you must cross your path. You used to be required to get your start/end DBR's from the exact same place. What if that place isn't 24/7? Now you just have to cross your path.
I did mine under the original rules where I had to start/end in one of the required cities and I live on the path between two of the required cities. Picture this, after riding for three days straight, I had to ride past my house to the city I stared from before I could return home. Under the new rules I can start/end from where I live as long as I cross my path and the whole DBR thing. You can not start/end outside the state though. The ride must be conducted completely within the state borders.
 
Russ Black said:
The original ride that established the route started and ended in Texarkana. You have always been able to start/end in any required city. The creation of other Ride Around State rides have modified the start/end rules because some of them only had the corners and a whole bunch of space in between. Now you can start/finish in any city but you must cross your path. You used to be required to get your start/end DBR's from the exact same place. What if that place isn't 24/7? Now you just have to cross your path.
I did mine under the original rules where I had to start/end in one of the required cities and I live on the path between two of the required cities. Picture this, after riding for three days straight, I had to ride past my house to the city I stared from before I could return home. Under the new rules I can start/end from where I live as long as I cross my path and the whole DBR thing. You can not start/end outside the state though. The ride must be conducted completely within the state borders.
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Thanks for weighing in... Start and end inside the state makes sense since it's an In-State ride... and starting and ending at the same "gas station" makes sense from a fairness POV.

It still seems odd to require so many receipts on a ride that also requires Spotwalla. That is the detail that I will stress over... I can fully imagine encountering gas stations that are closed, but the pumps operate with tap-to-pay technology, but don't print a receipt... that is the kind of stuff that drives me crazy!
 
when I did my two RAT Gold rides at BAT, one in each direction, we started at the city that was the closest to the event, Dennison/Sherman. We did get receipts at the mandatory cities but they were used as backup since we all had signed up and were using spotwalla. You think getting a handful of receipts in TX is bad, the 48/49 state ride requires one for each state.
 
Are the RAT rides available outside of the the BAT time frame? Would like to conquer this eventually, but don't think I will have the time around the upcoming BAT.
 
Thanks. Figured that was the case, but I know the Jax party has special rides only available around the time of the party and wanted to check.
 
XYZZY said:
It still seems odd to require so many receipts on a ride that also requires Spotwalla.
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Not saying anyone would cheat, but Spotwalla doesn't prove you did it on a motorcycle. The DBR/ODO pictures do. Date, Time, City, State will match the pings in Spotwalla. Checks and balances.
 
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