Anybody doing RAGBRAI this year?

[Ann G]

This will be my 5th. Yes, there are crowds, and yes, it's hot, but if you get started early in the morning, you can do a lot of miles before the heat. And every town that you come through welcomes you like you're part of a liberating army. There are bikes of every description, uprights, recumbents, trikes, tandems, and one group of 4 guys on a vehicle that would have to be classified as a quadricycle I suppose. There are teams that dress in tutus, others that wear these holstein cow spotted jerseys, guys that decorate the road kill with Mardi Gras beads, people who strap all kinds of decorative arifacts to the tops of their helmets, etc. It's wierdly fun, and it's possible to eat pie from one end of the state to the other .

[deena]

My family lives just a few miles from day 2 (Spencer to Humbolt). It seem like shame not to ride at least one day when I have all the support right there.

I started riding last summer, and my usual daily ride was only 20-25. I also took my bike last July and rode while visiting my family - Iowa only looks flat from the car.

I guess I am still a bit intimidated by the distance and riding alone, but it sounds like so much fun!

[MomOnBike]

DH and I are riding. This will be our first, and I'm really looking forward to it.

It's odd, I hate heat, dispise humidity, and crowds give me the willies - all the things RAGBRAI has in abundance -and I really, really want to do the silly ride.

Deena, from what I understand, there is no such thing as riding alone on RAGBRAI. Me, I'm worried about riding with people other than DH. I've never been on a group ride before.

[Ann G]

Deena, I moved from Emmetsburg to Algona 2 years ago, and both places are close to the route for day 2, so I'll be riding along familiar roads. A lot of people just ride for 1 day, or even just part of the day, so as long as you have a way to get back and forth from the ride, you're fine.

Mom on bike, you're right about not being alone. I camp with a bike club from Emmetsburg, but since everyone rides at his/her own pace, I never make any arrangements to ride with anyone. But, other riders are pretty friendly, so you end up with 10-minute conversations with other riders as you move along. Since there are a lot of people, it might help to do a 1-day organized ride somewhere else first, just to get the feel of having other riders around. Because of the number of bikes invovled, riders signal their intentions so nobody near them is surprised by any moves. You'll get used to people calling out, "On your left," "Rider off," "rider on," "rumbles!" "slowing," etc.

[deena]

Ann -

You probably know my family! My Dad and sis live in Burt. I also have family in Emmetsburg, Clarion, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines.

I am trying to avoid having two cars there. I would need to be there Sunday, but my DH and kids can't leave until Monday morning. I am going to try to find another Milwaukee rider to travel with, or maybe take the bus into Mason City?

Is it as difficult to get a one day pass as the full week? Is the lottery used for one-day riders also?

MomOnBike - are you going?

[Ann G]

Deena, I think that it's easy enough to get a 1-day pass. Plus, lots of people just ride anyway without registering. I don't think that the lottery applies for 1 day passes. Maybe I'll see you. I'll be on a green Bacchetta Giro recumbent. Do they allow bent riders in this forum?

[MomOnBike]

Yes, 'bent riders are allowed.

I ride a blue EZ Sport. Here he is, on our first tour together: