At the time, my longest ride in a single day had been under 300 miles…so attempting a ride nearly 4 times that length felt ambitious and maybe even a little crazy. My friend Chuck Snyder is an accomplished long-distance rider, and he was the one who gave me the idea of attempting a SaddleSore 1000 Iron Butt ride. I decided to go for it because I wanted to see what I was capable of. If I couldn't make it, I was prepared to stop and get a hotel. Besides, people have done longer rides on less ideal bikes.
My biggest concern was fatigue and whether I could physically complete the ride. I broke both of my thumbs in a motorcycle accident two years prior and wasn't sure how I'd handle being on the bike that long. I trusted my KTM, but there was always a small concern I might experience a mechanical issue far away from home.
We selected the Ride Around Pennsylvania challenge, an in-state SaddleSore route of roughly 1,100 miles that circles the perimeter of Pennsylvania. Riders must pass through a series of jurisdictions (Lancaster, Philadelphia, Morrisville, Easton, Milford, Great Bend, Wattsburg, North East, West Springfield, and New Freeport) in order and collect timestamped receipts at each stop, with the route verified through Spotwalla tracking.
Chuck had completed rides like this before and mapped out the entire route. We agreed to meet in Lancaster, roughly halfway between his home in Etters and mine in Wayne. We chose May 24, 2024, with a 1:00 AM start and a counterclockwise route that would put us through the heavily wooded sections of the state during daylight rather than peak deer hours.
I packed water, snacks, tools, rain gear, and Tylenol. My bike was a 2018 KTM 1290 Super Duke R, not exactly the motorcycle most people would choose for a 1,100-mile day. Chuck was riding his Yamaha FJR1300. My KTM's smaller fuel tank meant we'd need a few extra fuel stops along the way.
The moon was out when we started.
I should also mention that I probably wouldn't have attempted this ride without Chuck. He planned everything, led the entire ride, and was a great source of advice and encouragement.
One of the most memorable sections came early in the Pocono Mountains. The fog was so thick we could barely see. I kept opening my visor trying to improve visibility, and at one point we encountered a deer so close we could have reached out and pet it.
The day itself turned out to be beautiful. We spent hours riding through green countryside and small towns. Many roads, especially Route 6, were two-lane backroads that didn't allow for much speed, but the scenery made up for it.
The logistics of documenting the ride became a challenge of their own. At every fuel stop we needed a receipt and a photo of the receipt next to the bike's odometer. The KTM's bright display made nighttime photos frustratingly difficult, and getting readable mileage pictures often took multiple attempts. When you're on the clock, you need to be as efficient as possible at every stop.
As the miles added up, I discovered that some of my assumptions were wrong. I expected my backside to hurt the most. Instead, it was my knees and neck. By the end of the day I was constantly shifting position on the bike and stretching whenever I had the chance.
I also gained a new appreciation for the Super Duke R. While it lacks wind protection, it proved surprisingly capable for long-distance riding. Cruise control was a game changer, allowing me to rest my throttle hand throughout the day. With luggage and a windscreen, it ended up being a pretty respectable sport touring bike. More importantly, I can't think of another bike I'd rather have ridden for the challenge.
One memorable moment came in New Freeport, tucked into the southwest corner of the state. We couldn't find anywhere to buy something that would generate a timestamped receipt, so we took a picture of our bikes in front of the local firehouse before eventually finding a gas station a few miles away.
By the time we began the final leg back east, we were feeling it. I was sore, tired, and once again riding in the dark. This was probably the lowest point of the ride.
At our final fuel stop, we did the math. We had roughly 100 miles left and about two hours to complete them. Up until that point I had been focused on the next stop, the next receipt, and the next stretch of road…but for the first time all day, it felt like we were actually going to make it. We both agreed: “Let’s finish it!”
We rolled back into Lancaster with less than an hour to spare.
And the moon was out again.
That is still one of the details I remember most. The same moon that was overhead when we started was still there when we finished. It was a reminder of how far and long we traveled between those two moments.
We were exhausted but incredibly satisfied. We grabbed a coffee, talked about the ride for a few minutes, and then headed our separate ways. The day still wasn't over. I had another 60 miles to ride before finally getting home.
My total ride ended up being 1,256 miles in under 25 hours. After submitting our documentation to the Iron Butt Association, the official certified result was 1,106 miles completed in under 24 hours.
The certification was rewarding, but it wasn't the biggest takeaway.
Just as Chuck had told me beforehand, long-distance riding makes the world feel smaller. Places that once seemed far away suddenly feel much closer.
More importantly, I learned that I was capable of more than I thought.
With preparation, planning, and the right mindset, you can do things that initially seem out of reach.
The biggest lesson I took away from the entire experience:
You don't know what you're fully capable of until you try.
