Good deal, Gus! After all, this thing is supposed to be FUN!

And hotrod, sounds like you are well on your way! Last year was my first adventure at RAGBRAI, and I started planning for this year on my way home! You are getting in some good miles, and having a good saddle (and some cycling shorts!) will help you really enjoy the trip. On page one of this string is a link to a little page I did about my trip last year. I hope that as it gets closer, we can plan a meeting for all of us BFers! See ya there!

Nebill and all others, I'm thinking maybe Cherokee. The mileage is low that day, so a meeting time may be easier to achieve.

Here are a couple of recommendations for a place to meet:

Gasthaus Bar & Grille
214 W Main St
Cherokee, IA

Pizza Hut
1014 N 2nd St
Cherokee, IA

But last year we did a Taco John's in Grinnell and I'm here to tell you, it hit the spot!

Maps can be found at www.mapquest.com

There are lots of other resturants etc in Cherokee as well.

I think the Gasthaus will be an impossible place to meet anyone at, it will probably be very crowded...Pizza Hut may also be very crowded.

Time...maybe 1800 or 1900 (6 or 7 PM)?

Could be fun!

Well, Gus, I believe that you are right about the bar and grill being a busy place! Being located right on Main St., and close to where I assume the evenings entertainment will be, it will be packed! The Pizza Hut appears to be about 10 blocks or so north of Main St., so a person might be able to move around in there...a little! So I vote for the Pizza Hut! 1800 hrs. would be good, as then we can meet, goof around a bit, and still catch the rest of the activities if we want. Good intel, Gus!
Unless there are objections, why don't we just plan on 6 PM at the Pizza Hut in Cherokee?!?

Sounds good to me, all we need now is concurrance from the rest of the RAGBRAIers.

Let's hear from you'all. Maybe you'all have some better ideas? Let's mix up the pot!

RAGBRAI lottery results are available. WWW.RAGBRAI.org

Well, Gus, I got my number!! Guess that means I am really set for the big event! Only 76 days to go!

Yeah Nebill, I have mine as well. Looking forward to Pizza Hut. I'll bet the pizza will taste better than normal after 60 miles!

Pizza....and a 'sports' drink or two! Looking forward to it! Hope some other BF'ers will be there!!

I am a little late to do the entire week. I don't know if I can bike that much yet.

If you could only bike one day of RAGBRAI, which day would you do?

I don't know IowaParamedic. If I lived in Iowa, I guess I'd try the route/Stage/day (?) that ended up closest to my local, if possible. Then I'd hook a ride to that days start and ride it toward home.

It's a hard question you ask, I've never been on this northern route before.

If you go to www.RAGBRAI.org you can examine the whole route and maybe decide.

Looks like it is ixnay on the AGBRAIRay for me this year. The GF has been accepted to a summer Mayan language program in Guatamala, so funds will be extremely low and I will need to stick around to take care of the house/ pets/ plants/ garden/ dishes/ laundry...

Hopefully next year...(fingers crossed)

Too bad Steele-Bike we'll miss you.

Looks like we're (the USAF team) staying in the main RAGBRAI campground in Cherokee. It's at the Mental Health Institute (MHI), I wonder if the towns people think we're all nuts for riding across their state? Looks like it is a fair distance from the Pizza Hut. A mile or two?

https://www.ncn.net/%7Ecofccherokee/maps/wholecity.gif

The map will load, if shrinks, place the curser over it and an Icon will appear, click on the icon.

See you'all there at 1800 (6pm)!

Gus...One month, 10 days! I can almost taste the pizza and beer...er..sports drink!
See ya then!

Pizza and Carb drink!

Well,

Interesting reading. Seems that after April, registrations closes. So, are there any other cool rides like this, with fairly flat routs for the beginning long distance rider?

How many miles is this RAGBRAI anyway?

Dave

Well guys, I'm going to RAGBRAII---and I'm getting a little scared. I've gone on a couple tours, but the average miles per day was only 50. On the days with mileage over 60, it was exhausting. I've got the base mileage done. Are you guys doing any back-to-back 70 miles day to train?

Iowa Paramedic,

Are you doing the whole week or just a couple of days?

Yes. You still have time, keep your training going. Then pace your riding during RAGBRAI. With base miles down and 5 1/2 weeks still to go, you got it in the bag!

Not including the optional century (which really only adds another 35 or so miles): just under 500 miles.

I think I will catch the ride on Thursday this year. I may throw another day in for fun, but right now... just the one day. Next year, the whole thing.

Shoot folks, don't let the miles scare you....I mean, you need your training miles in, believe me, but once you are on the ride, it just ain't that bad! You have to remember, that typically, every 10 or 15 miles, you are going to go thru a town, and many times that means getting off the bike and walking for a little ways. Gives you a chance to fill up your water bottles, refuel, and give yourself a little time off the bike. In my training, I like to ride like 30 miles or so without stopping, then RAGBRAI seems like a snap!

Be sure and look for me...I'll be the bearded fat guy on the magnificent dark blue Schwinn Paramount...shouldn't be too hard to spot among the 10,000 riders!

It's not the milage that is holding me back. It is the time off work, and arranging for support. Next year I will get hooked up with a team and be ready to go.

I haven't had much online time this year so I missed this post until now!

Since I missed hooking up with you last year, Gus, I will definitely make it a point to show for the Pizza Hut get-together.

This year's RAGBRAI looks like a breeze compared to last year. And this year, if things keep going like they are, I will be in much better shape for this RAGBRAI. I am riding with a local club this year (for the first time ever) and am really seeing the difference.

The Aegis sounds nice, Gus. My Trek 2300 has Rev-X wheels and I love them.

See ya!

Can't wait. New to cycling, first RAGBRAI, 530 base miles in the bank so far and still counting. Got my numbers, bands and ride info in hand. Question- Are two water bottles really enough in late July? Should I consider adding a small/medium Camelback? Are they too uncomfortable to wear that time a year?

Thanks for your help. Looking fwd to our get together.