Roberto- Those who thought RAGBRAI was a pie eating contest washed down with beer maybe not so much

I can’t speak for everyone, but pie really doesn’t go with beer. Someone bought me a piece so I have now had five in my 7 years of riding. As for beer, I still managed to spend over $100 a day.

-do you still think a 70 mile day in the saddle is just “7 10-mile rides linked together?” (Somebody actually posted that little bit of nonsense pre-ride.)

Ragbrai is still a series of short rides. You ride to the next town, then get off your bike and explore. Take a break, stretch out, refuel. If your goal is to get to the next overnight town as fast as possible so you can spend all day reading a book, do us all a favor and stay home. If that is your idea of fun, go ride Brag instead. You’ll love it.

Posted 10 months, 1 week ago ago #276065

Here’s my take. I’m 53 and very new to adult cycling (rode lots as a teen). Ragbrai was something I have always wanted to do, but demanding work (road-warrior type jobs), young kids, 7 corporate moves in 12 years found me not physically fit. So, Ragbrai served as the inspiration for me to get back on the bike and train…because without a goal, I find it too easy to lose focus. Having never done Ragbrai, I heeded the advice of at least 1000 training miles prior to July. I don’t think there is such a thing as over-training, but I agree with the oft-expressed posts by CR that under-training is a huge mistake which stresses the system and poses a danger to other riders.

I rode every mile, every day, as did my 13 year old son. Day 3 was the toughest physical challenge, but I hit the mental/emotional wall on Day 4 (the heat and distance combined with the cumulative effects of the prior days). I refused to SAG and gutted out every mile, but over those last 20 miles into Marshalltown, I convinced myself that I would not complete the ride. Only the storm and ensuing temperature break snapped me out of my funk. Plus, I would not allow my son to ride alone and he was devastated at the notion of not finishing. So, we decided around 8 PM Wednesday to forged ahead, and I’m glad we did!

In the final analysis, my 1000 miles of preparation was just barely enough. I honestly think that 900 miles would have led to a different outcome. It was that razor close. My son, on the other hand, trained a grand total of exactly 48 miles prior to Ragbrai. Oh, to be 13 again . So, proper preparation and the requisite number of miles is a highly individualized number. Clarence Pickard trained less than 100 miles in ’72…the OP trained more than 6000 miles in ’02. As for me, did I need 6000 miles? Of course not – and a person would have to be in very bad shape to actually “need” that amount, so I suspect that the OP (who is obviously in great shape) rode this amount because he truly loves it, not because he felt compelled to in order to be ready for Ragbrai. Did I need more than 1000 miles? YES…I cut it too close. And while I enjoyed it thoroughly, I would have had more fun with more miles. Next year, 1500 to 2000.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by  Jboz. Reason: typo
• This reply was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by  Jboz. Reason: typo
• This reply was modified 10 months, 1 week ago by  Jboz. Reason: typo

Posted 10 months, 1 week ago ago #276077

There were no surprises for me. Well I didn’t expect the temps to be quite so hot, but otherwise Ragbrai came as expected. I agree with you CR about Tuesday (mine was 107 miles) being the hardest day I’ve ever spent on the bike, but I’m glad I did it. I ride hard and that day came close to biting me in the butt. I was glad for an occassional shade tree and The Giant Fan! I also think we share the same thoughts that Sags are for emergency mechanical or health issues. I hope I never need one, but am glad they’re there if I should. It was a good ride, a great 7 days that I’ll always remember with a smile, but probably my only Ragbrai.

Posted 10 months, 1 week ago ago #276090

A wise man was once asked, “How do you eat an elephant?”   The wise man replied, “One bite at a time”.  It’s the same with RAGBRAI.  How do you ride 500 miles in a week?  One mile at a time.

The point is that unless you’re someone like Lon Haldeman, Pete Penseyres, Michael Shermer, John Marino, or the late Dr. Bob Breedlove, you’re not going to try to ride RAGBRAI all in one sitting.  Hence, the analogy that a 70-mile ride is “seven 10-mile rides strung together” is indeed apt and fitting; although I will agree that one does need to be reasonably sure that one *CAN* do four or five 10-mile rides in a single day.

Roberto, you’ve got some good and valid points, but as a couple other people here have pointed out, you need to come down off your high horse.

-”BB”-

Posted 10 months, 1 week ago ago #276114

CR – I’ve been riding Ragbrai for 6 years and I’ve lurked on this forum for 6 years. I’ve known you to be a skilled, experienced cyclist who dispenses good advice. For reasons I (we?) don’t understand this year your advice seems to have transitioned into a diatribe. We get it – you’re very fit – you’re very dedicated – you are personaly disappointed in those of us who are not. We get it.

For the record, my goal is to train 100 miles for every day I plan to ride – I don’t usually meet this goal. This year I rode the last 4 days and trained 400+ miles. I was more comfortable on this ride than any other year, probably because of better electrolyte management. I rode all but the last 10 miles on Wednesday as I started getting the heat shivers which scared the pants off me and my father came and scooped me up off the side of the rode.

In the time when I am not training I am volunteering at my children’s schools, my church, my community choir. We all have the same 24 hours in a day and this is how I choose to spend mine. You have made different choices, fantastic. I respect you for your choices and ask you to please respect mine.

Thank you. That is all…

Posted 10 months, 1 week ago ago #276117

CR wrote: “I leave around 8 AM and get to the next overnight stop around 3-4 PM every day (exception was Tuesday 6 PM).”

Sheesh. I stop in every town and get there faster then that. For a guy you judged by his picture – that must be pretty ok huh?

CR wrote: “I’m not looking for worship.I’m merely a cyclist who has observed what happens when you take training too lightly.”

Sorry – I don’t believe you. I really think you use the argument of what happens when you take training too lightly as an excuse to ask for worship.

CR wrote: “Congrats to those who hung in there, gutted it out when the going got tough, and RODE the entire route.To the others, better luck next time.”

Ah – sounds the exact opposite of what you wrote earlier today in another post. Please – try to stay consistent. You didn’t congratulate me for riding the entire route – you attacked my picture and your estimation of my health, weight, and fitness. No where did you say, “well – you rode the entire route, gutted it out on Tuesday, and made it – congrats!” I think you hope people will forget your words – but words stated on a forum are there forever.

CR wrote: “And I don’t think I want to go back to 13 again.40 maybe, but 64 is looking pretty good to me right now.”

Don’t worry – you act 13. Hold it – that might be an insult to Jboyz’ 13 year old – who from all appearances, is a much tougher hombre than you! He only trained for only 48 miles. In fact, my 21 year old son made it with ease this year – and he only trained for 250 miles in the last 2 weeks. He didn’t even own a road bike before October 2011.

I don’t think CR is as smart as he thinks he is!

Posted 10 months, 1 week ago ago #276122