There are some motorcycle rallies out there with bizarre names, but one favorite is the Iron Butt Rally. This rally isn't like any other. Instead of checking out each other's bikes, enjoying live entertainment, and buying new motorcycle patches and other items, the Iron Butt Rally is all about riding. In fact, that's all it is: days of riding! The Iron Butt Rally lasts 11 days, and during that time, bikers may cover over 10,000 miles! That's a lot of riding, but if you can do it, you can truly say that you've got a butt made out of iron and can ride for hours.
The main focus of the Iron Butt Rally is to earn points by riding to different locations in the United States and Canada. Some locations are worth more points than others, so you have to prioritize: do you go for those three locations that are close together but worth fewer points, or do you ride all the way to that out of the way place to claim major points? It's also not quite as simple as riding to a check point in these cities. You may have to find and buy a specific item or take a picture with a certain landmark.
There are a number of twists to the contest, too. For example, some check points are only available for a limited time or to limited number of riders. There are also some bonus locations that can net you some extra points. You also have to have a site on your list to get credit for it, and different bikers may have different lists. To finish the event, you've got to reach a number of check points and earn a minimum number of points. Various completion levels (gold, silver, etc.) are available to those who earn more points.
