RAGBRAI 2012: Day 1 wrap up

Sun, Jul 22, 2012 | by Regina Zilbermints

CHEROKEE – For RAGBRAI vets, the first biking day was reminiscent of previous years – just a little warmer.

It was hot for newbies too. But they distracted themselves with the new food, never before experienced crowds of cyclists and the “Iowa nice” they’d heard about and were finally experiencing.

Asking both groups about it, the actually biking seemed almost incidental.

“I wouldn’t call it easy,” said Nick Chung, 29, Lancaster, Cali. “I made it through.”

Though Brian Leiss, 45, of Kansas City, Mo., called it a “nice leisurely ride.”

Both said they enjoyed the event kick-off.

Most at a camp site in Cherokee mentioned the heat, they brushed it off as part of the experience.

“It was really hot, but really amazing,” Chung said. “There was lots of energy.”

Chuck Ficken, 59, who is on this third RAGBRAI with his son also said the first day went well, but he also l earned a lesson.

“I got hot and didn’t listen to my body,” he said. “I took a breather, drank some Gatorade and an fine. I won’t let myself run out of water tomorrow.”

Travis Ford, 52, was sitting next to him. Ford, who is from Saskatchewan, Canada, said RAGBRAI had been on his list of cycling events to try.

“It was awesome, everything I’d heard and more,” he said. “The people were as friendly as I had heard.”

Ford said if the rest of the week went like the first day, he’d return with a team next year.

Everyone at a camp site in Cherokee mentioned the heat. But most brushed it off as part of the experience.

“Today was great,” said Heika Werder, 46, Boston. “I’m wondering about the 81 mile day. Right now, I feel like I could go more, but we’ll see how I feel later in the week.”

Most said they were looking to the towns and the people they would encounter the next six days.

But they also had more immediate plans.

A pool, a tenderloin sandwich and relaxing in the shade.

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2 Responses on “RAGBRAI 2012: Day 1 wrap up”

The Importance of Wearing a Bicycle Helmet |

July 24, 2012 at 7:01 am

[...] a recap of RAGBRAI Day 1, head here. Share this:EmailLinkedInFacebookTwitterPrintLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. This entry [...]

Joe

August 4, 2012 at 11:34 am

With 10 miles to go the lines for food and water were long so I skipped them thinking “i commute in the heat 10 miles everyday in florida. I arrived very dehydrated but the methodist church’s food and AC helped me recover enough to get to the pool. Thanks! Learned my lessin.