Fifty Plus (50+) - Anyone here done organized cross-state ride?

I've done RAGBRAI a few times and had a ball. RAGBRAI has a reputation of a progressive drunk, but I didn't see that. Of course I wasn't looking. How about BRAG? BRAT? BRAN? Ride the Rockies? BAK? What's been your experience? I know many states have organized rides and some have several. I would love to try other rides.

Ride the Rockies x 2 back in the late 90's

Lots and lots of bikes, limited to 2,000 (seems like they get a few extras, though).

It was fun, but I wouldn't do it again. They NEVER tell anyone about the injuries and deaths, but there are both - I saw a lady with her pelvis broken sprawled out in front of me.

Great support. Fun times in the towns. Many folks or groups had their own "teams" with personal sag support.

There was a whole entourage of RV's, trailers and the like following (or intermingling) with us from town to town. Personally, I prefer riding solo, but would recommend if you have never done this kind of ride and want the experience. A whole lot of folks just love them. There were mtn bikes, roadies, TT, unicycles, adult scooters, guys riding in tuxedos who carried a portable bar, KMart and a lot of other varieties of bikes!

Best moment? Riding from Cortez to Telluride up the Dolores River and at a small town all the ladies had baked FRESH apple pie with Ice Cream! Yes, I was early enough to get a piece before it was all gone!

Here's a list of 134 multi-day rides in 47 states; no shortage of opportunities...

Bike Across Washington is supposed to be great; sold out by January 3 or 4.

http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_WebPages/statebicycletourindex.html

I've ridden RAGBRAI 16 times (first in '82, last in '02) and loved (pretty much) every minute of it.

The only other cross-state I've done is Bicycle Across Missouri (BAM) in '85. More like a race, really, from St.Louis to Kansas City and back to St. Louis with a time limit of 60 hours. I did it in 56 hours, and it was intense, if you like that kind of fun.

I don't think they do BAM anymore though.

Rick / OCRR

I'm really grateful for these events. I've done Bike Virginia a bunch of times, TRIRI (The Rural Ride in Indiana) twice and CANDISC (Cycling Around North Dakota). They've all been great. If you're doing the Dakotas, be ready for some stiff headwinds.


Here's my Bike Virginia journal: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3Tzut&doc_id=3922&v=97&term=Travisano&context=all

TRIRI journal: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3Tzut&doc_id=1750&v=EH&term=Travisano&context=all

I'm looking forward to my 16th BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) (http://www.brag.org/brag.html) this June. More family oriented than RAGBRAI (from what I've heard), but I always have a great time with the group of crazies I ride and camp with every year, Team Occisus Via (almost Latin for roadkill). We do our own gear transport with a vehicle and trailer which we take turns driving and we get pretty elaborate in our campsite decorations sometimes. The routes change every year. My favorites are the ones that go through the North Georgia Mountains as this year's ride will.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/06%20BRAG/Fridaygroup2.jpg

In Michigan, there is the Shoreline Bicycle Tour which is quite good. There is also DALMAC. Which is another good ride

In FL, there is the FL Bicycle Safari in Live Oak generally held in April. This one has a fair amount of riding but you only shift camp once which is nice. Also the food is very good.

There are plenty of great multi day rides out there and each has its own personality.

I have done a short TRIRI (had to leave on day four) and Oklahoma Freewheel. I'm planning one or two more for this summer, but not sure which ones.

I've done DALMAC in Michigan, Bike Ride Around Tennessee, Cycle North Carolina, and RAGBRAI. I've also done weekend rides in New York, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio. At least east of the Mississippi, it seems you can pick a date and you'll find a 'state' ride, or if you're not picky about the date you can pick a state and find one.

If you are looking for scenery, I can't imagine a ride more scenic than one of the several rides in Utah. I crossed paths with the Legacy Bike Ride Across Utah group last Labor Day as I was passing through on my annual western motorcycle ride. But there are several others.

I did RAGBRAI XVI back in 1988 - grew up in Iowa and moved out ten years earlier so it was a fun homecoming, don't think I've been back since. Someday I'll take the wife and daughter through in an RV or something.

I think Cycle Oregon would be a nice one too.
I've got a friend that did OATBRAN through Nevada... that's a little too much desert for me.

BAK (www.bak.org/) was great, I did thiers in 2004 which was its thirtieth year and it was one of best I ever did, also did all the Wisconsin (http://www.bikewisconsin.com/) rides a couple of times and also the GITAP (www.bikelib.org/gitap/) which was a very nice ride also.

Cool thread. Might do one of the home state (Wisconsin) rides. It'll give me a goal to train towards.

What about getting it over with in one shot? That. of course, would be the R(ide) A(cross) IN(diana)! "One Day, One Way, 160 Miles" I have done this ride several times with 1,000+ of my close personal friends, and several Forum members have ridden this as well. Check out the web site, registration is now open, come join the fun!!! Ride in the RAIN!
http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/rain.html

Cool thread. Might do one of the home state (Wisconsin) rides. It'll give me a goal to train towards.

I did the Ride Across Wisconsin and had a ball. I am now preparing to go solo self suppoted but that ride is the one that got me going.

Something else I did not mention. There are private tours that cost more in various areas. I have done the "golden triangle" in the Canadian Rockies. It is a very scenic ride. I have ridden Yellowstone and Montana on another and Loveland CO - Estes Park - SteamBoat - Walden - Laramie WY - Loveland. I have also done Durango - Ouray - Telluride - Dolores - Mesa Verde - Durango and Santa Fe - Chimyo - Taos - Red River - Taos. There are a number of companies that provide the arrangements for these things and they can be quite fun. There are really no shortage of bicycle rides out there.

What about getting it over with in one shot? That. of course, would be the R(ide) A(cross) IN(diana)! "One Day, One Way, 160 Miles" I have done this ride several times with 1,000+ of my close personal friends, and several Forum members have ridden this as well. Check out the web site, registration is now open, come join the fun!!! Ride in the RAIN!
http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/rain.html


If you want to make this a week tour do RAINSTORM (http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/rain.html#rainstorm). Five days of century rides and the final day is the 160 mile RAIN ride:thumb:

Five days of century rides and the final day is the 160 mile RAIN ride:thumb:

Now that's hardcore!

If you want to make this a week tour do RAINSTORM (http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/rain.html#rainstorm). Five days of century rides and the final day is the 160 mile RAIN ride:thumb:

If I could figure out a way to take a week off I'd do it in a heartbeat! Was supposed to do a PAC Tour training week last year in March in Arizona, but was told a week prior, no soap, gotta stay around. This financial meltdown has been hell on vacation time for the last year or so. This year, I may spend the better part of it wondering if I'll have a job. :twitchy:

Cycle NC-

Not a bad week long ride-fairly comfortable riding each day. Starts in the Mountains and goes to the coast. Pretty well organized. It's usually in late Sept or early Oct each year.

Tour de Nebraska is a five day loop ending where it started. Two friends and have signed up for this year's event and it looks like fun... about 60 miles/day. It has a reputation for being very well-organized. Limit= 200 riders.

http://www.tourdenebraska.com/index.html

One I highly recommend is fairly new, LAGBRAU.

The organizer is attempting to pattern it on RAGBRAI but I liked it so much better. For one - smaller group. You get to know everyone. 2) the scenery is second to none 3) the ride takes place in Utah. Clean, well care for toads, no debris and best - no traffic!!!!

check out lagbrau.com

I also recommend Hell Week in Texas. It's not an across state ride. You station yourself in Fredericksburg and do rides out every day for 8 days. Distances vary (your choice) of 60 - 100 miles. The ride was intended to prepare one for RAAM.

Clean, well care for toads, no debris and best - no traffic!!!!


That ride is on my bucket list. Better hop on it before I croak.

Clean, well care for toads, no debris and best - no traffic!!!!


That ride is on my bucket list. Better hop on it before I croak.

How to care for an American toad:

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-an-American-Toad

That ride is on my bucket list. Better hop on it before I croak.
:lol::lol:He'll be here all week ladies and gentlemen. Don't forget to tip your waitress.:p

I've done AIDS/LIfeCycle 4 times and am signed up again. 545 miles in 7 days from San Francisco to Los Angeles (Actually, Daly City to Brentwood, but it doesn't sound as good). Amazing community, great route and we raised $11.6 million last year.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k87/tomfrady/130Outofthecitye-1.jpg

I did the very first Orlando Sentinel Star Safari in 1980 - the ride started Monday morning on the beach at New Symrna Beach (near Daytona) and ended on the Naples pier late Saturday morning (390 miles later)...

It was my only long-distance tour, but, it was a very good experience (we camped out every night) - we started with about 700 riders but ended up with 400 or so (the other 300 lived in Orlando and did the short route)...

It was a time when a cyclist could still cycle the "backbone" of Florida from the Mount Dora area down to Lake Okeechobee (with the exception of 2 miles on US 192) and remain in rural areas at all times - not today, so, glad I did it then and not 29 years later (ouch)...

Glades2

I'm looking forward to my 16th BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) (http://www.brag.org/brag.html) this June. More family oriented than RAGBRAI (from what I've heard), but I always have a great time with the group of crazies I ride and camp with every year, Team Occisus Via (almost Latin for roadkill). We do our own gear transport with a vehicle and trailer which we take turns driving and we get pretty elaborate in our campsite decorations sometimes. The routes change every year. My favorites are the ones that go through the North Georgia Mountains as this year's ride will.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/GonzoDawg/bicycles/06%20BRAG/Fridaygroup2.jpg

Are you the guys that drape the beads on the roadkill? It kind of beautifies the ride. I also like Team Toes" who wear cycling sandals and get pedicures at each host city.

BRAG is the only one I've done, and it was great. Great scenery, great organization and great riders.

The NC Mountains to Coast ride is one I want to do. And the ride across Virginia. And Rabrai. So many rides, so little time!

I've done RAGBRAI a few times and had a ball. RAGBRAI has a reputation of a progressive drunk, but I didn't see that. Of course I wasn't looking. How about BRAG? BRAT? BRAN? Ride the Rockies? BAK? What's been your experience? I know many states have organized rides and some have several. I would love to try other rides.

Aren't you on the RAGBRAI forum???

You could try RAIN here in Indiana.
http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/rain.html

Or TRIRI
http://www.triri.org/

Or RAINSTORM
http://www.triri.org/storm.html

Or the September Escapade
http://www.triri.org/se.html

I've done RAGBRAI a few times and had a ball. RAGBRAI has a reputation of a progressive drunk, but I didn't see that. Of course I wasn't looking. How about BRAG? BRAT? BRAN? Ride the Rockies? BAK? What's been your experience? I know many states have organized rides and some have several. I would love to try other rides.

Yes, I did the RAGBRAI in 1998 with my son. We discovered we hadn't trained properly. Proper training is

1. Ride 10 miles as hard as you can
2. Down a six pack
3. Repeat

I have to put in a plug for the FANY ride (http://www.fanyride.com/). Five-hundred-miles Across New York. Starts in Niagara Falls, finishes a week later in the east (recently Saratoga Springs) and there's beautiful riding and some tough hills in the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks. A great ride!

- Ed

Bike Virginia. Great organization - great riding.

Jim

The League of Michigan Bicyclists has 4 tours each year.

2009 Shoreline Tour Schedule:
Pedal and Paddle: June 6 – 7
Sunrise Adventure: June 19 – 21
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: July 18 – 25
23rd West Shoreline Bicycle Tour: August 2 – 8

For more information, go to www.lmb.org. We also have online registration for your convenience.

Come bike in Michigan!!

Bike Virginia. Great organization - great riding.

Jim

+1.

I've done it four times. It's a great ride. They're coming to my town (Charlottesville) this year, but I'll probably do TRIRI again (another great ride).

Yes. Four organized rides. It was the time of my life...
One , half the length of Calif. But, Calif is a long state. 2. Across the width of Nevada. And two tours of France. One in Burgundy/Provence and the other the Loire, Normandy region.

I've ridden RAGBRAI 16 times (first in '82, last in '02) and loved (pretty much) every minute of it.

I've only ridden RAGBRAI on a couple of single days (including Wednesday of RAGBRAI I) but I've worked it (and I really do mean work). I've heard, and I believe it, that there are about 7 quite different RAGBRAIs. To experience them all get up and leave at around 5:00AM on day one. Then leave at 6:00AM on day two and so on. The party animals that don't get up until 11:00 are a quite different bunch from the early risers.

RAGBRAI 7 times, CANDISC, GRABAAWR, CNC, and Bike Virginia

This summer we plan to ride across 10 states as part of the ACA Trans American Trail.

I did RRIBT, in North Dakota into Canada and back through Minnesota. As an earlier comment stated, be prepared for a stiff headwind in N. Dakota.

I also did Tour de Wyoming. As you would expect, a lot of climbing, and also very hot. You leave very early in the morning to beat the heat. The problem is you sit around is very small towns for the rest of the day. It is held in middle July. When registration opens this tour fills up within 30 minutes.

Here's a list of 134 multi-day rides in 47 states; no shortage of opportunities...

Bike Across Washington is supposed to be great; sold out by January 3 or 4.

http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_WebPages/statebicycletourindex.html





BengeBoy,

Not to hijack this thread but I really appreciate the list........

2008 was my first, and probably ONLY, RAGBRAI. I was not impressed. Hated the crowds.

Did BAK, Bike Across Kansas, in 2001. Had a great time, but did not like riding with the semi trucks in some places . If you like riding, these organized rides ar OK.............