Towards the end of last month, we featured Steve Cooper who was about to embark on his last two Iron Butt one thousand milers, taking his total to 10 endurance rides. We catch up with Steve to hear how he got on with the two continental gruellers, which he’d hope to complete within 48 hours straight.

 

 

Lee

 

Saddle sore Steve after his 9th and 10th Iron Butt rides Saddle sore Steve after his 9th and 10th Iron Butt rides

 

Ride one, nine down, one to go

 

Ride one started from the Kyriad Hotel, Coquelles, just south of Calais at 11.45 pm on the 21/07/17 and finished at Valle del Nilo Motel at Valencia 8.45pm the next day. 21 hours and 1070 miles later. Effectively, this was the ninth Iron Butt ride I’d completed in total.

 

Ride two, the finale

 

The second ride (my 10th Iron Butt) commenced from the hotel in Valencia at 7am the very next day 23rd July. This ride took a little longer due to heavy rain on the way back, a broken sat nav and a vain attempt to look for better weather in Le Mans (while heading for Paris). Hence the 1092 miles and 22 hours travelling time, I arrived at the hotel in Coquelles at 5.03am on 24th July.

 

 

WKImage

 

Charity riding

 

I completed the rides to raise some much needed cash for the Whizz Kidz charity, they’re a great organisation who provide independence for disabled children. It’s still not too late to donate and you can do so at my just giving page.

 

Bullet proof Kymco 300i Bullet proof Kymco 300i

 

Bullet proof Kymco and the insomniac

 

I completed the rides on a Kymco 300i after reliability issues with a couple of other big capacity auto scooters, the 300i did not miss a beat. On both occasions I rode through the night without sleep which got me there but really took its toll on me, especially on the first night.

 

Wise decision

 

I realised that getting up at silly o’clock to head for home wasn’t practical (and dangerous) so I abandoned the 48-hour idea and was very comfortable with that decision. Deciding to lay in at Valencia was the right thing to do as I doubt I would have made it home in one piece if I hadn’t. Even though I think I’m quite good at this endurance stuff I knew that not getting enough sleep was going to prove dangerous to my well being, especially towards the later stages of the next day’s ride.

 

Atrocious weather

 

On the way down I hit four hours of heavy rain just south of Le Mans but on the way back it rained pretty much from Bordeaux to Calais about 550 miles, which was fun. God it was atrocious. Through all the bad weather I kept repeating the mantra – “I’m only going to do this once again in my life so stop whining”.

 

Zipped

 

After riding through five hours of solid rain I stopped for a brief period to get the blood back into my legs/arse/limbs and eat something. Once I was done would my jacket zip up again ? Would it F**k! No matter how many times I tried to zip it up it just popped back open again. I got increasingly vocal sweary each time it separated. I can remember thinking “Please don’t let the cheapest component in the whole exercise be the architect of my downfall”. I think I finally got the zipper mated on the 10th try much to my relief.

 

Physically challenging

 

I was still recovering seven days after the ride. My legs, knees, thighs, wrists and thumb all ached from being in the same position for so long. Oh, my buttocks ache also and I’m sure you wanted to know that. Because of the heavy rain I had to run with my visor slightly open as I couldn’t see a damn thing with it closed so my eyes are still pretty sore.

 

A bit narked

 

OK I’m a bit narked that I couldn’t get the two done in a straight 48 hours but I was making the assumption that the weather would be good at this time of year, which of course it wasn’t. It’s also worth mentioning that Eurotunnel could have helped a little more, they reneged on their offer to cover the Channel crossing to France because it was their “busy season”. I counted five empty carriages as the train pulled out of Folkestone, this didn’t bode well for a good start.

 

Euphoria?

 

When I arrived at the hotel at the end of the second ride there wasn’t any euphoria or self congratulation, just a reassurance that I’d finished what I’d set out to do and a total of 10 endurance rides was the place to leave it.

 

Leisurely riding

 

Now I’m done I can go for a ride without feeling that I have to prove something, or return a day later triumphant. It’s been a great run but I no longer have anything to prove, so now I can ride for the sake of riding. I think that the scooter is going to be grateful also!

 

All the best

 

All at SLUK would like to wish Steve the very best for the future and a well earned rest from chasing Iron Butt rides across Europe. Take it easy pal!

 

 

Words: Steve Cooper / Lee Pics: Downs Mail

 

 

Buying from SLUK Shop supports this site

Towards the end of last month, we featured Steve Cooper who was about to embark on his last two Iron Butt one thousand milers, taking his total to 10 endurance rides. We catch up with Steve to hear how he got on with the two continental gruellers, which he’d hope to complete within 48 hours straight.

 

 

Lee

 

Saddle sore Steve after his 9th and 10th Iron Butt rides
Saddle sore Steve after his 9th and 10th Iron Butt rides

 

Ride one, nine down, one to go

 

Ride one started from the Kyriad Hotel, Coquelles, just south of Calais at 11.45 pm on the 21/07/17 and finished at Valle del Nilo Motel at Valencia 8.45pm the next day. 21 hours and 1070 miles later. Effectively, this was the ninth Iron Butt ride I’d completed in total.

 

Ride two, the finale

 

The second ride (my 10th Iron Butt) commenced from the hotel in Valencia at 7am the very next day 23rd July. This ride took a little longer due to heavy rain on the way back, a broken sat nav and a vain attempt to look for better weather in Le Mans (while heading for Paris). Hence the 1092 miles and 22 hours travelling time, I arrived at the hotel in Coquelles at 5.03am on 24th July.

 

 

Calais to Valencia and back Iron Butt update| NEWS

 

Charity riding

 

I completed the rides to raise some much needed cash for the Whizz Kidz charity, they’re a great organisation who provide independence for disabled children. It’s still not too late to donate and you can do so at my just giving page.

 

Bullet proof Kymco 300i
Bullet proof Kymco 300i

 

Bullet proof Kymco and the insomniac

 

I completed the rides on a Kymco 300i after reliability issues with a couple of other big capacity auto scooters, the 300i did not miss a beat. On both occasions I rode through the night without sleep which got me there but really took its toll on me, especially on the first night.

 

Wise decision

 

I realised that getting up at silly o’clock to head for home wasn’t practical (and dangerous) so I abandoned the 48-hour idea and was very comfortable with that decision. Deciding to lay in at Valencia was the right thing to do as I doubt I would have made it home in one piece if I hadn’t. Even though I think I’m quite good at this endurance stuff I knew that not getting enough sleep was going to prove dangerous to my well being, especially towards the later stages of the next day’s ride.

 

Atrocious weather

 

On the way down I hit four hours of heavy rain just south of Le Mans but on the way back it rained pretty much from Bordeaux to Calais about 550 miles, which was fun. God it was atrocious. Through all the bad weather I kept repeating the mantra – “I’m only going to do this once again in my life so stop whining”.

 

Zipped

 

After riding through five hours of solid rain I stopped for a brief period to get the blood back into my legs/arse/limbs and eat something. Once I was done would my jacket zip up again ? Would it F**k! No matter how many times I tried to zip it up it just popped back open again. I got increasingly vocal sweary each time it separated. I can remember thinking “Please don’t let the cheapest component in the whole exercise be the architect of my downfall”. I think I finally got the zipper mated on the 10th try much to my relief.

 

Physically challenging

 

I was still recovering seven days after the ride. My legs, knees, thighs, wrists and thumb all ached from being in the same position for so long. Oh, my buttocks ache also and I’m sure you wanted to know that. Because of the heavy rain I had to run with my visor slightly open as I couldn’t see a damn thing with it closed so my eyes are still pretty sore.

 

A bit narked

 

OK I’m a bit narked that I couldn’t get the two done in a straight 48 hours but I was making the assumption that the weather would be good at this time of year, which of course it wasn’t. It’s also worth mentioning that Eurotunnel could have helped a little more, they reneged on their offer to cover the Channel crossing to France because it was their “busy season”. I counted five empty carriages as the train pulled out of Folkestone, this didn’t bode well for a good start.

 

Euphoria?

 

When I arrived at the hotel at the end of the second ride there wasn’t any euphoria or self congratulation, just a reassurance that I’d finished what I’d set out to do and a total of 10 endurance rides was the place to leave it.

 

Leisurely riding

 

Now I’m done I can go for a ride without feeling that I have to prove something, or return a day later triumphant. It’s been a great run but I no longer have anything to prove, so now I can ride for the sake of riding. I think that the scooter is going to be grateful also!

 

All the best

 

All at SLUK would like to wish Steve the very best for the future and a well earned rest from chasing Iron Butt rides across Europe. Take it easy pal!

 

 

Words: Steve Cooper / Lee Pics: Downs Mail

 

 

Buying from SLUK Shop supports this site