RAGBRAI 2012: Chicago writer with Des Moines roots working on book about ride

Sat, Jul 28, 2012 | by Grant Rodgers

Oxford Junction, Ia. – This spring, RAGBRAI enthusiasts will have another opportunity to learn the ride’s history and relive its culture, says Chicago-based writer Greg Borzo.

Borzo, 58, is the son of former longtime Drake University professor Dr. Henry Borzo. He’s working on a book about the ride, entitled “RAGBRAI: America’s Favorite Bike Ride,” and it’s set to be published in the spring through The History Press.

Currently, Borzo’s working on finishing a book on the history of cable cars in Chicago. The RAGBRAI book began by coincidence when he asked his publisher about projects that needed writers.

“He said, ‘Yeah, there’s this crazy bike ride in Iowa. I think it’d make a good story, but no one is interested,’” he said. “It just fell in my lap.”

Borzo, who rides with team C.U.B.S. (Chicago Urban Bicycle Society), is no stranger to the ride. In addition to this year, he rode it in full in 2009 and has ridden various stints over the years.

The coming book will detail the ride’s history, Borzo said, but also is intended to showcase the ride’s “flavor.” He’s ridden slow this year, stopping in each town to speak with locals and riders.

“Along the way I’m stopping to talk to people, take photos, try and get good anecdotes,” he said. “It’s just slowing me down, I’m getting a bad rep with my team because I’m often the last person back to the campsite.”

He’s seen plenty of flavor along the way; yesterday in the pass-through town of Mount Vernon, he saw two riders get married before jumping back onto the route.

A favorite site, he said, is seeing the U.S. Air Force team helping riders with bike repairs along the route.

“They’re getting to be known as the repair team,” he said. “Every time you see a flat, there’s two or three people from the Air Force stopping to fix it.”

Borzo, who graduated from Dowling Catholic High School in 1972, says he first became interested in riding after seeing his father bike to work every day. The family had no car, and the bike was his father’s main source of transportation, he said.

Borzo went on to graduate from Grinnell College in 1976, he said. Currently, he works as a freelance writer for the University of Chicago.

He already has two books published: “Where to Bike in Chicago” and “The Chicago ‘L’.”

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14 Responses on “RAGBRAI 2012: Chicago writer with Des Moines roots working on book about ride”

Jackie Foldenauer

July 28, 2012 at 8:20 pm

I hope when the book is released, it will be posted on RAGBRAI website. Sounds like a book we all need to get!

Steve Edwards

July 28, 2012 at 9:08 pm

I went to Drake from 1967-1971 and had Dr. Borzo for a class. He was a wonderful teacher. I have also ridden RAGBRAI 10 times so I will be very interested in reading Greg’s book!

Doug MacAyeal

July 28, 2012 at 10:57 pm

I”m delighted you are writing this book. I have 5 years of RAGBRAI stories to share with you if you are interested. I too am associated with the U of C. Best wishes, Doug ( in the Dept. of Geophysical Sciences, can tell youabout the Des Moines Lobe of the last Ice Age Laurentide Ice Sheet, and how it shapes the middle days of the RAGBRAI)…

Wendy Lee

July 29, 2012 at 12:36 pm

Didn’t know we also shared some Des Moines and Drake experienes when we met (or I was overwhelmed with all the CUB prep information to have remembered it). Looking forward to talking to you about RAGBRAI and how a sedentary 57 year old got off her butt and started to ride!

Anji Kenley

July 29, 2012 at 10:19 pm

Congratulations, Greg, on finishing the ride. 106 degrees must have been brutal – way to go! And “chatting” all along the way. What a nice article, and yes, I am looking forward to reading your next book.

susie scott

July 30, 2012 at 8:18 am

Please keep us posted, i really think you will sell A LOT of books. Put me on the waiting list, now!! If you want more antecdotes, just ask. Many of us have some marvelous stories to share that you might want in your story… and it’s a wonderful story to tell.

Amber

July 30, 2012 at 8:54 am

Great idea. I already have the book that John Karras wrote in the 1999 about the first 25 years of the ride. A book that fills in some history of the last 15 years will be nice.

http://www.amazon.com/Ragbrai-99-John-Karras/dp/0813820197/ref=reader_auth_dp

Brent Carstensen

July 30, 2012 at 12:28 pm

We enjoyed having Greg on our C.U.B.S. team this year! Best of luck with the new book. We’re looking forward to buying it when it is available.

Joanne Anstee

July 30, 2012 at 6:28 pm

Congratulations Greg, a great achievement.

Ragbrai Nation

July 31, 2012 at 7:45 am

Looking FWD to your book!

Nancy Smith Falkum

July 31, 2012 at 2:54 pm

My mother, Betty Smith was about 48 when she started riding a bicycle to work on the Chippewa National Forest. My father gave her the bicycle for Christmas.

Nancy Smith Falkum, Joker’s Wild, Wabasha, Minnesota,12th year at RAGBRAI

Peter C. Gregg

August 1, 2012 at 12:16 pm

Awesome work, Greg! You’re looking as fit as ever! I’ll be excited to get a peak at your book when it’s done. Cheers!

Ceci Gregg

August 2, 2012 at 3:24 pm

Congrats, Greg! I look forward to reading the book and I hope your autograph will still be free for family! Best wishes.

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