First IBA Ride

[Tevvy]

1:15am, nah too early - go back to sleep you numbskull....
3:15am, still too early? The ensuing debate in the head means tells me I'm now awake - let's get going.

Fueled up and first photo done @ 3:31am and I hit the road, excited, a little daunted with a hint of self doubt - can I really do 1610kms today?  I am not even 200m down the road where 3 Roos state at me from the roads edge. Is this an ominous warning - an excuse to quit early? I ain't even out of town yet!

Anyway, I choose to quickly move past those thoughts and get in with it.  Biggles recent from the library blogs had got me onto Jupiter's travels - he is now coming to the end of the South American tour and his North American tales are just as fascinating.

200kms east and and I take a right hand turn onto the Dawson hwy now heading South. I am enjoying the early km's and the hint of warmth as the sun now lifts above the horizon. As I approach Jambin the biggest red I have seen in a long time comes bouncing out of the nearby timber. Brakes hard on it seems certain that we will meet head on, but as it takes it's last bounce onto the road it seems like it's eyes meet mine and instantly light up with the same sense of dread that is now racing throughout me. It turns onto its side, using its legs like a figure skater does to come to a screeching halt, earning itself a nice gravel rash up its hind quarter to go with it, coming to a stop on the other side of the road up against the double white lines. I can take a breath as I pass it by, both of his legs moving rapidly underneath him without any traction as he tries to make his way back to from where he came.
Oh boy, it was an ominous warning - how many more encounter may there be today?

A bit further down the road and I hit Bilo, a dash of fuel, don't forget the photo and straight back at it.  This is the first time I have headed south down through Mundubbera and Jandowae.  And what I can tell you is that Queensland roads are shit.  It seems like the idea of road repairs up here in the sunshine state are to slap a lower speed limit sign up and leave that for the next 10 years.  I thought it was just a central Queensland thing but no - it's everywhere outside the south east.

I stop for fuel at Darr creek wheee the station attendant was kind enough to show me how to turn on the pump at the very old school bowser, she almost anticipated it like most traveler's would need the same guidance. Pretty cool they are still working good.
 
As I hit Dalby the old iPhone gives me a few options, and I choose the avoid highways scenic route, figuring the extra k's may be needed and I was still feeling quite chipper. The Condamine plains however, proved more to be an opportunity to give the bike, and my legs a number of roadside washes.  It is unbelievable how much water is down there, and with so much more on the forecast I wonder if you southern folk will be able to make it to Hebel at the end of this month.

Even with all the rain about there where plenty of other bikes out on the road, many kitted out like they where making the most of the long weekend.  Another fuel stop at pampas and then up to Spring Bluff for the far road treasure hunt.  There where plenty of people around and I must of looked a bit silly the way I was looking for the treasure, but after biggles let me know where it exactly was it is clear I had a man's look and it awaits for another to find it.  Back in the road with the gps set to home.

Through to Miles was pretty unadventurous and I enjoyed listening to the footy finals commentary as the kms ticked over. From there it was up through Wandoan, Taroom, Theodore and then Banana.  There was a mob of roos that did their best to have a tangle with me, but plenty of road meant I could out run them to the other side and get past them before we both meet our maker.

From Banana things started to get interesting, the mix of lightly drizzling ran and bugs smacking the visor was making visibility a bit of a challenge at times. Then the was the pheasant type animal that did go under the front tyre, the echidna walking up the side of the road, the occasional cat but most of all, the potholes outta nowhere all keeping me totally alert and on my game.

From here the goal was getting back in the Capricorn Highway, it was starting to feel like my safe place if that makes any sense.  Get on the cap hwy and only 160kms of easy riding to get home. But it seemed like the hardest, as fatigue finally became a factor that I had surprisingly not had to deal with yet. A quick stop at bluff and comet to shake the legs and move the blood did the trick, but as I pulled  back into Emerald, with the odometer stating 1743kms for the day I was pretty sure I didn't have another 300kms in me. I take my hat off to anyone who has done the bb2000. Home at 10:40pm to the wife waiting anxiously and happy to see me.  Already thinking about the next one. Hopefully I have submitted everything correctly....

[Walshy]

Really well done Tevvy, big congratulations on nailing it!

[Grey Gentry]

Thanks for the RR.
With all the rain about, one would think the 'roos would all be away from the roads.
All the best with the documentation.

[kwaka]

Congrats on the first one Tevvy. Sorta wets the appetite huh?

When riding LD through the wet stuff, those bouncy buggers and shyte roads (and not just in QLD), wild storms or on a ANZAC Day Ride, that 1600 can be a tough bugga to nail.
Congrats again mate.

[Biggles]

You were very unlucky with the number of roo encounters.  I haven't seen very many down this way recently.  My run out to Theodore a couple of weeks ago only turned up one or two little ones.  Good luck with the documentation.  Even the Premier member certification is taking weeks at present.

[Tevvy]

Spotwalla track
https://new.spotwalla.com/trip/e7ef-21aa27e8-ab85/view

[Marls]

Quiet achievement, thanks for sharing ride report.

[tj189]

G'day Tevvy,

Please feel welcome to pop your ride report onto the IBA Australia forum too

[Tevvy]

G'day Tevvy,

Please feel welcome to pop your ride report onto the IBA Australia forum too

Righto, will do TJ.

[Skidoo]

Congratulations and well done.

The first ride is always the most challenging but the process gets simpler and becomes fun.

Enjoy the journey.

[Tabledrain]

Congrats Tevvy, the first one always breaks an unseen seal and out gets the genie.. I'm really pleased it went to plan and hope the cert submission goes well

[Nev..]

Good stuff Tevvy.  Congrats on nailing the IBA ride and thanks for sharing the ride report with us. 

I remember after my first BB1600 (1739km so almost the same distance you covered) I thought the same thing about the longer 24hr IBA rides, but after a few 1600/24 distance rides (and about 8 years later) I did have a crack at the 2000/24.  Really, the only difference between the two rides is time management. 

My 1739km took 19:53 and I stopped for fuel regularly (but not regularly enough to lose 10 mins when I ran out of fuel 10km short of Pinnaroo).  I stopped for lunch for 15 mins and stopped for dinner for about 30 mins.  I stopped a dozen times during the ride for photos and I crosssed the Murray river on a ferry rather than using one of the available bridges.  I tried to keep the ride as relaxing as possible in that way. 

My 2000/24 (2021km) only took 20:44, only an additional 51 minutes, so easily achievable without using the full 24 hours.  I planned to make it achievable by choosing routes which had higher speed limit roads and the fewest opportunities to slow down, and by reducing the number of stops I made to the absolute minimum.  At the end of the day, my moving time was 19:44 and exactly 60 mins of stopped time.  This comprised, 7 fuel stops (I think the longest stop was about 6 minutes), a 10 min stop to strip out of my thermals after I crossed the border from Vic into NSW, and at a couple of minutes spent at red traffic lights in Toowoomba (that was before the Toowoomba bypass was opened).  I use a flip up helmet and filled my tank bag with a variety of snacks to keep my stomach happy all day.  Combined with a good leadup to that (8 hrs sleep every night for the 3 or 4 nights preceding my start because I knew I wouldn't sleep much the night before), at the end of the ride I was still feeling like I could keep going. 

[Tevvy]

For those not on the IBA Forum, certificate has come through and I am now and official IBA member. 

[LindsayGT]

Well done. It's addictive if you can afford the Certs!

[Grey Gentry]

Well done. It's addictive if you can afford the Certs!

It's addictive, even if don't certify rides.
I've done an SS1600, or better in every state. However, WA and Qld I've never bothered to certify. But I think I've just been lazy.