N_C

Check it out:
https://www.ragbrai.org/

BlazingPedals

...and we should get excited about this why...?

Gus Riley

Thanks NC! I'm excited! We'll be there again this year!

oldspark

After about 20 years I will be riding ragbrai once again, a couple of years ago I said some day I would like to go on ragbrai and this year it will happen, and yes I am excited.

BlazingPedals

What I meant by my previous post was, is there something special about this route, or was the OP just serving notice that this year's route had been announced? Is the northern tier hillier/more scenic/hotter/??? Just looks like a route to me... After a title of, "2005 RAGBRAI XXXII Route!" I expected to see more than a link to the map, I expected to hear why the OP was so excited about it.

supcom

Maybe he plans to ride the entire route and is excited about it.

N_C

First of all this is the first day the route is announced. At least the overnight towns anyway. A more detailed map will be available on Feb. 20th. Until now no one except a few select staff members of RAGBRAI knew what the route is. Most Iowans who have done or are going to do RAGBRAI thinks this is a big deal.

The only real differance between the north, middle & south routes are the hills & the lenght. The north route tends to be less hilly, but it is a longer route.

I am only riding 3 days of it this year. So my ride will end in Algona. This will be the first time I have ever done RAGBRAI on my recumbent. And yes I'm very excited about it.

So I guess you could say I'm giving an excitable notice that the route has been finally & officially announced.

For those forum members who are doing RAGBRAI this year would you like to meet up & ride with me for part of it?

DieselDan

No.

soda

I've never done RAGBRAI even though I'm from Iowa. I attended my last two years of HS in Cherokee, very close to Sioux City and the beginning part of the route this year. I don't plan on riding RAGBRAI because I'm not much of a fun ride person, but it would fun to ride near my hometown. I'm not certain how this year's route compares to previous years but I do know that it's a bit more hilly in the Northwestern part of the state and then again when you get to the Eastern side near the river.

Somewhat on topic. I heard that a few cyclists were killed in accidents on the 2004 tour. Is that true?

Gus Riley

One person died as a result of a crash on a down hill section. His front wheel slipped into one of those parallel road cracks and he was thrown over the handle bars...I guess he landed on his head (wearing a helmet). He died a couple of days later. I came up on the accident shortly after it occurred, there were several people giving assistance, so I rode on. The route was closed after that for a couple of hours I guess. There was quite a delay and the riders were stacked up for miles and miles.

N_C

I take it this means you're riding RAGBRAI this year. Cool. Or am I mistaken in thinking this. But why don't you want to meet up & ride with me on part of it?

oldspark

I for one think it would be fun to get together one day with people that are on this forum and put a face on the names. Soda-I live about 20 miles from Cherokee Ia.

Gus Riley

Sure. We have tried this in the years past, it has never worked. Maybe this year will be different? I have met with Outashape, Puddle Jumper and TreeTrunk at past RAGBRAIs. We have never successfully experienced a large meeting though (although it has been attempted.)

oldspark

What seems to be the hangup?

GeezerGeek

My wife is dragging me to RAGBRAI this year for the first time. My longest ride ever was a metric century when I was a much younger man and I have never had long rides back to back. I'm 55 now.
Any advice on how to survive this?
Would a coroplast fairing on my bent help?
Could a fairing survive a trip on the sag wagon?

I'm up for trying to meet others.

soda

oldspark: I know exactly where Peterson is at. You guys have a nice hill coming into and out of town. I also seem to remember that area has a nice scenic highway area for riding. ....goes off to do a google search..... Found it: It's called the O'Brien Glacial Trail Scenic Byway. I was up there this past year and brought my bike. I almost did that route but opted for a different route that a neighbor recommended. Next time I'm up that direction though, I'm going to try and take that route. One thing I did notice about riding in Iowa is that most of the roads are straight with A LOT of wind. I also discovered that, Northwest IA is more hilly than I remember. It doesn't fit the Iowa stereotype of being flat. I've never been on a 7 mile, low grade hill into a head wind before and it was one of the tougher hills I've done. I guess that big Buffalo Ridge that you can easily see whenever you look at a topographic map of IA is the reason for all those windmills too.

I'll pay more attention to RAGBRAI this year and maybe I can coordinate a home visit with the first few days of the route.

Retro Grouch 

The middle days of this route will be nearly table top flat. First day will be hilly and the last day will have some less steep but way longer hills. The best scenery will all be at the end.

Gus Riley

And a lot of fun in between!!

Gus Riley

Dunno. Maybe because after a long day in the saddle, riders just want to settle in for the evening. Sometimes it might depend on the current environment...hard windy day, hot, hilly location...who knows. I'm up for another try.

caloso

Hey, there Hawkeyes! My wife has family in the NE corner (Decorah and Postville). It looks like the route might be passing near there and I was wondering if anybody knew whether it would actually go through there.

Gus Riley

Good chance, I'm sure, but we won't really know for a few more months. That's when RAGBRAI organizers will publish the detailed route.

Tree Trunk

Looks like a good party year! Not a lot of challenge to the route and a lot of small towns. Is having the better half along going to slow you down, Gus? Or does she just make the trip more fun?

Gus Riley

Yeah, she slows the pace down quite a bit...except when there is a tail wind and the road is real smooth and level...then we fly! I enjoy the tandem years just as much as the single years...except in the south ! That route hurts me on the tandem!

iowarose

I just sealed the envelope to register (through my local bike club) for this year's RAGBRAI. It will be my first. Maybe something could be arranged so bikeforum folks could meet - that would be fun.

Any advice/tips from the RAGBRAI vets? I've been on a number of similar rides in other parts of the country, so the camping routine is familiar. But still.

BTW, no drunk cycling from me...

Gus Riley

Try to train with a goal of 400-600 miles before RAGBRAI begins. This year should be relatively flat (days 2-5 or 6), but headwinds could be a problem. So make sure you get out and train before the ride.