SaddleSore 1000 (2024)

History - the IBA has been issuing 1,000 mile day certifications since the 1980s. These are difficult certifications to earn, please study the rules carefully.

Step one - choose a SAFE route and use a mapping program (google maps preferred) to check your ride really is 1,000 real miles.

Step two - Collect, photograph and track FUEL receipts, START/END and each stop - photos of each receipt in front of your odometer - keep a log of each stop.

Step three - send it in! Where possible, please use electronic submission.Forms needed:Trip log and application forms (pdf)

If you have any questions about this ride, contact us at to [emailprotected].

SaddleSore History

Prior to 1993, the Iron Butt Association did not certify1000-in-1 rides. To that point we referred riders to otherorganizations.Unfortunately, that occasionally turned out to be a mistake. In somecases, organizations that claimed to have rides didn't, while otherstook riders' money and never delivered promised awards.

Although it was never the Iron Butt Association'sintention to certify1000-in-1 rides, the number of letters we received asking to do so hadbecome staggering. With some serious pushing from our members, weagreed to certify a variety of long distance rides. At that same time,the IBA had been working closely with Les Martin at the CaliforniaMotorcycle Touring Association (CMTA) for ride certifications takingplace in California, Nevada and Oregon. As it turns out our decision togearup for ride certifications came about the same time Les Martin hadannouncedhe was retiring (1993). With Les moving on to a (hopefully!) morerelaxed lifestyle, we were sad to see the rich history of theSaddleSore and Bun Burner rides he had been working so hard on for somany years to be lost. It only took a few minutes of discussion withLes about our plans before he decided to donate both the SaddleSore andBun Burner names to the Iron Butt Association. During the CMTA days,the SaddleSore was 1,000 miles in24 hours certification and the Bun Burner was 1,500 miles in 36hours.The IBA renamed the rides slightly, the SaddleSore became theSaddleSore 1000(1,000 miles in less than 24 hours) and the Bun Burner became the BunBurner 1500(1,500miles in less than 36 hours). At the same time, we created the BunBurner GOLD(1,500miles in less than 24 hours) as so many riders had "unofficially" beendocumentedsince the early 1980s.

We hope that we can continue the quality and traditionof the ride to which Les Martin devoted so many years of his life.

The SaddleSore 1000 Guidelines for Certification

Riders thatsuccessfully have a SaddleSore or Bun Burner ride certifiedreceive a certificate, an Iron Butt Association pin and aplastic license plate back with our logo "Iron Butt Association -World's Toughest Riders."

Every time I read these guidelines, they seem overlycomplex. However, they were developed by one of our members involved inrecord keeping for various sporting events. There is no doubt that thedocumentation requirementsfor these certification are tough, but when you hang your certificateon the wall, you can rest easy knowing that we just don't hand theseout to anyone. Whenthe ride is over, you have survived not only a very tough ride, butyou'llhave the documentation to back up your claims. How many riders can saythat?

When you read the following guidelines, keep in mindthat our goal is to see awell documented ride. If you cannot follow the guidelines exactly, feelfree to drop us a line with a proposal. We will be happy to review yourplans and possibly accept changes to this format.

Michael Kneebone
President
Iron Butt Association

Iron Butt Association Guidelines for the SaddleSore1000 or Bun Burner 1500.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The guidelines for a Bun Burner GOLD(1,500 miles in less than 24 hours) and Bun Burner Silver (1,500 milesin less than 30 hours) are located at: BunBurner GOLD Guidelines.

Following are the guidelines for earning an Iron ButtAssociation Pin and License Plate Back and a Certificate of Completionfor a 1,000 mile (or more) ride in less than 24 hours (SaddleSore 1000)or 1,500miles in less than 36 hours (Bun Burner 1500). It is possible tocomplete boththe SaddleSore 1000 and Bun Burner 1500 onthe same ride. For example, in the first 24 hours you ride 1,000 milesand thencontinue on the second day and ride another 500 miles or more.

You may also complete the ride two-up (with one persondoing the piloting,the other being a passenger the entire distance - you may not sharepilotingduties!). In these cases, the Iron Butt Association issues onecertificate, with both rider and passenger on it, but we provide twocopies of it; one for the rider and one for the passenger. There is NOadditional charge for a passenger, however, if they would like a pin orplate frame, you will need to add that in on the fee schedule page.

There are three steps to earning a SaddleSore or BunBurner 1500 certification; 1. Choose a safe route, 2. collect and track receipts, and 3.copy and submit your documentation. Sincesafety is our primary concern, no pre-registration of your ride isneeded. Our goal is to give you added flexibility to decide on anygiven day whetherthe combination of weather, your motorcycle and most importantly, yourattitude, is ready for a big ride.

STEP ONE, Choose a SAFE route

Your ride needs to be completely documented (stepsoutlined below) and cover a minimum distance of 1,000 miles in lessthan 24 hours (SaddleSore 1000),or 1,500 miles in less than 36 hours (Bun Burner). In order to keeptheserides from becoming races, mileages in excess of 1,800 miles in lessthan 24 hours will not be published.

Please keep in mind, 24 hours is wall clock time, notriding time. So if you startyour ride at 5:00 pm on June 1st, you must finish it before 5pm on June 2nd.

The SaddleSore and Bun Burner do NOT require you tospeed. The majority of riders will cover their 1,000 miles in about 18to 20 hours (including all stops). For every hour you are on a majorhighway riding, you put approximately 20 minutes of "off" time in yourtime bank that can be used forresting. Use that time wisely as it does not come off the 24 hour clock!

Although this is not much of an issue in the USA andCanada, please note: We do not certify rides where the maximum speedlimit is too low to support the average speed necessary to complete theride within the time limit.

A safe ride should be your primary goal. If this is yourfirst attempt at a 1,000 mile day, we highly recommend thatyou study the Iron Butt Association's 25 long distance riding tipslocated at: 25Tips.Additionally, U.S. riders will find thatthe Interstate Highway system offers the safest and quickest way tocover the miles. With efficient time management, many riders leaveearly in the morning and are home in time for a late dinner.Other riders will split the SaddleSore and Bun Burner rides in twoparts, riding through the day and stopping for a motel room andcontinuing the ride after a long rest stop (obviously, with 36 hoursavailable, the Bun Burner offers a little more motel time).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Unless your speedometer has beencalibrated, do NOT depend on your own odometer readings for officialmileage! Most Japanese motorcycles register at least four percent moremiles than actually traveled. Over the course of a 24 hour period, thiserror can be quite severe - as much as 40 miles. IN ALL CASES, mileagewill be verified with either Microsoft Streets and Trips, Google Maps,or in some cases, paper maps or other sources as required.

We recommend you put your route in to Google Maps, itworks in most parts of the worldand allows you to easily change your route by dragging it on alternateroads. Additionally, it allows you to save your route and send it to us(Click the Menu icon ≡ (upper left corner); Click the ChainLink icon "Share or embed map"; Check the box "Short URL"; copy theresulting link & paste it where desired.)

From a documentation standpoint, the best route is onewhere you take a straight line ride from point to point (for example,start in Chicago, Illinois and finish in Denver, Colorado). However, werealize that many riders cannot afford to devote this kind of time totheir ride. With that in mind, you may choose any route you wish usingthe following guidelines:

If you choose a circular route, you will need to obtaina dated receipt at each "corner" to show that you did not take ashort-cut. For example, if you choose to ride the circular route ofChicago, Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri to Kansas City, Kansas to DesMoines, Iowa and back to Chicago, we would expect to receive receiptsfrom each of those cities (in addition to the guidelines that follow).

If you choose a route where you ride 500 miles and thenturn around and come back, you must get a dated receipt at the turnaround point. For example, if you were to start in Denver, Colorado andride to Omaha, Nebraska and back to Denver, we would expect a detailedreceipt from Omaha (in addition to the guidelines that follow).

We strongly discourage, and in some cases may reject,routes that are repetitive in nature. For example, we would not accepta claim that you rode five round-trips between Daytona Beach, Floridaand Jacksonville, a distance of only 95 miles...

No preregistration is needed for the SaddleSore or BunBurner rides. We feel this removes the pressure to complete the rideshould you become tired or otherwise feel unsafe.While group SaddleSore rides bring with them the safety of grouptravel, they can also increase your risk by encouraging you to press onwhen youmight otherwise stop. Group rides can also encourage aggressive riding.Besure riding styles of others in your group match your style. Whenplanninga ride, keep in mind that group rides are only as fast as the slowestperson in the group. This can extend your riding day many hourspushing you toward fatigue.

Motorcycling comes with risk and riding a 1,000 miles ormore increases your risksubstantially. It is imperative you understand the risk you are takingandminimize the possibility of an accident by practicing safe motorcyclehabits.No one, not even the most experienced long distance rider, can safelyfight off fatigue. If you are tired, the only option is to stop andrest.Ignoring the symptoms of fatigue can be fatal.The SaddleSore and Bun Burner rides enjoy a fantastic safety record buttocontinue this record requires you to do your part. If you are tired,havinga bad day, or facing other hurdles that are impacting your ridingskills, please stop and rest so that you may enjoy motorcycling anotherday!

Please remember that the Iron Butt Association isdedicated to the sport of safe, long-distance motorcycle riding. Itdoes not condone nor will it tolerate unsafeactivities such as excessive speed (in many states, riding more than 20miles per hour above the speed limit will also get you charged withreckless driving. Reckless driving is a serious charge in anyjurisdiction. In many cases your motorcycle can be impounded and youwill be required to return to court for a personal appearance at ahearing, irrespective of the distance you have to travel to appear orthe hardship that it might entail. Few experiences in motorcycling aremore memorable than an appearance in traffic court, particularly ifyour license hangs on the outcome), reckless motorcycle operation,riding while fatigued or otherwise impaired, the use of stimulants tomaintain alertness, or any other activity that results in ridersexceedingtheir personal limits. Any rider found to have engaged in these orotherunsafe activities, as determined in the sole discretion of the IBA,will have the certification application refused. If the certificationis alreadyissued and we find out about these infractions after the fact, thecertification will be revoked (if you read Motorcyclist Magazine, youmay haveseen them burning an IBA certification when we revoked thecertificationof a noted staffer's ride). For thesepurposes, the IBA will consider as an admission of violating thispolicyany public statements made by the participant that describeparticipationin unsafe activities during a ride subject to certification.

STEP TWO: Collect, photograph and track FUEL receipts - THIS STEP IS CRITICAL!

Your ride starts from the location of your firstcomputer generated receipt (preferably fuel):

* * * THE COMPUTER TIME STAMP on your FIRST/STARTreceipt WILL BE YOUR OFFICIAL STARTING LOCATION AND TIME * * *

at the end of your ride,

* * * THE COMPUTER TIME STAMP on the FINAL receipt WILLBE YOUR OFFICIAL ENDING LOCATION AND TIME * * *

You MUST have a receipt at every major CORNER/TURNING POINT of your ride to show you did not take a short cut.

And finally, don't forget, we need ALL your FUELreceipts!

RECEIPT TIPS:

Here is an example of a 'good' receipt:

Thislow-resolution photo shows a good way to show your receipts. Ofcourse, the photo you turn in will be higher resolution so theverification team can clearly read location, date and time. Mostphones are capable of taking this kind of photo. For moreexamples, please visit here.

You might want to start practicing now before your ride. On a good day, under cover at gas pumps, it is easy-peasy. On a wet, windy day at non-covered pumps, not so much. Or you might hate it - in which case, you may use thisALTERNATE WITNESS METHOD to document your ride. But compared to hitting up a hotel clerk at 3 am (who many times has moved on and probably can't respond to our letters anyway), the photo in front of your odometer method should prove to be superior.

Before the start, you will want to try gas stations tofind one that has a receipt with a good location, time and date on itto document the start of your ride.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Date and time is most important foryour start and end receipts. They are muchless critical on the other ride receipts. We know there are mistakes onmany station clocks -spend your time concentrating on the start and end receipts.

Fill up your gas tank and obtain a computer printed gasreceipt with a legible date and time stamp. NOTE: Many gas stations inboth the UnitedStates and in Europe are printing an "invoice number" which is actuallythe time of the transaction for example, you might see Inv# 113557whichmeans 11:35:57 am. You may also elect to use a bank ATM receipt with atime and date stamp for your start time but please leave with your tankfull.

LOG YOUR FUEL AND OTHER LONG STOPS!

Your fuel (and stop) log helps us figure out how yourride progressed - it is a summary of what happened during the ride.

The following log entries are mandatory:

A log entry must be made at each gas stop (sampleattached). A log entry includes the following information; DATE, TIME,TIME ZONE, LOCATION (i.e. Moline, IL) and ODOMETER reading. A receiptmust accompany each log entry (please note, that the receipts fromthese gas stops, where possible should include a date stamp - we do NOTcare about time stamps onthese receipts, do not waste time worrying about time stamps, the onlytimestamps that are critical are the start and finish receipts!).

In order for the verification team to account for yourtime, a log entry must be made at each stop longer than 30 minutes (forexample you decide to stop at a roadside rest stop for a nap or get amotel room during the ride). Each entry for extended stopsmust include the approximate length of the stop or the start time andending time. Meals that take longer than 30 minutes are considered reststops - where possible please try and obtain a restaurant receipt.Obviously, many types of stops, for example a stop in a rest area, willnot generate any kind of receipt - this is acceptable, but pleaseaccount for the time in your log.

WARNING: If your motorcycle is equipped with a largefuel-tank, please note that you must stop at least once every 350 milesfor gas (this is purely for documentation for your ride). Although weknow it is possible to ride greater distances non-stop, we will notaccept a claim of this type.

At the end of your ride, before the 24 hour (or 36 hourfor the Bun Burner) time period is up, obtain a computer printed gasreceipt with a legible location, date and time stamp.

* * * THE COMPUTER TIME STAMP WILL BE YOUR OFFICIAL ENDINGTIME * * *

STEP THREE: Prepare, Copy and Submit yourdocumentation.

Find a map (an old, or photocopied one is acceptable)and circle the cities you stopped in (don't forget the start and endingpoints) for gas/food/etc (a Xerox of a map is acceptable). This map istoassist the person verifying the routes and is meant to give a goodoverall pictureof your ride. You do not actually have to find the small towns youstoppedin, just circle the approximate area. The best map is one that showsyour route on one or two pages. Please do not send in multi-pageroute sheets from mapping programs or an Auto club they are too hardforthe verification teamto get a good overview of your ride.

If you use a sattelite tracking system, please feel free to include that map also.

COPY your receipts and number the copies to correspondto your log.

COPY your log.

* * * Retain your original documentation - only sendcopies! * * *

If needed, write a short note about any problems withyour ride, for example,"The receipt from Valentine, Nebraska does not have the correct date. Ihadthe attendant write the correct date. The station's number is 555555-1234."

We strongly caution that out on the road it may notbe possible to follow these guidelines to the letter.If that happens, please explain any problem you encountered and we willdo our best to work out a solution. For example, 24 hours and 35minutes into his ride, one rider could not find a gas station, eventually he found an ATM and got a receipt. While he was over the24 hour time period, he had also ridden 1,081 miles, obviously he had ridden over 1,000 miles in 24 hours (no one can ride 81 miles in 35 minutes). In a case like this, we roll the map and clock back to the 24 hour point.

COMPLETE the attached form. Basically, this is information where to send the certification package, what name and motorcycle you want on the certificate andthe basic route you would like the certification to note.

CALCULATEthe fee. We offer several options. You can get onlythe certificate for $45; or for a better value, you can order the 'fullpackage' including the certificate, a ride PATCH, and anIBA plate back for $55 (a $5.25 savings); or for the best value you canorder the 'full monty' including the cerrtificate, a pin and a patch,and the backer plate for $63.25 ( $6.50 savings).

You will need these forms to complete thisapplication process:

Trip log and application forms (pdf)

FINALLY

Have a scanner or good camera? Where possible try using the ELECTRONIC APPLICATION processVisit: IBAElectronic Electronic Application Guidelines.

OR via snail mail - send to:

Iron Butt Association, P.O. Box 4550, LISLE, IL 60532USA. Please make your check payable in US funds to the "IronButt Association". Please note that we do not make any money on thisride, this is our approximate cost of administrating the SaddleSore andBun Burner program. NOTE: If you are located outside the United Statesor Canada and obtaining a check in US Funds is difficult please sende-mail to [emailprotected] for possible alternate payment methods.

Please try and avoid Federal Express, UPS or Certifiedmail - although it may seem faster to use these services, we are at ourfull-time jobs during the day and sometimes it can take weeks to taketime off from work to pick up your "speedy" package. If you areconcerned we receivedyour documents and live in the U.S., we recommend "DeliveryConfirmation"(a 55 cent product offered by the Post Office that allows you to tracka letter or package via an 800 number, e-mail or the internet).

When we get your ride documentation, one of severalpeople will start theverification process. Due to the extensive work involved (keying datainto mileage spreadsheets, map verifications, witness contacts where needed and custom certificate preparations) and the fact that approximately60% of the labor involved with producing these awards are performed byvolunteers, it will usually take a minimum of 2 to 3 monthsbefore your certificates will be ready for signature and mailed toyou. If you intend being an active Iron Butt rider, you shouldconsider becoming a PremierMember now. Premiermembers usually gettheir certificates in just a few weeks!

We realize this is a long time to wait for yourcertification. However,our certification process is very thorough. In fact, the entirecertificationprocess is what gives your certificate value. It would be very easy forthe Iron Butt Association to simply take money and print up a generic"you rode a 1,000 mile day" certificate, however, the value of theentire certification program is in the fact that not just anyone canget anIron Butt Association ride certification. The downsideis this process takes time... We can only offer that when you receiveyour certification you know that not only you earned it, and so did anyother rider that you meet with the same certification.

Before we can issue your certification, you may be askedto clarify certain aspects of your ride and/or documentation by eithere-mail, phone or letter. Additionally, certain aspects of your ride aresubject to audit by yet another set of IBA volunteers charged withinsuring only people that rode the miles get the award. Should yourpackage get tagged for that audit, it too may delay the finaldetermination of your claim for the award.

If you have any questions about this ride, contact us at to [emailprotected].

Ride Packages:

The Full Package (most popular)

The Full Monty

Pins:(Not true to size--pins are 1.75 inches tall by 1.75 wide)

SaddleSore 1000-Pin

BB1500Cruiser Pin

Patches: (Not true to size--patches are 3.5 inches tall by 3.5 wide)

SaddleSore Patch

Bun Burner 1500 Cruiser Patch