“Iron Butt Association’s Saddle Sore 1000”, The title which will thrill any hard core rider. Month ago my friend Vikram (Not only works for an automotive firm, but also passionate about automobiles, just like me) visited Bangalore. We were at Jyoti’s place on a usually lazy weekend morning. Me and Vikram were discussing about my just arrived “Machine” (My RE Classic 500 Desert Storm) and he asked me if I know about Iron Butt Association (IBA) and Saddle Sore 1000 (SS1000) and I was just clueless! Later we discuss about it and how his friend did finish that challenge. So we kept talking about the details and within me I can feel that adrenaline rush. Yes that happens when I am super excited and can’t wait for something. Than we open Google map and decide with the route (Which was different from what I actually did), it was Bangalore – Kanyakumari – Chennai – Bangalore. Our plan was that he will be piloting me in his Ritz and I will attempt with my Machine in second half of October, once he is back from his Europe trip.

The week later I started browsing IBA’s website. Read all rules in detail. Went through all the challenges IBA has and read about SS1000 in detail (about rules, documentations, pre-requisites etc.). As a new rider I felt this would be a good challenge to start up.

A week later I read blogs of riders who had attempted, for few who could complete this challenge and few who couldn’t. About their preparations, their gears, routes, ride, documentation, dos, don’ts. These blogs helped me a lot as I didn’t know personally anyone who attempted SS1000. So I read almost every blog of Indian riders who had attempted IBA’s challenge. I’m grateful to all bloggers who took their time to narrate each and every minute detail. These blogs not only made me prepared for the worst but also inspired me to write my first ever blog.

I started looking riding gears online and also in stores of Bangalore. I visited plenty of them (on M G Road, J C Road, HSR Layout etc.) and finally I ordered few of them online and few purchased from stores. And everything buying online is not a good idea. I bought a new AXR Helmet from Adeshwar store on Lalbaugh Main road (Plan was to buy LS2, but the maximum size in LS2 is Large and I need XL also bought DSG moto-racing leather hand gloves and Zeus riding jacket).

Days were passing by and I was planning a date for the challenge. Upon discussing with Reena (my wife, who always supports me in any such adventurous activities), One statement from her made me question my whole plan of the challenge. She said what’s the point in doing some challenge with a pilot car for the support and to carry my bag ? It won’t be a challenging ride. I felt she is right and thereafter I decided that I will do it all alone (Sorry Vikram). I decided to do it on 25thSeptember 2015, as it was a long weekend because of Eid holiday.

Now three weeks were left and it was the time to prepare my machine for the ride. Odometer was showing 2900 Kms as I had just finished riding my machine for 3 months. On 9th September I gave it for its 2nd scheduled service at Teknik motors, Indiranagar. I had ordered strobe light with switch and remote (From novatronix website) for the safety on highway. Additionally I had also ordered a USB charger from Ebay. Went to one of the local and the best electrician to get both of these installed.

My bullet was serviced and fitted with essentials. Being 3 months old, it was in a prime condition. Days were passing very quickly and 2 days before the ride I removed the back seat and kept only the frame to keep my bag on it.

Took an off from office before the challenge day. As I had to get a good sleep and prepare myself. Those who knew that I am going to attempt SS1000 wished me luck. I asked my friend Sandesh (my colleague, classmate and buddy) to be a witness for the start and end point of my ride and with no hesitation and giving a second thought to spoil a good big weekend sleep he agreed. No words to thank him for this. He asked me to call him at any point of time and just inform him the location where he needed to come.

The Day before the challenge:

Yo!!! So, I was ready with gears, Machine, witness and a rough idea about the route. I had decided to do Bangalore – Pune – Bangalore. So far I had just got little information about the route from Prasad, Amol, Sidhharth and Akshay (thanks to my Marathi Mandali my friends and colleagues). But wasn’t confident about the route as I was going on NH4 for the first time (I had visited Tumkur, Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum and Pune through Train and very few times by Bus, but haven’t gone on my own vehicle). I had taken leave to take rest before the ride (which never happened ) but all I did was packed my bag, filled fuel in Machine, had lunch at MTR, final check on Machine, it’s documents, gears, Getorads (energy drink), read more blogs and studied the route in detail. I was lying on bed in evening for almost 3-4 hours, out of which I slept hardly for half an hour. Had late dinner at home and was getting ready. I had planned to start by 1:30AM from home and start time for challenge 2:00AM from Petrol pump near K R Puram.

The Big Day!!

Thanks to Bangalore weather, it was raining heavily from evening and the forecast was showing rain till 2AM (I was like, bas karo yaar, how long !! L ). At 1AM it stopped raining, I went down and cleaned the Machine. Took hot water bath and was ready by 1:45AM. Was about to leave and was in Porch and saw it was drizzling again (Oh no, not again). I was waiting till 2:45AM, till it stopped raining completely (As I should not get drenched at start of the challenge). At 2:45AM cleaned my machine again, tied my bag with bungee rope, called up Sandesh to come to gas station for witnessing my start point. Saying good bye to Reena, I left home and met Sandesh at 3:15AM near Shell Petrol Pump on Whitefield Main Road, near to K R Puram. I filled Petrol and took the slip, Sandesh filled up the start point Witness form and I finally started the challenge at 3:25AM on 25th September 2015. It was an awesome feeling to start the attempt, for which I was preparing almost from past 25 days. I started from the Outer Ring Road and took NECE Road (Everyone calls it Nice Road) from Electronic City towards Tumkur. There were very few cars, but lot of trucks on the highway. After finishing NECE road, my journey on actual highway started. I was in dreams (But no sleepiness at all) and so may thoughts were going through my mind, starting from when Vikram told me about this for the first time to how I started exploring more and so many other things were going through my head.

I had decided to stop for fuel after every 200 Kms, so that I don’t face any issues such as running out of fuel or last minute search of gas stations and all such hassles (It was one of the best decision of this ride and I will recommend it to all). NH4, Tumkur highway is one of the best I have travelled, but there are also few bad patches near Chitradurga. Near Chitradurga road becomes bouncy and continuously the bike undergoes these bounces for almost 30 Kilometres. There are also 2 surprising speed breakers around 20-25 Kms before Hubli (there are no markings done on these speed breakers and also they are huge). Thankfully from far I saw 2 cars braking near these speed breakers and I slowed down at right time, otherwise I could have undergone severe jerk. Talking about traffic, till Hubli I did not face much of traffic (may be because of early morning), there were only trucks on highway and very few cars.

My first fuel stop was near HPCL Petrol Pump, J G Halli, Hiriyur, Chitradurga 577511 at 6:00 AM. Unfortunately he had only hand written bill, but I wassn’t seeing any Gas station from a long time, so thought of filling it (There are plenty petrol pumps between Tumkur and Chitradurga, but there are very few which are accessible from Toll Road, the diversions are around 2-3 KMs before and it was difficult to decide whether to leave Toll Road for fuel?? Or, after filling fuel how long you need to travel on service lane to come back on Toll Road??). I just drank 2 sips of water here.

After my first fuel stop I was behind schedule and my average speed was around 65kmph. I saw sun rising and this was the time to pull throttle, I was riding fast. This was the time when it was so easy to ride at high speed). As mentioned earlier the bad patch near Chitradurga started and speed reduced Within 2 hours I rode 160 Kms and thought of taking break for Energy drink and fuel, I stopped at H. S. Mudadyavannanavar Petrol Pump, Karur 581143 at 8:00 AM filled fuel and had 2-3 sips of Gatorade.

Again I was back on highway. Thought of stopping near a board showing distances (Belagavi 72, Kittur 25, Kolhapur 180, Pune 412, Mumbai 564). After 2-3 minutes break and few pictures I was back on highway. Within no time I reached Hubli. Once you reach Hubli you need to take left to be on NH4, which goes to Dharwad. Hubli-Dharwad patch is the only road where there is no one way/ divider (Here you face the traffic from opposite side as well). This patch had slow down my speed drastically, but was able to do between 80-100 Kmph. Once the Toll road started, I was again on a 4 lane road with one way traffic and it was amazing. I thought of stopping for fuel before I pull the throttle again.

Here was my 3rd pit stop near Dharwad on NH4 towards Belagavi (Belgaum). It was BPCL Petrol pump near Dharwad on NH4 at 9:20 AM and in 1:20 hours I had rode around 115 Kms. I had an average speed of 78 Kmph by now and which was a good news to take a little longer break. I opened my bag and finished 1.5 bottles of Gatorade. Took some pictures (At gas station everyone was seeing me like an alien as I was with all my gears). Two small kids came and asked me to have pictures with the Machine and me, I took their pictures and few selfies. Tied the bag again said goodbye to all at Gas station and checked the time, oh no! I spent 20-25 minutes there, so was in no time back on highway riding at 130 kmph again. Oh my God, that was the most beautiful road I have ever seen in Karnataka. Road to Belgaum was so broad and there weren’t any jerks on this highway.

I loved NH4, nice weather, crossed all bumpy roads near and after Belgaum. Once I was about to enter Maharashtra (Somewhere near Nippani) there were so many two wheelers all of sudden on a highway, I was asking myself is it NH4 or did I enter into city..??..?? Starting from there so many two wheelers were slowing down my speed and it took me a while to adjust my speed back.

I was feeling hungry and also was a time to stop for fuel; I decided to stop at IBP pump at Kagal, near Kolhapur. He gave me printed bill in which there was no address of that place. Asking upon he gave me a hand written bill. Was concerned with that and thankfully there was a restaurant by name Mayur Palace Bar Restaurant and Lodging in a compound of this gas station. Was already starving so I went up to the receptionist and asked him if he can give me a printed bill, which he said yes to me and that’s it I saw hot piping pooris being made and ordered Aloo Poori and Tea. Had four hot aloo pooris (Aloo Sabji was in Maharashtra Style) and nice tea. Had them, took bill, took picture with odometer and it was around 11:40 AM.

Back to road with my Machine and Happy tummy Suddenly traffic of cars and two wheelers was getting worst and same was my speed too. Not to offend anyone but near Kolhapur-Satara there are many small villages, where I found people crossing the highway roads without seeing around before crossing. Was badly pissed off but somehow managed 110-120 Kmph. After around 2 hours of riding I took a break at Bharat Petroleum for fuel near Surur Wai Tal, Satara. The time was 02:06 PM and my odometer was showing 3824 Kms (Around 870 Kms as per odometer and around 800 as per Google maps). I was so happy that I finished half of the challenge in 10 Hours 45 Minutes. That was an amazing feeling!!

Now I was bit relaxed and as per plan started ride again on NH4 towards Pune. Plan was to cross Khed-Shivapur Toll Plaza and take a U Turn. This patch of road was under construction and hence there were many Diversions, almost at every 5-10 Kms. Then I crossed Khed Shivapur Toll plaza and was searching for Cafe Coffee Day (As per plan I thought of taking Coffee break at CCD and take a U turn). Later was getting little impatient finding a CCD so had to drop that idea and went to a nearby Axis Bank ATM on Right side of the road and also there was a U Turn available. Took a U turn and rushed to Axis Bank ATM. Waited for 4-5 Minutes as there was a queue and finally got a slip showing Time 03:00 PM and location as Khed-Shivapur. And that was my proof for half of the ride done!! Took few selfies, pictures of the ATM slip with odometer reading and as per Google map I had covered 862 Kms in 11 Hours 35 minute. Surprisingly my bullet’s odometer was showing 924 Kms. I thought whatever, chuck it! I have covered 862 Kms as per google map in worst case. Yuhoooo!!!! Called up at home, informed colleagues and friends that I made it till Pune in 11 Hours 35 minutes. Had a bottle of Gatorade left and was heading back for the return journey. J

Started my ride, my fingers and shoulder were having little pain it was an indication that I have accomplished something. I crossed nice and hilly road of Khandala, not to mention after that some diversions as well so thought of having a break for tea. Took a break at one tapri (small roadside food stall in India) and had Vada Pav with Tea. Back to road and stopped near BPCL Pump at Khodad, Satara at 5:27 PM. Had half a bottle of Gatorade and was again back on roads.

By now it was getting darker by each kilometre i was covering. It was a pitch dark and luckily the traffic was also less. After two hours from my last stop, it was time for another fuel stop so I decided to stop at Rockoil Association, Sankeshwar. Had half bottle of Gatorade in bag and the time was 07:25 PM. Was again on the good roads of Karnataka.

Back on track I was cruising. Now I was little fatigue, but was able to maintain the speed. After 2.5 hours I took a break at HPCL Pump, Shri Nrahari & Co. PB Road, NH4 Shiggaon and left from there by 9:45 PM.

The Bad part of my ride starts now. More than body pain, I was suffering from sleeplessness. And it was getting worst with every minute. Eyes were literally shutting down and I was trying to remain all awake, but my hand on throttle never faced any issue and was riding at Kmph. Now I reached Chitradurga at 12AM, Filled fuel for the last time. Had an energy bar and finished the whole bottle of Gatorade, washed my face and was feeling better.

Back to highway with freshness, but unfortunately it lasted only 15 minutes and was sleepy again. Now the Machine was going out of control and had to stop every 10 minutes to wash my face and the challenge was getting little difficult. At this point I wanted to ride at kmph and not take breaks at every 10 minutes, but that’s what was happening. This repeated until I saw that Tumkur was around 30 Kms away. I saw time on my wrist watch and it was showing me 2:15AM (But actually it was 1:15AM).Here I had 80 Minutes and I was 90 Kms away from Bangalore. Here all my sleep flew away and I was riding at 135 Kmph with full throttle on and overtaking each and every vehicle on NH4. Not to mention at this speed when you’re crossing a truck going at 60Kmph looks like it is stopped and you are overtaking from side at the speed of 70-80 Kmph. But for me only target was to reach Nice road before time.

I crossed Tumkur and rode for another few minutes and saw time it was 2:40AM as per my thinking (But actually it was 1:40AM). I saw Canara Bank ATM and thought of taking an ATM slip, though my friend Sandesh was waiting for me at Nice Road. I thought I couldn’t make it before 3:25AM to Nice road, so took a slip at Canara Bank ATM. While taking a picture with Odometer I see time is only 1:39AM. Well it took a while to digest the situation. I was 1 hour ahead from my target. Now that was something great!!!

Then I rode at 60-70 Kmph and saw thunderlights from far. It started raining heavily when I was 15Kms away from Nice (NECE) Road. At 2:30 on 26th September I reached NECE Road and took my last slip from toll booth, met my friend Sandesh and took a picture of the odometer. And here I finished my first ever riding challenge.. I knew I had finished it in 23 Hours and 40 minutes. Upon calculating I had covered 1783 Kms as per the odometer of my Machine and 1686 Kms as per Google maps. All I can say is “No better feeling than having achieved what makes you feel really happy”. Called at home from there and informed that I made it. That’s how I finished my Iron Butt Association’s Saddle Sore 1600K challenge. Thanks to Sandesh for being witness both the times.

I took rest and slept for 10 Hours. After getting up I had pain in my fingers and shoulder which wasn’t serious as such. Later I arranged all the proofs of the ride and was going through IBA’s rules for submission of documents. Next day scanned everything, filled the form and sent the documents to IBA for verification. I received an acknowledgement from them saying they have received an application and will start the process ASAP.

Thanks everyone for patiently reading my very first blog. Let me know what you liked and what you did not. I will try to improvise and all the suggestions are most welcome!!!


Quick tips from my experience:

1. Take good sleep, minimum of 6 hours before the ride.

2. Plan the route and stops properly and also plant to ride for more than 1609 Kms as per Google Maps (Don’t trust on your motorbike’s Odometer Reading)

3. Carry very less luggage. Essentials are Bike documents, first aid & few medicines if needed, Energy drinks and energy bar, clutch and accelerator cables, Water etc.

4. Put all your stuff in all weather bag and tie it in such a way that it won’t cause any trouble when you are riding, at the same time everything is easily accessible.

5. Take electronic slips at every stop and don’t forget to take picture with the odometer/GPS reading. Also have a small waterproof zip pouch/pocket where you can put each slip safely.

6. Keep filling motorbike’s petrol tank at the earliest stage so that at the last moment you don’t drive your motorbike in reserve mode and search for the petrol pumps.

7. Inspect your motorbike after every 2-3 stops to be sure about the condition of it.

8. Needless to mention, do wear all the safety gears possible and obey the traffic rules.