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Old 07-19-10, 09:41 AM
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Ragbrai

Anybody going?
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Old 07-19-10, 01:36 PM
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Yep, I will be there. I am planning on riding up from Omaha the day before.
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Old 07-19-10, 01:57 PM
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Will be doing the whole thing.
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Old 07-19-10, 03:36 PM
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Not this year. I've ridden RAGBRAI 16 times, the first time in '82. Lots changed since then!

I used to live in St.Louis so it was an easy drive. Now that I live in CA the logistics are a bit more complicated.

One year my son wants to do a 3 generation RAGBRAI (I get to be the grandfather), but that's still a few years off.

But anyway, yes, love RAGBRAI and I still think its the most pure fun you can have on a bicycle in a week's time.

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Old 07-19-10, 04:26 PM
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I've been invited to RAGBRAI the past few years but I'm just so wary of the weather. I hate the heat/humidity and probably couldn't sleep very well with warm evening temps. I know I'm a wimp but if they move the event to late Sept. I'd be there for sure!
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Old 07-19-10, 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by joe_5700
Yep, I will be there. I am planning on riding up from Omaha the day before.
I live in Burlington, so will make the long bus ride across.
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Old 07-19-10, 04:28 PM
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Originally Posted by BikeWNC
I've been invited to RAGBRAI the past few years but I'm just so wary of the weather. I hate the heat/humidity and probably couldn't sleep very well with warm evening temps. I know I'm a wimp but if they move the event to late Sept. I'd be there for sure!
The pie is worth all of it!
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Old 07-19-10, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by desconhecido
Will be doing the whole thing.
First time? Where are you from?
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Old 07-19-10, 05:24 PM
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One of my bicycling claims to fame is riding Wednesday of Ragbrai I. It wasn't a rolling fund raiser back then, the chocolate chip cookies were FREE.

Since then I've worked a support crew for a week and I've ridden a couple of days, but I've never ridden the whole thing.
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Old 07-19-10, 05:40 PM
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I hope to do it someday, but it won't be this year. Definitely on my to do list after I retire in a few years.
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Old 07-19-10, 05:49 PM
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[QUOTE=Retro Grouch;11140833]One of my bicycling claims to fame is riding Wednesday of Ragbrai I. It wasn't a rolling fund raiser back then, the chocolate chip cookies were FREE.

Last year I got free fruit, free cookies, and free butt butter.
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Old 07-19-10, 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by crazyb
First time? Where are you from?
Yes, first time. I live in Houston. My sister lives in Des Moines these days and it's entirely her fault. I'm driving to Des Moines at the end of the week and we take bus from Des Moines to Sioux City on Saturday. I think we ride with the Des Moines Bicycle Club group.
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Old 07-19-10, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by desconhecido
Yes, first time. I live in Houston. My sister lives in Des Moines these days and it's entirely her fault. I'm driving to Des Moines at the end of the week and we take bus from Des Moines to Sioux City on Saturday. I think we ride with the Des Moines Bicycle Club group.
Welcome to Iowa. Enjoy the ride, and the good eats.
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Old 07-19-10, 07:57 PM
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Yes, first time as well. Live in Minnesota, riding with an experienced group of 15 cyclists. My wife and I are on a road tandem. Anxious to get started.
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Old 07-19-10, 08:00 PM
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A coworker is doing it. I think he will do better than he expects.
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Old 07-20-10, 05:28 AM
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This is my first year, I am riding with my brother in law. Not the whole thing though, we will pick it up on Tuesday. I am very very excited, and a little nervous
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Old 07-20-10, 07:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
... It wasn't a rolling fund raiser back then...
I did RAGBRAI in 2008, and that was exactly my impression. Every town we went through was trying to avert property taxes for the next decade by charging double or triple normal retail prices. Plus, there were SO MANY people that they got in the way of riding my bike.

I can say now that I've done it once, but I don't plan on ever going back.
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Old 07-20-10, 04:01 PM
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Proper training for RAGBRAI:

Originally Posted by crazyb
Anybody going?
Ride 10 miles, drink a six pack,
Ride 10 miles, drink a six pack,
Ride 10 miles, drink a six pack,
Ride 10 miles, drink a six pack,
Ride 10 miles, drink a six pack,
Ride 10 miles, drink a six pack,
....

- Ed
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Old 07-20-10, 04:12 PM
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Okay-what are the pros and cons of doing this ride? I'm looking for more week long tours to do but I'm not understanding what deal is with this one based on some of the posts.
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Old 07-20-10, 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by jppe
Okay-what are the pros and cons of doing this ride? I'm looking for more week long tours to do but I'm not understanding what deal is with this one based on some of the posts.

It is a 7 day ride across Iowa that usually is around 450 miles. To be registerd, you can go with a group or club that has reserved spots or get in the general lottery for a spot. 10,000 registered riders, and as many as 20,000 to 25,000 overall riders per day, depending on the start or finish town. Varied riding, (22,000 feet of climb last year, 13,000 this year). Prices vary quite a bit for food or refreshments. One can eat quite reasonably if you look around a little bit. Most people camp, and showers are available at all overnight towns. You can emphasize riding, drinking, eating, partying, or any combination of these. An overall good time, if you don't worry about spending a few bucks. It's a blast.
Edit; With camping and entry fees, spending and meal money, 500 to 600 bucks will cover the week for me.

Last edited by crazyb; 07-20-10 at 07:28 PM.
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Old 07-21-10, 12:19 PM
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RAGBRAI is nearly impossible to explain to anybody!!! The best description I've ever read is this: RAGBRAI is a county fair married to the Mardi Gras, whose parents were a rock concert and a potluck supper, all off on a biking holiday. (credit to someone on the RAGBRAI forum!)
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Old 07-21-10, 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
One of my bicycling claims to fame is riding Wednesday of Ragbrai I. It wasn't a rolling fund raiser back then, the chocolate chip cookies were FREE.

Since then I've worked a support crew for a week and I've ridden a couple of days, but I've never ridden the whole thing.
I rode Ragbrai I (the whole thing), but have never ridden it since. Maybe one of these years I might do it again. The first year it was easy to get motel rooms every night, etc. I thought it was insane riding out of Fort Dodge one morning with the pack... all 300 of them or so. I guess it has changed a lot since then
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Old 07-29-10, 06:48 AM
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Originally Posted by one_beatnik
RAGBRAI is nearly impossible to explain to anybody!!! The best description I've ever read is this: RAGBRAI is a county fair married to the Mardi Gras, whose parents were a rock concert and a potluck supper, all off on a biking holiday. (credit to someone on the RAGBRAI forum!)
That's not far from how my cousin explained it to me (6-time veteran), but it's also a sequence of 85 or so mile days ...
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Old 07-31-10, 10:25 PM
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Today's Omaha World-Herald reports that a RAGBRAI rider crashed and died due to rubbing wheels with another. He was wearing a helmet it seems.

https://omaha.com/article/20100730/NEWS01/707319877
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Old 08-01-10, 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by billydonn
Today's Omaha World-Herald reports that a RAGBRAI rider crashed and died due to rubbing wheels with another. He was wearing a helmet it seems.

https://omaha.com/article/20100730/NEWS01/707319877
What a shame. That's not an uncommon type of accident at RAGBRAI but it's uncommon for the injuries to result in death. The literature that they give to every registered rider goes on at length about the hazards of riding in pacelines.
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