tomdaniels

I did my longest and hardest ride this year today 41.5 miles holding an average of 15 mph. Drank 4 water bottles full (1 with electrolytes), ate a sticky bun (substitute for pie) in a neighboring town, and found some hills I didn't know were there. Headwind for 10 of the last 11 miles was not appreciated, but did build some character.

Good news is that I don't feel dead. Hence, I can do RAGBRAI if it started tomorrow. I should be in good shape for it given two more months to get used to the heat (and eat more pie .

thaetviking

Just do not eat to much Battle's lemon chess pie

Caincando1

You're going to be an animal by ride time!

tomdaniels

I don't usually do ride reports, but this was one I was proud of. I will say that I am concerned about building my discipline a bit. I really attacked early when I feel I should have probably held back until I was warmed up.

My latest complaint is my lower back is starting to bother me. I think I'm building muscle and pulling it out of alignment a bit. I think I had better find some exercises off the bike for this.

BigBlueToe

I've only ridden the Ragbrai once, back in 1993. The route was 529 miles, or an average of 75.6 miles per day. On Wednesday we rode the century option, since my partner had never ridden a century. When we added in the extra miles that day, we averaged around 88 miles for the 7 days. It was a grueling week. Contrary to popular opinion, there are hills in Iowa.

We were pooped every night! One of our evening rituals became buying a bag of ice for my friend to ice down her knee, which had been reconstructed after a basketball injury in college, and which was giving her trouble. Another ritual was her listening to me complain about chafing in my "nether regions".

We looked around in wonder at all the people partying and exhibiting wild and carefree behavior. It was all we could do to ride the route, find a shower, find someplace to eat dinner, and go to bed and rest. Then we discovered that a good portion of the people weren't riding the whole route. I heard people in restaurants talking about riding 10 miles in the morning, then getting onto the party bus and driving to the campground. It seemed as if many of the partiers had support crews and were there for the party more than the ride.

So, if you're like my partner and me and plan on riding every stinking mile, train as much as you can, and be prepared for a long haul. But also be prepared for the time of your life. I absolutely loved the whole experience, and I've been wanting to do it again ever since!

tomdaniels

I will ride the whole damn thing unless there is a safety issue. I think I will be ready, but you never know. Day 2 is 85 miles with the most hills. I am optimizing my biking experience as much as possible. Getting rid of aches, pains, bike fit issues, and training my engine

Nothing motivates me like a good party!

Caincando1

Just think how many beers you'll be burning off on every day's ride.

B Piddy

I have a feeling I'm going to drinking more water than I've ever drank in my life during the week of Ragbrai. The combination of hot day riding and beer drinking at night seems like the perfect recipe for major muscle cramps.

tomdaniels

I hear ya! I am hitting a good beer every time I come back from a major ride as a "recovery beverage."
I do electrolytes and lots of water, but beer is part of my training regimen.

B Piddy, What's your team? Where are you coming in from?

B Piddy

I'm riding with a group out of the sprawling metropolis of Lanesboro, MN. It's a fully supported charter thingy that I signed up with since I don't a single soul riding Ragbrai from my hometown area. Pretty sure they're called overland touring.

I was gonna ride with a group out of New Hampton, IA, but I lost the guy's contact and that's a long story.

I'm hoping work lets up on me a little pretty soon cause I wanna get some wheel time before it's too late.

BigBlueToe

The time I rode RAGBRAI was during a year with severe flooding (which destroyed most of the corn crop - and I had so been looking forward to corn on the cob!) But I'd guess that water isn't a problem in Iowa even in normal years. Almost every town we came into had water fillup stations where they had PVC pipes with holes at regular intervals and water shooting out of the holes like rows of mini-fountains. You'd put your water bottle under one of the fountains and fill up. They ran them all day, as far as I could tell. I think two water bottles would be plenty, even on the hottest days. Just keep filling them up.

wooljersey

Training for RAGBRAI? What are you talking about?

My first ride was RAGBRAI IV when I was a high school freshman. My friend's father agreed to drive and follow us -- he thought we would only make a day or so. We rode the whole week and since then I have ridden about 13 complete and 8 or 9 partial RAGBRAI's.

I don't think I have ever really trained for RAGBRAI. I really meant to this year but my work and travel schedule has made it impossible. I'll be riding with my 12 year old son, we rode one day last year, we're hoping that my work schedule will allow us to do the whole ride this year.

-- Dave

For you Clyde RAGBRAI vets, why does everyone love 'Pork Chop Man'? I swear, every time I ride by he calls me a name ... Pooooork chooop!! ;-)

Caincando1

It may be a little town, but it's a big cycling community. I can't wait to read your ride report.

BigBlueToe

I love pork chops, and I had never tasted chops as good as Pork Chop Man's. I ate pork chops for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And then there were the brats!

B Piddy

I just wanna combine my 3 loves: beer, biking, and girls in lycra

peanut_man

*drool*

tomdaniels

A revived thread from the past! I am doing ok on my RAGBRAI training...and *drool* is right.

I had planned to do a few metrics by now, but just never seem to leave the house early enough. I am doing 50s and feeling well at the end. Last night, I had a quick hard ride where I brought my average up to 17mph for about an hour. I might try to get out for a metric today. I know a 30 mile one way with pie at the end.

B Piddy

Oh man less than 3 weeks to go! I've been cranking some good miles over the weekends. I should be good to go.

Beer, biking, lycra clad girls....excited? Fo Sho