"Bicycle Bill"
- Active 2 days, 19 hours ago
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic 8th Flattest Route? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 week, 4 days ago
It’s times like this that I really miss the Geobike site.
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Weird thing in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 week, 6 days ago
There was a bar in my area of northern Wisconsin that was somewhat popular with motorcyclists. The parking lot was asphalt, so to prevent motorcycles on their kickstands from digging in to the soft asphalt (hey, it can get hot enough at times, even up here in da Nort’, to soften pavement!) he cut up a few sheets of plywood into eight or t…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 weeks ago
The gas engine is not provided the propulsion; it is merely powering the generator, which is creating electricity to power the e-bike motor, so the engine power rating of 3.5 HP is irrelevant. Think of a railroad locomotive —— the huge diesel engine inside is just running a huge generator. The motors driving the wheels are electric, and they…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 weeks, 1 day ago
If that’s the case, I’ll be there next year with my old PPV — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Powered_Vehicle — which by then will be converted to electric power, furnished by an on-board generator connected to a 3.5-hp Briggs and Stratton lawn mower engine.
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 weeks, 2 days ago
That’s why I still use a laptop for most of my internet experience; I don’t try to do everything from a hand-held device like an iPhone. And if I did, I would still turn off auto-correct, spell-check, and predictive texting. I spent thirteen years going through Catholic schools, and trust me when I say that I know how to spell. Not to men…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Cheap Trick for RAGBRAI 2020? in the forum Miscellaneous 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Yes, it was local talent, like the high school glee clubs, the community band , the Porkopolis County Washboard and Kazoo Orchestra and Marching Society, or some local garage band playing covers. Sure it was more like Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour, but I didn’t think all that many people minded. The point is it didn’t start out where every ove…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Cheap Trick for RAGBRAI 2020? in the forum Miscellaneous 2 weeks, 4 days ago
I remember when RAGBRAI used to be a bicycle ride first and foremost, and everything else was just lagniappe.
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Debit Card in the forum Miscellaneous 1 month ago
I’m not positive, but if it has either the Visa or MasterCard branding on it, they should be able to take it.
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic IA Beer Bus and Craft Beer Tent denied licenses on Day 1 in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Pottawatomie County?
Check this out …. it’s only about 40 years old, but perhaps it still holds true around that area.
-“BB”-
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 9 months ago
From merriam-webster.com:
bicycle: a vehicle with two wheels tandem, handlebars for steering, a saddle seat, and pedals by which it is propelled
I believe those last six words make my point.
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 9 months ago
The name of the event is “The Register’s Annual Great
-
BICYCLE
Ride Across Iowa”.
Not mopeds, not skateboards, not roller skates, not golf carts, and not e-bikes.
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Cyclone Loop in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 year, 2 months ago
I think it was back in 1985 (RAGBRAI XIII) that we passed through Cedar Falls enroute to the overnight in Waterloo, riding right past the UNIdome (which at that time had an air-supported fabric roof; a smaller sibling of the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis), and were given the option of riding into the dome and doing a lap of the track…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic No Vendors outside of towns in first two counties in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 year, 3 months ago
“One rider even suggested sending a “Thank you” email to the board and let them read happy emails instead of the ones they read last weekend. The email we gave you for Crawford County was eskoog@crawfordcounty.org. Eric is a nice guy…”
Email sent:
Thank you for hearing the voices of we part-time Iowans, the citizens of RAGBRAI, and for hee…
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic DEAL ON HAWAII LODGING for ride MINNEAPOLIS to ONAWA, DAVENPORT to CHICAGO in the forum Looking for RIDES 2018 1 year, 3 months ago
Not trying to start anything, mootsman, but I dare say there are more than 75 people from the Twin Cities metroplex (and I consider anything within sixty miles or so to be part of said metroplex) who are regular RAGBRAI riders. The rest of your post, of course, is spot on. But let’s give Jon credit for offering something which, to the right per…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic What is something unusual (or crazy/craziest) thing you've done on RAGBRAI? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 year, 3 months ago
“…decided to hold a mass wedding ceremony. 15 to 20 couples got married, We had amass divorce ceremony a couple hours later.”
But what was going on during those couple of hours in between?
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Puch bike in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 year, 5 months ago
Be careful what you may be getting into. Older French bicycles were made to different dimensional standards than most modern bicycles. Areas of difference include:
headset (25 x 1 mm)
bottom-bracket (35 x 1mm, right-hand thread on both sides)
pedal (14 x 1.25 mm)
rear hub/freewheel (34.7 x 1 mm threading)
handlebar (25 mm)…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic Puch bike in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 year, 5 months ago
From sheldonbrown.com:
Austro-Daimler (Puch)
An attempt by a large diversified European company to create a prestige marque in the bicycle world. They did a pretty darn good job of it too! There were some glitches, such as a full size range of bikes all sporting the same length top tube. That, apparently, was eventually taken care of.
The top end…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic What is something unusual (or crazy/craziest) thing you've done on RAGBRAI? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 year, 6 months ago
Soggy Monday, back in 1981. It was about 9:00 AM and I had toughed it out as far as Schleswig. Found a bar downtown to hole up in and try to get dry and warm … and I wasn’t the only one. To say that the owner wasn’t ready for the onslaught would have to rank among the Top Ten Understatements of All Time — he was being run ragged, so I asked h…[Read more]
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic 2017 – Lansing – Where did everyone go? in the forum Miscellaneous 1 year, 6 months ago
How’s your leg doing there, Mandy?
-“BB”-
"Bicycle Bill" replied to the topic quirky RAGBRAI in the forum Miscellaneous 1 year, 7 months ago
Yes … and may I say ‘good riddance’?
-“BB”-