Help for my sister in Iowa!

[Susan126]

Hi,

My sister bought a bike. After listening to me for years about how much I love to ride and listening to me tell her about all the rides I've done . . . she finally went for it and bought herself a bike. BUT she said her butt hurts, her hands hurt, she feels like her legs are too long and scrunched up . . . I told her she needs someone to give her a good bike fit and adjustment! I need recommendations for a good bike shop or bike fitter in the Burlington, Iowa area please! My sister needs help. I only wish I lived closer. My hubby is an excellent bike fitter and mechanic! Plus, in my area there are so many good fitters and shops. Please help me help my sister so that she will not get discouraged and stop cycling. She even told me . . . LOL . . . that she would like to do that ride across Iowa (RAGBRAI) some year with me!

Thanks so much,

Sue

[CorsairMac]

http://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/links/Links.asp?Link_Type=8

I don't live in Iowa but I just did a search on bike shops in that area and came up with this link. It looks like a great place to start, even looks like there's a bike club there. She could always talk to them about where they go for their bike needs. Hope this helps.

[Susan126]

Thanks CorsairMac, I really appreciate your help and that you did a search too. It never crossed my mind to search. I will send the information on to my sister.

Again . . . thank you from me and my little sis!

[Veronica]

I was thinking you and your hubby could go visit her... Oh we're just passing thorugh... let me help you with your bike. :p

V.

[tulip]

What about the shop where she bought the bike? Any potential there?

[annie]

Wish I knew of some specific shops in Burlington.......... but I live quite a ways north of there. I DO know that there is a fairly active biking scene there. They sponsor an awesome bike race that goes UP a narrow, winding, twisting road called Snake Alley. There's a club there called Bike Burlington. Maybe she could check into that. If I can discover any more info, I'll post it here.

annie

[Susan126]

She's really quite excited about her bike and riding! She emails me every time she gets back from a ride. She tells me how long she rode and how much fun she had! Right now she is riding alone. Her husband has no interest but does encourage her to keep on riding. I told her to look for a local club and find some riding friends. I haven't spoke with her yet just emails. I am going to phone her tomorrow. I think the main problem right now is "virgin toosh and hands" she needs some callous build up :D . . . but I also think she needs a good bike adjustment. I want to explain all of that to her when I speak with her. I did email my suggestions and pass along the site that was recommended but I would still like to tell her everything I know personally. I want to see her continue with her riding. I think finding some riding friends and getting her bike adjusted will help a lot!

I would love to go visit her Veronica! :p I told her to start training for a long ride with me for when I do come, probably next summer!

Good point tulip about the shop where she bought the bike. I'll suggest that when I speak with her tomorrow.

Sis says Iowa is a gorgeous place to cycle. Right now her riding has been strictly on a local bike path. She's afraid to take it to the road. That's why I hope she finds some cycling friends. People who will help her improve and grow.

Thanks guys!

Sue

[betagirl]

Hey I've done RAGBRAI the past 3 years. This will be my 4th. It's a big rolling party, really :) This year will be hilly, 4th hardest in terms of climb. Who says Iowa is flat? It is pretty there, in some respects. Not Colorado pretty, but it's more scenic than central Illinois.

[annie]

Hey, Sue,

I posted a note on the RAGBRAI message board, asking about Burlington biking. Here's what was posted in return---

"Hi! The folks at Bickels bike Shop (319-754-4410) on Agency Street will surely be able to help out. Leroy and Sandie and their staff are very helpful. We also have a great bike club here in Burlington with our own bus, weekly rides, A very large group that goes on Ragbrai, etc. Please check out www.bikeburlington.org or contact me firemutt24@hotmail.com for more info. "

Hope that is a bit of help for your sister.

annie

[KSH]

Make sure she has some GOOD padding in her shorts!

I started getting the Pearl Izimi with the 3D Tour pad in them... it's 11 MM thick. The 3D Race pad is 11 MM thick too.

Also, check with her on the gloves she is using! Maybe she isn't using gloves? Or the ones she does have... have very little padding on the plam?

Finally, let her know that you gotta get "seasoned" for some of the pains to go away.

I hope she finds some comfort on her bike.

[Susan126]

Hey, Sue,

I posted a note on the RAGBRAI message board, asking about Burlington biking. Here's what was posted in return---

"Hi! The folks at Bickels bike Shop (319-754-4410) on Agency Street will surely be able to help out. Leroy and Sandie and their staff are very helpful. We also have a great bike club here in Burlington with our own bus, weekly rides, A very large group that goes on Ragbrai, etc. Please check out www.bikeburlington.org or contact me firemutt24@hotmail.com for more info. "

Hope that is a bit of help for your sister.

annie

Thanks Annie . . . I will pass along your information. Knowing my sister she will be there within the hour! Well maybe by this weekend. I forgot she will be out of town for work until Friday.

I will email her all this great info. In fact I will email her a link to this forum. I don't know whether or not she will join. She's computer shy. Even if she doesn't join or perhaps she will just become a lurker (at first) she can at least check the Terry store out. She loves the bike clothes.

So Iowa's not flat betagirl? I've heard that! RAGBRAI does appear to be a lot of fun and my sister keeps telling me she wants "us" to do it some year. I explained to her that if she is serious about riding the RAGBRAI she is going to have to train all year long. Through the summer, fall, yes even winter, and spring. And build up those muscles and "sit bones" of hers! It does look like a big party. I was browsing the RAGBRAI site and noticed there is a lottery. How many riders are allowed betagirl? I could not find the number of entrants allowed. I also noticed today they posted the lottery results. Did you make it betagirl? Are your chances of getting drawn pretty good? I would hate to have my sister and I enter only to see me or her not get in. Oh and I love this years jersey. Very pretty. I love the red and black colors. I see they have camp grounds. Can you also make hotel/motel reservations along the route? I guess if you do they fill up quickly. I had back surgery in 96 and ever since I can only sleep on a bed. At least I can ride with no problems! It does look like a great ride. I'm getting pumped and I'm not even riding it this year! Maybe I will take my sister up on this . . . make her put her bike where her mouth is! LOL Maybe my daughter would like to do it too. She rides. Oh boy I'm all stoked now! Thanks again everyone for your help, suggestions, and encouragement!

Sue

[betagirl]

Hey Susan

The lottery is for 10,000 riders to my understanding. Some years it fills up, others it remains open up until the day RAGBRAI starts. That's usually an effect of how hard the route is. My first year was really hilly, so it was harder and I don't think they met the 10,000 mark. The next 2 years were relatively flat, so it did fill up. I suspect this year it won't :D I've never not made it, but I do register with a team. They say that this doesn't matter in your chances of being picked, so who knows what their method is. In all honesty, if you didn't make the lottery you could still do the ride. Getting into the beer gardens and such would be more expensive (they charge less if you have a wristband for the ride). And you supposedly don't get SAG support, but I suspect if you broke down and a SAG guy came, he wouldn't leave you there because you had no wristband!

So yes, I'm in for this year. As for the motel rooms, if the stop over town is big enough to have one then yes you can reserve a room. Like this year we pass pretty close to iowa city, so we're getting a motel room that night. But the rest are spent in campgrounds. It's good if you can hook up with a team to transport your stuff every day, and set up your campsite. Our team has a bus that's rigged with bunks and a shower. It makes it much easier. There are teams who allow new riders to join up with them. Having more riders makes the week's expenses per person lower. You can use the RAGBRAI message boards for that if your sis doesn't know any teams to hook up with. Some are bigger partiers than others, so keep that in mind :)

Hope that helps. You should definitely do it. This year might be a tough year with all the climb, but maybe next year the route will be flatter.

[Susan126]

Hey BetaGirl,

Wow, 10,000 riders and some years it fills up! Amazing. The first time I heard about the RAGRAI was in this forum. Then my sister mentioned it. It sounds like one big happy partying caravan. Cycling across the state of Iowa and stopping at the end of each day only to enjoy great food and fun! Hubby would love the beer gardens! :D It sounds like belonging to a team is the way to go too. It must get mighty hot in July on the plains of Iowa. I guess besides building up distance, your sit bones, and hands, you have to build up your tolerance to heat too.

I know I will not be doing it this year, but maybe next year. Hubby has NO interest at all. He said if I want to do it with my sister he would sag us! Of course my sister already lives in the state. But I would have to get my bike and me to Iowa from the Seattle area. The good side, after the ride I can recuperate at my sister’s place in Burlington!

I think my sister and I need to decide if we seriously are going to do it and then start training. I’m not worried about myself. I’ve done multi day and double century rides. I know how to train for them. It’s my sister I am concerned about. She is very new to cycling. But she is the one who keeps bringing up the RAGBRAI. If I lived close by I would help her train for the ride. But I am here in Washington state and she is in Iowa and has no one right now. That’s why I’m hoping she checks out some bike clubs in her area and even check with the local bike shops too. They may be able to hook her up with a club and/or riders. When does the lottery open for next year’s ride?

I hope you take a lot of pictures during this year's RAGRAI BetaGirl! I would love to see them! I think everyone in here would love to see them!

I bet you're getting excited. I noticed the count down on the RADGRAI home page!

81 days, 23 hours, 29 minutes, and 47 seconds left until RAGBRAI XXXIV!

Sue :)