Hi, I'm new....

[betagirl]

Just found this forum and wanted to say hi and introduce myself. I've been riding for about 5 years, but have gotten more serious in the past year or so. I did my first RAGBRAI last year and it got me hooked big time

I have 2 trek's - road and mtn. I'm all about road riding right now, especially I live in the flatlands of Chicago :-D

Anyway, looks like a great place for info and the like. I've already found solace in my weird ammonia smell experience today.

Glad I found you guys

[snapdragen]

Welcome!

[annie]

Hi, beta girl! Glad you found this place. It's a great forum.

Did you do RAGBRAI with a team, club, or on your own? What'd you think of it? Going this year?

[adkoch]

What part of Chicago do you live in? I am just east of Plainfield, in the far southwest suburbs. Which bike club do you run with? I am originally from Iowa and am also curious as to what kind of outfit you will use to get out there and back for Ragbrai. Seems the last two years have presented some difficulties in that arena, unless of course, you go for the whole week! Welcome!

~Angie

[betagirl]

Hey guys, thanks for the welcome

Annie - I did RAGBRAI with a team - Team Megawatts. I'm doing it again this year. I never imagined how fun it could be. At least it was pretty cool last year after the first day (what was it 100 degrees that day?). I wonder if we'll be so lucky this year. How about you? Did you happen to catch the guy riding in only a loin cloth? Ouch! I'd have to say my favorite food vendor were the breakfast burrito boys. Mmmmmmmmm mmm.

Angie - I know Plainfield really well. My folks have some friends that live out there. I live in Bartlett, and cycle with a LBS club. There's another club I rode with Tuesday that was pretty hard core, so I might split my time between the 2 clubs. I don't ride RAGBRAI with this group though. The team for that is from all over, including Atlanta, Colorado and Missouri. I got hooked up with that through a friend. For RAGBRAI last year, my friend who's from Springfield and I met in the Quad Cities and caught a charter bus across for like 50 bucks. They advertise on the RAGBRAI site. This year I have a friend driving a group of us to Des Moines to hook up with the rest of the team, then heading over to the starting town. I agree, it's a pain to get across the state Are you going for the whole week this year?

[adkoch]

No - someday, I would like to go for the whole week, but it's just not in the cards this year, either. With my training for an ironman, it would be too difficult to log the kind of miles in that heat, then find a pool or hit the pavement for an additional workout, once we roll into the host town and set up camp. I should have done it a couple of years ago, when I wasn't consumed, b/c if I get preggers in the next year, that phase is all over for awhile...

I'm sooooo envious - have a great time and keep us posted!!!

~Angie

[ragbrai40]

Hey betagirl! I did RAGBRAI last year to celebrate turning 40 (hence the user name) and loved it! Doing it again this year, we ride/camp w/LBS. They've been hauling RAGBRAIr's across the state for years. Just wish I'd taken the plunge a long time ago - what a fun week!

Annie - have a fun and safe trip riding to the starting point! I'm thinking of coming up into your neck of the woods for TOMRV in June. Do you ride that one?

Happy pedaling!