Friday, July 31, 2009

What is it about the Iron Butt Rally?

Now that I’m about to go off on this crazy trip, I need to put down in words some kind of explanation. Why would someone with a great “normal” life be drawn to something that seems like a kind of self-imposed torture, with life-threatening consequences thrown in?

First of all, it’s not torture. What’s not to love about riding a motorcycle all over the continent? I’ve ridden straight and curvy roads, flat and hilly, desert and forest, river and ocean. We live in a beautiful country, and I’ve been privileged to see a whole lot of it. Since I’ve been doing endurance rallies, I’ve been to far away and obscure places. Our rallymasters know how to amaze and entertain with their choice of bonus locations. Also, there’s something very magical about riding a motorcycle through the night, seeing the faintest light of daybreak grow stronger, and eventually watching the sun greet you with its full brightness. If you’ve ever pulled an all-nighter, you know this simple pleasure. It never fails to thrill and comfort me.

Then there’s the puzzle aspect of this whole thing. Some riders just love to pull the long miles, and are happy riding a bazillion miles to a single bonus. I like the challenge of the game. Where does the rallymaster want me to go? How can I earn the most points with the fewest miles? Is this a sucker bonus or the rally winner? I am a competitive person. I like to win, to excel where others struggle. It may be egotistical but it’s part of my personality.

Since discovering this “sport” I have made many friends. I am naturally not an outgoing person. I hang back at parties, usually talking only to people I already know. Now I have a pretty big circle of long distance riding buddies. When I show up at a gathering I never lack someone to talk to. Plus there’s the teasing. We give each other all kinds of grief, but all in fun. The rally scene is like a big, moving party. I trust these guys and gals with my life. They’ll unselfishly sacrifice to help me when I need it, and I’ll do the same for them. I imagine that the alumni of the 09 IBR will be my band of brothers forevermore.

Now for the navel gazing. Every Iron Butt ride I’ve ridden boils down to the question: Can I do it? My regular life is lived in the comfort zone. I am blessed with a wonderful family, a good, stable job with good income, and plenty of worldly possessions to keep me entertained. There’s nothing wrong with that, except the lack of challenge. (The exception is fatherhood – plenty of new territory there.) In school I learned that a good story always has a conflict. We keep reading because we want to know how the hero will overcome the conflict. In the story of my life, the conflict needs to be self-generated. So I set up a challenge of some new motorcycle achievement, and then go out and climb the mountain. The IBR is definitely the most challenging thing I have ever tried. I imagine that when I finish, I might feel like Edmund Hillary – someone who has done something few others would even consider trying. In fact, fewer people have ever finished the Iron Butt Rally, since its inception in 1984, than climb Mount Everest in a single year. I want to be one of those few.

At the end of it all, I want to leave a lesson to my daughter. Claire, challenge yourself. Give yourself a rich life. You are the author of your life story, so make it a good one. Don’t settle for the safety zone – push yourself. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish. Follow your dreams.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

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Audio blog entry

My motorcycling drivel - listen at your own risk.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

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