This riveting book, written by best-selling author and motorcycle endurance competitor Ron Ayres, tells the story of what many call the most grueling test of human endurance in all of motorcycling. With guts and sheer willpower, riders must overcome fatigue and danger, calling upon reserves deep within themselves.

The Iron Butt Rally has become a legendary challenge for motorcyclists who crave more time in the saddle. Imagine ten consecutive thousand-mile days on a motorcycle in a mental race against unknown obstacles, a route that can change at a moment's notice, and a ruthlessly ticking clock, and you've imagined the pinnacle of long-distance motorcycling.

Ayres reveals the innermost thoughts of the contestants and shares the anticipation, thrill, fatigue, heartbreak, and euphoria of completing this merciless trial. He includes not just his own experiences, but the fascinating experiences of the other contestants. 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."

Ayres also 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 wake up and do it all over again.