Wednesday, September 5, 2012
RAGBRAI: Recap and Summary
Well, as good as my intentions were to continue updating this blog before and just after RAGBRAI, it seems that it took a lesser priority than a lot of other things in my life at the time. But as I had put a lot of time and effort into preparing, I find that I should at least wrap things up with a summary.
The end of June was an extremely busy time for me, so I was unable to really ride much the two weeks before Charel arrived. I was working 12 hour days a lot, and trying to pack up my apartment, so even though it was supposed to be a priority, cycling took a backseat to other things
After Charel arrived in the US, we trained every day. Starting with the end of the first week, we progressively increased our miles daily until we were doing 60 or so miles a day. We rode mornings, primarily on the trails before it got too hot out. The culmination of our training came when we rode from Cedar Falls to Marion one day, and then back the next. A good portion of the trail is not paved, and there was a county highway we had to use as a detour for 12 miles. This county highway, I found out, was more typical of what I would be facing on RAGBRAI. I had done little to no training on them, and it turned out to be a rather rude wake-up call one week before the ride. I did make it through, however, though it took us quite awhile.
RAGBRAI
I could write thousands of words describing RAGBRAI to you. The entire trip was a learning experience, especially about cycling, of course. I will not write thousands of words here (a month and a half afterwards I may not get everything anyway), but here are some highlights/notes:
-It was HOT.
The first four days were over 100 degrees, Wednesday being the hottest of those. People were dropping from heat exhaustion and dehydration everywhere. I have a pretty high sensitivity to heat, and it was all I could do during the first two days to drink enough fluids and to rest enough. Day 3 I was unable to finish, and day 4 (the hottest day) I didn't ride at all. I had told Charel to make me stop riding if I started to not respond, and that phrase probably saved me a trip in an ambulance. We got to the point that we were stopping every 5 miles or so just to be sure that nothing bad happened. The 4th day, we even had to call emergency services for a woman in our group, who rode in suffering from severe dehydration and heat exhaustion. She recovered eventually, but had to sit out the rest of the week.
Days 5-7 were cooler due to a rainstorm, but were still in the mid 90's.
-It was windy.
Thankfully it wasn't wind-blasting-in-your-face every day, but 3 of the days were. The two days that I began to ride, but dropped out, were partially due to a strong headwind completely sapping my strength (and not giving me much time to drink. Or breathe.) This will be an issue I will have to address with gear (back-mounted water supply, lighter bike) and training (riding into the damn wind more). There was a day where the wind was at our backs for most of the ride; Day 5 going from Marshalltown into Cedar Rapids. It ended up being over 90 miles by the time we were done, but the strong tailwind and rolling hills (plus a day of rest) made it so I completed the day the quickest that I ever have.
-Bikes, everywhere.
This seems like a no-brainer, but until you see it in person, it doesn't really sink in just how many people are riding with you. A never-ending river of bikes. Taking over small towns and farm driveways (especially those with shade) along the entire route. Riding along with the big flow of bikes out of the overnight towns, when I had only ridden with a couple of other people at a time previously, was a pretty exhilarating experience.
-Tents, everywhere.
Most people camped out in tents, ourselves included. I hadn't slept in a tent since I was a child, and Charel had never really camped before. We did purchase an air mattress, which made it pretty comfortable. There were campgrounds everywhere, even along sidewalks where there was only 6 feet of space between the sidewalk and a fence or building. Shade was at a premium, especially during the first few days. We got to be pretty good at setting up our tent by the end of the week, although it was a pretty easy one to assemble in the first place. If people weren't in tents, then they were in old converted schoolbuses, or RVs.
-The food.
As with any event, most of the food was pretty expensive. I do have to say that some of it, however, was worth it. Some of it was not. The breakfast burritos that we had one morning were excellent, the dry corndog and sour lemonade we had one evening was not. One place we went to (a bar) actually ran out of food. This turned out to be in our favor, as we found another place, a Mom-and-pop sort of place, that was selling lots of food for only 10 dollars or so. Another place was a local church serving lasagna with sides for 10 dollars as well (which they ran out of shortly before we were going to leave). I had hard-boiled eggs on a stick, a turkey leg, kolaches, and lots and lots of Gatorade. We ate at a Subway at least 3 times during the week, which seemed like finding treasure whenever we did.
-The people
Tons of people everywhere. Riders in various bike clothes or costumes (we saw a few bananas and lots of tu-tus). Vendors dealing out food, water, and sweets to huge lines. People of the town sitting in lawn chairs waving at all of the cyclists as they rode by. State troopers blocking off highways and directing traffic while playing music through huge speakers or shouting encouragement.
The corn.
Reserve (or even primary) toilets. And of course, it's everywhere. Not much else to say about that.
The experience.
I have never done anything like RAGBRAI. I got to see lots of things and people that I don't think I would be able to see anywhere else. There are lots of things I didn't get to do (quite a few of my friends took the "drink and ride" way, I did not). People from all over the country, even the world, all riding together across this quiet state.
I do not consider myself an athlete, not even now. I am still a bit surprised that I rode as much as I did, even though I didn't do all of it. I learned a lot of lessons about myself and my body's limits, and what it will take to be able to train better for next time. I do want there to be a next time, even if it ends up being a few years from now. It was hard, I was kind of dreading it, but now that it's over I want to try again.
Just like everyone told me I would.
The end of June was an extremely busy time for me, so I was unable to really ride much the two weeks before Charel arrived. I was working 12 hour days a lot, and trying to pack up my apartment, so even though it was supposed to be a priority, cycling took a backseat to other things
After Charel arrived in the US, we trained every day. Starting with the end of the first week, we progressively increased our miles daily until we were doing 60 or so miles a day. We rode mornings, primarily on the trails before it got too hot out. The culmination of our training came when we rode from Cedar Falls to Marion one day, and then back the next. A good portion of the trail is not paved, and there was a county highway we had to use as a detour for 12 miles. This county highway, I found out, was more typical of what I would be facing on RAGBRAI. I had done little to no training on them, and it turned out to be a rather rude wake-up call one week before the ride. I did make it through, however, though it took us quite awhile.
RAGBRAI
I could write thousands of words describing RAGBRAI to you. The entire trip was a learning experience, especially about cycling, of course. I will not write thousands of words here (a month and a half afterwards I may not get everything anyway), but here are some highlights/notes:
-It was HOT.The first four days were over 100 degrees, Wednesday being the hottest of those. People were dropping from heat exhaustion and dehydration everywhere. I have a pretty high sensitivity to heat, and it was all I could do during the first two days to drink enough fluids and to rest enough. Day 3 I was unable to finish, and day 4 (the hottest day) I didn't ride at all. I had told Charel to make me stop riding if I started to not respond, and that phrase probably saved me a trip in an ambulance. We got to the point that we were stopping every 5 miles or so just to be sure that nothing bad happened. The 4th day, we even had to call emergency services for a woman in our group, who rode in suffering from severe dehydration and heat exhaustion. She recovered eventually, but had to sit out the rest of the week.
Days 5-7 were cooler due to a rainstorm, but were still in the mid 90's.
-It was windy.Thankfully it wasn't wind-blasting-in-your-face every day, but 3 of the days were. The two days that I began to ride, but dropped out, were partially due to a strong headwind completely sapping my strength (and not giving me much time to drink. Or breathe.) This will be an issue I will have to address with gear (back-mounted water supply, lighter bike) and training (riding into the damn wind more). There was a day where the wind was at our backs for most of the ride; Day 5 going from Marshalltown into Cedar Rapids. It ended up being over 90 miles by the time we were done, but the strong tailwind and rolling hills (plus a day of rest) made it so I completed the day the quickest that I ever have.
This seems like a no-brainer, but until you see it in person, it doesn't really sink in just how many people are riding with you. A never-ending river of bikes. Taking over small towns and farm driveways (especially those with shade) along the entire route. Riding along with the big flow of bikes out of the overnight towns, when I had only ridden with a couple of other people at a time previously, was a pretty exhilarating experience.
Most people camped out in tents, ourselves included. I hadn't slept in a tent since I was a child, and Charel had never really camped before. We did purchase an air mattress, which made it pretty comfortable. There were campgrounds everywhere, even along sidewalks where there was only 6 feet of space between the sidewalk and a fence or building. Shade was at a premium, especially during the first few days. We got to be pretty good at setting up our tent by the end of the week, although it was a pretty easy one to assemble in the first place. If people weren't in tents, then they were in old converted schoolbuses, or RVs.
-The food.
As with any event, most of the food was pretty expensive. I do have to say that some of it, however, was worth it. Some of it was not. The breakfast burritos that we had one morning were excellent, the dry corndog and sour lemonade we had one evening was not. One place we went to (a bar) actually ran out of food. This turned out to be in our favor, as we found another place, a Mom-and-pop sort of place, that was selling lots of food for only 10 dollars or so. Another place was a local church serving lasagna with sides for 10 dollars as well (which they ran out of shortly before we were going to leave). I had hard-boiled eggs on a stick, a turkey leg, kolaches, and lots and lots of Gatorade. We ate at a Subway at least 3 times during the week, which seemed like finding treasure whenever we did.
-The people
Tons of people everywhere. Riders in various bike clothes or costumes (we saw a few bananas and lots of tu-tus). Vendors dealing out food, water, and sweets to huge lines. People of the town sitting in lawn chairs waving at all of the cyclists as they rode by. State troopers blocking off highways and directing traffic while playing music through huge speakers or shouting encouragement.
Reserve (or even primary) toilets. And of course, it's everywhere. Not much else to say about that.
The experience.
I have never done anything like RAGBRAI. I got to see lots of things and people that I don't think I would be able to see anywhere else. There are lots of things I didn't get to do (quite a few of my friends took the "drink and ride" way, I did not). People from all over the country, even the world, all riding together across this quiet state.
I do not consider myself an athlete, not even now. I am still a bit surprised that I rode as much as I did, even though I didn't do all of it. I learned a lot of lessons about myself and my body's limits, and what it will take to be able to train better for next time. I do want there to be a next time, even if it ends up being a few years from now. It was hard, I was kind of dreading it, but now that it's over I want to try again.
Just like everyone told me I would.
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