25 IBR: prepped but am I ready to roll?

jeffrey gebler

jeffrey gebler

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
I arrived in the states 8 days ago and finally finished prepping my tenere for the 2025 Iron Butt Rally.
With the exception of two undocumented saddle sores, I have done very little riding since last year's LDX. My new position at work has left me with very limited time to ride so it could be an interesting 11days starting June 16th.
I managed to get a ride in today and circled lake Michigan, 1070 miles/16.5 hours and far too long on petrol stops.

spotwalla.com

Trip: Lake Michigan

Ss1600
spotwalla.com spotwalla.com
 

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Jeff, you have ridden hundreds of thousands of kms. That depth of experience will overcome any lack of form. Just like tabledrain when he'd mosey on over from Africa for a:cool: US rally having just bounced around on his dirt bike a few times in the previous year.

Nice ride in your link there. Brought back memories of the 2013 IBR.

Have a great time.
 
Have a great time Jeff. Re-download the scoring app if it’s been a while to make sure you have the most recent updates. Sit there, twist that, re-plan as needed. Don’t lose your flag, hydrate, don’t crash while looking at your screens.

Get to the bonus location, read the bonus, find the bonus, READ THE BONUS AGAIN, take the pic and send it, put your flag away and read the next bonus and go.
 
jeffrey gebler said:
I arrived in the states 8 days ago and finally finished prepping my tenere for the 2025 Iron Butt Rally.
With the exception of two undocumented saddle sores, I have done very little riding since last year's LDX. My new position at work has left me with very limited time to ride so it could be an interesting 11days starting June 16th.
I managed to get a ride in today and circled lake Michigan, 1070 miles/16.5 hours and far too long on petrol stops.

spotwalla.com

Trip: Lake Michigan

Ss1600
spotwalla.com spotwalla.com
Click to expand...

Well done on that ride Jeff. i was following your Spotwalla link as you rode and you seemed to make steady progress.

The gas stops are a lottery here for us Aussies. I have been reacquainting myself with the various techniques available, noting apple paywave seems to conquer some of these demons, but I remain ready to exercise the cash payment first option at all times. (Walk into the counter to put $10 on pump number 5 mate)

Me thinks your years of LD riding will stand you in good stead when we are waved out of the parking lot on Monday. It will be good to be back out on the road again.

See you in Coralville on Saturday.
 
Last edited:
EricV said:
Have a great time Jeff. Re-download the scoring app if it’s been a while to make sure you have the most recent updates. Sit there, twist that, re-plan as needed. Don’t lose your flag, hydrate, don’t crash while looking at your screens.

Get to the bonus location, read the bonus, find the bonus, READ THE BONUS AGAIN, take the pic and send it, put your flag away and read the next bonus and go.
Click to expand...
Print a copy of Eric's post and stick it to your tank bag on day 9
 
You guys have got this to look forward to!

Getting over the rally took time. Just like the angst I felt when I didn't get a receipt for gas in Spokane, I had tuned myself for the rally and the training took quite a while to wear off. It was over a month before I stopped waking up in the middle of the night in a panic thinking that I had overslept and needed to get to a bonus. Several times I was out of bed and half-dressed before I realized that Susie was telling me that "The rally is over and you are home." Sometimes she had to say it a few times because I was busy dressing, trying to remember where I was back down to go to sleep again while still convincing myself that I really was at home and not having a dream during the rally.
I was worried about everyday things like how long it took me to eat lunch since I was used to a three-minute-meal. Sitting in a restaurant to eat was a long luxury that made me flat-out nervous. It was December before life returned to normal.
Hopeless Class Joel Rappoport p 207
 
The decompression time varies. It was a month or so before I forced myself to not take a receipt from the gas pump and I haven’t done it again except for cert rides. It’s empowering to break the trance! :D
 
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