As I was wheeled down the hospital hallway to O.R. for prostate surgery a few years ago, I tried to carry on a conversation with the orderly about RAGBRAI, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
He'd been there with some friends and said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Just before nodding out, I remember thinking, “If I ever get through this…”
Well, I got through it, but I haven't made it to RAGBRAI. Not yet. I give props to the 10,000 to 15,000 bicyclists who made plans to do the ride and are now on the road across the Hawkeye State for the 38th anniversary of the mass bike ride.
One of easiest
This year's west-to-east route across the state is ranked as the third easiest in history, based on terrain and mileage. But sometimes the partying — which the ride is famous for — can be the biggest challenge.
For instance, see this Twitter posted at the end of Day 2 in Algona:
“82 miles, 2 mechanicals, many beer stops, 1 slip-n-slide, shots, 1 fall, 1 twisted ankle. Rolled into town at 11:15pm.”
No one has a day like that at the Tour de France.
The bicyclists left Sioux City on Sunday and are headed to Dubuque. Along the way they'll drink plenty of beer and eat lots of pie in the overnight host towns of Storm Lake, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Waterloo and Manchester.
Odd highlights
This rolling town of more than 10,000 to 25,000 people (there are week-long riders, one-day riders, unregistered riders and many support crews) has its share of characters and happenings, just like any community. Here are a few things I've picked up:
— Tuesday's host town, Clear Lake, is looking forward to the hot weather and expects to clear $50,000 profit in the “beverage garden.”
— A former volleyball coach diagnosed with nervous system disorder ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) is bicycling on a double-wide recumbent with her husband.
— Five friends — calling themselves the Bad Boys — carry everything they need on their bikes. Bar. Cooler. Grill. Battery operated stereo. Kitchen sink that dispenses margaritas.
— The six members of the Wilson family from Ames are all riding RAGBRAI on the same bike. Greg Wilson took a triplet, added a third-wheel trailer bike and attached a two-kid trailer to that. They've logged 1,200 miles getting ready for the ride.
— Friday night host town of Manchester is racing to prepare for RAGBRAI after floods struck part of the town last weekend. One of the smaller campgrounds and some businesses were flooded, although the main venue was high and dry.
— Three cyclists from Leicester, England, traveled the furthest to ride.
I've heard about his ride for as long as I've been riding as an adult. I really have to do it sometime.
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