Ragbrai

[bufante]

With the Tour De France just finishing up, I thought some of you might be interested in this.
Do any of you know what this is? RAGBRAI stands for Regsiter's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.

In short is it is a very large bicycle ride across the state of Iowa that has been going on for several years, 30 or so. It has been touted as the largest, longest, and oldest, touring bike ride in the world. A group of 8,500 (very low estimate-registered riders anyway) ride from one side of the state to the other, over 7 days, dipping their tires in the rivers that boarder the east and west of Iowa.

Tuesday night I have at least 9 people camping in my yard, as my town, a suburb of Des Moines, will be an overnight host. The riders come from all over the world and the United States to participate.

We are anticipating a huge party here...they get crazy, really crazy. Most people do it just for the party. So I will try and get some good pics for all you and in case anyone is more interested in this event, I have put some links here for you.

Oh, almost forgot to mention, Lance Armstrong is coming to ride a couple of the days....kinda a big deal.

http://www.ragbrai.org/ragbrai-basics.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAGBRAI

[Banzoomba]

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[jtm1631]

I have heard great things about Ragbrai and it is indeed a giant party.

People who think Iowa is entirely flat all the way across are in for some real surprises on this ride.

Another similar but not as grand is RAIN or ride across Indiana. This is a 160 mile single day ride from one side of Indiana to the other. This year it took place on one of the hottest most humid days of the year. The heat got the better of a lot of participants.

Look forward to some pictures when you post them.

[Manitou]

Makes me think of Donald Kaul (one of the if not the originator of this event). Used to read him all the time in the Des Moines Register. Back in the early '70's he wrote about Iowa City, "Iowa City is the only place where a man in a green cape and top hat can rob a bank and escape in the crowd." Is he still "around," Bufante?

Have fun with your campers and good for you for helping out!

[sctx]

Originally Posted by jtm1631

This is a 160 mile single day ride from one side of Indiana to the other.

hell, my driveway is longer than that

[cuffedlinks]

Originally Posted by sctx

hell, my driveway is longer than that

Reminds me of the line in the movie "Payback" with Mel Gibson when, after shooting a hole through the alligator suitcase of mobster James Coburn when he says he's going through all of these shenanigans with this crime boss over $70,000 - Coburn cooly says...."Hell, my SUITS are worth more than that...!"

[jtm1631]

Originally Posted by sctx

hell, my driveway is longer than that

If you rode you bike to work, that would be impressive!