RAGBRAI XLI Countdown – July 21-27, 2013
Friends of RAGBRAI
RAGBRAI news team
RAGBRAI 2012: Hot, hungry and waiting for a ride
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 | by Regina Zilbermints
Share
LOHRVILLE – At some point, waiting almost two hours for a ride beats biking another foot.
Plenty of RAGBRAI cyclists made that decision along the route Tuesday afternoon.
Dozens waited to load their bikes at the Lohrville emergency services building around 1:30 p.m.
Two sag wagons were loading bikes in the parking lot, and cyclists said it seemed like the vans were fuller this year than in previous ones.
The temperature had hit 95 with a heat index of 101. Riders were facing a headwind, and temperatures were climbing.
“We started out thinking we would [make it all the way] and we’d play it by ear,” said Chad White, 27. “Then it got really hot.”
RAGBRAI officials said there appeared to be fewer heat related ambulance calls from the route Tuesday than earlier in the week, though that may change later in the day, they said.
Riders have been treated for minor heat related issues and ambulances have been out on the route, but no specific numbers for heat related issues were available Tuesday afternoon.
White’s group had waited up the street, by the side of the route for more than an hour in the sun, before hearing they should go to the building to wait for a ride to Webster City.
It was hot waiting.
“But too hot to keep going when there are 50 miles to go,” Troy White, 20, said.
They are from Albuquerque, NM, so the heat didn’t bother them quite as much as the humidity.
“We’re from a hot place,” said Mariah Spencer, 18. “Just not hot and humid.”
14 Responses on “RAGBRAI 2012: Hot, hungry and waiting for a ride”
B
July 24, 2012 at 9:03 pm
If you can’t even get 1/2 way…… Stay home
s
July 25, 2012 at 7:12 am
I rode this day. These were tough conditions to ride. Unless you actually know this individual you can’t tell if they were not in shape. I saw a lot of people having a tough time both Monday and. Tuesday. It is unfair to these riders to make these judgements on their physical condifion without you actually being there and going through what they are going through.
Jeff
July 25, 2012 at 10:01 am
18 and 20 years old and you can’t make it? That is weak! I have ridden on more than 10 RAGBRAI’s starting back in 1977 on RAGBRAI 7. I have ridden in every type of weather on that ride from scorching hot headwinds all day to freezing cold 50′s and rain (Soggy Monday). We considered it a badge of honor to never, ever take a SAG. It kills me these kids are so weak these days. Yeah it’s tough and yeah I am judging these weenies! So What!? At the end of the week you knew you accomplished something if you rode every mile. Over the years I saw more and more perfectly healthy young people take SAGS. Pissed me off!! Excuses like–”I drank too much last night” or “I just came on here to party” Don’t show up if you don’t want to ride. I bet they got in and got their shower and headed off to party the night away. Then SAG it in the next day…
E
July 25, 2012 at 10:17 am
You definitely can’t judge! My husband is 40, 6’1″ and 170lbs. He goes marathoms and triathons. He had terrible heat exhaustion on Monday. At the end of the ride he had a horrible headache, vomiting and cramps. He knows how to hydrate and refuel and didn’t drink alcohol. It didn’t matter. He had to come home and is still not 100%. No matter your age, size, or training the heat effects everyone differently. Be safe riders and don’t hesitate to ask if you need help
JoJo
July 25, 2012 at 11:18 am
Jeff, some people DO just go on Ragbrai to party – and so what? To each his own. It’s weird to get “pissed off” over someone else taking a sag wagon. Your idea of having fun on Ragbrai seems to have been more about getting on your high horse than on your bike.
Sean B
July 25, 2012 at 11:36 am
118 temperature on the pavement yesterday. I averaged 18MPH on Monday and 11MPH on Tuesday with the 14-27MPH headwind. I did not ride today, (Wednesday). I saw the “brave” souls who were carted off in ambulances. Each individual, (regardless of the shape they’re in) needs to listen to their bodies. Macho BS is what sends people to the morgue. Stay safe, ride safe, challenge yourself, but be humble.
Michelle
July 25, 2012 at 12:11 pm
I agree that each person should ride their ride and not let the judgement of others affect it. It is supposed to be a fun event and no matter how much you train, you have to be flexible. This year is one of the hottest in Ragbrai history so anyone that states that they have ridden in any type of climate possible, probably hasn’t. I too had to come home on Tuesday evening after suffering from heat exhaustion on Monday and Tuesday’s ride. I was hydrated and the riding wasn’t a problem, it was the heat. It’s hard to train for 102 degree heat and humidity when it isn’t the average temp in your area. Anyone that judges and thinks that the SAG is unnecessary should get off their high horse and skip the ride. To the rest of you…Enjoy YOUR ride 
Jeff
July 25, 2012 at 2:28 pm
JoJo what got me all bent out of shape is that the saggers would beat the riders into the overnight town and take all the hot water and all the best camp sites and all the best food. I guess I got a bit heavy handed with my criticism, but there is no doubt that over the years RAGBRAI is less and less about riding your bike…
Jeff
July 25, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Well Sean B if you do end up in the morgue no one will call you a quitter!
Michelle
July 25, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Jeff….When I decided to SAG it was to go home. I got back to the campsite early and set up the tent and got all the baggage of my teammates. I thought I would get them all set up since I had not ridden the entire route. I wouldn’t assume that all the SAGgers rush to town for a hot shower and the best dinner.
Jim
July 29, 2012 at 11:11 pm
There were lots of people talking lots of poop about how they ran marathons, triathlons and other general stud like stuff. Many big mouths rode the SAG. This is a test of endurance. Some of us rode every mile of every day and some of us should never claim they rode RAGBRAI XL. There is no in between.
JIll Broughton
August 3, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Hey, I gotta ask this – and dont know where else I can… Now that I am home, I am still at Ragbrai! In my thoughts, in my dreams, in my semi-conscious waking up hours… I keep thinking I am there. It is kind of like getting off a ship after sailing for a week… you still feel the waves!
Another thing I dont hear anyone mentioning is how you fared the week after you came home? Me? Well, I teach fitness classes and I did not have my usual energy. I also felt sleepy for the following week. How about you??
Joe
August 4, 2012 at 11:18 am
Thanks to all riders and volunteers. My first. I loved riding with all types of riders. Most days I rode early but really enjoyed the festival attitude that seemed more common with slower riders. Pools saved me!
Leave a Reply
Latest Blog Posts
-
It is with great sadness to report that the Dream Team lost one of their former members in a tragic house fire this week. Nyakouth Choul, 17, was found ...
-
Where are people coming from to ride RAGBRAI? What types of bikes are they riding? How many Iowans? Average age of riders? Lots of information about ...
-
As the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa looms in the near distance, two notions and a question scurry about in my mind. The question, of ...
-
Several people have asked for Coach Ertl's Training Plan in an excel file, so here it is
-
I had a frightening thought as I looked out the window this past weekend and saw 3 inches of snow on the ground. RAGBRAI begins in two and a ...
-
High Country Shipping in cooperation with RAGBRAI is pleased to offer GEAR Forward! Ship your camping gear and luggage to RAGBRAI and have it waiting for you at the start of ...
-
Looking for the RAGBRAI XLI Overnight Towns web sites? What bands will be playing that night? Facebook pages? Twitter links? All that information is a click ...
-
Mark your cycling calendars for the “Grand Opening” of the Raccoon River Valley Trail North Loop scheduled for June 1, 2013 at Noon. This ceremony will take place in ...
-
Steve Van Deest has been riding his "custom" hand-cycle tandem bike for many years on RAGBRAI with his loving sister Carla pedaling behind him. Occasionally other family members would ...
-
This mass participation bike ride will take place during FRY Fest weekend on Sunday, September 1, 2013…the morning after the Hawkeyes open their home football season against the Northern Illinois.
Latest Videos
-
Check out these 10 tips for a safe RAGBRAI.
-
Paul "Mr. Pork Chop" Bernhard of Bancroft is a legendary RAGBRAI vendor. His son, Matt, now runs the family biz and is on a quest for perfectly cut chops.
-
RAGBRAI Director T.J. Juskiewicz unveils the full 406-mile route for July's installment of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
-
T.J. Juskiewicz, RAGBRAI director, talks with The Des Moines Register's Lynn Hicks and Michael Morain shortly after the announcement of overnight towns for RAGBRAI XLI.
-
RAGBRAI Director T.J. Juskiewicz reveals the overnight towns for RAGBRAI XLI at the RAGBRAI route announcement party Saturday, Jan. 26, in Des Moines.
-
RAGBRAI Director T.J. Juskiewicz reacts to Lance Armstrong's doping confession. Armstrong has ridden RAGBRAI several times in the ride's 40 years.
-
RAGBRAI 2012: Amy Clark of Midlothian, TX, drew a crab as she helped Chalk the Walk in Mt. Vernon. She was enjoying her first RAGBRAI.
-
RAGBRAI 2012: Laura Krouse of Rural Mt. Vernon, and her dog Lucky came out to watch the RAGBRAI riders pass by.
-
RAGBRAI 2012: A group of kids high-five RAGRAI riders on their way into Springville on July 27.
-
RAGBRAI: A look back at 40 years of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
Find us socially
Email Signup
Sign up for the latest RAGBRAI news and notes (if there is no news in a day, you won’t get an e-mail).
Tom
July 24, 2012 at 5:57 pm
““But too hot to keep going when there are 50 miles to go,” Troy White, 20, said.” – - – and out of shape.