Modern Vespa

Yearly cannonball rides draw my interest. Closer to 80 than 70 years of age and wonder if I could actually complete one. Are there any similar events of perhaps 500 to 1000 miles that might be able to prepare a person for the canon ball or determine that it is a ride that should have been done at a younger fitter time.

If I remember correctly the oldest person to finish a scooter cannonball was 83 and he placed in the top three. For the life of me I can't find the list on the cannonball forum where this info was given though. We've had several riders in their mid-70s on the cannonballs I've ridden in.

For gluttons for maximus gluteus punishment, there's the Iron Butt ride, a self-directed exercise in which you ride 1000 miles within 24 hours.

https://www.ironbutt.org/

This looks like fun, doesn't it? But every time I spend more than two hours in the saddle of one of my scoots, I'm reminded it probably won't be fun at all.

11 or 12 1000 mile plus rides so far and 2 failures to finish.

I think that 8 were done on scooters of 350cc and below.

Currently working on the last one.

Ask rider for details.

Bill Dog: How often do you take breaks with those kinds of distances? Do you sleep in-between? Is mental fatigue the main consideration, or physical fatigue?

ty jaun the iron butt will be tried this year on a trip to Louisiana. If I can do it in 24hrs only time will tell.

following as any hints of how to not dnf would be welcome. I have already checked on what is needed to substantiate the trip(s) being done as per rules.

your profile and comments on MV leaves me with much respect. best of luck on your future exploits.

You can do 1000 miles in around 18 to 20 hours on a 300cc scooter if you keep the speed around 70 mph plus.

I might feed myself while I'm fueling or going to the bathroom but most of the time I try to keep going.

Maybe towards the end a few minutes walking around will help getting the blood back into your ass and legs but apart from that I'll continue riding until I'm done.

Yeah, one more to do probably in France and Spain, probably in April.

Cannonball rides do not come in mini size

I call them mini ball rides and only mention the canon ball rides to hopefully be clearer to others that can not read what my mind is picturing. Think of civil war bullets verses canon balls.

That's an idea! Ride across, say Kansas, in 5 or so days. Call it Cannonball Kansas. Change states every year. Rhode Island and Delaware would be challenging.

Excuse me I can go across Kansas north and west east and south in a day 💪

But it's an endurance event!

Right it's not competitive at all.

JakeM if you want a couple of routes around the UK, Scotland and Wales to try just ask, however the traffic here is always a gamble which is why highways in Europe are always a better bet even if you have to pay for them.

Top Tip, use a Toll Tag tapped to your screen rather than a Credit Card or Cash.

Thanks! Rather than a Cannonball, I'm planning to ride from Brighton to Modena Italy next year on a 125cc Sprint - but am currently trying to plan how many hours per day is feasible, how to deal with mental fatigue etc (if that is an issue?).

What year is the Sprint ?

Brand new 2022 Euro 5. Currently being run in, so haven't tested full top speed myself, but should get near 60mph.

Expecting it to comfortably maintain 50mph. Going to use "Avoid motorways" on Google maps, as most of the French non motorway roads seem to be 50mph now.

There is no limit on what you can do straight from your home. I have done 500+ miles in a weekend many times. Even now, I'm planning a 350 mile (700mile roundtrip) run to the Georgia coast sometime before New Years.

Chart a 200/500/1000 mile circle around your home and see what interesting destination is possible, then go for it.

Id suggest 8 hours a day away from the Toll Roads but take plenty of spare fuel with you as many fuel stations have shut down on the minor roads.

Book your hotels well in advance is my suggestion.

I wouldn't suggest that doing a 1000 mile ride in one hit is a good idea.

Not in the UK at least.

Actually I think that someone has done 1000 miles in 24 hours on a 125 with a few modifications so maybe that could be put on the list at some stage.

Lets have a look on Ebay for a sacrificial lamb.

i LIVE QUITE CLOSE TO THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY AND IN MY YOUGER YEARS THOUGHT TO RIDE IT ON MY YAMAHA, never did. i am thinking to invite scooter riders Vespa in particular to join in some short day rides hoping there will be enough interest to form a Vespa ride group or even a club. I enjoy riding solo and riding with a group in planned rides I am sure others would enjoy seeing if they do also.

MV's own howardr ran a Saddlesore 1000 on a 125cc Buddy some years back.

Interesting. I can see a plot being hatched

I am sure you are correct . May many a light bulb shine in the heads of scooter riders through out the world.

I have ridden over 400 miles in a day…on a bicycle. I'd love to ride all day on a small bike or scooter but am not interested in organized events with checkpoints, etc. it's not that I'm antisocial, it's that the navigation is so stressful. I'm sure GPS would help immeasurably, however. My hat's off to these Cannonballers and Ironbutters.

riding on a group ride or club ride is different from a ride for awards or recognition. different strokes for different people. joining a group or club should not obligate a participant to do all or even any of it's events. I sometimes like the chalenge of competing against others to gauge my abilities, even knowing that at 70+ yrs of age most will be better then I am. most of my riding would be solo or with other like minded riders. in my 20 and 30ies I belonged to a 75 member club that had rides every weekend with up to 200 people on them. I enjoyed those rides but was not required to ride on any rides. One will never know what they might miss I they do not choose to try. try try try

Several years ago, I helped organize a circumnavigation of Ohio for my local club.

The idea was to ride the roads closest to the bordering states without crossing over. We rode South to North along the Ohio/Indiana border, then West to East through Toledo and along the shore of Lake Erie. Then North to South to the Ohio River and rode next to the river until we were done. We did 1,000 miles in 4 days and it was a great time.

There has been discussion on the Cannonball Forum of conducting smaller rides in the off-years.

I'd like to play devil's advocate. I've competed in many hundreds of bicycle races, at a high level, and to the exclusion of many normal experiences and daily pleasures. Afterwards, pleasure riding naturally led to organized endurance events. I'm not complaining mind you. I've had incredible experiences, traveled the world and made wonderful friendships. Still, for those of us who have the innate urge to try, try, try and constantly push the boundaries of what's possible, there is an almost certain chance that you'll miss a lot by not stopping to smell the roses, so to speak.
At this point in my life I'd prefer to meander with no schedule or purpose, Tod and Buzz style. That's the part of me that needs the most work.

When I rode to and from the 2016 cannonball I considered it to be best of both worlds. Going out I stopped when and where I felt like including at Cafe du Monde in NOLA for beignets and street musicians. Kayaking in the Florida panhandle, etc. rode a competitive cannonball, placing sixth. Rode home after a few days rest and service on the scoot in Washington state via North Cascades National Park, stopping for things like huckleberry cupcake, sitting by a campfire (at a resort not actually camping) listen to the river with a cuppa, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone complete with Buffalo jams, Tetons, country cafes, long days, short days, detours because something looked interesting (or to get around forest fires).

One of the best thing about a cannonball for me is it isn't a group ride and you can ride how you want. Competitive with minimal stops and navigation planned it detail or you can cruise along, stop to eat, take photos beyond those needed for scoring, let your GPS auto route you and enjoy the trip. No matter which way you ride, at the end of the day you have companions to share a meal, beverage, chat or if necessary wrench with. Should you breakdown help will be available to at least get you to the end of the day stop. Kind of reassuring though when touring I've never had support beyond my AAA RV membership.

Why would anyone believe riding in a canon ball event would indicate that they would not enjoy or even yearn to experience rides of a different nature? I certainly have and will again enjoy a solo ride through the backwoods or road in and out of my normal haunts. I have ridden on weekend rides in the company of several hundred other riders just for the fun of it. There are so many different ways to enjoy traveling on a two wheeled vehicle. Saddle up and enjoy life everyone.

Who said they wouldn't?

Personally I don't like large group rides which for me is more than 6 people. That's for day rides. For multi day rides I prefer 1-4 rides if we are staying together. Others I know hate riding solo (for pleasure not commuting) and love group rides of whatever length. Some wouldn't even consider an overnight or longer ride regardless of who or how many were going.

I don't do group rides because you're always compensating for someone who can't ride as well as you.

I'll meet you there.

Solo rider here. Riding in traffic is my version of video games and Door Dash is taking me places commuting never would. Riding in groups takes some of that away.
Take care on those long rides if you have risk of deep vein thrombosis.

there have already been one if not more that have insinuated it on MV , I shall NOT name names. Who said they wouldn't, I am open to education , TELL ME and the rest of MV that are following , please, pretty please?

Frogger comes to mind.

What I originally proposed about four or five years ago as far as short regional versions of the SCBR was for the event to be held at one hotel, with two or three 300-400 mile loops out and back, depending on if it was a two or three day event. The participant could decide in which order and direction the routes would be run, and scoring would be SCBR format. I'm not sure what they have planned now, but it does sound like that's where they might be headed.

Not to criticize you Bill, just to show how different we all are:

I have two buddies, who both have bikes. The other, a Speed Triple guy, has a principle that he never rides below speed limits. The other, a Ninja guy, just goes bongers from the influence of this first fellow. I hate to ride with them, 'cause I prefer to take it easy.

Still, the same applies: I'll meet you there

Ride safe, Bill.

More then a day later, been waiting for name(s) of who said IT. The only response is the sound of crickets.

B4 retiring I had frequent flier status on 5 different air lines and never had a symptom of DVT show up. I do hope that DVT will not be a problem for me now or in the future. thank you for your concern.