Any of my friends going? I would LOVE to but Mason City Is too far. Papa T expects a full report!

I find it odd that neither ride is promoting this event whatsoever. Do they not want people to come?

I think they are setting up the Octagon for an Annie/TJ match just before the beer starts flowing. It somehow involves bicycles so I’m not clear on what it is exactly.

I guess the question everybody has is
‘ Why ‘?

“I guess the question everybody has is‘ Why ‘” Why what Jose? North Iowa Touring has sponsored, Fat Hill has agreed to host, RAGBRAI and Iowa’s Ride are guests and will attend.

RIDE RIGHT

Yes , I agree. Why is TJ attending this meeting . Why didn’t he have a meeting arranged with Q and A before he decided to go out on his own and take his toys with him. Maybe we will find out how many have registered on his ride. Not much support with charters on his ride and riders have threaten to leave charters if they follow his ride. That is ‘why’.

I think this is good for TJ at this point. He needs to push his product and rebuild PR with some people.
On the other hand, I don’t know what the Register can say that would be informative. They aren’t going to give out any information about host cities. Without that not much new can come out, other than how many have registered to date, which I would not comment on if I were them.
Unless they can announce a director, but this seems to be an unusual setting for that. I would think they will most likely do that through the newspaper.

Hey! Com-on Man Why don’t we just wait and see what happens at the presentation rather than speculation??? I repeat “any of my rag friends going?”

Yes , you are right. I can already hear a lot of ‘NO COMMENT’ at this meeting.There is no trust and why should there be. That is the ‘why’.

“On the other hand, I don’t know what the Register can say that would be informative.” Me neither Larry K., maybe the new ride director will show. It would not serve Gannett’s interests to decline the invitation and I believe considerable fence mending is in order by Gannett pertaining to their claims of charitable donations vs the actual donations reported.

RIDE RIGHT

I just hate to see my fellow riders drive long distances to hear a ‘ NO COMMENT ‘ session. We would like to see TJ’s non-profit’s spending as he was organizing his new ride too. When did the spending start for his new ride.It is only fair. Right ?

One thing for certain is an event like this is going to attract the media. The Gazette has been a regular reporter of events and seems to me to have a pro Iowa’s Ride presentation. The Des Moines Register will most certainly be there as well. Their feelings on the matter are obvious.

Between just the two media outlets should emerge further information and details valuable to teams, like mine, who are still sitting on the fence. Our board is to decide which ride to take in another week.

Someone from or loyal to each group will likely post a YouTube video. Hopefully one with quality sound of both the questions and answers and free of editorial comment.

One year ago, did anyone ever think a event like this resembling a town hall meeting or deposition was even possible?

I don’t understand why Ragbrai is attending this. Iowa Ride will go away soon, not sure why they want to give them a forum to get some free attention. TJ has shown he is in trouble, he blinked first by changing the date and direction. Only way anyone can take those moves is he is desperate and trying to hang on. Quit giving him any attention, his 15 minutes of fame and attention is over.

A large part of the recent criticism leveled at Ragbrai centered around questions on charitable donations and town funding.

This second wave of criticism started after the false outrage over Carson King fizzled and TJ’s trial balloons of reconciliation crashed.

Out came the surrogate IR spokesmen critics of Ragbrai like Dan McKay in the Channel 13 Investigative Report.

Anne Lawrie, in both public and team communications spoke of examining charitable and town funding and being more transparent on funding. Basically taking the initiative away from IR.

This meeting I trust will be the first steps in this direction.

Questions on TJ’s role in funding while Ragbrai director will probably be met with a no comment on advice of attorney just like 2 reporters received on prior stories.

TJ and the Iowa’s Ride will probably have at least 1 run. Other posters within this blog spoke of other cross Iowa rides that folded.

If you are looking to ride across Iowa, Ragbrai is the leader with international recognition. Anything else is just one of Iowa’s small Rides.

I love you guys!