Me and Busta are riding RAGBRAI next week, and he’ll be running a lot of it too.
RAGBRAI, Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is more than just a bike ride, it is an epic eight-day rolling festival of bicycles, music, food, camaraderie, and community. It is the oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world.
It wasn’t my idea to go. I was focusing on our home, garden and investment houses. My brother and his wife were thinking about going, and they asked me if I wanted to go. I said heck yeah. I’ve wanted to ride RAGBRAI for 30 years.
It would be impossible for me, Busta and our stuff to keep up with the rolling festival riding solo. Teaming up with brother and spouse, we’ll have a truck for hauling gear and coming to help out when needed. We’ll take turns driving and setting up camp while the other two ride. Either that, or we’ll all get sick and hurt and end up driving from town to town. Don’t expect that. I’m determined to ride as far as possible.
I never rode with ground support before. It’s going to be like a dream. It might be a challenge for me to leave stuff in the truck and not take everything on the bike and trailer. Not to worry, we’ll work it out.
This year is RAGBRAI L. That’s the fiftieth, if my Roman numerology is correct. Can I call it ragbrail? Anyway, Iowa does it up with several daily stop over towns and camping for those with passes. Music, arts, food and beverages will be in abundance, as will bicycle mechanics and advice for every slipping gear shifter and squeaky brake. Maybe I can walk around camp advising people how to set up and ride their bicycles. Think I’ll leave that to the experts.
A month ago, I was not thinking of going anywhere. My bike and trailer were in pieces, and I was putting off getting it together, because riding with a trailer around St. Louis traffic sucks just as bad as it does in many American cities. Since my brother and his wife asked me to join them, we have been busy acquiring passes, making plans, compiling gear and preparing our bicycles. Thanks to Tim in Illinois for gifting this first time rider a pass. To return the favor, I will be sharing photos and reports from the ride.
I’ve put a few days into upgrading my trailer arrangement. The title photo is from 2022. I have been thinking about putting a shelf under the cage since before that ride. This year, I may have arrived at a solution of plastic shelving and zip ties. I hate trashing plastic, but it is light and easy to manipulate. For example, after a test ride with a new shelf, I wanted it about one inch higher and an inch more forward. Doing that with screws and metal would be a big hassle. With this set up, I simply cut off the zip ties, cut new shelf legs an inch longer and zipped it all back together an inch forward. Now, I’ve got the height and weight distribution for a smoother ride.
Here is the latest bicycle photo, sans some gear.
We have taken a few test rides, most recently Friday. Everything seems to be working.
There is still more to do. I have been riding with the battery charging lights and my phone. Next, I’ll secure the solar panel to the top of the cage. I am also adding shade cloth and a tarp for Busta while he is in the cage, and for me to unroll and set up when we stop. I am experimenting with more plastic shelf legs to use with the shade cloth and tarp for a little awning shelter to unfurl besides the bicycle and trailer when we stop. If that works out, I’ll share pictures. If not, I might have to sit in the rain cursing sometimes.
All of that is bonus. We should be fine at RAGBRAI as is.
One more thing. riders don’t have to finish each day. RAGBRAI has motorized support to bring riders into camp. The total ride is 500 miles. If I am sharing in ground support responsibilities, I won’t ride that far. How far can Busta and I make it on the bike in a week?