This was our first RAGBRAI adventure. Since they announced the route was going through Hampton we received a phone call suggesting we might want to give RAGBRAI a try....OK!
Dipping front tire in the Mississippi River after 2007 RAGBRAI
Arriving at the start point of our first RAGBRAI in 2007
RAGBRAI
Day 2 Report Monday July 23rd
Woke up to the alarm at 5:00 (again). Broke down camp and hauled our two
pieces of luggage the 200 feet to the luggage semi. (Notice how the distance
was remarkably closer than the day before) Got Pam her morning coffee at the
Jaycees stand 500 feet from our former camp and we were on the road at 5:40 am.
The deep blue cloudy skies were keeping the sun from showing through and
kept the hundreds of red flashing rear lights going on the bikes for the next
hour or so. The forecasted winds were to be 5 – 12 mph out of the South
so we had high hopes it would be a great day!
At 7:30 we stop at "Farm Boys" for our breakfast burritos – today
they are loaded! They could not close the tortillas! As the day went on the
wind kept increasing – up to 20 –25 MPH – NOT expected or forecasted – and from
South/Southeast – the two directions we have to ride all day – oh boy! At 8:14
we pass another recumbent bike with a full size patio thermometer on the back –
oh it looks like it is exactly 70'F – NICE!
Since it is day two – the theoretical hardest day due to fatigue – and now
compounded with the extra wind – we start to find every tandem we can to draft
behind. We find out when we draft we ride 2 to 6 mph faster with less effort.
We drafted behind Harold and Barb from Cedar Rapids for 45 minutes – never
talked to them but stared at their name plate on the back of their bike until
they stopped off for a drink. At almost exactly at 10:00 the clouds disappeared
and we had the clear blue skies – and the direct sun associated with that for
the remainder of the ride. Another couple (unknown names) we drafted behind for
an hour and they were cruising at 18 – 20 mph so we made up lost time!
We ended up getting lei'ed in Lauren and liked the town so much we stopped
off for a smoothie. This also turned out to be the half way point for the day –
37 miles into the days ride. We stopped off in Rolfe at 11:15 for lunch which
consisted of a hamburger (you know – to help roof the Methodist Church roof)
and a Person's Salted Nut Roll – yummy!
At exactly 1PM we arrived in Humboldt at Jodie and Tony Luft's house where
they agreed to let us bed up for the night in air conditioning and a very
comfortable bed. The daily stats were:
Miles: 78
Riding time: 5 hours 58 minutes
Average Speed: 13.1
Total RAGBRAI
mileage 162 miles (in case you noticed that the mileage does not add up we do
ride our bike around town in the afternoon/evenings to go to the store or
transport our baggage, etc…)
At 3:30 we woke up from an hour (or so) nap after the
best showers of our lives. The forecasted high was 93 for day but we got into
town just before it hit the 90'F mark. We rode our bike down to Hy-Vee to get
some water and met up with two other girls who are sleeping on the floor of the
living room who just showed up at 5:35. They looked very HOT and exhausted – I
think we made the smarter choice to start at the crack of dawn and beat most of
the heat! Well that's about it - until tomorrow!
RAGBRAI Day 4 Report
Day 4 stats:
Miles: 72.4
Average Speed: 14.0
Ride time: 5 hours 12 minutes
Total RAGBRAI miles to date: 313.5
We woke up at 5 again and took our bags to the Hampton High
School by means of pick up truck and then left mom’s house at 5:44. We
officially crossed the half way point of the RAGBRAI as we rode into Aredale at
6:43 am.
We rode into Dumont and the bank said it was 7:31 and
a cool 69’F – NICE! We finished up at 11:54 this morning at the house of Stan
Anderson of Cedar Falls who lives only two miles form the UNI dome. Another
nice Iowan opening his house to us and letting us get a great night sleep!
Thanks Stan!
RAGBRAI Day 5 Report
Today's Stats: Wednesday 7/26/07
Miles today: 62.8
Average Speed: 14.0
Ride Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Total RAGBRAI miles: 380.2
Total bike odometer miles: 4,501
After last night going down and paying $11 to see Lance
Armstrong at the UNI dome followed by Blues Traveler (which Lance only talked
for 5 minutes thanking everyone for donating $11 to Cancer...) We slept in a
comfortable bed and at 5:00 the alarm went off so we started our
day...again.... Our poor host (Stan) was so wore out from yesterday's
activities that he did not even wake up to see us off..... oh well.....
We hit the road at 5:40 starting out of Cedar Falls. Another
beautiful morning! Got Pam's coffee at 5:55 donating $3 to organ transplants of
Iowa. The wind was only 2 - 5 out of the South. At 7:26 we stopped at
DAD's Belgium waffle stop for a change of venue for breakfast. $7 was the
ransom and only one Belgium waffle with a glass of milk or coffee..... we won't
be stopping there again......
At 9:00 we stopped just outside of Hazleton in the heart of
Amish country, at a country bakery. Zach was about 12 running the cash drawer
and they were all dressed in traditional Amish clothing except none of the kids
(under 18 or so) were wearing shoes. I did not remember kids without shoes last
time I came through but maybe so.... We bought some nice peanut butter cookies
and a slushie and enjoyed the shade. After our stop the wind went up to 5-7 mph
out of the South. It was cool riding through the Amish country as each farm had
a sign out front "Blacksmith" or Dry Goods" or Seamstress"
- just like the old days - and no power lines for miles.
Along the way we met with Paul from Flint Michigan who was
on his 4th RAGBRAI and about 65 years old. His wife
bought him a new "Specialized" carbon fiber 4.5 pound frame bike just
for the ride. So far he was the happiest person we have encountered - you know-
somebody who enjoys every day! We also talked to a lady who had her dog
strapped to her belly who would put her little paws on the handle bars and ride
the wind - how cute!
We made it into Independence at 11:29am before the heat. It
looks like it will be over 90'F today. so after we set up camp we head for the
town swimming pool. Due to the demand they limit everyone to 45-50 minutes
inside the parameter for the $3 admission - to shower and/or swim. The water
was very cool and the showers were the coldest on the planet. I swear they ran
the water through a ice pit before it came out... my fingers, toes, and other
unmentionable body parts were purple after the shower. But hey, it was HOT out
now anyway.....
At 8 o'clock were informed a storm was moving in so we
moved camp up hill about 100 feet to get out of the flood plane. At 9:26pm it
started to rain. At 9:28 we found out the tent did not keep all the water from
coming in, drip, drip, drip, but it was still very hot out so the little drops
felt good and after an hour of thunder and lightning we both fell asleep to the
rhythm of the falling rain.... or as the song goes..... so that has been the
story as I will tell it... Pam's version may be a little different....
10. Iowa's people and towns. Every town we passed through had the majority of
the town's people sitting on their porches or in the shade of their trees to
cheer us on and say hello. Many offered free water.
9. State troopers at every major intersection letting all of us bikes go
through and holding up cars - very cool!
8. Over 512 miles with no saddle sore
due to our tandem recumbent bike.
7. 1,000 kids saying "Wow - that's a cool bike!!!" as we rode by. (it
made us feel special)
6. The Eagle (man dressed in eagle suit) in the tree as we rode into Eagle
Grove.
5. The countless sweet smelling corn fields to relieve our bladder discomfort
in.
4. Cruising down the Mississippi bluff into Bellevue knowing there were no more
hills.
3. The two Iowans who opened up their homes to us in Humboldt and Cedar Falls -
knowing we were from Arizona (talk about out of town) giving us an air
conditioned comfortable bed with a private room to sleep in. They proved to be
even more valuable after camping in the general population.
2. Riding into Hampton at the end of day 3 - knowing the town and knowing we
had a nice quiet place with a nice comfortable bed to sleep in.
1. We went 512.7 miles with no flats or mechanical issues!!!!
Top ten list of worse RAGBRAI memories:
10. Pam's leg rash (no sure what or why but for the first two days....)
9. Hot Iowa days with no clouds.
8. Riding past the plethora of Iowa hog farms.... they conveniently placed all
of them at the crest of every steep hill so we had to ride by at 4mph holding
our breath as we rode by.
7. Taking a shower in the Spencer fair grounds hog washing area. They did clean
it up but the thought......
6. Riding uphill on the recumbent at 4mph while 95% of everyone else is passing
you.
5. Too many bikes on the road at times we had to ride breaks down the hills.
4. Wet cornfields on day 3. (now how are we supposed to......)
3. The noisy general campgrounds in Spencer, Independence, and Dyersville.
2. The two major hills right outside of Humboldt. We were not ready for that
and it made day 3 start off a little rough.
1. Leaky tent during rain storm.
Funniest moment: 13 miles from the end we stopped in our final cornfield to
relieve the excessive pressure from our bladders. After we got back on the bike
I kept asking Pam what is that banging noise coming from the back of the bike.
Well it turns out it was the visor on my helmet had come loose and was banging on
my helmet - Pam could not hear it and I asked her 3 times what is that banging
noise before she finally figured it out!
Best Bike: A recumbent bike (trike) with a 12 foot mast and sail on it. The
best part was we figure we only had about 5 miles the whole RAGRAI with a tail
wind - the rest was mostly (75% or so) a head wind. This 20 - 25 year old
peddled harder than us up those hills!!!!
Best Restaurant: Tie The Mongolian grill (Huhot) in Cedar Falls and the
"Family Restaurant" in Dyersville.
Best view: Tie - three days as the sun rose up out of the corn fields with a
farm house and barn in the foreground.
Well that's bout the memories of our first RAGBRAI ride
in 2007. We still can't believe that we finished the ride, but hey, if 10,000
people do it every year - so can we - right!!!!! Take care and go ride your
bike!
Brian & Pam 
