By Cyclegear
By their eighth decade, some people have settled into an easy life of relaxed days and peaceful evenings reflecting on the glories of their lost youth. When Jan Daub turned 80, he had other plans, among them to become the oldest rider to complete the Iron Butt Association’s Ultimate Coast-to-Coast ride, from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Key West, Florida, in no more than 30 days.
Daub had completed the UCC twice before, first on a two-wheeler, then on a Ural sidecar rig — a third attempt on a V-Strom rig ended prematurely with a broken crossmember under the sidecar — so this time he was taking no chances, choosing a Honda Gold Wing DCT with a sidecar for his latest attempt.
He left his home in Texas heading north, and to save wear and tear on himself and his rig he boarded a ferry in Bellingham, Washington, and took the Marine Highway to Haines, Alaska. He had originally planned to kill some time touring around Alaska while waiting for good weather on the Haul Road to Prudhoe Bay. But playing tourist would have to wait.
