|
|
||||
|
Long Distance Reporter |
||||
|
August 2001 Volume 2, Number 4 =============
Get the Rollin' Dude Wallpaper
|
Butt Wait - There's More? by Bruce 'B2' Barge It has been 4 years now since I started Long Distance Riding. I have learned and seen much that I probably would not have otherwise. One cannot do their first Saddlesore 1000 thusly gaining entry into the Iron Butt Association without already being at least aware of the Mother of all Motorcycle Rallies, “The Iron Butt Rally”. At least in my case, it was all I could do 4 years ago to fathom some of the other, harder IBA timed rides and possibly the thought of maybe somehow, managing to ride and compete in one of the various 24 hr. LDR rallies. As my friend and fellow LDR Jim Frens so aptly put it to me, I probably looked then at the “Iron Butt Rally” itself with a sort of “Morbid Curiosity” (to use his words). Little did I know then how infected I would become with this sport and how little time would pass before the morbid curiosity would turn into a rabid obsession. Then last year, miraculously, the dream of actually running in the rally began to jell into reality right in front of my eyes. Many of you have read in this column in the past few months of my preparation and growing enthusiasm as the time drew near to begin the final preparations to head to the starting line in Madison, Al. In February of this year, I was laid off from my job of 22 years, while this was a monumental distraction to say the least, it was one I was determined to rise above. Everything was going so well, I was well on my way to a successful career change with timing that would still have me circumnavigating the country in this years “World’s Toughest Motorcycle Rally”-then came one of the most viscous full cross body blocks I have ever experienced. (See this month’s article, “If I Could Turn Back Time”) taken together, these two life changing experiences effects on me was near cataclysmic and forced some very reluctant and desperate decisions. Rather than carry this on any further, please allow the following email from me to Mike Kneebone, President and CEO of the Iron Butt Association to finish the explanation. Regards, Bruce “B2” Barge · · · · · From: "Bruce Barge" <[email protected]> To: Mike Kneebone Subject: You Have No Idea the Pain this Causes Me... Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 18:29:59 -0400 . . . Or, "You Gotta Know When to Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em" - This is sounding way too much like a bad Country Music tune - Mike, Sorry for my poor attempt at levity above, maybe I'm trying a little to mask the grief. I'll cut right to the chase, Then give you the explanation. It is with the heaviest of hearts that I must withdraw from the 2001 Iron Butt Rally. It is only in the past 2 weeks that this decision has become (so literally) painfully apparent to me and it took that long for me to discuss the situation with some LDR friends (many of them IBR entrants and some IBDoners)and to convince myself that this was in fact the best decision for me. (At this time anyway) And now for the explanation(s) (excuses) for this painful decision. The first and foremost of these is my current physical condition or more precisely, the lack thereof. I do not know if you are aware, butt on the 1st of June, I dropped the Connie on a rain slick road after braking near a oil slicked intersection. While I was only going 20-25 mph, apparently I landed knife-edged on my right side. I was just a little "shook up" and sore and refused medical attention and went home. After 2 days of pretty heavy pain, I went to the ER and was admitted into Surgical ICU with 5 broken ribs, (all on the right side) 2 of them in 2 places and a punctured lung. I was in SICU for a week and a regular ward for a week after that. (This was my first hospitalization ever and it damn sure got my attention-if I die without another chest tube or catheter insertion, it will not be too soon.) (And now for where the second factor enters in) In Feb. of this year, I was laid off from my job of 22 years. I have always been interested in 18 wheelers and saw a certain relevance in Over the Road Driving to my obsession with LDR. At the time of the accident, I was 1 week into MTA Driving School that was actually funded by the State of Fla. After my 2 week hospital stay and 4 days at home, I started back at driving school. Only with immense amounts of Advil and much winching was I able to make it through the next 3 weeks of climbing in and out of tractors. Last week, my last week at "school", driving to Orlando from Melbourne, my '86 Thunderturd blew a head gasket. Having to get to school no matter what, I got back on the bike for the first time in about 5 weeks, in the rain again, and headed to a welder here in town to have the right footpeg welded back on so I could ride the 70 miles to class the next morning. (The damage to the bike in the accident was mostly cosmetic) In that 70 miles (and the 125 mile day I did the other day) it became painfully apparent that I have not recovered to any degree necessary to ride thousand mile days. (I am still in pretty much constant "discomfort" and those occasional potholes and bumps brought back real stabs of pain) I was not really ready to accept this and was ready to do the rally anyway until some of my friends reminded me of the big picture. It is after all, (please forgive me) a motorcycle rally. It is supposed to be fun. Maybe not in the last 3 days of the 11 butt the agony part isn't supposed to start on day 2-3 either. And now for the last factor (excuse). The accident TOTALLY screwed up the timing of my driving training. Had it not occurred, I would probably have had time to get hired on with a trucking company, make it through their mandatory 4-8 weeks of uninterrupted training and still have a couple weeks left to get stuff ready for the rally. As it is now, I am right in the middle of sending out applications to get hired on. None of these companies is going to hire me, train me for 1/2 their required time and let me take 3 weeks off to run the rally. If I were to wait until after the rally to start their training, many of the driving skills I've learned in the past weeks would be rusty, starting me off on the downside with a new career, job and company. Again, and most seriously, you have no idea how painful a decision this has been for me. Since I started LDR over 3 years ago the IBR has always been a goal in the back of my mind. For the past year, it has been almost all I have thought about. It will remain an alien within me, eating away at my insides until I have the next opportunity to compete in it and spank it on it's big ole fanny. While I am on the subject of the sacred starting line- I am sending this to you with about 4 weeks remaining until rally time. I realize this is pretty close, butt I honestly just convinced (with some help from my friends) myself that this was the correct decision really in the past week. Mike, I am so sorry I will not be able to fulfill my obligation to you and more importantly to myself to run the rally this year, butt I most unfortunately feel it is the smartest decision for me at this time. I hope you can understand and harbor no ill will towards me for the lateness involved. Again Boss, this ain't the end to the story, with your consideration and a little luck, I hope it to only be a short 2 year postponement. Again, my apologies. Your friend and fellow LDR, Bruce M. "B2" Barge PS. With all due respect sir, "MADISON!"
|
|
||
|
|
||||
