‘The Ultimate Endurance Test’
This one will extend your horizons
If the thought of a mere 840-mile LEJOG ride leaves you wanting more, then look no further than the Iron Butt Association, membership of which is earned by completing a 1000-mile route in less than 24 hours. IBA UK (the British arm of this American organisation) offers initial entry via the ‘SaddleSore 1000’, where riders plot their own route and document the journey with photos of fuel receipts and odometer readings. Once you’ve completed this ‘basic’ test you can climb the ladder towards the SS9000, a bum-numbing 9000 miles in nine days. When it comes to riding big miles in a limited time, preparation is everything and the IBA exists not just to bring extreme endurance riders together, but to offer invaluable tips and advice. In addition to their membership services, IBA UK organises several events throughout the year including scatter rallies, where participants are tasked to collect snaps of specific landmarks around the country within a certain a timeframe, and there’s the ever-popular RBLR1000. This annual long distance ride is designed to raise funds for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal and sees more than 100 participants rise to the challenge. Routes are provided and the emphasis is on completing the distance, rather than beating the clock. Riders must retain a receipt from designated filling stations at the extremities of the route, so that the combined mileage will total at least 1000. If you return to the start at Squires in Sherburn-in-Elmet within 24 hours of setting off, you’ll be put forward for membership of the IBA. The RBLR1000 takes place on the weekend nearest the solstice – which was last weekend – so there’s plenty of time to train for next year.