Couple of ?s

rudeboy

rudeboy

Member
I’ve done 3 SS100’s. 2003; with 3 guys I knew online, 2004; solo (2 guys from the 2003 trip cancelled) and another one in 2017, also solo. First two were certified, 3rd one was not due to receipt issues, while trying to sort it out my wife (for who I moved to the US for) called it quits so I was a bit preoccupied. All 3 on BMW r1200c’s. I now have a BMW r1200cl.

I know one of the guys on my first figured out the route using MS Streets and Trips, the last one I used Apple Maps and I think Mapquest (simpler times then ;-). Can I use Apple Maps? I am an all  guy) I’m going from A to B and back to A. Pretty straightforward. I understand if I can’t get a gas receipt I can for example get an item from other places that can provide a printed receipt, like McDonalds? On the IB Facebook group mentioned “Spotwalla”?

Need to get handlebar drink holder, why are they so expensive :(. I have Sjögren’s syndrome so I need to drink often.

Lastly, for now haha. I used bicyclist shorts before, I thought they would be cheaper than these: https://ripplimpactgear.com/pages/rippl-impact-shorts-moto-home. Anyone used these?


Thanks in advance.
 
I have ben trying some super duper (claimed) cycle shorts, but still not getting that comfort level required beyond 10 hours or so.... In my opinion a bad seat is not going to be fixed other than by a good seat.
Honda haven't made a good seat for a long time..... my bike was fitted with a Honda Comfort seat..... not sure how they define their claim of comfort though...... it isn't!

The only solution I have found was when I bought a used Russel Day Long for my then R1250RT, that seat transformed my riding....

I would love to have got one for my current ride, but they only just started selling that model in the USA so I suspect it won't be long before somebody gets one done!
By which time I will be due a bike change, so we shall see,,,,

As for maps, I use Google for the first iteration, then an app called TYRE, created by a guy in Holland!
I also have ITN converter, which I can open files in various formats and save as a gpx for Garmin.
Import to GARMIN is done from TYRE, for me this works, others use their own choices such as Basecamp from Garmin, which I just don't get on with.

HTH
 
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rudeboy said:
Can I use Apple Maps? I am an all  guy) I’m going from A to B and back to A. Pretty straightforward. I understand if I can’t get a gas receipt I can for example get an item from other places that can provide a printed receipt, like McDonalds? On the IB Facebook group mentioned “Spotwalla”?
Click to expand...
Soooooo many questions... ;)

You can use whatever you want, as long as the map distance works out in favor of you traveling over 1000 miles.

Remember, this was all started by people that used *gasp* paper maps and odometers on motorcycles that were guaranteed to be inaccurate.

It's simple - YOU need to prove that YOU did the ride you claimed, nothing more.

Now, all of the other stuff (routing, tracking with Spotwalla...) is simply to provide *more* supporting data for the ride.

If you're route is A to B, then back to A, simply plot (in Google Maps, Apple Maps, whatever...) the distance from A to B. It better be 500+ miles, plus a cushion of 3% to 5%. If it is, then you should be good.

Read and study this: https://ironbutt.org/25tips.html

More reading the SS1000 rules: https://www.ironbutt.com/rules/ss1000.htm

"Plan the Ride, then Ride the Plan"
 
Will jump in here re the rippl shorts. I tried some and found them to be trash and a waste of money. Still working towards a RDL seat, but in the meantime I found a gel pad on top of my existing seat (Sargent) was an improvement. Definitely more useful than the shorts.
 
To make a seat better I have used Sheepskin, (1. A $10 sheepskin car wash mitt turns inside out and cut 3/4 of the way around so it laid flat on the seat, 2/ a Sheepskin rug bought at IKEA, 3. a sheepskin bought online) all three made a world of difference. While I played with securing them to the bike in the end I jus threw them on the seat and sat on them.

As far as riding shorts go LD Comfort is tough (probably impossible) to beat.
 
rudeboy said:
Can I use Apple Maps? I am an all  guy)
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[/QUOTE]
Yes, but the verification teams use Google Maps, which works just fine on a Mac. Plug in your intended gas stops and see if your route is over 1000 miles. 3-5% more is good.
rudeboy said:
I understand if I can’t get a gas receipt I can for example get an item from other places that can provide a printed receipt, like McDonalds?
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]
Correct, any computer generated receipt with date, time, location on it works.
rudeboy said:
On the IB Facebook group mentioned “Spotwalla”?
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]
Never trust social media. Spotwalla supports the documentation. Some rides do allow it in lieu of DBRs, but not the start and finish. Read the IBA ride description for the ride you want to do to make sure what the rules allow.
rudeboy said:
Need to get handlebar drink holder, why are they so expensive :(. I have Sjögren’s syndrome so I need to drink often.
Click to expand...
[/QUOTE]
Improvise, adapt, overcome. A bicycle bottle holder works if you have a spot to mount it. Sometimes a simple piece of flat aluminum with some holes drilled in it can be made to work to adapt one to handlebar mount off an existing bolt.
rudeboy said:
Lastly, for now haha. I used bicyclist shorts before, I thought they would be cheaper than these: https://ripplimpactgear.com/pages/rippl-impact-shorts-moto-home. Anyone used these?
Click to expand...
I've used padded bicycle shorts on bicycles for many years... for bicycle riding. Airflow is key with these. Under riding pants, you don't get that level of airflow.

For motorcycling, LDComfort keeps moisture off your skin, even when they are wet. This prevents rash and monkeybutt. Synthetic materials work best, but pads tend to collect sweat w/o the fully open airflow of wearing them as an outer layer like on bicycles. I would suggest you avoid padded shorts & cotton base layers.
 
kwthom said:
Soooooo many questions... ;)

You can use whatever you want, as long as the map distance works out in favor of you traveling over 1000 miles.

Remember, this was all started by people that used *gasp* paper maps and odometers on motorcycles that were guaranteed to be inaccurate.

It's simple - YOU need to prove that YOU did the ride you claimed, nothing more.

Now, all of the other stuff (routing, tracking with Spotwalla...) is simply to provide *more* supporting data for the ride.

If you're route is A to B, then back to A, simply plot (in Google Maps, Apple Maps, whatever...) the distance from A to B. It better be 500+ miles, plus a cushion of 3% to 5%. If it is, then you should be good.

Read and study this: https://ironbutt.org/25tips.html

More reading the SS1000 rules: https://www.ironbutt.com/rules/ss1000.htm

"Plan the Ride, then Ride the Plan"
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yes I know to make for very sure I’ve done at least a 1000. I remember those maps traveling with my Dad/family, many many moons ago. I was telling my kid about larger cities had a large sign with a map on it to find your way ;-}… I’ll read the links you provided. Watching some videos as we speak, this guy mapped gas stations, I know for a fact I did not do that when I did my solo IB’s.
 
jcauseyfd said:
Will jump in here re the rippl shorts. I tried some and found them to be trash and a waste of money. Still working towards a RDL seat, but in the meantime I found a gel pad on top of my existing seat (Sargent) was an improvement. Definitely more useful than the shorts.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I’m not going to bother than. I may have purchased biker shorts back then, I think it helped but I was a pretty young lad (ahum ;-) and probably had less aches etc.
 
rudeboy said:
<...>
Watching some videos as we speak, this guy mapped gas stations, I know for a fact I did not do that when I did my solo IB’s.
Click to expand...
On a simple SS1000, might not be needed, but on anything longer, it can help with understanding your fuel capacity vs. distance.

Plotting ~160 mile stops vs planning ~200 mile stops means you'll stop less one time in a ride. On some of my lengthy rides (a.k.a more than a day), I did do that simply to be certain my stops were in the places I wanted them (48 State ride, etc.)
 
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rudeboy said:
I’ve done 3 SS100’s. 2003; with 3 guys I knew online, 2004; solo (2 guys from the 2003 trip cancelled) and another one in 2017, also solo. First two were certified, 3rd one was not due to receipt issues, while trying to sort it out my wife (for who I moved to the US for) called it quits so I was a bit preoccupied. All 3 on BMW r1200c’s. I now have a BMW r1200cl.

I know one of the guys on my first figured out the route using MS Streets and Trips, the last one I used Apple Maps and I think Mapquest (simpler times then ;-). Can I use Apple Maps? I am an all  guy) I’m going from A to B and back to A. Pretty straightforward. I understand if I can’t get a gas receipt I can for example get an item from other places that can provide a printed receipt, like McDonalds? On the IB Facebook group mentioned “Spotwalla”?

Need to get handlebar drink holder, why are they so expensive :(. I have Sjögren’s syndrome so I need to drink often.

Lastly, for now haha. I used bicyclist shorts before, I thought they would be cheaper than these: https://ripplimpactgear.com/pages/rippl-impact-shorts-moto-home. Anyone used these?


Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Regarding the drinks holder, I used 2 IKEA utensil holders attached to the pillion footpegs and some spare foam stolen from an old ground mat to secure the 1 litre bottles. It may look odd, but with a double load of food grade water line and a bite valve, I always have water available whilst moving.

Attached photo from my recent 1200 mile ride to scotland.
 

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@CammaC : That's a great idea! I suspect our next trip to Ikea will prove to be productive in the water bottle carrier department!

I bought a Ram mount drink carrier, the gimble type thingy.... went to use it for the first time on my last ride and it proved to be in the chocolate fireguard category...... probably due to the drink bottle being too tall....

So that's coming back off the bike then.

Drink bottle went back in the top box!
 
Firstpeke said:
@CammaC : That's a great idea! I suspect our next trip to Ikea will prove to be productive in the water bottle carrier department!

I bought a Ram mount drink carrier, the gimble type thingy.... went to use it for the first time on my last ride and it proved to be in the chocolate fireguard category...... probably due to the drink bottle being too tall....

So that's coming back off the bike then.

Drink bottle went back in the top box!
Click to expand...
I was tempted by the water bottle holder on a Ram mount, but was weary of it flying off and hitting either me or someone else in the head during motorway speeds. I did purchase 2 'Iron Flask' large bottles for this and they worked out really well. An additional bonus is the 2 year old daughter can now hide her toys in the carriers for me to find when bringing the bike out :D
 
kwthom said:
On a simple SS1000, might not be needed, but on anything longer, it can help with understanding your fuel capacity vs. distance.

Plotting ~160 mile stops vs planning ~200 mile stops means you'll stop less one time in a ride. On some of my lengthy rides (a.k.a more than a day), I did do that simply to be certain my stops were in the places I wanted them (48 State ride, etc.)
Click to expand...

Yeah it’s pretty straightforward I guess. Never even attempted to “plot” a ride in Google Maps. Thanks.
 
CammaC said:
Regarding the drinks holder, I used 2 IKEA utensil holders attached to the pillion footpegs and some spare foam stolen from an old ground mat to secure the 1 litre bottles. It may look odd, but with a double load of food grade water line and a bite valve, I always have water available whilst moving.

Attached photo from my recent 1200 mile ride to scotland.
Click to expand...

That’s brilliant! Thanks for sharing.
 
If anyone is interested, BMS legendary saddles formally known as Bill Maher saddles is having a special until the end of December 2025, 25% off. I picked up my first BMS seat at the BMW rally in Oregon couple years ago and it is awesome. I just ordered a new seat for myself and passenger and Adrian is very responsive and has about a three day turnaround time from when they receive your seat to making the custom seat (currently), awesome customer service.

Tailored for your height, weight, inseam and riding style. He reuses your seat pans. I’m getting two factory heated seats on my new R130GS converted to BMS seats for about $600 (vinyl)

Never had a Russell day long to compare it to, but compared to a Sergeant seat and the BMW comfort seat they’re in two different worlds.

Makes long distance riding much more tolerable.
 
One alternative to the drink bottle on the bars is to wear a "camel back" style of drink bladder on your back. Very easy to use and can be had in sizes up to 3.5 litres.
The seat issue can be fixed by adding an Airhawk seat cushion to your seat. Proven by many as a cheap fix for a bad seat. But then the only real fix is to send your seat to Russell Day Long for their quality fix.
 
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