RAGBRAI! - long

[MomOnBike]

OK, here is my long-overdue RAGBRAI report. I'll try to keep it shortish.

You've got to keep in mind that my idea of an organized ride up to now has been a ride where DH & I agree upon a destination, and maybe actually go there.

The whole adventure started when I decided that this year would be the year we experience RAGBRAI. DH wasn't quite sure what I'd signed him up for, but he's a good sport and went along with the buying, testing and packing necessary to get our poop in a group. Then, one week before we were to leave, he had an argument with a car, dropped his bike, and messed up his foot. No contact with the car, just a scare, but I called him Gimpy for a few days. (Med report: Bike fine. DH went to doc after RAGBRAI & he just had a nasty sprain)

The real adventure began Saturday, when we drove to Omaha to gather for the bus ride to Rock Rapids for the start. The bus ride was a hoot, we kept seeing cars, busses and mobile homes, all heading toward Rock Rapids, and all carrying bikes. When we got to the city, I was overwhelmed. There were bikes everywhere - including lampposts, roofs, and decorating dumpsters.

Found our bikes, unboxed them and put them together, ate dinner, and went to bed (rather, tent)

I'm not going to try to give a mile-by-mile ride report, there was just too much, but here are my impressions:

Leaving Rock Rapids was fun. Everyone was happy, ringing bells, calling back & forth ("Are we there, yet?"), and generally having fun.

I was unprepared for the first town. Everything just suddenly slowed to a walking pace because of bike congestion, so everyone got off and walked. That was pretty much the way all the pass-through towns were.

My bad day was Monday, the second day. For some reason I was really struggling. DH took off ahead with the tire-changing equipment, and the inevitable happened. Thankfully, people are nice, and I got back on the road with help from a nice couple with a pump & patch kit. That was also the day that my big gears decided to go on strike. Good thing I didn't need them. I really appreciated the mechanics, though, when we got to the campsite. They straightened the problem out in no time. This was the day of the optional century. I'm glad we didn't attempt it.

Fireman's breakfasts are good, but they can be over-large. Discretion is advised.

It really is true, if you miss the stops, you miss the ride. I was not expecting a mock Hawaiian volcano in Iowa.

Make a point to read the road-side signs. "You, on the bike!" "Concert tonight by the Army Ceremonial Brass Quintet" followed by signs with time and place. Yes, the musicians rode the ride, and gave a concert every night.

Local people sit in their yards, driveways, porches, anywhere there is shade, and wave at you. They might as well, they aren't going anywhere when RAGBRAI passes their door. Some sell things, and others give away wine and venison.

I brake for watermelon - there were plenty of opportunities.

We saw almost every kind of bike there is, including unicycles, trikes, and various types of kid carriers. We didn't know there were that many bikes on earth. This led to geeky speculation on what the dollar value of the bikes was, how many total spokes there are, and other pseudo-mathematical problems.

My smile muscles stopped hurting after the second day. I really should have worked on those more.

Speaking of hurting. The Terry skirt's pad hits me in just the wrong place. Between it, and the back of my recumbent seat, I rubbed a hole in my tailbone that bothered me the rest of the ride. But hey, I had one week to ride, and 51 weeks to heal, I rode. Neosporin with Lidocaine is my friend.

If you raise your arm when the kids on the side of the road hose you as you ride past, you can get much wetter. This is good. The fairing keeps much of the water off you. This is bad.

Eagle Grove really gets into RAGBRAI. I'm not too sure how it happened, but my fairing is now sporting a "I (heart) Eagle Grove Iowa" sticker. Actually, I think I DO heart Eagle Grove, come to think of it.

Winds were generally from the South, except for the day (Friday, Day 6) that we had a long North run. That day the wind was from the North. (sigh)

One has great conversations on the road - not all limited to "On yer LEFT!" People do not hesitate to add to a conversation in progress as they ride past.

I'm slow. (But I knew that.) Except on downhills where I was keeping up with (and passing!) the big dogs. Except Lance. He passed me like I was going backwards. (Hey! I've ridden with LANCE ARMSTRONG!)

We only had rain one night.

The final day was a bit stressful, as we had a time frame. We had to get to Bellevue and get the bikes broken down and us on the bus before it left. I sent DH ahead so he could get started on his bike, and I would come in later. This worked.

The final day also had the most climbing - though the shortest mileage, and I'm proud to tell that I didn't walk a single hill the entire ride. Yes, I took them slowly - at one point I was drafting off someone who was walking (!) or would have been if it were possible at that speed - but I never put a foot down. My stubborn just kicked in, and I kept winching myself up the hills.

The final day was also the day with the best downhill. I reached 44.6 mph, and loved every bit of it. DH said later that as he was going down that hill he was sure I'd take it too fast. He knows me.

There really cheering crowds in Bellevue, and somehow I had a beer in my hand almost as soon as I got off the bike. I needed it.

DH & I got the bikes apart and boxed then found out that there was a mix-up and the bus company sent one too few busses. I didn't have to hurry so fast, after all. (sigh) Actually, it probably was a Good Thing, as we got to dip our little toesies in the Mississippi (bikes were already boxed, remember?) and experience the steam-letting-off by other people. (Ride your bike down the ramp into the river, anyone? We saw it.)

We did get a bus, without waiting far too long, and rode back across Iowa on a bus. It was a long bus ride.

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So yes, I suggest RAGBRAI. As far as I'm concerned, everyone who is at all serious about their bike should do it at least once. I've never had so much concentrated fun that lasted so long in my life. DH was talking about doing it again by the second day.

Pictures are titled, in order, "Where's Wanda?" "Dummy" and "End of the Trail"