IBR 2021

[EricV]

People come up with different plans. The Leg One rally pack has 19 different bonus locations, as I understand. There is a separate rally pack that covers the entire rally time frame this year, which has over 100 other bonuses that can be gotten. However, these bonuses may include combos or other linked bonuses, and each may only be grabbed once during the entire rally. Also, the leg bonuses typically get larger point values as the rally moves on. So a similar type of bonus on leg one may be worth much more on leg two or three. This makes it more confusing on if you should ignore basic bonuses on leg one and attempt more complex bonuses from the full rally pack. I suspect some riders are attempting complex combo bonues now, hoping to focus on higher point leg bonuses in the next leg.

That said, it's clear that there are a couple of groups that have the same basic plan at this point. A bunch went to the breeder reactor near Arco, ID after the group photo bonus at the Golden Spike, (timed bonus), and another group went to Seattle for something, some including Portland, before all heading east again. One rider was down on the Southern Oregon coast still last night, apparently at a Wendy's taking a break and probably trying to figure out his/her plan. I think that rider might be screwed. They were on the OR coast yesterday morning and barely inland yesterday evening. They are still in OR now, though at a hotel in Hines, OR, which is eastern OR. They could still get to the checkpoint in IN, but will need to pick up the pace.

 

[056F]

From the Day 2 report "A little more information about the riders’ bonus pack reveals that the 49 bonuses in the Rallywide section of the bonus listing (bonuses available on all three legs) contains a single bonus in each state plus DC. "

If there are only 19 in the leg one specific packet that implies there are only 68 bonus spread over the whole country, that seams pretty sparse compared to previous years doesn't it? If so that may partially explain why there are a few common routes. It'll be interesting to see the rally book if they publish it after the fact like they have in the past.

 

[WJBertrand]

This is all new to me. Interesting. I don't know that I have the butt for it.

I did a Saddle Sore 1000 a number of years ago on my '93 ST1100. The SS1000 is the minimum ride to get certified in the IBA, it's 1000 miles in 24 hours or less. I started in Louisville, CO and ended in Ventura, CA. I got my certificate, sticker, patch and license plate frame but have been cured of any desire to do it again, let alone one of the more ambitious rides like the Rally itself. I do however remain fascinated from a distance.

 

[JJTJ2]

How do they work in oil changes? I doubt they have packed the stuff they need to change it themselves. Any who knows were they will be when to schedule one.

 

[OldRider]

I'm wondering who he/she is that's busting down towards Key West?

 

[JJTJ2]

I wish when you clicked on the rider, it would show you their tracks history. I would like to see where they have been.

 

[WJBertrand]

I'm wondering who he/she is that's busting down towards Key West?

This chart lists the rider by number: https://ironbutt.com/ibr2021/IBR_2021_Day_-1.htm But I'm not sure how to correlate that to their tracker numbers.

 

[EricV]

How do they work in oil changes? I doubt they have packed the stuff they need to change it themselves. Any who knows were they will be when to schedule one.

Many don't do oil changes during the rally. I didn't. 11k miles on Rotella T6 left it black as night, but it didn't break down and still had good lubricity. I changed it after the rally in Canada in a Walmart parking lot at a stop during the ride home.

I have seen riders do oil changes at checkpoint 2 when off the clock. Usually they have a little time in the evening to get some maintenance done. Rider meeting was at 0400 the next morning, which is when you got the Leg 3 rider packet. Some of the riders pre-arranged to have an indi shop open late to allow for maintenance, tire changes, oil changes, etc. I suspect most did what I did, simply used a good full synthetic oil and didn't change it until after the rally. I changed my oil at the start, prior to the rally, after riding there. Again, Walmart parking lot. Auto center accepts used oil, so easy disposal.

 

[EricV]

This chart lists the rider by number: https://ironbutt.com/ibr2021/IBR_2021_Day_-1.htm But I'm not sure how to correlate that to their tracker numbers.

You won't be able to. That's the point. The tracking numbers randomize and change every so often. They don't want spectators or riders to know who is going where. And many riders choose not to be on the group spot page.

The only way you will see history is if you have a rider's personal tracking page link. And those are not shared with very many people for good reasons. In '13 I gave my spotwalla trip link to only a few people. I told them NOT to share it with anyone. One of my friends shared it with another of my friends that I had specifically chosen not to share it with. That person called me at 3am during the last leg because HE though I should be up and riding to the finish. I had planned to sleep another hour and had my plan well sorted with plenty of time. So instead of getting a solid 3 hours of sleep, my normal sleep pattern, I was awakened from a dead sleep, out of sorts and trying to find my phone after only 2 hours. By the time I got to it, it had gone to voice mail, but the damage was done. I did not appreciate it. I never told my friend that he woke me up and it wasn't welcome. He's an IBR finisher himself and should have known better.

 

[WJBertrand]

That explains it then, thanks. "The numbers were changed to protect the inno... errr.. guilty"

 

[EricV]

New Day 4 report up and the IBA page.

 

[OldRider]

Is 10:00 at the check in lights out the parties over or does a rider start losing points after 10:00?

 

[GearheadGrrrl]

Penalty points start at 8, after 10 they're out.

 

[EricV]

Looking like 5 riders DNF for the first leg. A couple mechanical and 3 time barred. Won't know for sure until they tell us in the daily reports. I do wonder if Rider #17 was sharp enough to go get his flag that he left at the last bonus before the hotel, only ~75 miles away? I can't recall if they still give you an hour after stopping the clock to report to scoring or not. I'd be tempted, if I realized when I got to the hotel and stopped the clock that my flag was missing, to ask for a 3-4 hour window to "run an errand before scoring", then hustle back and get the flag before going to scoring where you have to show it or be penalized. Might or might not get any love from the RM, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Probably a no go if they got in close to penalty. But if they got in earlier...

 

[Rambler]

Leg 1 Scoring Posted

IBR 2021 | Leg 1 Scoring

 

[EricV]

Only 4 DNFs. The couple that was the OR rider managed to pull it off and make it in. Turns out they left their flag at a bonus, then realized it and went back, looked all over and finally asked a landscaper near by. He found it and put it in his truck. The got the flag back, (saving them from a penalty and having to have your face in the bonus pics every time).

#17 didn't realize he left the flag at the last bonus until he got to the checkpoint. But, thankfully he was in early enough to go back and get it. He was the very last rider in, and it cost him 270 points in penalty, but totally worth it. I know Mike and am stoked he got his flag back in time. Worth mentioning is that penalty points in the first leg are pretty small, like 3pts/min. They get huge by the third leg. If you're going to be in penalty, it's the first leg you want to do it in.

 

[lddave]

The 2 stroke KTM is still in the rally.

 

[ballisticexchris]

When riders forgetting something as important as a bonus flag that can cost them big points and DNF, that is a sure sign of fatigue. There is no way it can be spun any different. Impaired decision making and judgement is one of the first signs.

Do the organizers of this event have rested up "chase riders" to help those that are fatigued get in safely or stop them from riding? This reduces risk to themselves and others on the road.

I have seen this before on single day off road endurance rides when riders blow past checkpoints. Thankfully the club organizers realize this and have expert chase riders that are fresh and ready to go at these checkpoints and chase down those riders and check for fatigue. Savvy sweep and chase riders can ask a few simple questions to check for fatigue. Most of the time it's a simple thing to get the rider on a bailout to get back to home base.

I have experienced extreme fatigue myself back in 2015 when I entered a very hard core off road endurance ride. The annual Big Bear Run has a hard way that only a handful of riders complete each year. I tanked out halfway up the "easy way" on Malcom Smith Trail. I completed only 60 miles of the 200+ mile event. I was lucky enough to know the signs of fatigue and bailed out myself.

The problem with some riders is they end up pushing themselves when fatigue sets in. With motorized vehicles running on public highways this is not good and only bad things are going to happen.

 

[EricV]

Chris, you have zero experience in endurance motorcycle rallies of this type. Stop posting things you "think" and stick with things you know.

Nothing you 'think' is based upon actually doing this event. Leaving your flag behind is not "a sure sign of fatigue". Riders have a lot going on in their head. The clock is ticking, you're wondering if you're up on time, down on time, should you drop that small bonus and try to make it to the big bonus instead, should you drop everything and head for the checkpoint, miles Vs time Vs speed, did you do the paperwork correctly at the bonus, should you turn around now or keep on your plan, etc, etc, etc. Add to that the two up riders that have the additional communication between each other, (do you need to pee, eat, what's the next gas stop, etc), and there is even more to distract you at stops.

Most riders have a routine at bonus stops. It's practiced and done the exact same way EVERY SINGLE TIME to develop muscle memory so you don't forget things. If you get interrupted during this process, sometimes it throws your routine off and you forget to do something. Riders do things like attaching their bike keys to their flag so it's impossible to leave w/o the flag. I tethered my flag to my tank bag, & stuffed it in-between my map case and tank bag, (separate pieces clipped together), and part of my routine after starting the bike when leaving a bonus was to physically feel for my flag before I let the clutch out. I never left a rally flag behind in 10 years of riding endurance rallies. But people do it every rally, for different reasons.

I even saw a riders rally pack, what you write the bonus collection info on, at a bonus location during one rally. You can't score w/o that. The rider was an hour away before they realized it and had to go back and get it.

The 2 Stroke is still in the rally, but second to last on points and too low. If he keeps riding like this he will be DNF on points, even if he manages to finish. Look at rider George Levar, #58. He only rode 102 more miles than Michael Boge on the 2 stroke, yet gathered 4270 more points and is safely in the window for finishing well on points. Efficiency counts for these rallies.

 

[ballisticexchris]

Chris, you have zero experience in endurance motorcycle rallies of this type. Stop posting things you "think" and stick with things you know.

Nothing you 'think' is based upon actually doing this event. Leaving your flag behind is not "a sure sign of fatigue". Riders have a lot going on in their head. The clock is ticking, you're wondering if you're up on time, down on time, should you drop that small bonus and try to make it to the big bonus instead, should you drop everything and head for the checkpoint, miles Vs time Vs speed, did you do the paperwork correctly at the bonus, should you turn around now or keep on your plan, etc, etc, etc. Add to that the two up riders that have the additional communication between each other, (do you need to pee, eat, what's the next gas stop, etc), and there is even more to distract you at stops.

Well Eric meaning no offense but you have not answered my question. Do the rally organizers have fresh riders to help out those that are in need?

Wether it's a multi day event like yours or a single day hard core off road endurance event, thinking skills are important. Having fresh riders at checkpoints and bonus stops is just a smart way to run an event. The only reason I asked is because I read the rules and saw no mention of rider support or chase vehicles. It's not mentioned in some of the long races or endurance rides I've raced either.

I do not need experience in a IBR to know that fatigue is a real part of the event. It's important for any rider to know this fatigue is a real challenge. Forgetting something that can cause a DNF and everything you listed proves my point.

Please to not assume my experience level on these type of events. The IBR is no different than any other type of endurance event other than the rules. It is nothing more or less than staying planted in the saddle and making decisions on the fly where to stop. Part of it is remembering what you need to do to have the points to finish. Yes I read the rules.