jjshoe said:  Which way are you coming from?Maybe depending on the start town, you could rent a car one way. Maybe someone else will be flying into the end town and renting a car to the start too. Another month and we will know those towns.

jwsknk – Very real possability, I might just go this way.

One way rentals are a little pricey, but if you’re going to go this route, go whole hog (as they say in Iowa).  Rent one-way from Rochester to the start town then rent another one-way from the end town back to Roch.  It will cost a bit more, but it will save a cross-state drive and get you into the start town much earlier.

I needed a one-way rental car once, and after visiting about half a dozen rental companies was told I could rent one way only if I dropped the car off in a particular city that was about 50 miles from where I needed to go. Car rentals one way really aren’t convenient, and rental companies don’t like one-ways because they have to redistribute the cars.
 But if money is no object and you’re willing to drive until 2 a.m. Sunday, return the car, get to the start where everyone pitched their tents 12 hours before, catch an hour of sleep, pack up and then start riding, it should work out just fine. Sounds like a flawless plan.

jjshoe said:  ts – I’m hoping to avoid this, I’ll be staying in the Rochester Minnesota area before and after the ride.

OK, one last suggestion.  You might give give Overland Touring Company a call. They have a charter based out of Lanesboro, MN, which is pretty close to Rochester.  The buses will be leaving before you can get there from Minneapolis, but they might have some folks leaving later that you could catch a ride with.

“Did something almost a bad once, rode across Wisconsin, final day was a
40-50 mile Friday. Took the shuttle from Manitiwak to Wabasha where the
car was then drove back  4-5 hours to Ames. repacked Saturday morning to
load the bus to go the the start of RAGBRAI.”

And never tried that again…right Skunky?   “Ya just should not try to get five pounds of it into a three pound can.”  Confucius

RIDE RIGHT

How much stuff are you taking that you are worried about getting crushed?

KittySlayer – My bicycle on a plane! Just made sense to me that I should be able to also pack my clothes for the week in that same box, and have it with me for the week. Not being able to bring a hard sided case makes me not want to fly from Minneaoplis to the start town after I do the warrior dash.

 But if money is no object and you’re willing to drive until 2 a.m. Sunday, return the car, get to the start where everyone pitched their tents 12 hours before, catch an hour of sleep, pack up and then start riding, it should work out just fine

inianafranke – One of isn’t very good at math, I’m not sure which, so here goes:

End Warrior Dash at 11:45am
Drive to Sioux City 6:00pm
Pitch tent at 7:00pm

Do you normally find yourself starting the ride at 9:00pm on Saturday? I can tell you enjoy being negative, I’m just trying to feal out if you like night riding too.

OK, one last suggestion.  You might give give <FONT color=#35349a>Overland Touring Company</FONT> a call. They have a charter based out of Lanesboro, MN, which is pretty close to Rochester.  The buses will be leaving before you can get there from Minneapolis, but they might have some folks leaving later that you could catch a ride with.

ts – Thank you for a solid lead/idea. I do appreciate it, a bit over all the snarky folks here, I hope they don’t represent the RAGBRAI expience. Beer on me on the ride!

Better adjust your driving time estimate: Glenwood is two hours South of Sioux City.

jjshoe said: ts – Thank you for a solid lead/idea. I do appreciate it, a bit over all the snarky folks here, I hope they don’t represent the RAGBRAI expience. Beer on me on the ride!

I think everyone’s trying to help you in their own way.  Most people here are borderline fanatical about RAGBRAI and they just want you to have a good time.  You’ve definitely got your  work cut out for you – I hope it all works out.  Pencil me in for that beer.

I can speak favorably for the people at Overland.  The head honcho used to be connected with the Rainbow Cyclists of Waterloo/Cedar Falls back in the 1980s, so he’s been doing this for a while and has been able to get most of the bugs worked out.

-“BB”-

jjshoe said: How much stuff are you taking that you are worried about getting crushed? KittySlayer – My bicycle on a plane! Just made sense to me that I should be able to also pack my clothes for the week in that same box, and have it with me for the week. Not being able to bring a hard sided case makes me not want to fly from Minneaoplis to the start town after I do the warrior dash.

Thinking of flying from MSP to SUX or Omaha? Last Time I checked, 5+ years ago, airlines were really sticking it to cyclists for their rides. Have you checked cost/size & weight limits? May not get all clothes & things to fit. Airline or Amtrak, can’t remember which right now, won’t even allow it.
Don’t know the cost, but we have a rider from Arizona that ships her bike to one of the “Official” bike shops for the ride and claims it at the start town. She has them reassemble it too but that is probably optional. She takes it to them at the end of the ride and they pack and ship it home for her.

Dave from Overland used to organize a 2 day ride on the Cedar Valley Trail. Might be worth checking with him to see when and when they load out. He might know of someone in SE Minn. that is leaving later.

Out team mechanic comes out of the cities, Sunrise Cycles. He has been coming down after the Minn Habitat ride and getting in early Sunday morning. This year he plans on riding the whole week, might be coming down to Ames friday night since we leave here at 9:00 on Saturday morning. Jamie might know of someone else coming down too that’s leaving later.

Shoe. Perhaps I don’t understand your plans. From your original post, I gathered that you plan to run the dash in Minnesota on the Saturday morning before Ragbrai, then drive to the end town of Ragbrai and catch a ride to the start town, which is a whole lot of traveling for one day.
Now it sounds like you want to leave your car at the start town. Which is it? If you’re talking about getting a shuttle from the end town to the start town after Ragbrai is finished, that should be no problem.

Sandaltan said: “Did something almost a bad once, rode across Wisconsin, final day was a 40-50 mile Friday. Took the shuttle from Manitiwak to Wabasha where the car was then drove back  4-5 hours to Ames. repacked Saturday morning to load the bus to go the the start of RAGBRAI.” And never tried that again…right Skunky?   “Ya just should not try to get five pounds of it into a three pound can.”  Confucius RIDE RIGHT

Teap, didn’t try anything like that again… until 1995. Got to Onawa Thursady am. after riding from LA. A friend could work out her job so she would be in western Iowa that day around noon. She drove back to Ames, surprised people by showing up at the Too Late to Train Ride that night, took the bike into the shop Friday, loaded it up that night, caught the team bus back to Onawa Saturday morning. At least I didn’t have to drive any of that.

Sunrise Cyclery Minneapolis link, too late to edit it in the other
http://www.sunrisecyclerympls.com/

I wish I would have gone on that ’95 ride with you Skunky, I can’t think of anything important I did that summer. 

RIDE RIGHT

I am not a beginner but I have a serious bike question. My cable to my small ring broke off up at the lever this AM. I was actually doing my spinnerval workout. I think I’ll need a new cable and a trip to the LBS to get it fixed. How much will this cost? I never have had problems with my bike – just new tires  and a new chain so I’m just curious. AND NO, I can’t fix it myself. I can change a tire ONLY if I am forced.

Hi Amanda,
Not know what type of bike and what you are presently using for cables. I’m going to assume a road bike. MTB are not much different. From what you describe, I’m also assuming a front dérailleur cable. I change my cables all at the same time. I replace the housings too. Replacement cable kits run 15 to 50 bucks a set. The kits contain cables, housings, cable ends and crimps. Replacement cables are 2 to 20 bucks a piece depending on quality. I would suggest having all the cables replaced with Jagwire stainless cables. The kits are about 20 bucks a set. Thats 2 sets. A brake set and a shifter set. So you are looking at $40-$50 in parts and about 1 hour labor. I would also replace brake pads at the same time. That would add about $20 for front and rear sets. I prefer KoolStop brake pads. What every you decide. I would highly suggest using stainless cables and Teflon coated housing. It makes shifting and braking much smoother. Because it is a shifter cable that broke. You will also need to have the dérailleurs adjusted with the install of a new cable. This is why its a good idea to change both the shifter cables at the same time.  Check and see what a basic overhaul includes. Sometimes the shops have deals to replace cables, lube, and a tune up for $70-$100. Now if you want to risk problems with the other cable. You could just replace the cable for about $5 and about $20 to adjust the front dérailleur. But if it snapped. The other cables can’t be in much better shape. It sounds like you don’t want to mess with anything. So I think you would be better off dropping a $100 and just have the LBS get ya fixed up for the season.

Or you could do it on the cheap.  Bring it to me and I’ll fix it for free a couple of those cinnamon rolls.

-“BB”-