HelenP
- Active 3 months, 2 weeks ago
HelenP replied to the topic Farewell to #}{^*%~ spammers in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Get warmed up for even more spam, T. Gap — the Reddit’s crammed full of it.
HelenP replied to the topic Forum Closing – Feb 2 in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 3 months, 2 weeks ago
It’s too bad RAGBRAI hasn’t provided a reasonable alternative for the forum.
Facebook is awful — many, many people avoid it like the plague it is.
The Reddit site is one spam advertisement after another.
I guess there will be a lot of desperate people soon, with no way to attend RAGBRAI.
Texting with the people here has been very nice, and very…[Read more]
HelenP replied to the topic Great Job RAGBRAI in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 9 months, 2 weeks ago
We didn’t realize “one L of a ride” meant the temperatures, whew! ;-)
No water in Early was a problem; fortunately a gent on the outskirts was kindly giving away free water — and his little boy was a great shot with a big watergun!
Signage was lacking on the way from PBV camp to the beginning Expo, and people on a team bus who graciously gave…[Read more]
HelenP replied to the topic Ridewithgps.com map icons in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 10 months ago
They’re paper and pencil icons to indicate they are notes.
SAG wagon support shuts down for each town, too; I assume those are the same times.
HelenP replied to the topic Where are the Rider Packets? in the forum Miscellaneous 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Our team’s packet arrived yesterday in east US, with everything in it OK..
HelenP replied to the topic Rookie Camping Question – 4 Person Tent Too Big? in the forum Miscellaneous 10 months, 2 weeks ago
A “4 person” tent tends to be small for 2 people with a week’s worth of clothes and gear.
Check your measurements!
Also, get a big Rain PROOF (not just rain Resistant) duffle bag if you might leave it outside the tent all night.
HelenP replied to the topic Is the 2023 Participant Guide online? in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Great! The electronic one was so useless last year; what a waste of effort! It was too late, and too difficult to try to read on a tiny phone screen. I think my teammate looked at it a little, but I never did.
HelenP replied to the topic Main Campground and Phone charging in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Try to charge up some during the day, when you’re taking a break near a store, restaurant, post office, etc.
HelenP replied to the topic Newbie Question on Long Term Parking in Des Moines in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Pork Belly Ventures charter runs midweek exit/entry shuttles out of Des Moines, and other shuttles to leave/return there at week start/end.
They might have some room left on those shuttles, despite being *very* booked up on a lot of their other services.
HelenP replied to the topic Transportation To and From in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 10 months, 4 weeks ago
In short, Jeff, there is very little passenger transport available within Iowa, except via the charters for RAGBRAI. What with it being the 50th year, a lot of them have filled up already. You don’t have to get full service all week long for some charters; you can use just their shuttle service.
The usual method is to fly or drive to OMA…[Read more]
HelenP replied to the topic Presta vs Schrader tubes in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 11 months ago
Thanks for the clarification about the rim, LawnchairMan. I’m still pretty new, having read much more than I’ve experienced.
HelenP replied to the topic Presta vs Schrader tubes in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 11 months ago
I’ve read that the narrower Presta valves began because the Schrader values take a relatively big hole out of very skinny road bike tubes — affecting the tubes’ integrity. Wider tubes are ok with Schrader.
HelenP replied to the topic DC Area Riders? in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 11 months ago
Wish I were out riding with all of you! I’m averaging one substantial illness per month lately — respiratory, then severe food poisoning, now more coughing. Here’s hoping there’s none in store for me next month!!! I am sooo behind on my training.
HelenP replied to the topic DC Area Riders? in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 11 months ago
P & H, I have “barefoot” platform pedals, flat with a grippy silicon rubber surface, although I’m not gonna pedal 500 miles shoeless, eek! *wry grin*
Had no luck on those other shoes. I might end up getting new soles on the old fencing shoes I’ve used before.
Hey, at least I finally had some great luck late yesterday. As well as my desperate…[Read more]
HelenP replied to the topic DC Area Riders? in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 11 months ago
Welcome, Kerry! Have you tried yet the BWI loop trail, the Baltimore – Annapolis Trail, or the NCR Trail north from Cockeysville and continuing into Pennsylvania?
Closer to DC, you can follow the trails or C&O towpath from DC up to
— Kenwood neighborhood, or else
— stay along the river and maybe go dancing at Glen Echo Park.
HelenP replied to the topic Wristband numbers in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 12 months ago
That amount of pool noodles or pipe wrap would cost the towns a fair amount of money, and would only be used for a short time.
Why not bring a few inches of pipe wrap with you on the bike? That way, you’d know your frame would be protected. It weighs next to nothing.
I have another good use for pipewrap, too. My bike is a hybrid, with…[Read more]
HelenP replied to the topic DC Area Riders? in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 1 year ago
Hmm, and that’taco place is just a few hundred feet around the corner from Joe’s Bike Shop, too.
I’ve only done a little of the NCRR trail, and want to get back to it.
Still no luck for my narrow feet at REI and other local shops, but I might have finally found some bike shoes at Trek; they’re ordering the next half and full sizes up — one…[Read more]
HelenP replied to the topic DC Area Riders? in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 1 year ago
Need some pedal powered insanity? Tomorrow, Saturday, is the Kinetic Sculture Race around (and in!) Baltimore’s harbor. I’ve not been before, but fun, and bike spectators seem welcome. We’ll be spending most of the day elsewhere, but hope to stop by for a little while to see some of it.
HelenP replied to the topic DC Area Riders? in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 1 year ago
Hi, llanford! You might take a look at shipping info at Pork Belly Ventures’s website: https://pkbelly.com/content/emailedUpdates
My teammate and I will fly to Omaha, Nebraska (OMA), then use PBV charter. Check the flight times — it might take a LOT longer to fly or to take a train within Iowa to the start location. Des Moines or Quad Cities…[Read more]
HelenP replied to the topic Sun Protection in the forum RAGBRAI L – 2023 1 year ago
It’s excellent! :-D
1. You’ll be cooler under hot sun, in its shade.
2. Since the back is slightly longer, it counterbalances the slight weight very nicely.
3. It helps keep rain off, too.
4. I’ve often used mine at the beach, where gusty headwinds are common. A very slight head tilt is all that’s needed to put it edge-on to the wind.
5. It…[Read more]
