Customer Reviews

Against the Wind: A Rider's Account of the Incredible Iron Butt Rally ("Incredible journeys" books)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have ever thought about trying a long cross country ride, then you will love this book. I have read articles about the Iron Butt Rally, but there is no way a 2 or 3 page article can capture the true spirit of this many miles in so few days. Congrats to Ron Ayres on the wonderful job he did in putting it all together. This is a tale that will be enjoyed by all of those who strive to expand the limits of their every day lives. This should be required reading for anyone thinking about taking on the Iron Butt. I've read it once and now I'm going to read it again.

Most of us will never ride in an endurance event but by reading this book we can get an idea of what it entails. It certainly causes the reader to respect those who are endurance riders! There are many practical tips that are helpful for the 300-500mile/day rider. I sent a couple E Mails to the author and recieved a speedy response and an answer to my question as to why there were so few Harley's in these events (apparently BMWs are better suited for the 1000+ grueling miles and nature of these contests.) Any motorcycle rider would enjoy this book as would any non biker who enjoys reading about individuals meeting and overcoming challenges in life.

Eight iron butts sat in folding metal chairs at the Midland fairgrounds rally in July, explaining comfort strategies. Just listening to them made my rear sore. How else to explain the anguish le derriere must tolerate to compress 10K miles in 11 days worth of Iron Butt Rally-ism?
Against the Wind author Ron Ayres, who etched an entry in the Guinness Book for most miles ridden in X days (at the tender age of 55 no less) and who led the panel of IBR contestants, acted as though he had seen God and lived to tell the tale. Yet he was short winded on endurance riding tactics.
Others dispensed these pearls of wisdom: get comfy; sing in helmet; play math games; run around bike at gas ups; stand on pegs, stick face in wind; dream of next steak; suck fireballs.
Held on every odd year, the IBR ought to be classified as an extreme sport. This race makes ESPN's X-Games look like Bambi Goes Hollywood. These crazies crisscross the U.S.A. twice, collecting points by hanging a pink towel at designated side road attractions, taking a Polaroid for proof, catching a catnap on the auxiliary tank before remounting again at 3:23 a.m.
The insomniac who can ride 1,000 miles per day on maximum sleep deprivation and minimal state trooper interference, boldly avoiding bodily harm while hallucinating at 100 mpg, wins a $13 trophy.
Nearly half the field drops out. Dehydration is common; misjudgments more so. Yet the thrill of completing the world's toughest endurance race is said to change one's life permanently, providing one still has a life to change.
As a read, Against the Wind is a page-turning adventure that constantly begs the question, "how?" Evidently there are vast reserves of kidney juice in storage waiting for just such a feat.
In 1995, the rally year Ayres' book documents, of the top 10 finishers from a pack of 55 entrants, half rode upon the esteemed BMW K1100, if not the R1100. The winner? A 46-year-old financial advisor from Salt Lake City astride a '94 K1100LT.
In these pages considerable time is spent relating individual trials and errors, such as when somebody failed to use his side stand, or when another forgot to remove his sunglasses when applying eye drops.
Just reading this grueling account caused me to oversleep and run late for work.

Once I started this one, I couldn't put it down.

This book is a MUST read for anyone interested in nuturing their Walter Mitty streak buried beneath years of family responsibilities and too many hours spent listening to NPR rather than living the Dream.

The author's writing style is so refreshingly clear and embracing, readers will feel they are riding along behind Ron Ayres on his BWM motorcycle as he races from checkpoint to checkpoint, and covers 12,000 miles in 11 days around the country.

This book is not so much about motorcycles and those who ride them as it is about each of us striving to achieve our personal "best". In the Iron Butt Rally, participants of both sexes, from their 20's to their 70's, holders of "day jobs" ranging from grandmothers and corporate VP's to shopkeepers and computer geeks race against the same two clocks we all face every day --the external one ticking away at our respective "checkpoints" (at the office, school, or home) and the internal one that tells us how much stamina we have left before throwing in the towel.

Some of the BEST writing I have ever read.

If you're over 50, and haven't read this, you will have missed something. Even if you're not, it makes a terrific gift for those of us who are!

The book is the report of a real trip.
One can actually travel along the writer whilst he tells the story of "his" Iron Butt.
I read it three times in a row since I wanted to grasp as much detaiils as possible. The book is also slightly informative for the mile-bugged biker, although "Going the extra mile" is THE source for long distance riding.

Having ridden three Iron Butt rallies myself, I find that this is THE BOOK to describe this unique sport to others. It gives the reader an insight into the challenge of the ride. Short of riding in the Iron Butt, this is your best chance to understand what riders go through competing in this rally.

Ron is a consummate gentleman who has, without any bravado or macho BS, brought to life the trials and tribulations of a rider competing in the Iron Butt motorcycle rally. With input from numerous other competitors he has woven a fast reading account of the events surrounding the toughest competitive event in long distance motorcycle endurance riding.

I'm betting that, whether you're a motorcyclist or not, you will enjoy this book.

Ayres carries the reader along on an extraordinary adventure. Wonderfully capturing the sense of freedom, perseverance, danger, and courage, this book inspires readers to overcome their own challenges.

If you ever wanted to try the IBR..... THIS IS THE BOOK... You might change your mind... I know I did. I love to ride... and do it every day... but now I know the IBR is not for me... except for check points perhaps.
This is a REALLY GOOD READ. Get it just to vicariously live the story of these crazy people.

The charm of Ayres' book is definitely not his writing style; rather, it's the stories he includes from other Iron Butt Rally Riders, such as Eddie James, Ardys Kellerman, and others. Ayres is, without a doubt, one of the best endurance riders on the planet; however, in my modest opinion, it seems to me that his contribution to the book is pretty much "I did this, then I did that, and now here's a word from another rider," and those words are invariably more interesting than his text. I would love to have someone like Fritz Lang or Adam Wolkoff write a book about their Ironbutt Experiences, for they would surely be a supremely entertaining read.

This book is much more entertaining if one knows the players involved; for someone outside the endurance riding community, it may be a fairly dull read. Ayres has written at least one other book, but my advice is this: Ron, keep your butt in the saddle and away from the word processor.