Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

Wow what a write up Sir. ... I used to read the no of SS stories and and use to feel so down and out, about the fact that I can never complete one in my life. Not that, I have lost my limbs or something, but simply because I know my limitations. I know, if I ride for 500kms, I will need sleep. And if I sleep, I wont wake up for 1 hours atleast. Hence I would never had attempted such a ride. But would always have felt, I missed somethng in my life. Thanks for the post Sir.
SS is not a Certificate of passing motorcycling degree with distinction. Why so serious about that. Do it, only if you are well aware of your limitations....
Thank you again Sir, for the penning down your matured advices....

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

this was a much needed topic.. there have been people who have completed the SS and have lived to tell about it.. but the point to note is that they all were very experienced riders and had previously done many long trips, which built their endurance.. but many guys here start to fantasize about this just by reading the logs.. well, either they are too ignorant or just want to show off..
nice to see our senior members and moderators coming forward with their views and laying all the possible outcomes.. pro/ against/ reality.. this part was an eye opener.. laying all the facts clearly..
and if still someone wants to do as such.. its their personal choice and we can't stop anyone for anything..

may the soul of our fellow riders rest in peace.. and they be an example of what these rides can do..
dying maybe easy, but the parents and other family members back home will die everyday.. do kepp them in mind before even thinking about such things..

I can never even think about such things as things are now.. my bum starts hurting badly only after a few hours of riding.. let alone 24 hrs

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

Perhaps same reasons why I wont do saddlesore.

I have done many spells of 12+ hours and 900+ hours from bike ranging from 150 to 650cc. The time distance calculations done here are very practical and valid. 65kmph is good average speed that you can keep on most indian roads. Speeds above these are only possible on few roads like kolhapur bangalore stretches, with reasonably less risks.

Even on those roads, on a long ride, I can atleast see 3 to 4 dogs hit n crushed, and atleast one narrow escapes from avoiding them, no exception in last 3 rides, even hit a cow once .

Key to ride safe on roads here is slowing down when necessary, near villages, dividers, animals and vehicles. Taking breaks when needed and most importantly, not riding as this is your last chance to complete the ride. Running against time with goal of speed can only cause trouble on indian roads. Saddle sore can be completed with being safe and planning but an individual has to be prepared to let it go. If not, any eventuality is going to be spanner in the wheels.

A faster bike and faster speeds do not always take you faster to the destination.

I prefer going to a destination and exploring the country than a super overnight sprint. I consider completing a long tour, with loads of photos, experiences and new destinations a good show off and achievement thats just me. Saddlesore means you wake up a day, ride n come back, post a fb status n done, wham bam, thank you mam, nah, not my types

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

I totally agree with Aargee here. I too was fascinated with all this SS and went out to attempt it - in my Pulsar 150 !!! Two hours and I know this is'nt for me! I am a rider who will ride any distance but the ride should be interesting. It should have life in it. I must enjoy the surroundings, the wind blowing against my chest and the sweet roar of the engine. I stopped midway coz my mind was pre occupied to notice the usual good things that happen whenever I ride.

No offence to guys who did it. And this is not another "this grape is sour" story. In a place like South India, with a 150 - 350 cc engine bike, my opinion is that it makes absolutely no sense to do such a feat.

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

The topic is certainly nice and Aargee has exposed the flip side of SaddleSore. Any person in the right spirit would take @aargee 's words and think about it instead of reacting to it immediately. If it sounds discouraging to anybody then they got it all wrong. The topic is all about thinking and doing it the right way 'only' if necessary.

However to make this more useful, I'd request the members who post about SaddleSore(s) or long trips to highlight the hurdles faced and measures taken during their journey. Best way would be to narrate a separate paragraph or bullet points specifically on the difficulties in a detailed manner. I am sure that it would be read and members thinking about long distance rides and SS might think about it.

I have already requested a member @sakshar to do the same in his new post . Fellow BHP-ians can do the same on their own threads or request their fellow mates to do so. Thank you.

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

You said it....

IBA rides in India is like planning to commit suicide on public roads

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

[MENTION=10597]Old Fox[/MENTION] Sir - My write up here is focused to EDUCATE & break the myth of all these endurance rides & to say one thing very clearly that, you're still a rider if you ride a motorcycle RESPONSIBLY & you don't have to undergo a great ordeal inorder to prove it. If you have the natural instinct in you, you will do it someday.

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

Well Said RG. In our Indian Roads, first of all it is ILLEGAL. There are better ways to utilize Time, Energy, Money.

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

Why should one climb Mount Everest?
What would one get? What use is it? For what joy? it is suicidal?

I know that at this juncture in life I cannot climb mount everest (I would love to do it). I know I do not have what it takes to do it. Let me climb smaller hills and mountains. Understand and build harmony with nature. Join a mountaineering course. Trek & hike. Work out and enhance my stamina. Do a thorough research on the task. Save hard earned money like an ant saves food.

Finally when I feel that I am ready, after I don't know how many years, I will embark upon the passionate indulgence. I do not know whether I will be successful or not, But I know I undertook an enterprise after assessing my strengths, weaknesses, after readying myself. I am bound to have that satisfaction of giving it my best, responsibly.

The above mentioned attitude applies to all enterprises one undertakes. Be it Saddle sore/ deep-sea diving/ Climbing Mount Everest/ African Safari/ Setting up a business (Now please do not say where is climbing Mount Everest and where is Saddle sore. Do not forget how you felt like when you first balanced a bicycle. It was nothing short of climbing Everest)

Joy is subjective.

Everyone dies. What matters is were you ready to die and did you die responsibly. Did you die for yourself or did you die while trying to prove something to someone?

As long as you know what you are doing and why you are doing and if you are doing for right reasons, nothing else matters.

PS: Please understand that according to our families, especially parents and wives, just riding a bike to a neighbor town is suicidal, no matter how slow you ride? Don't they say, how foolish. Can't you go by bus/ train? But what we do. Suicide attempt according to our families.

Chalo yaar bahut gyaan baant diya. Good night.

As I say this, question pops up: Why ride to Leh Ladakh? Those land slides/ treacherous roads etc.
For what joy? Why people take such pride riding there? Why people spend so much money for one trip risking their lives & health? Why people put up pictures next to 'highest motorable road' board? Phew...

Guess we need to apply same rationale to all our arguments/ discussions/ debates/ judgments.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Valentino Rossi said Isle of man is too dangerous but awesome. He never raced in Isle of man. But races on track and does not stand a chance in Isle of man. Does this fact make him a lesser biker?



Similarly the Isle of man champion never raced in Moto GP. So, please do not say he does not stand a chance here or there. Let's stop being Judgmental.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Also, friends let's not talk about violating the law/ illegal blah blah. Because it is hypocritical. Hypocrisy to the core. We have all violated the law of speed limit almost everyday, every trip, and in that sense we all are criminals for violating law of the land. Let's not attribute speed limit law only to a particular kind of ride.

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

Am not sure what you intended by giving the Rossi and Isle of Man comparison but if you intended to show that these are dangerous and people do it for the pride of overcoming the danger and emerging victorious, then we are on the same page.

But comparing the saddle sore to climbing mount everest, riding to leh ladakh and to either Rossi riding a motogp or an IOM TT is pure blasphemy. Allow me the ordeal of dissecting it one by one.

Valentino Rossi doesnt race for free. Isle of man racers dont race free (firstly its an honour, secondly they do have sponsorships and finally there is some prize money as well) Secondly all of these guys do it on a closed circuit (yes, the isle of man roads are closed for the race), have access to the best medical facilities, have choppers on standby if something goes seriously wrong! They dont have to do with cars, trucks, dogs when they are doing their act. The extra danger in isle of man comes from the fact that there are no run off areas. So for Valentino it would be Pride (that he beat other racers on the track) and money and for the TT racers its honour. And all these guys have spent sufficient times on a bike and are immensely talented to boot.

Mount everest is the worlds highest peak and climbing it is an honour. It takes years of preparation, requires climbing skills and tough physical conditioning and its aided by an expert group when you climb. It has its dangers, ofcourse. But you are obviously not doing this against time.

Riding to Leh Ladakh is a challenge followed by the joy of the beautiful place which we witness. You dont do ride against time either.

But Saddlesore? Is it Honour, Pride, Joy, Challenge?

Saddlesore doesnt offer you any honour. Pride, may be to some. Joy, may/may be not. Challenge, may be.

Since all the above Honour, Pride, Joy and Challenge are emotional variables and it varies with different motorcyclists each is entitled to his own.

But to me it just doesnt cut the cake. No honour, pride and joy. In all humility, its not even a challenge because i know i can do it without any fuss. (the SS1600)

And no hypocrisy on the law here. The speed limit law is outdated and its high time they increased it. Never been a follower of speed limit anyways :-)

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

The thread is now headed towards personal preferences, choices, opinions and illusions included

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

@ Aargee point well taken and your reasoning is faultless.....I know what you have said is very true,since I know the many long trips you had done, the problems faced, and how well you planned ahead,on all things of concern, much before the trip...
Under present conditions, Any one driving in a Metro City without accidents for 3~4 years qualify as a good rider/driver....It is getting tougher for everyone on the road, to be safe,and sane ,without getting into road rage ,as we get more vehicles, and even more bad drivers taking over our roads.

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

Why is saddlesore considered an achievement?? Its a tough ride.
What makes it tough? It tests your endurance. Your capability to ride at some xyz (pre calculated) speed consistently or with small breaks for around 24 hrs.
When do i know whether I can do it or not? When I actually do it!! There is no other way of coming to know that I can do it or not. If I have experience of riding non stop for 16-18 hrs, it cant be said accurately that I could do it for 24 hrs.

Who practices for 18-20 hrs three four times to confirm he can ride 24 hrs without issues? That is the reason why most of the attempts ask for suitable routes to do a saddlesore!! No one goes up and down the route to decide whether he can do it or not.. It costs money and effort and time!!

Most of the saddlesores are attempted from hometown/where he/she lives.. someone who does not know the route connecting his hometown that is suitable for a SS ride has not ridden more than 6 hrs from his town!! Then how can he be labelled 'experienced' endurance rider? I have ridden 1.5 lakhs km on two wheels, but I never did a continuous 2 hr ride. I may be experienced but I am not an experienced endurance rider.

As per Aargee's calculation - It costs around 4000 INR fuel to do a SS ride(not considering tolls). To add, 24 hrs of hardwork.

Which so called experienced rider would not make up for lost time by increasing the speed when there is cost and effort involved. I am talking about the same rider who never did a proper recce of the route (most probably coz of money and effort)
Which so called experienced rider would not go beyond his limits even when he is drowsing..
There are other factors involved.. Fear of losing, Peer pressure, Fear of embarrassment of meeting the witness without the reward!, the same reason why many riders fake a SS ride (If you started it - You had to finish it).. Also the joy of being 'first'(from my last post on this thread). What these people does not understand that these rides are not first or last. A person who did it 5 years ago and when you do it now.. both of you are on the same page. He did earlier may be because he was born earlier!

Dont compare it with other adventures, mountaineering etc as in this adventure if you fail you may take down some one else who was not in your team.. and was not even aware he was in a sport!

SS is an adventure - Yeah!! But why endanger others on the road for your adventure, your challenge, your pride and more importantly to test your limits!
And if you are not testing your limits and you know you are an exceptional rider - Why do you require that piece of paper?

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

What if someone just wants to do the ride without caring about getting it certified? Does not chasing 'that paper' make the ride less dangerous?

People, the point here is not to debate the ethics, practicality, lethality, absurdity or whatever negativity of a certain ride that chases a certain time and distance combination and make someone who even thinks about doing one feel like a stupid moron who is a menace to society and should be debarred from motorcycling altogether. Remember a majority of those around you who don't ride carry the same opinion about your 'passion' for riding to Leh or even going long distance on your 'beloved' motorcycle. They think you all are 'bloody idiots', suicidal kamikazes, hell bent on killing both your own self and others on the road by riding at insane speeds on highways populated with killer cars, trucks and buses. 'Insane' speeds is very relevant. Try taking your loving middle-aged aunt pillion as you do a 'mundane' 80 kph on your favorite safest emptiest stretch of the highway

The point is to forewarn and educate fellow riders towards the heightened risk and greater potential dangers attached to attempting a Saddlesore or other such rides. And impart this education in a sane manner without demeaning those who have breached the envelope because they wanted to. No amount of screaming, abusing and demeaning will 'make' those who want to do a SS not do it. None of you carries more credibility for that person than his own sense of judgement. Your experience, opinion, stated stats or case studies might have no meaning for that person. The most you can do is present sane arguments for and against and hope the viewer understands your standpoint. The arguments posted here are getting shriller and sillier by the moment and like I stated earlier in my post, a whole lot like those given by apprehensive parents when their young offspring like you want to start riding a bike or go long distance on it. Calm down and stop getting personal in the misguided attempt at one-upmanship in arguments. More motorcyclists get killed and kill other road users while on their daily commute than the total number of endurance riders, racers, rallyists, stunters etc etc dying and killing put together.

Attempting a saddlesore is not like signing a death warrant. But it requires a whole lot more thought about its 'why' than about the 'how'. Discuss the 'why' like knowledgeably opinionated bikers and not as panicky screeching maids who think they have a killer amongst them.

Hoping for an exit of the 'extremists' from the thread and some responsible posting hereon.

Re: Saddlesore is a child's play

I think this is now more in simple English sir which presents both sides of the coin in impartial manner

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