Having just read your "Doing 1,000 in 24 hours" article, I have to take issue with the majority of it's content, or at least it's intent. Riding 1,000 miles in 24 is no more "stupid" than jogging 10 miles in a day. A lot of people do it. I personally think the self-flogging exercise of long-distance running is nightmarish and bad for your skeletal system. The key is, "I think". Some people enjoy running and some don't. Many can run and do actually enjoy running, I don't. James, you don't enjoy or can't ride 1,000 miles in 24 hours. Since I don't know which, I won't submit to name calling or pointing fingers as some of the other respondents have.

This past fall I accomplished not one, but two 1,000 mile in 24 hour runs in a six day period. All safely and without duress. Not only did I manage to do that, but also qualified for 1,500 miles in 36 hours as well. All this on a sportbike, the VFR750. What's the point? Well, why ride a motorcycle? Because I enjoyed the challenge. I do agree that not all people can accomplish this. Not all people are built to run a marathon either. My riding partner for this event managed to scare me twice. Having nearly run himself off the road and into a ditch due to reduced situational awareness and a fatigued mind and body. After he had reached this point, I was still "relatively" fresh. But I am me. If not for the cold weather, I could have done another 1,000 the next day. Again, that's me and not you, him or any other Joe Public motorcyclist. I am not better, worse, or more skilled, just built differently. So don't be "The Man" and attempt to disseminate your opinions as fact. No matter how valid and sound they might be, they are still your opinions. The tone of your article expresses an air of informed authority. I don't know what the "Master Strategy Group" stands for or it's mission. But that further ads to the air of authority and validity.

My compliments though for publishing letters that challenge your opinions and at times completely opposite of your articles. There's always two sides to a story, right?

Your article would be much more accurate if you had simply fessed up to the fact that YOU can't do it and therefore you firmly believe that no one should attempt to do it. Averaging 42 miles and hour is easy. This includes stopping for fuel every 120 miles (as posted speed limits), a 1 hour rest stop after 500 miles, a 2 hour rest stop 300 miles after that, and periodic 30 minute-or-less stretch breaks - and that resulted in a 1070 mile "day" in 21 hours. Remembering what you wrote would lead the reader to think that 2 back-to-back 600 mile days would be insurmountable without endangering every matron and infant in the community. However a trip from Dallas to Kansas City, MO and back was reasonable and by no means risky.

It seems obvious, as with other "opinions" on your site, that your personal experience is the boundary in which the world should be contained. A great example is your reference to "studies" to support your position. Your efforts to diffuse some of the abrasiveness of your post by giving a nod to the IBA for their efforts at safety awareness and faint praise in deed when you weigh it against the more substantial statements like "nobody" being able to do such a thing safely and people acting in a "stupid" manner. Please note that no safety-related death has ever occurred in an IBA rally. The entire long distance community (not just IBA) preaches that everyone is to ride their own ride and know their own limits. It's better to call off a ride 5 miles from completion than to not come home because you should have checked into a motel.

This is the Internet and everyone is allowed to post their personal biases as they see fit. However it's always best to identify those personal prejudices as such so that casual readers will understand that you are not speaking for a position of knowledge or authority.