The Gathering

It’s been awhile since I’ve got together with my people, my long distance riding community. And Nambucca Heads was where it all started for me,  it was the destination of my first 1,000km day. Here I found a community of like-minded people who enjoy the open road and doing big miles. Where a couple of days can see you anywhere in the country.

ACT Insanity ride

When I first heard about this ride I really couldn’t see how I could ride around my city 20 times without it doing my head in. When I do a big ride I don’t like droning up the highway just to do the miles, I like a destination, I like new roads, I like getting out of town. So the thought of going in circles for no other reason than just to clock up miles just isn’t me. However this is a challenge and I’m up for a challenge.

Introducing the ST to IBA rides

Sometimes the stars align and you just have to capitalise on the opportunity. Over the weekend Deb had a Stampin’ Up! virtual conference, there was a FarRide to Tooleybuc on Saturday, the round trip to Tooleybuc is about 1400km, and I was just itching for a big ride. And if I felt okay I could easily add an extra 200km to make it an IBA ride which would be the first on the Honda ST1300.

An appropriate sign on a Saddlesore 1600 ride with 1400GTR and ZX14R

Saddle Sore 1600

While I’ve completed a few of these rides now, I wouldn’t say they are easy, just that our approach to them is more casual. We know what it takes. A ride like this is not about speed it’s about consistency. It’s spending time in the saddle not in the cafe sipping your latte.

The Saddle Sore 1600, or 1600km in 24 hours. The minimum endurance ride certified by the Iron Butt Association (IBA).