Ok, I just checked my online banking and my account balance is quite a bit smaller than $600,000 so I think Google has decided to pass on my offer. I am sure this is a decision they will regret in the future.
In other news, I heard from someone claiming to be Mike Kneebone in response to the Yellow Wolf issue. I am not 100% positive that this mail actually came from Mike and not someone pranking me, but it did appear to be well written with no spelling mistakes, so if you guys are pranking me I have to give you credit for using the dictionary.
Several issues have been settled.
I want everyone to know that Yellow Wolf (Rick) has no problem with the IBA at all. I do not represent him in any way. I have only spoken to him a couple of times and they were pretty meaningless and brief conversations. Rick doesn’t even know or care who I am.
The reason it was not recognized was the speed issue. Here is Mikes statement:
In terms of the speeding, we can NOT offer this as an IBA ride (that is different from saying Rick obviously did it) as it **REQUIRES** you to break the speed limit every second of the ride. No IBA ride certification mandates you break the speed limit – more less do it for the entire ride, start to finish. Do people ride over the speed limit? All the time and that is a risk they might be willing to take. But we do NOT, and cannot, require it and we actively promote not to do it (see http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm):
2. Forget about high speeds. Forget what you’ve been told; high speeds and long-distance riding have little in common. A steady rider can book more miles, enjoy more mountain vistas and ride more twisty miles than a canyon carver bent on making the best times across a mountain pass. Besides the obvious effects on fuel mileage, which means more time wasted looking for gas, and the fatigue caused by fighting the effects of pushing a motorcycle through the wind, riding much beyond the flow of traffic will land you a hefty speeding ticket. While you are on the side of the road having a spirited discussion with a Police officer about your 10/10ths riding style, the turtle-like rider on the Honda 250 will wave as he sets himself up for the next set of corners.
The IBA did not require him to break the speed limit. This justifies why they would not sponsor a 1,000 miles on Deals Gap specific award. I still think they should yank the award from the magazine guy who showed the picture of his speedometer at 130mph. I think it is funny how their statement kind of says it is impossible to accumulate that kind of mileage if you are “a canyon carver bent on making the best times across a mountain pass”. Guess Rick proved that wrong. Or maybe he was just embarrassed to mention all the 250 Rebels that were passing him.
Mike did say he issued a press release confirming that Rick did do the ride so I do feel that is recognition. Mike seems like a good guy so I would like to address some of the ranting I did a couple of days ago when I referred to the IBA as panty-wearing, cross-dressing, no good, BMW riding, camelback equipped, adult diaper wearing half wits.
Panty Wearing
This is actually somewhat true. A lot of these guys wear those funny bicycle shorts. Still, they are not panties in the true sense of the word, so I retract this statement.
Cross Dressing
I am actually just ashamed I stooped to that level. I am sure some of them are cross dressers, but that really is none of my business.
No Good
I should not have said that. I am sorry Mike.
BMW Riding
While it is true that many do ride BMW’s, many others choose to ride nice bikes like Suzuki’s, Harley’s, Yamaha’s, and Kawasaki’s. (I’ll bet the Gold Wing guys are mad I did not say Honda!)
Camelback Equipped
This is also true. This is a hydration device, not a physical deformity.
Adult Diaper Wearing
I have heard rumor that this is true. I have never talked to anyone who admitted to using one to avoid rest stops, but I have heard rumors. Astronauts used to make wet in their spacesuits so I guess this is not completely unheard of. Still, Ironbutt guys are not astronauts.
Half Wits
Once again, I am ashamed to have written this as I have no evidence at all that these guys have half a wit.
In light of all this, I am ending my boycott of the IBA. Had I known about the press release I would probably not have ranted at all. I would also like to thank Mike for not suing me for some kind of copyright infringement for defiling their little symbol. The symbol has been returned to its original state and the link has been replaced.
Just one more thing, if I find out that someone was pranking me and the email was a phony, the boycott is back on!