Cycling Adventures, Begin Again

I've decided I would like to write about my cycling adventures. As if the whole world was just waiting for this moment, right? This blog where I am writing was where I wrote reflections about my first ever RAGBRAI, the ride across Iowa, in 2008. I was all set to do the same in 2014, as I was able to do my second RAGBRAI, but I discovered that things had changed in 6 years. There were no longer Iowa Telecomm trailers at every stop providing internet-connected laptops. That is so old-school! Now they depend on everyone having phones. So I only had a few entries.

But I am still riding! So I thought it would be fun to write about it, both from a practical here's-what-I'm-doing standpoint and sometimes with some spiritual insights that come to me while the wheels are spinning.

So here I am. This is week two of my outdoor season! It feels so good to be outside again, in nature and the elements. The time changed so that we have light until about 7pm. Plus, the temperature just flicked a switch and jumped up into the 40s and 50s. Monday even had a register of 75° on my bike computer (yes, I got temp! See the pic).

I will write more. I have ideas for my bike season that this will help me flesh out. Even if no one follows me, it will be fun to write.

RAGBRAI Wrap Up

I realize now that 2 weeks has passed since I rode Ragbrai, you all have probably lost interest, if you had any in the first place. I was sorely disappointed that there weren't computers along the way to almost real-time report on what was happening. That took the wind out of my sales. And I couldn't exactly bring along a laptop. I barely could keep up with charging my cell phone.

I didn't get to tell you about Joe's Wet Shack, the semi-truck trailer converted into a very efficient shower system. Despite that, it always had a really long line. I can't go on about how I slept in a city park like a homeless person, albeit with a few hundred others, a large part of which were also sleeping.

I would be remiss if I did not report on the cherry pie situation. The first pie I had was bad. Not made well, and made my stomach upset for miles. But after the first one, I found a piece a day that were good. The churches generally had the best pie.

The overnight towns varied greatly in what was offered to you. You could just get an open field to put up your tent and hope the portapotties were fairly close by, or you could get a community college with multiple showers, outlets and computer labs, all in air conditioning. You never knew what you were going to pull into. I heard of another ride in South Dakota where your overnights were at colleges, and you got to stay in dorms. That would be fabulous. One town we set up in was right on the grounds of an elementary school, but they wouldn't open the school!

I was struck by the fact that although there around 20,000 riders, we kept seeing the same people over and over. We saw these two older guys, Jim and Roy, several different days, and camped close to them twice. Jim was amazing. He talked about how he does kayak triathalons, and he rode the optional century loop on the day we did 80 miles. His friend Roy almost dropped out at one point. They were very different. We saw several others multiple times. I felt like age was trying to catch up to me on this ride. But I'm seeing that as you age, sure you have more aches and you don't heal as quickly from muscle pulls and such, but if you make a few allowances here and there, you can still pretty much do whatever you want to do.

For me, after struggling for the first 4 days, by Thursday, I started to feel stronger. Friday's weather was epically horrible, with pelting rain, 25 mph winds mostly in your face, and temps down around 60. We were going about 8 mph for a stretch. The road conditions were bad that day as well. That made that day difficult, but after we set up camp that night, I felt fine.

Saturday was probably my best day. I actually felt the strongest that day of any. I found a few pace lines where I could draft along, and my average speed was high. That was fortunate because the hills in the last 10 miles were murderous. One hill went up very steep for quite some time. It looked like we were near the top, when we encountered a literal "cruel twist of fate." You looked to the right and realized that the hill turned right and kept going up! But it was made nicer by the fact that there was Beekman's homemade ice cream at the top.

I found the people to be quite nice on the whole. There were some people that were unbelievably obnoxious, but there always are those types. What I noticed a lot as well was incessant talkers. There was one guy we sat in a lounge with that talked nonstop. He regaled us with the story of how he lost like 400 pounds and started riding. Interesting story, but he wouldn't stop. I think he would have kept talking if we left the room. There are a lot of people that just want someone to talk to.

I would someday like to do this again. I know, however, that I need to save up a lot more money. I wouldn't take a cot, but I would like to have a nice camp chair with a back. I would also bring a separate charging stick that could fully charge my phone two times. I would bring a full-sized pillow and I would do a lot more road riding before the event, and a little less trail riding.

So there you go. I know you are disappointed to not have more detail, but times change. Laptop trailers go away, and elelctrical outlets become popular. Approaching the dip site in Guttenberg, I had tears and emotion. The week had some low points for me, and it was a relief to finish strong. The Mississippi was a welcome sight.

Day 3: The Long and Winding Road

We got up early for day 3 of riding and regretfully left Iowa Lakes Community College and Emmetsburg. In hindsight now, I realize that was the best overnight experience of the entire week. The cafeteria had great food, there were computers available, and we probably had the most fun going to the downtown area of any other town. Emmetsburg was where we got our bikes washed and lubed at the WD40 tent, saw marines hosting a pull-up bar challenge, ate good gyros, and watched a pretty good juggling show. We took off our shoes and waded into the lake to cool off. We rode on a tiny trailer pulled by a tractor, just hanging onto a sign with one hand (aka The Party Bus).

But it wasn't all fun and games there. The downtown area was very close to the college where we camped, so the live rock band sounded like it was right next door. They played energetically and loudly until midnight. At one point I even heard the lead singer say to the crowd, "So what time do you get up tomorrow? 5?" But he kept on going. Needlessly to say, I did not go to sleep until after they were done, and even then fitfully.

So all of that to start our longest mileage day. As we got going, Mark told me to look to our left across a field of corn. A large, dark weather front was looming and moving our direction. Sure enough, the winds picked up and the sun was blocked out. An angry looking storm was sweeping in from our left very quickly. I remember Mark saying, "there's no way we're going to miss this." Well, except for some wind gusts that nearly took our tires out from under us, that front did not rain on us. In fact, two more threatening waves of storm came up from our left. But all three never dropped any rain! It did put you in awe of the strength of the natural forces God has set in place.

The overnight town we were approaching slowly was Forest City. The day was tough, symbolized by the steep hill we had to climb into the town.On top of that, the way to the campsite was not clear, which would become a pattern for the next several overnight towns. They had said it would be at the base of a big wind turbine. Indeed it was, but even that was easy to miss.

We settled down between a building and a pine tree, right next to a football field. The sun was super intense, and we were spent. I threw my sleeping bag down between the tree and building in one of only patches of shade anywhere and napped hard. Mark went into his tent and crashed. He awoke later in a puddle of sweat, as our tents tended to become like microwave ovens when the sun hit them directly.

I think this may have been the hardest day. I had moments where I thought I wouldn't keep going, but somehow my legs kept pumping. A lesson in perseverance. However, the second hardest day, and a close second, was yet to come.

RAGBRAI in the Rear View Mirror

As I write this, RAGBRAI has been over for two days. Overall, I had a good experience. There were some things that made it more difficult on this, my second trip, but the feeling of riding down to the Mississippi river front with thousands of others to dip my front tire in the water is amazing.

I am posting this entry now, but my plan is to do retroactive entries for the different days. I was SORELY disappointed that there were not computers along the way so that I could update this blog everyday. Evidently the trusty Iowa Telecom laptop trailer stopped coming to ragbrai in 2011. It was only the Iowa Lakes Community College that had computers open for use, probably my favorite overnight experience on the route. So I resorted to old-fashioned note taking with paper and pencil.

So watch for more updates soon, if you care to read, starting with Day 2. I think I'll summarize each day with a BUST or BEST rating, because the days kind of either went really good, or really difficult.

I've shared a short clip shot by my friend Mark. Just proof that I was there.

Day 1: Rough Start -- Rating: BUST

Here it is Monday and this is the first opportunity I have had to get onto a computer to make an entry! I am at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, Iowa. They have opened up everything to use in this building.

Today's ride was about 42 miles, a short day. It was also a much better day for me. Sunday was not my best experience on a bike. I slept really poorly Saturday night. I think I woke up every hour on the hour. Just when I was settling down at about 10 or 10:30, they started a fireworks display that felt like it went on for an hour! Not easy to sleep when you have BOOM, BOOM, every 10 seconds.

Combine the lack of sleep with worries about my rear wheel, which proved to be warranted. Maybe 20-30 miles into the ride, I heard a sharp snap and knew something was up. I rolled into the overnight town with a wobble in the wheel and despairing. As soon as we could get settled, I went off on my bike to see about maybe getting a new wheel. I'd given up on replacing spokes, since I'd now had 4 break in a few months' time.

About a 1/4 mile from the tents, I came upon a shop set up on a corner all by itself. I have to tell you, the repairman, Dave, who was there with his son, was sent by God himself, I'm convinced. It was called Connecticut Yankee repairs. The guy was laid back, funny, and capable. I ended up getting a new wheel, albeit more than I wanted to spend. But now I have peace of mind and today the wheel was magnificent. I didn't realize how much that was bothering me.

Yesterday was also hard because food was not agreeing with me. I was getting fatigued and didn't know why. Even though I drank water, I think I may have been dehydrating.

There were times yesterday when I thought I wasn't going to be able to keep going. I couldn't imagine how much else could go wrong. However, I guess you keep going. I made some adjustments, got the new wheel, abandoned my cot, which was severely sagging, and slept on the ground on a sleeping bag. A shower and a good meal helped me feel a lot better. I slept really well in a very quiet campground, and today went much better.

At breakfast this morning, a guy came up to me and asked me if I lived in the Geneva area. Then he asked if I went to First Baptist and if I led worship on the stage. He had me nailed. We met Kurt and his brother Kevin and ate pancakes and sausage with them. By the way, pancakes will NOT be on my list for breakfast tomorrow. They expand!

Today was shorter mileage, but it was hot. I drank water like a fish. I think I went through my two bottles at least three times, counting on full bottle of gatorade.

I am a little encouraged, after thinking yesterday that I would never do Ragbrai ever again. Maybe there's still hope. However, it has become MUCH more expensive than when I did it 6 years ago! Every stop charges $5 or 6 for showers! The running joke between Mark and I is that everything costs $5. Do you want public water from a hose? $5 (actually that's not true, just for effect).

Well, I need to get some food into me, and it is right next door. I think the crowd is getting bigger. I'll probably have to stand in line. Again. Lines everywhere.

Faith and Spokes

If I count today, there are three days until we leave for the west coast of Iowa. With a wince on my face, I state that I am all ready to go. (???) At least I hope I'm all ready to go.

A friend we sometimes ride with had offered some energy bars, called RxBars, to us for our ride. That will be really nice to have along as a snack as we go. He had them donated to him from a charity ride he did recently. Justin and some others rode from Boston to Lake Michigan to raise funds for Wheels for Water, an organization that provides clean water for communities in Uganda. 

So that is one nice thing to have along. I have also sealed the seams of my new tent and made sure my cot fits inside. My bag is now quite distinctive with my CRAIGO logo spray painted on both sides and neon orange duct tape on the ends.

But one worry that I is related to the spokes in my rear wheel. And though it may seem silly, and if you are a person who prays to God, I would appreciate it if you would pray for my spokes. Just this year (2014), I have had 3 broken spokes. Granted, I carry a lot of weight on my bike wheel. I think there may be a dent in the frame from who knows what that is making the spokes lose their tension and either fly off or break.At this point, I don't have the time or money to replace my back wheel, so I am trying to exercise my feeble faith and trust that they will hold out. If they don't, I know there are a lot of repair resources available along the way, but you have to wait for a sag and lose miles and such, so I really don't want that to happen.

I've had more anxiety about this than is normal for me (the spoke issue, I mean). I'm trying to let go of it and just have fun, but I really don't want to break down.

Watch here for entries once we arrive in Rock Valley, Iowa!

Ready

I hope to write in this blog every day when I begin RAGBRAI, incidentally being less than 2 weeks away.

Today I feel good enough to report that I am ready for the ride. I went out with 3 other riders Saturday. We rode 67 miles.Yes, I was tired when we finished, but the soreness in my knees was more from the softball game three days before than the riding. Probably the best indicator of readiness for me is the next morning I felt like I could easily get back on the bike and go another 50, 60 or 70.

I've been frustrated with myself on the weekend rides. I have been having a hard time keeping up with the other guys. Then I realized they are averaging 16 to 17 mph over 60+ miles! There will be no need for me to do that on Ragbrai. I have always been more of a endurance athlete than anything shorter. We did our 67 mile ride in 4 hours. If I were to do that on Ragbrai, leaving at 6am, we'd be finished for the day at 10am! Ridiculous. I feel better now.

The Hazards of Packing

Ragbrai is now 26 days away (I got tired of typing Ragbrai in all caps). I have a small pile of things on my garage floor. I also have a checklist with a whole bunch of unchecked boxes. The hazard I have run into is that it is hard to pack everything that I will need until I get close to the event. I still need my cycling clothes, for instance. It feels like I am not ready, though I think I am closer than I realize.

Today I got up and looked outside. The ground was wet, but it was not raining. The air still felt like it could rain at any moment. I decided to break out my rain gear and go for it, figuring that it would be good to know how to deal with the rain in case that happens on Ragbrai. I remember the weather varied from a pretty powerful thunderstorm to intensely hot and dry when I did this before.

So, just as your car never makes that irritating sound as soon as you pull into the mechanic's lot, after donning all of my gear, it barely sprinkled on me. I was more soaked from perspiring under the non-breathing material than from precipitation.

I feel the excitement building for the trip. We did a 50+ mile outing last Saturday, and it felt good. I need to pull off a few more long trips, even up into the 60 and 70 mile range. But overall, I am pleased with my progress.

Two by Two

The last time I did RAGBRAI in 2008, I ventured out on my own. This time around, I will have company. My friend Mark from my church will be literally along for the ride. It's kind of fun, since I feel like I contributed a lot to his interest in riding. Or you might say that I'm to blame!

I'm looking forward to having someone along to ride this time around. There are so many unique and fun experiences to this trip that will be fun to share.

The ride is now 30 days away. I have printed out a checklist of things that I had from 2008 and have started to amass a pile of stuff in my garage that I will need to take along. It is nice to have done this before and realize that I really don't need to bring a bike lock, but I would benefit from bringing some sort of chair. For the former, you really feel secure the whole time, even though there are people riding from all over the country and world. I never had reason to think that my bike would be stolen. It must happen, but being in the heart of Iowa is a pretty safe. The values are different. I do want to bring along a chair. I can remember having time to read and such, but not having a place to sit with a back on it. That becomes important, especially as you have spent so much time riding and need some comfort.

We've had some really hot days this week, and I'm grateful for them. RAGBRAI is usually very hot, being in July. I want to be conditioned for the weather as much as I can.

I've more to write, and hopefully I will be back here a few times before the ride commences. I hope you can follow my progress!

This is the year...finally!

It's really hard to believe that the last event that inspired me to blog, that of RAGBRAI, was six years ago! But now after all this time, I find myself about 50 or so days away from doing this again.

If you don't know, RAGBRAI is the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. You pack up your clothes, a tent, and jump on your bike for between 400 and 600 miles over 7 days. You do so with somewhere around 20,000 other lycra-clad pedalers. My inaugural participation in this took place in July of 2008, and it was a blast.

My intention is to write down some thoughts in this blog leading up to the ride that begins July 20. Then, while I'm out there in the wilds of Iowa, I hope I can make entries as well, with pictures and pithy comments about anything and everything that happens. You may also be subjected to my observations on God's creation, the hospitality of small town people, and how many slices of cherry pie in which I indulge myself.

So I hope you read on with me.

Cruel Joke

When most people are groaning over losing an hour of sleep, I am personally celebrating for the extra evening light that is surely in store. We have officially sprung forward into daylight savings time. It is sort of the day I declare open season on riding my bike into work, similar to the day in November when we fall back and I am soon forced to stop.

However, my little party was rained upon today, quite literally. I was all packed up and anticipating a ride. Besides more sunshine, the temperatures are expected to be about 20 degrees warmer than normal for a March 12th. I'm riding an adrenaline high on a Sunday evening, and that is quite unusual.

It all came crashing down this morning, when at 5:45, it was raining. There's also a threat of thunderstorms in the afternoon. And if that were not enough, there is an all-city band concert tonight fairly early in which 2 of my 3 children will be performing. A small raft-load of circumstances colluded against my ride. So I drove.

On top of that, and maybe because of the our loss of an hour, I find that everything is causing me an undue amount of frustration. I know this is true when I yell at the interval windshield wipers for not wiping at the right speed. It's a sure sign.

Maybe I will be able to just shrug off this day and settle for the next two days that look like sun, at least 65 degrees, and lighter winds. I'm not sure that will appease the beast that is inhabiting me today. I may just have to let it run its course. Beware.

Continuing Adventures

It has been nearly four years now since I rode in the my first and only RAGBRAI. Someone recently encouraged me to continue to write about cycling. As with any blog I've ever contributed to, I have my doubts that anyone will see this, but I do enjoy writing, so that could be reward enough for me.

I ride a lot. That sums things up, but is also kind of an understatement. It's my workout, my gas saver and in a sense, my devotional time.There is something almost magical about being outside in the elements, watching terrain go by and exerting energy. It also seems that impressions come to me about life as I pedal along. All of these things are what I would like to relate here in this little blogosphere.

Missin' it

I don't know if anyone will be reading this anymore, since Ragbrai is over. But I miss it.

I wish I was still out there with 15,000 riders, zooming through the bike traffic.

I wish I was still cruising into small towns with people lining the streets in their lawn chairs, waving and clapping and welcoming.

I wish I could still eat all the great food and have my slice of cherry pie every day.

I wish I could be selecting my campsite in the evenings and setting up my little home for the night.

I wish I could be laying on my cot, listening to the sounds of nature, reading a book, my eyelids closing in tandem with the setting sun.

I wish I could be watching the sunrise while my pedals continued their revolutions.

I wish I could recapture that feeling of my first glimpse of the Mississippi River at the crest of a hill, knowing my conquest was realized.

I wish I could still feel so special and even revered as I rolled into towns with my neon green wristband.

I'm not meaning to over-glorify this ride, but suffice it to say that I really enjoyed it.

It's Over Already?

I FINISHED IT!! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!

This was incredible. Today was so much fun! I think I had a blood transfusion. Someone stole into my tent last night and transfused all of my blood for pure adrenaline.

A large number of people got up at the campground early today. I think everyone wanted to get it done. So therefore there were a lot of bikers out even when I left just before 6 o'clock. And it seemed that the pace of everyone's riding today was just a little bit faster. It's like we could all smell the Mississippi River (which actually sometimes stinks!), and we were straining to get there.

I stopped for breakfast at this Mama Ralphael's, which is a traveling breakfast buffet vendor. It is really good. But I heard two guys commenting on the riders going by. One of them said something about not having to save their energy for tomorrow. Well, that flipped a switch in my brain. I rode hard today. I was scaling hills in 6th gear, and even used my large sprocket a couple of times on downhills, one time getting up to 35 mph. I snagged a couple of pacelines, but there weren't many of those today. It was every man, woman and child for themselves. It was fabulous!

We rounded a turn with about 3 miles to go, and I saw the Le Claire water tower. Right there, as I was riding along, I kind of lost it. I've told someone that this ride was kind of like reconnecting with my 16 year old self, the age I was when I first dreamed of doing Ragbrai. A great deal of "life" has happened to me since then, good and bad, that I feel that I am nothing like I was at 16. And there are so many things along the way that made me lose connections to the my childhood. To fulfill this dream now at 43 kind of connects a cord from the teenage Craig to the middle aged Craig. So it was an emotional moment (and a good moment) for me to be finishing this ride.

There was a giant downhill down to the riverfront. But you had to lay on your brakes because they had you stop at the bottom. It was actually a little chaotic at the end. But I made to the "dip point," and put my front tire in the Mississippi River. I had someone take my picture. I'll have to get more pictures up on my facebook. I mistakenly plunged my left foot into the water, too. So my tire and my foot were baptized in the Ragbrai-ending waters.

It was pandemonium at the riverfront as more and more riders streamed in. I found my family and we managed, with the help of a golf cart, to get me, my bike and my 60 pound bag back to the van. Now I'm typing from my Mom's computer. She lives in Muscatine, Iowa, where I grew up. We'll leave here tomorrow for home again.

It has been a fantastic, unforgettable, incredible and many other superlative adjectives I can't come up with right now, ride!! I'll remember this for a very long time, and I don't think this will be the last time I do either Ragbrai or other rides, as long as God gives me strength.

One more day to go!

I have finished Day 6 from North Liberty to Tipton! Today was really a pretty nice ride. The weather was perfect, and there were not a huge amount of hills. I was fighting a negative attitude, but sometimes those come. My body is tired, but actually getting stronger as the days go by. I bought new gloves yesterday, and hands didn't hurt nearly so much. I think the gloves I had were made before newer ways of riding came about, so the padding was misplaced. These were made with a cyclist in mind.

I had several things I wanted to write about today, so I memorized some keywords to remember. Here they are: father/son, kybo and corn. Hey, what else are you gonna do while you are zooming past corn & soy bean fields?

First the father and son. These two were riding and went past me. The son was obviously fairly young, probably under 10. As they went by, we were beginning to climb a hill. I looked over and the father had his right hand out on his son's back as they went up. He kept it there all the way up the hill. I think he was both steadying and helping his son up. It was a sweet moment, and made me tear up when I think of God doing that for us.

A funny thing about the corn. There's a slogan that says, "What's done in the cornfield, stays in the cornfield." It's even on t-shirts. What they really mean is that people routinely use the corn fields as a restroom. The corn is tall and thick, so it's perfect. Also, remember this. If you are ever riding your bike through Iowa and the urge to go strikes you, go in a cornfield, and not the forest. You can get ticks in the forest, but you won't in the corn, because they treat it. I'm sure I just saved multitudes from losing their blood to hungry ticks!

A funny thing about people. They come in all shapes and sizes. A testament to God's creativity. I hesitate to mention this, but it's funny. It was a day of big butt guy and little butt guy. Don't let little kids read this. "Butt" is not exactly acceptable language at our house. Little butt guy was simply that. He was normal sized from the crown of his head to his waist, then he looked like a little boy on down. Mind you, I'm not spending a lot of time dwelling on this. Big butt guy was funny. I saw him go by me, coasting down a hill. He was in tuck, in other words, he had his hands on the curved down portion of the handlebars, and was squatted down flat. But his hind quarters were wide, and he had them sticking up in the air. I would pass him going up the hills, and he would pass me going down. I laughed to myself everytime he went by. I heard him remark to someone on the upside, "oh, I just love coasting down the hills!" I think he was a big butt guy that thought he was a little butt guy. Okay, I've said the bad word enough.

Here's another new word:

Kybo or Caibo
No, it's not an obscure martial art. It actually refers to what I have always called a porta-potty. There was even a Team Kybo, with special jerseys that said, "Get in Line!" I asked one of them where the word came from, and he didn't know. I thought maybe it was a brand of potty, or else a combination of two words or something. Never found out. Maybe one of you can tell me.

I havea blister on my right index finger, and I couldn't for awhile understand why it was there. Then I realized that that is the point where I push the gear shift lever on my bike. I have changed gears so much that I have a blister that is quickly becoming a callous. Gee, that's gross!

I'm really tired of signs along the sides of the road. Some of them are cute, some of them informative, but some are just stupid. Oh, there I go with forbidden words again! Here was one series:

Always wear a helmet
I mean it
You like your head
Your brains are in it

Classic, eh? There is an art to sign making and placement. There were some signs that were so far apart that you would forget the message. There were others that seemed to be written with a fine point sharpie, so you could hardly make them out. The most effective followed an advertising standard; keep it simple.

Well, I should go. I'm a little light headed. I think I need some water. I've enjoyed eating just about anything I want this week, but I have to admit, I'm getting tired of roadstand food and wish I could have some home cookin'. Especially my wife's. She's a good cook.

Tomorrow is a short ride, only 53 miles. I should be tipping my tire in the Mississippi River before noon. I can't believe we are almost there! This has been a fantastic adventure! One you reading this should do it with me next year! You won't forget it, I promise. I'll miss it. I thought maybe I should just keep going across Illinois and home, but there wouldn't be anyone in the towns waiting for us and clapping and cheerleaders cheering and food stands begging you to buy something. It wouldn't be the same.

Day 6

Wow. I am on the next to last day! I wasn't able to find a computer to do internet on until this late! it's almost 8 o'clock and I haven't yet checked in. I'm experiencing withdrawal.

It is a very nice morning. It's overcast, not windy, and just a little cool. Perfect riding weather. And today is only 63 miles! Maybe I'll do it twice! Okay, you know I'm crazy, but sounded nuts even to me!

I have had cherry pie every day, and I just had an excellent piece here in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. I don't know why I say Iowa. Of course I'm in Iowa. Duh. Anyway, Exira and Mt. Vernon have had the best cherry pie so far. I saw some ladies yesterday that were wearing models of pie pieces on their heads. They were called Team Pie Hunter, and each one had a different pie type on their head. But noticeably absent was cherry! I asked them if they had one, and they said no, but they could send me an application (tongue in cheek) if I wanted to join.

My newfound energy has continued this morning. My body is adjusting to this. I'm going to have to ride to work on Monday just to keep it up.

Well, I don't have much to report this morning, I guess. Gotta get those pedals moving again.

Day 5, Part II

Today was a weather challenge day. It was a 76 mile trip, right into the wind most of the way. It also rained on us a few times, and it was only in the 70s. There were some rolling hills at the beginning which gave way to long fairly flat areas. I discovered that a good thing about multiple hills is that it changes the way you sit and grab the handlebars so you get some variety. When you do long sections of the same thing, you get sore in strategic places.

I saw some interesting things today and re-connected with someone I met yesterday. This was Becky and her friend Jeannie. Becky is from Evansville, Indiana, and she has a daughter the same age as mine who is doing Ragbrai, too. When you keep the same habits, like when you leave in the morning and about when you stop, you start to see the same people, which is amazing among 20,000 people. I pass a lot of the same people I've see before.

Something happened to me with about 12 miles left to go today. I had been speculating yesterday that if you did enough days in a row of high mileage that you body would adjust to a new norm. I think I hit that point today. Suddenly I had energy and was powering up hills, despite the weather. It was weird, but exhilirating. We'll see about tomorrow. No guarantees that this will continue, but the next two days are short mileage, 62 ad 53 respectively. Yeah, I know, that may seem like a lot, but we just finished 78 and 76 back to back days. I'll be heading to the Mississippi soon. Hopefully my brakes work, or I may be going for a swim!

I thought I was off to a bad start today. At about 5am I was taking the poles out of my tent, so that it collapsed to the ground, like it's supposed to. Just as it came down, it started pouring rain! I stood there and just thought, "How rude!" So my tent floor got wet, which I had to dry out tonight when I set it up again. As a consequence, I had to pack it wet and it got other things wet, too. Rain is just a hassle to deal with. At least I didn't have to deal with flat tires from tacks, like people did yesterday. Someone threw tacks on the road, and hundreds of people had flats. I had already been through the area when it happened. One advantage of being an early bird.

I'm gonna go find some food now. It seems like all I do is pedal and eat. OH! I forgot to report. I got a tattoo. Yeah, me! Ok, so it's temporary. Maybe I should let you all guess where it is? Nah, it's on my calf. I thought it was funny, so I did it. Amazing how serious the vendor takes his job. It's a temporary tattoo business. Oh well.

Day 5

Guess what? I am going on a bike ride today! Something new! Okay, so maybe I'm getting a little punchy. I slept well again last night, despite a rain shower. I was laughing to myself today, thinking that I'm going to have to move this cot into my bedroom at home to be able to sleep! But I have a hunch it won't be hard to re-adapt to a mattress.

Today's operating word is----drum roll----RAIN! It is extremely overcast and was spitting on me as I pulled up to the Internet trailer. Something new to contend with. But at least I won't get a sunburn. I think I wrote that I didn't get one yesterday, but my arms started turning red after an hour or so after the ride. And since I wear didn't pairs of shorts that are different lengths, I now have a gradient tan on my legs (ask a designer what a gradient is if you don't know). It'll be all the rage soon, I'm sure.

I almost got a temporary tattoo yesterday. What is happening to me!!?? I just might do it. I wonder if I could become a professional bike tourer (tourist? tourengineer?)?

Couple more new phrases. Well, the first one isn't too new.

MANDEX
This one came from me and my kids. To wear spandex is not the most attractive look in public, but it is the most comfortable method of riding. I objected to the term "spandex," because it sounded feminine to me. So I came up with "mandex," to be a man's spandex.

Clip-on/Slap-in/Hookup
This is a phrase that is used when you want to tag onto a paceline, which I think I explained yesterday.

SAG
This is the name of the vehicles that can come pick you up if you have become mentally deranged or your bike has a problem. I don't know what it stands for, if it is an acronym. Maybe because they sag behind the bikes. Or it could be referring to your body after riding 80 miles.

Okay, isolation. Last night I sat on some bleachers by a high school softball field and watched a bird on a fence. He was just a little guy, sitting all by himself. He would lift his head up and sing and sing. Then he would preen himself and look around. Then he'd sing again. He didn't seem to have a care and was quite content to use the noise that God gave him to the fullest. I sat and watched him for probably 15 or 20 minutes until he flew away. When was the last time you did that? Sat and watched something for that long that wasn't a computer screen, TV or movie screen. Hmmmmm...

Okay, back on the road. I'm in Chelsea, Iowa, in case you were wondering, and it is 7:17 a.m. It's a 76 mile day in the rain. Yahoo!

Day 4, Even more

I've had an entire afternoon and evening to reflect on things. I've learned some new words for my cycling vocabulary. See if you can tell what these words mean before my explanation.

RUMBLES
No, it's not my stomach after downing a bratwurst. It is actually the rumbles strips that they put on country roads so that when cars go over them, they are warned that a stop sign is coming. Maybe some of you city folk reading haven't heard of them. They are similar to a washboard with vertical grooves. They are particularly nasty to a bike. They threaten to shake your teeth out. Bikers call these out and you put your arm out and bob your hand up and down. Now you know.

G2
Some of you may know this one. I have become a conniseur of Gatorade-type drinks. My favorite is still fruit punch Powerade, but I've tried many. G2 is just a strain of Gatorade. I think of it as highly sweetened gatorade, made for those people, like me, that always thinks Gatorade is too sour. I also had berry Gatorade Rain.

VIRGIN
Okay, you may think you know what this means. But consider the context here. A few people had this written vertically on their calves. It simply means that this is their first Ragbrai. So, technically, I would be one.

I think they are shutting the computers down, so I have to go. I do want to write about solitude and my time this evening watching a bird sing. It was refreshing.

Day 4 On the Other Side

I am in a place that seems to be called Tama-Toledo. I think it might be two towns, but used as one name. Whatever. Maybe it's like Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Anyway, today was a long ride. The temperature stayed pretty fair all day, but there was a steadily increasing headwind. My other Wheaton College bike tourist, Karen, told me that she would take killer hills any day to not have to deal with strong and/or headwinds. I heartily agree. But lucky for me, we had both today, headwinds AND hills. Then I got into this 2 town place, and it was as if someone stole all the little orange signs with arrows on them that we have been using to tell us where to go for 4 days now. I rode an extra 4 miles looking for the campground. I admit, I kind of lost my cool. There might be a few people along the way that if I could find them, I should ask forgiveness. :(

I neglected sun block today, because it seemed cool. But the sun was out all day. I must be developing leather skin, because I really didn't burn too much. Of course, I haven't seen my face.

Do you remember in the Bible way back in the Garden of Eden when Eve then Adam ate the fruit from the forbidden tree? I believe the tree was called the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. I thought of this today. When they ate, they realized what evil was. They gained a propensity to do what was wrong before God. But they also became aware of what was good to do.

Because there are so many people here, I can see trends. Despite that fact that we are all sinful and need redemption--just a plain fact--most people try to do what is good. The majority of people on this ride are kind and considerate. There are a few jerks here and there that care for nothing but themselves. But the ones trying to do good outweigh those idiots. Just kinda interesting.

Well, I was fortunate the Internet trailer was close to my tent. And, there's food close by, too. And, I bought a book yesterday, so I have something to read! I'm in the lap of luxury. I need to rest. Tomorrow could be just like today, throwing in a possible thunderstorm and more hills than today. Isn't that just lovely?

As a friend of mine would say, "It'll be great!" I hope so.