When I rode Pro Bike we never got caught by the TT's when we didn't have any problems. Twice we had issues, the Baja 2000 (who didn't have issues) and the 03 1000 we had light failure, so we finished the next morning before timing out. Later I started riding with a Sportsman team of newbys and then they graduated to Class 30, we were caught in the 1000 every year. As a team we were just way to slow to keep ahead. I usually rode the rougher sections and when I got the bike we would be way back and I would fight the dust and couldn't ride at my normal race speed because of it. Then once you get caught by one truck, your time really slows. You would be a fool to jump back on a race course that is blinded by dust, because there very well may be another race truck right behind the one that just past that will KILL you.
In 06, I ended up riding 530 miles of the 1000. I was one tired puppy after that. It wasn't planned, but due to injuries of teammates I stepped up to the plate. I can honestly say that I believe I would have been able to ride the whole race to La Paz that year without too much difficulty. I know I only rode half the race, but I also rode a motorcycle from Ensenada to the Honda pit before San Felipe on race morning. Most of that ride was on the pavement, but I did cut down across El Diablo and down Zoo Road. It was pretty cool being the first bike down Zoo Road that morning, the spectators thought I was in the race and were cheering like crazy as I went by. I gave them a show and charged through there pretty good. When I got to San Ignacio, I was in great shape. My mistake was getting off the bike for a couple of hours. When I got back on north of Loretto I was stiff from the cold and I rode horrible, the silt beds and water crossings through there didn't help. I was tired when I got back off, but if I had not rode terribly or crashed a couple of times I would have been able to make the last 200 miles.
It would be cool to Ironman it, but you had better be in great shape and be used to staying awake for 30 hours with no sleep. Many people can stay awake, and even exert physically after that time period, but their brains are fried and they can't handle it mentally.
