What I Learned at RAGBRAI

You might be asking yourself, "What the heck is a RAGBRAI?" For those not familiar with Iowa or bicycle rides of monumental proportion, this is a valid question. Being married to a woman born and raised in Iowa, I had heard of RAGBRAI. It is purported to be the largest and longest running bicycle ride of its type in the world. RAGBRAI, Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, was conceived as a news story by 2 juornalists at the Des Moines Register 38 years ago. The ride starts on the western border of Iowa, the Missouri River, and ends at the eastern border, the Mississippi River. The route changes annually with the average length being something less than 500 miles. The 2010 event was to be a short one, coming in at 442 miles. We decided (in a weak moment for me) to go for it. We entered the lottery and became two of the 12,500 legal riders to participate.

 Team Bazinga

By the time we arrived at the starting point, Sioux City, our number had grown to 8; a niece (Alia), a nephew (Nate), 2 brothers-in-law (Jay and Steve), and 2 friends of Nate (Angie and Leanne). Steve took the photo of us prior to embarking on our Odyssey (or was it our Iliad). We were fresh of face and strong of leg at this point in time. I wasn't even thinking about all the new words that I would lean: kybo, butt crack road, butt butter, SAG wagon, Fred, Wilma, granny gear, and paceline.

 Dismounting to enter the first town, Leeds

This is a camping adventure as the small towns we were to pass through do not have hotel accommodations for the 12,500 official riders and the 5,000 to 8,00 bandits riding RAGBRAI. Bandits are non-paying riders; Jay was and will always be a bandit. As we slowed to enter the first town, all were advised by a fellow biker to be sure to use the kybo. Kybo is a term used to denote a portable toilet. I was told that kybo means "keep your bowels open". I chose not to dwell on the meaning but to use the kybo; you don't need distractions while riding across Iowa.

 Agrarian bike rack

Butt crack road was a phrase that was not only descriptive, but it was useful to avoid. This type of road is one that is normally made of concrete sections that have separated forming 1 to 2 inch cracks. Allowing your bike wheel to enter a crack would likely insure your meeting with EMS personal. I saw several riders go down after a battle with a crack; I chose to avoid an encounter of this type.

 Food and drink

We slept in 7 towns and passed through a total of 42. Each town had food provided by vendors, community groups, and church organizations. When my wife rode RAGBRAI 3 years ago, she actually gained weight. My goal was to eat homemade pie every day. I failed to find pie on a couple of days due to depleted inventories. This forced me to have pie twice on two days.

 Free water provided to fill our water bottles in all towns

After passing the 300 mile mark on day 3, I found out why butt butter is so coveted. While bike shorts are fitted with a padded chamois seat area, there is still some friction that occurs between ones skin, shorts, and bike seat. This road rash requires a liberal application of a butt butter. The commercial products have names like Chamois Butt'r, Body Glide, Road Rash Remedy, Get Going Cream, etc. Whatever your preferred brand, use it early and use it often.

 A corny pose

Sometime during the 82 mile day (some people took an extra loop to make it 100 miles), people start musing about the SAG wagon. This is a vehicle that picks up riders that have failed equipment or failing legs. It is good to know that it is there for you, but it is better to avoid being labeled a sissy. I finished the 82 miles from Charles City to Waterloo.

 Homage to Monet

With thousands of riders on the road every day, one is bound to encounter a  Fred and/or a Wilma. These are riders who can't hold their line very well and have great variability in their speed. It is a good idea to distance yourself from a Fred and a Wilma biking together; this could be more dangerous than a butt crack road.

Taking a break

One of the fascinating things that I encountered numerous times each day was a paceline. This is a line of cyclists riding closely together in a line with the lead cyclist setting the pace. It was exhausting to watch them speed by me at twice my pace. Occasionally a Fred or a Wilma might encounter a paceline causing a meeting with the EMS folks.

 Iowa is not as flat as you might imagine

I've driven in and through Iowa many times. In a car, Iowa seems quite flat. On a bicycle, one soon learns that Iowa is almost mountainous. Discovering Iowa's undulation, allowed me to develop a love and respect for my granny gear. One's granny gear is the lowest gear available on the bicycle one is riding. On my bike, it is gear 1 of 27. The granny gear allowed me to inch up the steep grades while teaching me a few things about balance at slow speeds. Keeping one's balance at granny gear speeds is important if one does not wish to be perceived as a Fred (or Wilma).

 Dipping our front tire in the Mississippi

After 7 days of riding, we managed to complete our Odssey. We started with a rear tire dampened by the Missouri and ended with a front tire in the Mississippi. I came back with an expanded vocabulary and the knowledge that I can ride across Iowa in 7 days if pie is available.

Angie, Alia, Leanne, Nate, Randeen, me, and Steve

As we toasted our success on the banks of the Mississippi in Dubuque, plans were beginning to be formed for participation in another RAGBRAI. Perhaps, RAGBRAI will establish an age limit for participation; one can only hope.

Click here if you are inclined, there are a few more snaps of our RAGBRAI Odessy.