Ten consecutive thousand-mile days on two wheels in a mental race against imponderable odds and a ceaselessly ticking clock--welcome to the legendary Iron Butt Rally. Against the Wind is a riveting new book, written by sixth-place 1995 finisher Ron Ayres, telling the story of what many call the most grueling test of human endurance in all of motorcycling. With guts and shear willpower, riders must overcome (or succumb to) fatigue and danger, calling upon human reserves buried deep within. Ayres reveals the innermost thoughts of a successful contestant and lets us share the anticipation, the thrill, the fatigue, the heartbreak, the euphoria, and ultimately the controversy of completing this merciless trial. More than the mere mechanics of making it through the eleven-day ordeal, Ayres describes the elegant strategy necessary to be a contender. You'll discover what motivates the riders, how the rally is scored, what takes place each day, how the routes are planned, and what it's like to ride to the very limit of endurance--and then ride some more.As engaging as Ayres own story is, you'll also be fascinated by the experiences of other riders who are attracted to such events. Motorcycle journalist Bob Higdon states in his foreword to the book, "Here, told from the point of view of a participant, the unraveling of human souls proceeds in almost embarrassing clarity." It's an incredible journey most of us would rather enjoy from our easy chair, and now we can with this first-rate book.
Ron Ayres is a nationally recognized motorcycle endurance rider who has completed numerous endurance competitions, including two Iron Butt rallies. His first book, Against the Wind, chronicles his participation in the 1995 Iron Butt Rally, which he finished in sixth place after riding more than 12,000 miles in eleven days. Against the Wind has been widely acclaimed among motorcyclists and non-riders alike and is now in its third printing.
In 1998, Ron shattered a Guinness World Record when he visited all 48 contiguous states by motorcycle in just six days. After completing his 48-state journey in Washington, he continued to Hyder, Alaska, and set a record as the first motorcyclist to visit all 49 North American states in seven days.
In 1999, Ron and his wife Barbara relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa. Ron is Chief Executive Officer of EDS Africa, a global firm which provides information technology services to companies in sub-Saharan Africa. Ron continues his motorcycle adventures in Africa. In March 2000, he and South African rider Shaun Powell will lead a group of experienced motorcyclists on an "8 Flags" ride through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Mozambique. His e-mail address is ron@ronayres.com.
