Hello there, I am thinking of doing the Iron Butt challenge during my road trip in July. I printed out the ride log and noticed there are two columns that ask for an odometer reading at each stop. The first one is easy- motorcycle odometer is just the odometer on my motorcycle. But the second one doesn't make any sense to me. I use Apple Maps because I am very familiar with it and can easily see the blue line while I am driving. But while it will tell me how many miles I have left to my destination, it doesn't tell me how many miles I've traveled so far. Also, I can just back out the number because when I go off course (pull over for gas or food) it doesn't keep a record of that. I am worried that I will fill out everything correctly, take pictures of my receipts next to my odometer, and then not get the certificate because I don't have a GPS with an odometer reading. Does anyone know if it is necessary to have a GPS odometer reading to get the award? Thank you so much.
How do you find the GPS odometer on Apple Maps for the ride log? Is it necessary for the award?
- Thread starter kathleenterner
- Start date
When I did the route on Apple Maps it said that it was 1014 miles. That doesn't count me getting off the freeway for food or gas. Do you think that would be enough? I was planning on going from my favorite motel in South Dakota (the Rocket Motel) to a 24 hour gas station in Michigan City. There seem to be several there. I just called one of the stations and the guy said that sometimes they close from 2-3am but that if I call him the day before he will make sure he comes to the door even if I arrive during that time.
When I did my rides, I just used the GPS to calculate a route back to my start location then used that mileage as the GPS miles. Pretty simple really.
For mileage, I had 1038 and 1045 miles for my two rides so far. I don't think 1014 is enough. I suggest 1025 at an absolute minimum. Less than that is cutting it too close IMO.
For mileage, I had 1038 and 1045 miles for my two rides so far. I don't think 1014 is enough. I suggest 1025 at an absolute minimum. Less than that is cutting it too close IMO.
I just had another question- when you say your rides were at 1038 and 1045 was that what the distance was directly from beginning to end or did that include pulling off the freeway for food and gas? The reason I'm asking is that the 1014 miles would be without any stops. So maybe to be safe I need to continue to the next town. But if I can count the mileage pulling off for food and gas that might put me up to 1020 or 1030. Anyway, I guess I will just have to see how it goes at the time and err on the side of caution. But I was just curious if the mileage you mentioned included the miles you traveled for food and gas. Sorry to be asking so many questions. I will be doing this ride on my own and hope not to screw it up.
You're implying that this is a 'point-to-point' ride. Point A to B, along one road. Please clarify if this isn't the case.
You're right in that the mileage from exit ramps to gas stations, etc. are counted in the distance, but how much distance do you think that might be in a thousand plus mile day? Two? Five?
That's kinda the point...we really don't have the capability of doing those computations - and YOU don't want to be trying to do those calculations with twelve plus hours of motorcycle riding completed.
All us us wish you the best of success in your upcoming Saddlesore!
You're right in that the mileage from exit ramps to gas stations, etc. are counted in the distance, but how much distance do you think that might be in a thousand plus mile day? Two? Five?
That's kinda the point...we really don't have the capability of doing those computations - and YOU don't want to be trying to do those calculations with twelve plus hours of motorcycle riding completed.
All us us wish you the best of success in your upcoming Saddlesore!
You're implying that this is a 'point-to-point' ride. Point A to B, along one road. Please clarify if this isn't the case.
You're right in that the mileage from exit ramps to gas stations, etc. are counted in the distance, but how much distance do you think that might be in a thousand plus mile day? Two? Five?
That's kinda the point...we really don't have the capability of doing those computations - and YOU don't want to be trying to do those calculations with twelve plus hours of motorcycle riding completed.
All us us wish you the best of success in your upcoming Saddlesore!
You're right in that the mileage from exit ramps to gas stations, etc. are counted in the distance, but how much distance do you think that might be in a thousand plus mile day? Two? Five?
That's kinda the point...we really don't have the capability of doing those computations - and YOU don't want to be trying to do those calculations with twelve plus hours of motorcycle riding completed.
All us us wish you the best of success in your upcoming Saddlesore!
If on one of your gas stops you get off the highway go right to a gas station you can see that is a 1/2 mile away but it turns out its closed and you have to do a u-turn back to the hwy and find an open station 1/4 mile on the other side the receipt for the gas you got would only add 1/2 mile to your route the mile you went to get to and return from the closed station evaporates.
Your on the right track, pick a start and stop that Google maps (or whatever) says has a sufficient cushion, make sure there aren't and shortcut opportunities the mapping program doesn't use (i.e. the program use a Loop around a city when it's possible to go straight though) the loop will be faster but is 4 or 5 miles farther than straight through when verified you'll likely lose those miles unless you somehow prove you were there gas or toll receipt spotwalla track etc. But I wouldn't even really worry about it provided you have a sufficient cushion.
Don't over think it pick a decent route and have fun.
You're implying that this is a 'point-to-point' ride. Point A to B, along one road. Please clarify if this isn't the case.
You're right in that the mileage from exit ramps to gas stations, etc. are counted in the distance, but how much distance do you think that might be in a thousand plus mile day? Two? Five?
That's kinda the point...we really don't have the capability of doing those computations - and YOU don't want to be trying to do those calculations with twelve plus hours of motorcycle riding completed.
All us us wish you the best of success in your upcoming Saddlesore!
You're right in that the mileage from exit ramps to gas stations, etc. are counted in the distance, but how much distance do you think that might be in a thousand plus mile day? Two? Five?
That's kinda the point...we really don't have the capability of doing those computations - and YOU don't want to be trying to do those calculations with twelve plus hours of motorcycle riding completed.
All us us wish you the best of success in your upcoming Saddlesore!
Let's put it this way: Your odometer means almost nothing to the verification team. It's a comparative tool only. They will map your route out based upon your stated route, your receipts then verify your stated route. They make no allowances for your deviations from your stated route plan to get gas or anything else unless you state and document a detour. And in that case, the detour should have been part of the route you give them. They will determine the length of your ride based upon the documentation you give them, not by what your odometer says. Odometers are classically off by up to 10%. Yours might be spot on, or not. That's part of why they ask for your GPS odo too, just as another back up to compare when they verify your route. Not having the secondary odo is no big deal, as has been stated before.
Plan your route on Google Maps or Apple maps and see what it says for distance. Google Maps can be selected for some 'avoids' so be careful about that in the options. It will usually show you the shortest route, and sometimes alternatives. Compare that to your Apple Maps route. That might catch a glaring error where you could have taken a short cut, which will tell you where you may need to add another stop to document that you took the route you say you did.
Plan your route on Google Maps or Apple maps and see what it says for distance. Google Maps can be selected for some 'avoids' so be careful about that in the options. It will usually show you the shortest route, and sometimes alternatives. Compare that to your Apple Maps route. That might catch a glaring error where you could have taken a short cut, which will tell you where you may need to add another stop to document that you took the route you say you did.
Not one bit; in fact, it makes things easy.
@EricV post immediately preceding this one explains it better than I tried to in his first paragraph. @rneal55555 has also provided some pertinent pieces of info as well (as in the don't overthink it part...), and that is VERY easy to do - I'm personally a big offender of this myself.
I've never used Apple Maps, so I can't vouch for validity, but when I check miles on a thousand mile ride with Google Maps, it's usually pretty darn close - especially if you're gonna go along a single road (Interstate highway) to accomplish it.
'Margin for error' is what we're all trying to help with. The old paper map days this was much more common for this to happen...plan a ~1000 mile ride, ride a ~1000 mile ride, your odometer claims you've done a thousand mile ride, and one ends up being a few miles short. Nobody wants that to happen, and all we're doing is providing our (collective) insight on how to avoid that.
My personal 'tightest' ride distance was 1517 certified miles for a 1500+ mile ride. Now, this is a VERY common route (Jax Beach FL to Van Horn, TX) and many others have certified that distance before me.
So, though it can be done, doing something that tight on a first ride is discouraged.
@EricV post immediately preceding this one explains it better than I tried to in his first paragraph. @rneal55555 has also provided some pertinent pieces of info as well (as in the don't overthink it part...), and that is VERY easy to do - I'm personally a big offender of this myself.
I've never used Apple Maps, so I can't vouch for validity, but when I check miles on a thousand mile ride with Google Maps, it's usually pretty darn close - especially if you're gonna go along a single road (Interstate highway) to accomplish it.
'Margin for error' is what we're all trying to help with. The old paper map days this was much more common for this to happen...plan a ~1000 mile ride, ride a ~1000 mile ride, your odometer claims you've done a thousand mile ride, and one ends up being a few miles short. Nobody wants that to happen, and all we're doing is providing our (collective) insight on how to avoid that.
My personal 'tightest' ride distance was 1517 certified miles for a 1500+ mile ride. Now, this is a VERY common route (Jax Beach FL to Van Horn, TX) and many others have certified that distance before me.
So, though it can be done, doing something that tight on a first ride is discouraged.
Thanks so much for all the feedback. Your explanation makes sense. I feel much better leaving a buffer. It also helps to understand that any deviations from the freeway really won't count. I had thought that a starting mileage of 1014 plus several additional miles for food and gas would be enough but I agree that it's really not worth taking a chance. So I'll plan the route as 1045 plus stops for food and gas just to be safe. Thank you.