Maybe add knives sticking out of the riders backs?

Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Not only did I register earlier than ever before, I ordered a jersey rather than wait for them to appear in the $20 bin at the expo. Going all out to show my support.

All terrific ideas, especially the knives.

If you’re a fan of the TV comedy show, “The Office”, you’ll understand why a major sponsor printed on the IR jerseys should be “The Michael Scott Paper Company”.

[quote quote=1312996]
If you’re a fan of the TV comedy show, “The Office”, you’ll understand why a major sponsor printed on the IR jerseys should be “The Michael Scott Paper Company”.[/quote]

I have not heard a more perfect analogy that this one, klkoopman! That’s pretty hilarious.

Serious thought here. Maybe due somewhere else.

Wonder if another supplier could be found for the jerseys.

I ordered medium last year and had a great cut around the shoulders but tons of fabric around the belly such that I want to tuck them into my shorts during a ride. I mean… RAGBRAI is all about riding a bike and eating but common… My potbelly isn’t that big.

Not for nuthin but are jersey prices increasing this year? In the past the pre-order price at registration was less than the full price so if the pre-order price is now $75 what is the new full price? Or is there simply no benefit to ordering early? Just wondering….

$75? Where are you seeing that? The jerseys are $65 like they’ve always been. The bibs are $75.

I looked back at the jersey price and now I can’t find where I saw the $75 price. I probably mis-read something somewhere so this is my mistake. The jerseys are $65 and can be purchased for $55 with your registration. This is a non-issue. Sorry

[quote quote=1312996]

If you’re a fan of the TV comedy show, “The Office”, you’ll understand why a major sponsor printed on the IR jerseys should be “The Michael Scott Paper Company”.[/quote]

On advice of his attorneys, TJ is no longer answering questions about financial affairs during his 16 year tenure as Ragbrai director.

Perhaps the law firm of Dewey Cheatem & Howe should also take their place as a proud sponsor of IR as well.

[quote quote=1313282]
On advice of his attorneys, TJ is no longer answering questions about financial affairs during his 16 year tenure as Ragbrai director. [/quote]

Really? I hadn’t heard that yet.

The November 15th story on the Channel 13 News did not even feature TJ. Instead Dan McKay acted as his spokesman.

On the Facebook portion on the Channel 13 story, a viewer asked pretty much the same question I asked.

“So I assume that you could have interviewed the former staff to get answers to your questions right? They worked for Ragbrai during the time in question right? It seems like there is only half a story here. It would be more interesting if there was comments from Gannett and more reporting.”

Sonya Heitshusen is the reporter doing the story replies ;

“I asked for an interview with the former director. He and his attorney declined my request.”

One month ago TJ Juskiewicz could not wait to tell us about his honesty, transparency, and charitable intentions. And now neither he nor his attorney can speak to the allegations made on the News13 investigative report.

The fact that TJ has retained legal counsel who advised him to remain silent should have been disclosed in this story. It would have cast this piece in a different light. At least Sonya disclosed this fact.

The timing of the Channel 13 Investigative Report was interesting as well. It broke on November 15th, the day the Ragbrai registration was to open. Instead Ragbrai moved registration forward 4 days to the 11th.

Also interesting timing on the stories. The DesMoines Register story on November 10th dashed any hopes of a reconciliation even though TJ had floated a couple of trial balloons. Once DMR and Ragbrai slammed the door the “Investigative Reports” started surfacing.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.desmoinesregister.com/amp/2506323001

It IS interesting how TJ has rarely said a word other than the route reversal announcement. I’m still not convinced IR will actually happen.

Why is it that they offer more jersey sizes if you order through registration but if you order off the shop page they dont offer the sames sizes

[quote quote=1313289]It IS interesting how TJ has rarely said a word other than the route reversal announcement. I’m still not convinced IR will actually happen.[/quote]

The Gazette seems to be one of the most prolific papers when it comes to reporting on Ragbrai. Not being from Iowa, I don’t know how well the Gazette and DesMoines Register get along on other issues. In any case, they seem to be Iowa Ride’s biggest promoter and Ragbrai’s biggest critic.

That said, they did have some quotes from TJ which give a glimpse to the man behind the curtain.

In all the Ragbrai articles over the years the estimated ridership was 15,000 – 16,000 per day. Not hard to believe when you looked down the route from a high hill and saw bikes from horizon to horizon. Of course there were the 10,000 official wristbands and thousands more that jumped on the open route.

When TJ announced his ride was going to be an open ride with no lottery and no limits he could reasonably envision 20,000 riders.

But to accomplish this, Ragbrai needed to be eliminated so he could co-opt their route, their riders, their charters, their vendors, and yes, their money.

So when TJ was quoted in the November 18th Gazette article;

“I am not looking to do a 20,000-person ride. This is a smaller ride, getting back to the roots. A 5,000 person ride is what looking for. It will allow us to go back into smaller towns we couldn’t do before. I think 5,000-6,000 would be a good sized ride.”

It was an acknowledgement that his grandiose plans to destroy Ragbrai and seize their treasure as righteous retribution for Carson King was unraveling.

The grand plan came to a screeching halt when the Register showed that they not only had a competent staff that did not need him to make R48 happen, but a legal staff willing to prevent their intellectual property from being stolen.

So instead of boldly leading 20,000 riders across Iowa on the last full week of July he was forced to pick a different week, a different direction, and probably would not legally dare to trespass on the intended 2020 Ragbrai route.

At most now he is publicly hoping for a ride now dwindling to 5,000 and spinning this as a positive.

Privately, who knows. At some point with expenses and legal fees mounting and charters, vendors, and early riders abandoning his cause he will have to decide when to call it off. Hopefully he will do so before April 1st to allow his followers to register for Ragbrai.

There will probably still be an Iowa’s Ride of some type. Some riders look at this as maybe their only opportunity to do a supported double cross ride.

Others, unable to concede that the outrage over Carson King was a false narrative and is, in fact over, will hang on to the end.

At least you’ll be able to buy some nice Primal shirts really cheap.

Remember all those charities that were going to be funded by him. Well Ragbrai will now make sure this is handled. It’s probably good that TJ took his entire staff with him.

With a new staff and clean sheet of paper, they can come up with a ride that may even get a compliment from the Gazette.

Joseph, I can’t say that I disagree with a single word you said. This entire situation is ridiculous. I’m a little pissed at the Iowa Bike Coalition for instantly endorsing TJ’s ride the day after it was announced. I kind of feel it delegitimized the entire organization.