RAGBRAI Day 4

Cedar Falls today. Haven't seen Lance yet, I think he's avoiding the showdown. Won our only sprint today. Hey, I didn't start it. Some more good pace lining. We try to pick good lines to work with, or we go without.

I've started to count crashes. Between Bob and I, we've seen three minor crashes. Going slow through town or in a corner and bump ~ boom. At 1 mph. Seen three ambulances. But in all not bad for 15,000 semi-experienced? riders over 300 miles.

Bad karma today. Bob and I were working with two others and we passed another fast group. Their leader was squeezing over to get the draft and leaving me out in the wind. So I just squeezed in the spot that wasn't there. They didn't like that. No biggie, but we exchanged a few words. Bad behavior on both our parts.

Then my payback was a few guys we just got in with put the HAMMER down on a hill (or what passes for that around here). We didn't follow, they definitely dropped us. No doubt. The back guy waves bye at us from the hill top. But did I say payback? As with most of these RAGBRAI hot dogs, they like to play superstar racer. But if they were, we wouldn't have paced them back in within a mile and then left them behind. And we're certainly nothing but a couple of over-the-hill never-was wannabes.

Bottom line is: People are the best in IA. Nice to hit towns and be the biggest thing in 10 years. Great folks, big happening. Fun riding if you're cautious and constantly vigilant. And aren't we always?

I'll write this all up mo' betta once I get back.

RAGBRAI Day 1

After a day of transport to Bellevue, camp, shuttle across IA to Rock Rapids, camp...we're ready to get cranking. Bob and I working well together.

We started in the middle of the rush at 0730. Riders were literally filling both lanes for the first 20 miles. After stopping for a few breakfast burritos, things got a little quieter, and safer. Lots of squirrelly riders on old bikes with parts falling off of them. Ran over a water bottle cage, but no harm done.

Done by 1230 as it got warm. All showered and set up, ready to rock by 1400!

The Cabin

Spent last weekend at Lake Minneswaska in Western MN with Barb’s college roommate and husband. Not Lake Minnetonka or Lake Minnewasta or Minnetrista! Then the last few days with my sister Joan and some of her family at Trout Lake in Northern WI. Nice to see everyone and spend some time on the water.

Got out on the Bianchi Axis cyclocross bike a few times. It’s a nice ride: smooth, light, fast. And rough / gravel / dirt roads no problem. Ready for a flat week in Iowa. Wish me luck.

Drugs and Cycling

My two cents. Pro cycling and drugs are in the news so much because that is one sport that's trying to address the issue. It will always be a battle. Baseball, football, soccer, track, swimming,... haven't even started the battle. Cycling remains a beautiful sport to follow. Ah Cipo, we miss you.

BroFest 2007

A few brothers got together on Adventure Cycling’s Columbia Gorge trip. We never did develop a rap song to explain it, but:

• Geoff. Klamath Falls, OR.
• Chuck. Woodland, CA. Geoff’s brother.
• Karen. Woodland. Chuck’s wife.
• Kurt. Minneapolis, MN. Karen’s brother.
• Al. Gainesville, FL. Married to Joan; Kurt and Karen’s sister.
• Jerry. Milwaukee, WI. Married to Jane ~ Kurt is married to Jane’s sister, Barb.

Day 1. It became clear immediately, this was going to be a hilly ride. 600 quick vertical to get out of the Columbia River valley and escape the outskirts of Portland. Hello granny gear.

We were able to compare our food stops with those of the overlapping Barlow Trail Century. We prefer the fresh berries generously provided by the latter.

In spite of cries to “F*** the Oregon Trail” we all made the optional run up Lolo Pass, making for 49 miles and 4900 vertical to start the trip. The heavy overcast with rain and sleet on the descent really made the day. Low-fat Chuck got the shivers on the way off the pass. The loan of some rain pants made the difference and we made it in to Welches safe and sound.

Decided to camp out in the gym rather than mess with the elements any longer. BroFest staked out a choice corner and began our caloric replenishment at a local pub.

Day 2. Nice thing about the gym is that you’re in no danger of oversleeping. A steady crescendo of coughing, sniffling and packing from 0’dark hundred until lights on at 0600.

Kurt started the day with a nice gash in the rear tire and a flat. An improvised boot held throughout the day.

After the immediate 2500 foot climb, most went for the optional 2000 foot climb to Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood. Just for the hell of it. 4500 feet in under 20 miles. Suweeeet. We were rewarded by great roads and good views, a few clouds. In spite of more clothes, Chuck again gets the shakes off the col. Good enough to shake his water bottle loose. Eat some pizza dude!

Another punch over Bennett Pass and then 30 miles of downhill into Odell. Good time to work on our paceline technique. 64 miles, 5700 vertical.

Day 3 turned out to be the queen stage. Started innocently enough along the Columbia River. Down the historic Columbia River Highway and through the sweetest “Curves of Rowena” descent. Pinch me. It is indeed the ride of a lifetime.
After 45 miles, the climbing really starts out of Lyle, WA. Lunch near the top of the hill. An assessment of the new chip-seal reveals it’s very rideable, no need to bypass. So off we go. Well, lunch was nowhere near the top of the damn hill. Oof. Another 90 minutes of grinding it out gets us to the flat, open high prairie. And heat. And headwinds. Just another 20 miles of joy left to savor. Jerry says, “Now this is a real ride. None of that easy stuff.”

75 miles, 4000 vertical.

Day 4 starts with headwinds again. But we’re fresh. Then down 1000 to the Klickitat River and up 1000 on the other side. Nice. Huckleberry shakes all around in Glenwood.

Camp in the shadow of Mount Adams. The BroFest Hiltun easily accommodates all six of us. And it seems, somehow, to keep all the other tents at a distance. Hmmmmm.

Day 5 was the cause of some concern. The profile looks ominous. But it starts with an easy 2000 foot warmup filled with conversation and a chance to chat up some new people.

There is a real seven mile kicker before lunch. The steepest continuous stretch of road I’ve ever seen. Working my lowest or second gear all the way up. From our lunch spot we can see the base of St. Helens but what’s left of the top is lost in the clouds and rain.

Today also includes some 50 miles of descending, we drop an extra 2000 feet during the day. Geoff challenges but doesn’t pass our “Mad Bomber” Jerry as they drop out of sight on the damp roads. I’m happy to burn the brake pads a bit.

A nice little downtown in Stevenson. Just what we need for recovery.

83 miles. 4800 vertical up, 6700 down.

Day 6. Back to the start. Only 2700 feet and 38 miles, including getting a little lost.

I’m ready for an easy day. I’m no longer friends with my saddle. My neck is sore. My left shin is really complaining. Everyone else is thinking the same. Soft-pedal a bit and stop at a falls. A little bit further and have a snack. Even superDave and Kim are noodling along on their tandem.

Across the Bridge of the Gods. Another stretch of the historic Columbia River Highway. Waterfalls. Moss. Curves and vistas. Cliffs and the river. Just another once-in-a-lifetime epic day.

Red-Head

A few of us from Minneapolis Audubon have been trying to get a recovery effort for the Red-Headed Woodpecker underway. As part of that, we visited with a US Fish and Wildlife naturalist who’s done great work at Necedah Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. Richard King was super helpful and informative. He even let us mark some nest trees. Red-heads are as thick as thieves in their restored oak savannah!