dougpals

<edit to update>

After taking input here, via PM & email, the Central Iowa Bike Forum Group Ride is set for September 9th.

It will start @ 9:30 am from Waukee on Saturday, Sept 9th. We plan to do 63 miles - riding toward Panora on county roads & some on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. Please follow the link below and look for the I AM (Iowa Autumn Metric) for all the details including a map to the starting location.

https://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/calendar...th=9&year=2006

We will have many places to regroup and route maps will be available the day of the ride if anyone wants them. The route is quite basic, so I doubt most will want/need a map since the group will stay together.

The link below shows roughly the route we will take, but the mileage does not show correctly on this route - however it gives you a general idea.

https://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=4022

If you want to let me know you are planning to attend, obviously, you are welcome to post here, PM me or email me. Some have already done so. I hope any and all that can join us will plan to do so on September 9th.

DP


<Original post below>

I have been reading about all the BF group rides that have been organized and wondered how many might be interested in an Iowa BF group ride. I am sure there are a lot of Iowa BF members, but didn't know what type of interest there would be in a semi-organized group ride.

RAGBRAI is over, but there is a lot of season left & with all the fun other groups seemed to have had - it just seemed like an idea worth exploring.

So what do all you Iowans think?

DP

C-R700

I am from Ankeny and would participate in a group ride any where in Polk County. Anyone else.

dougpals

C-R700,

Great. I'll keep an eye on this thread and we will see where it goes. I'll bet we can get a small group together at a minumum. We will see. Stay tuned.

DP

voltman

Get a girl to organize it.

Cobra06

I'll be in Ames after August 17, I'd love to join in.

dougpals

Voltman,

I'll see if I can find an Iowa "Sugar Shorts."

DP

dougpals

Cobra06,

Great. Stay tuned & we will see what happens.

DP

dougpals

It looks like this ride, if it comes together, is setting up for mid to late Aug & maybe a metric century, but distance and route will be finalized after we see who is in.

DP

slide13

I wish I was still in the area, I lived in Ames for about 4 years up until I graduated in May. Worked at the Ames Bike World during that time as well...who knows, maybe I've met one or two of ya if you've ever come in.

dougpals

Bike World in West DSM is my LBS. Muscatine...that would be a bit of a trip back to the area for a ride, but hey...it might we worth it.

DP

GrouseSetter

I live near Dysart, work in Waterloo. I would be up for the ride. I missed out on RAGBRAI because of some scheduling conflicts. I would be up for the drive, hopefully my calendar can fit it in. Keep me posted.

jsharr

If you come to Dallas, I'm in!

Seriously, have had fun meeting some fellow forum members and riding with them, and I encourage ya'll to do this thing!

Make sure to post after you get it done with details.

slide13

Yeah, it would be a drive and I'm guessing my slow fat ass wouldn't be able to keep up with you all

Glad to hear you're a Bike World customer, the best four years of my life were spent working in the Ames store. I loved it there and I can't wait to get myself back into the cycling industry for a career, it's just too much fun.

dougpals

jsharr, If/when it happens - we will post some info on the ride details. It seems to be looking good.

GrouseSetter, It would be great if you could join us. Looks like a small group, so far, but maybe more will catch on today... and over the weekend. Sorry you missed RAGBRAI - it was a good time with some hills and some wind, but all in all a good time. Great pie & ice cream!!! Stay tuned on the BF group ride...we will see how it comes together.

slide13, Dude, you can ride with this group...I hope it will be a social bunch. Heck...we are Iowans! :-)

Brandy

There's only one Sugar Shorts.

dougpals

There's only one Sugar Shorts.

~~Brandy~~



Brandy,

So true, so true! Hey, want to come to Iowa to help organize the ride? My kids would love to have some CA friends to play with - so bring the kids!

DP

paednoch

Grinnell here. I will keep an eye on this thread. However cycling season is no where near over. You have August, September (the best month to ride a bike), October and most of November....I ride year round but I would say that the good biking days are ahead of us. the spring is usually too windy. September to October is usually dry as a bone and very very calm in the wind dept.

My favoride month of the year to ride a bike is Sept.

dougpals

paednoch,

I agree with you that the best of the season still ahead of us. I just got back from a 55 miler this AM. It was great this morning! Stay tuned & we will see how the ride takes shape. My sister & her family live in Grinnell - Go Tigers! Too bad the girls SB team got beat Tuesday night...but they kicked yesterday!

DP

C-R700

Perhaps an early September ride would be best, I am in for anytime. There has to be more riders in the metro area out there.

Brandy

LOL. I'd love to. I'll be right over.

dougpals

I am sure there are more riders from the metro out there, so we will give them some time to catch on to the concept. Many are still recovering from RAGBRAI & catching up at work (no time for BF).

I think an early Sept ride will give us some time to get it all "together", but I don't expect to make this a complicated event. When we get it nailed down, I'll likely put it on BIKEIOWA too - may as well spread the word & expand the fun for all!

DP

dougpals

When you arrive...let me know & I'll get Topeaka here with a comission check for you and Tif. :-)

DP

smalleraperture

I am in Cedar Falls, but make it closer to DSM to visit friends and family occasionally.

Brandy

Shhhhhhhhh...caligurl might hear you. We all know that she deserves the commission!

voltman

I smell road trip!