World Record attempt !

Over the weekend of the 19th - 22nd June some 200 riders will be attempting to break the current world record for the number of riders completing 1,000 miles in under 24 hours.

http://www.rblr.co.uk/content/RBLR1000.html

This attempt is being organised by the Royal British Legion to mark the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and to raise funds for their poppy appeal.

I'm due to start my clockwise northern route, (Manchester-Penrith-Glasgow-Wick-Inverness-Edinburgh-Newcastle-Leeds), at approx 08:30 on Saturday 20th .

Both the northern and southern routes start and end at Squires cafe in Sherburn-in-Elmet .

If anyone is interested, I'll post some indicative timings nearer the event , so that you of a cruel disposition - rare on this forum I know - can wave as we pass , whilst downing your favourite brew before retiring to your warm , safe , comfortable pits. I'm already jealous!

No guarantees however that you'll see me go past , as given my GPS skills I may well end up in Clonakilty - I usually do.

All the best , Jim .

May see you there

A mate and I are lookng at joining the attempt. Trying to get time off work to do it, and I wouldn't like to think we'll have too much of a problem given the fact that we wear the "baggy green skin"

Jim, my mate and I are definately in. We got 2 of the last 8 places so attendance is gonna be good, given that they are limiting it to 200.

Coincidental, but we are doing the clockwise northern route as well

I will be on a granite grey '06 K1200S and my mate will be on a blue XJR1300, tip your hat if you see us

Wish I could get the time off but good luck to all of you!

Here's to an excellent do!

Stu -- We'll look out for you, give us a wave as you leave us behind - I'm familiar with the rapidity of "baggies"!

Clint, Dave and I will be on an RT, 1200GS, and a 1100GS - unless I fail to source a RS's rear disc in time to replace mine. In which case I may have to use my KTM - MUCH harder work.

See you @ the briefing?

All the best, Jim.

I am also doing the northern clockwise route. I will look out for you at the start. Graphitan 1150GS, 02 plate

Anyone else participating?

GJ

Done!

A humbling experience, people were completing this event on sports bikes, Hardlys, and one heroic soul on a Vespa!

And there was me on my beloved 1100GS, complete with 33 litre tank, only managing to finish because two of my friends were generous enough to stay with me while I slept on the forecourt of the Berwick on Tweed petrol station for an hour! But for their kindness, I'd still be there - fast asleep.

Lessons learned: -

a/ - speed is your enemy - it eats your petrol, saps your energy and gives rise ultimately to the stunningly obvious thought, "how come I keep on overtaking that Hardly/Tedium/Strop?"

b/ - do not attempt this unless you have slept well the previous night - sleep debt is not funny, sleep deprivation even less so.

c/ - ride with friends who ride like you do - they'll look out for you, you'll look out for them & at least one of you will be adult enough to state the cruel truth. Or, ride on your own, but see above (second para.) for the pitfalls of this approach.

d/ - the bigger soul knows when to quit - I have most admiration for the 11 individuals who were big enough to call it quits, rather than continue & push themselves beyond their safe limits.

e/ - keep your receipts safe & dry - someone had to return to Plymouth to collect a receipt left @ the petrol station!!

f/ - consider how you are getting to & from the start/finish - I really wouldn't have wanted to have had more than my 34 miles to home from the finish, added to the 1100 odd of the ride itself.

g/ - carry some petrol proof tubing - you will come across stranded peers, usually in the middle of the Great Glen @ 01:30, and passing by is not an option.

h/ - work out some way of dealing with boredom - music - mental gymnastics - something that will prevent your mind from wandering, allowing you to focus on the job in hand, twenty three hours is a long time.


N.B. -- I'm going for the 1,500 mile jaunt, if possible this year. But this time I'm going to exercise a little wisdom and a lot more humility than I did this time.

All the best, Jim

PS - if anyone sees that Vespa rider, PLEASE let me know, as I'd like to buy him a drink.
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My attempt failed before the start

As I approached Squires, I closed the throttle to slow down for a roundabout, only to find that I didn't slow down! Struggled to Squires to find the engine refusing to idle below 3000 rpm.

The problem was quickly diagnosed as a frayed left throttle cable but, try as I might, I couldn't stop the cable snagging the outer sleeve. So, I abandoned the attempt on the basis that it was hard enough to do the ride with a fully functioning bike!

I limped home, called Motorworks and went to collect a full set of cables for the princely sum of 81 quid . Sod of a job to do, but I managed it in about 3 hours of cursing and swearing. By which time, of course, it was too late to do the ride.

I have resolved to do by own "Saddlesore 1000" some time this year.

GJ

Well done guys. My mate and I made it with 45 mins to spare.

James Bryan said:

Lessons learned: -

a/ - speed is your enemy - it eats your petrol, saps your energy and gives rise ultimately to the stunningly obvious thought, "how come I keep on overtaking that Hardly/Tedium/Strop?"

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Yes and no. Excessive speed definately is. My mate and I finished with 45mins to spare which over 24hrs wasn't alot and didn't allow for any issues. On my own I reckon I'd have done it comfortably in 20-21hrs. Progress needs to made on the A roads when safe to do so cos if you don't it soon eats into you rest time.

James Bryan said:

b/ - do not attempt this unless you have slept well the previous night - sleep debt is not funny, sleep deprivation even less so.

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2 pints and an early night saw to that

James Bryan said:

c/ - ride with friends who ride like you do - they'll look out for you, you'll look out for them & at least one of you will be adult enough to state the cruel truth. Or, ride on your own, but see above (second para.) for the pitfalls of this approach.

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Aye. It can be frustrating having to hold back a lot... but then it we were 2 mates out for a ride and we got the job done.

James Bryan said:

d/ - the bigger soul knows when to quit - I have most admiration for the 11 individuals who were big enough to call it quits, rather than continue & push themselves beyond their safe limits.

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Fair play. Especially being of our 'background' it isn't always easy to call it a day

James Bryan said:

e/ - keep your receipts safe & dry - someone had to return to Plymouth to collect a receipt left @ the petrol station!!

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A plastic zip bag saw to that (admin, it's a personal thing)

James Bryan said:

f/ - consider how you are getting to & from the start/finish - I really wouldn't have wanted to have had more than my 34 miles to home from the finish, added to the 1100 odd of the ride itself.

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224 miles there and back which is why we stayed over friday and Sunday nights. I did notice a few trailers and vans tho.

James Bryan said:

g/ - carry some petrol proof tubing - you will come across stranded peers, usually in the middle of the Great Glen @ 01:30, and passing by is not an option.

Click to expand...

It was my mate and I who were stopped with them when you tipped up They hadn't stopped for fuel since Wick, completely by-passed Inverness...'Oh, we were going to stop there!'

And...If you do stop in the pitch black on an unlit road and 2 of you have hi-vis jackets on DON'T get the woman all in black to jump out on the road to flag down the traffic

James Bryan said:

h/ - work out some way of dealing with boredom - music - mental gymnastics - something that will prevent your mind from wandering, allowing you to focus on the job in hand, twenty three hours is a long time.

Click to expand...

I-POD. Surprised me, with the exception of a couple of hours I listened to it all the way round and on the way home (3.5hrs) and it's still got just under half battery left.

James Bryan said:

N.B. -- I'm going for the 1,500 mile jaunt, if possible this year. But this time I'm going to exercise a little wisdom and a lot more humility than I did this time.

Click to expand...

I quite fancy that myself. I told Pete I'd have joined him if I'd known about it.

James Bryan said:

PS - if anyone sees that Vespa rider, PLEASE let me know, as I'd like to buy him a drink.
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If it's the same bike I believe it was a girl who rode it and she was shaking like a leaf (fatigue I think) when she pulled in at @0800 on Sunday morning.