Norwegian Camel Rally - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Iron Butt Association's Archive of Wisdom

Question: What are required to participate in the Norwegian Camel Rally or the Little Camel Rally?

Answer: All riders must have a valid driving licence, the bike's registration document, a bike in proper condition, and proper clothing and personal safety gear. An approved helmet is obligatory in Norway. You are not required to have IBA certificates or to have participated in other long distance rallies, but we do of course recommend that you have some form of long distance touring experience. You should also know your physical and mental reactions to long hours in the saddle – there is an ocean of difference between 500 km in 7 hours and 1500 km in 21 hours.

Question: Since this is a long distance rally, I understand that the goal is to ride the longest possible distance within the time limit. Is this correct?

Answer: NO, these are not high speed races, and to ride an insanely long distance will obviously be both unsafe and illegal. The goal is to collect as many bonus points as possible. If two entrants collect the same number of bonus points, the one with the shorter distance ridden will climb higher on the ranking list. If two entrants end up with both identical points sum and distance, the one with the longer time will get the higher position. In addition to these rules, an entrant who rides more than 1250 km in the 15 hour rally* or more than 1800 km in the 24 hour rally will lose 50 % of the collected bonus points.

*The 15 hour Little Camel Rally is not run every rally year.

Question: I have a lot of touring experience, and I am used to rides of 800-1000 km a day without getting overly exhausted. The camel rallies have a minimum distance requirement of only 610 km – why is this called "long distance"?

Answer: In the long distance endurance riding sport, the common lower distance limit is 1000 km. For these rallies we have chosen to set the limit to 610 km to make the competition accessible to more riders. 1000 km less than a SaddleSore 1000 (1000 miles, 1610 km) seemed to be a natural choice. For a lot of riders a 610 km ride will be a major challenge, especially when they have to log bonus location visits along the way. We also wanted to adjust to the low speed limits in Norway and the fact that most routes will bring you onto slow roads. That said, noone is likely to win any of the rallies by riding 610 km, and we expect the winners to ride considerably more than this.

Question: Won't a biker be a hazard both to himself and others after 20 hours of almost continuous riding?

Answer: Not necessarily. Safety is our first priority, and the rally rules and the setting as a whole is designed to keep risk at a minimum. Out on the road the riders must of course take responsibility for their own safety and know their limits when it comes to physical shape, stamina, and riding skills. Riding a motorcycle is demanding both physically and mentally, and in combination with long distances and little rest the risk will be significant. A serious rally entrant will be well prepared, ride well within his abilities, and finish safely.

Question: What are SaddleSore* and SaddleSore Light*?

Answer: The SaddleSore 1000 and the SaddleSore Light are two of the long distance individual rides organized by the Iron Butt Association (IBA). Those who ride 1610 km (1000 miles) or 1000 km (621 miles) respectively within 24 hours may receive a certificate and will also automatically be a member of the IBA. The certificiations requires that the start and finish times be documented and vitnessed, and that you collect all fuel receipts during the ride. Check out the IBA website (menu option "Ride Certifications") for more information. NOTE: The SaddelSore Light ride will only be verified as part of a rally, not as an inidividual ride only.

Question: Is it at all possible to ride 1610 km (1000 miles) within 24 hours on Norwegian roads?

Answer: This has been done several times, but it requires a strict time discipline, thorough preparations, and a well planned route. To ride 1 610 km in 24 hours you will need an average speed of about 68 kph. Most long distance rallies are arranged in countries with an extensive expressway network, which makes it possible to finish a rally in 17-18 hours. That would require an average speed of around 90 kph, which is not possible in Norway since you also need to eat, rest, stop for fuel, and fill in your log book. In other words the Norwegian roads make our rallies more challenging.

Question: If I ride a SaddleSore 1 000*, i.e. 1 610 km (1 000 miles) in 24 hours, I will in fact also have ridden a SaddleSore Light*. Can I have certificates for both rides?

Answer: Yes, you can. If you want both certificates it will cost NOK 450 (€ 54) instead of the ordinary NOK 300 (€ 36) for a single certification.

Question: What is the rally fee, and for what is it used by the rally committee?

Answer: The fee is NOK 450 (€ 54) for riders and NOK 300 (€ 36) for passengers and team members. This is a non-profit event, and the fee will cover planning and arranging the event. Should there be a margin of profit, it will be used for a charitable purpose selected by the entrants.