Jack in VA

Jack in VA started the topic Fairfield to Council Bluffs? in the forum Looking for RIDES 2019 1 year, 10 months ago

I’m driving out from Virginia and need to park in Fairfield before the ride starts – plan on arriving on Fri. July 19. Is there a charter group from Fairfield heading to CB on Saturday that I can get a ride with? Bike and luggage- oh, and me!

Jack in VA replied to the topic What time is route announcement? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 2 months ago

Past years, I’ve sat with my I-pad on my lap and ear buds shoved in my brain, watching (or trying to) every moment leading up to the announcement. Unfortunately, the delays / locking up / etc have been so bad that I’ve given up on trying to catch it “live”. Hope the bandwidth issues are resolved and the coverage will be better this Saturday.…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic sleep! in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 3 months ago

Amazing how a decent tent, a good air mattress, and a pair of ear plugs (plus 50-ish miles of cycling that day) will provide some of the BEST nights of sleep I’ve ever had.

Jack in VA replied to the topic RAGRAI without long training rides in the forum Training 3 years, 3 months ago

I too have a friend who’s done out local MS-150 ride for several years – 2 days of 75 each. I jokingly tell him that his training consists of pulling into the parking lot and out swapping knobby tires for slicks on his mountain bike. The first day, all I hear is “My Legs Hurt” – “My BUTT HURTS ” – “I’m DYING OVER HERE”.
Then on Sunday, he’s…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic Anymore party/group rides left this year in Iowa? in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 3 years, 6 months ago

Not (quite) Iowa, but the SEAGULL CENTURY on the Maryland Eastern Shore is Saturday October 14th. Three different routes (2 century routes and a metric century) starting in Salisbury MD. Around 6,000 riders – great rest stops, and a swim in the Atlantic at mile 60- if you do the Assatuegue century.

Jack in VA replied to the topic Is it too early to prognosticate the 2018 route? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 7 months ago

I’ve ridden with a charter group every year, and the last day is ALWAYS a rush to get into town, rinse the tire off, get my stuff on the bus, and get outta town. I’ve always missed the opportunity to spend more time in these towns, and feel sorry that these people go through so much effort for us but get no where near the time or energy that the…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic Best and Worst? in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 3 years, 8 months ago

My only WORSE would have to be cell coverage in Cresco – my uncle drove down from St Paul to meet me, and we almost missed each other due to not being able to communicate. I finally headed over to Decorah with friends, and as soon as we got out of town, the cells worked just fine. Unfortunately, my uncle was still in Cresco and couldn’t receive…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic This year Day 7 in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 3 years, 8 months ago

I grew up in Iowa (and Nebraska) and have been doing RAGBRAI since ’99 -this is the FIRST time I’ve ever been in this corner of the state, and it was magnificent. The roads and hills reminded me so much of those in Virginia / Maryland / West Virginia. I would have never thought there was terrain like that in Iowa. The uphills were a bit too much…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic Be Kind in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 3 years, 8 months ago

Hi JLVP! I was likely one of those pushing my bike up several of those hills too – last year I knew it was going to be considerably hillier than other routes across the state and I brought my road bike (with gears). However, I’ve ridden my fixed / single speed bike on every RAGBRAI since ’08, and didn’t see why I couldn’t do it again this year!!!…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic A 700 mile Ragbrai in the forum Miscellaneous 3 years, 9 months ago

Hi Mike.
Most beer gardens in overnight towns will have a perimeter with controlled in / out access – if you try to walk out with a beverage in hand you’ll be politely asked to finish it inside the area.
Many of the pass-thru towns are a little more lax – some are very strict, and others have a more relaxed attitude. Main thing is to not be an…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic When you've riden 411 miles, what's .7 more? in the forum Jack in VA 3 years, 9 months ago

It’s a little more weight, but I bring a Coleman inflatable air mattress and use a fitted sheet on it. Many nights I just fall asleep on it, but invariable wake up during the night and crawl into the sleeping bag.
In 17 years, there have been several CHILLY nights (temps in the upper 50’s / low 60’s) and the sleeping bag was a lifesaver. I’d…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic in the forum Best and Worst? 3 years, 9 months ago

Hey David – Don’t sweat it. It sounds like you’ve already got a ride to Orange City – just look for (or ask) for the RAGBRAI main campsite (It will be where the luggage trailers are located) and just find a spot to set up. Simple as that. In the morning, pack your stuff, load it onto the trailer, and ride to the next town. Follow the RAGBRAI signs…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – "In retrospect, I wish I had……." 3 years, 9 months ago

I suggest you get a portable USB charger device that you can carry in your luggage. I bought an ANKER 20,000 mAh portable charger several years back and have used it on several RAGBRAI’s; I can recharge both my phone and IPod nightly once I get set up. It has enough juice to charge the devices fully several times during the week, and then I just…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic in the forum Be Kind 3 years, 9 months ago

This will be #17 for me and I’ve never heard of a bike being stolen – temporarily lost, maybe (pulling into a pass-thru town, laying the bike down, get some food and a brew, and then wander about aimlessly wondering “WHERE THE HELL DID I LEAVE MY BIKE AT”). Once I get to the campground and set up, the bike stays put either inside the tent or…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic in the forum Jack in VA 3 years, 9 months ago

One of the coolest THANK YOU’s I’ve heard about happened to some friends who hosted a large group at their house in Creston several years back – they told the riders that they didn’t want anything in return for hosting. Both the husband and wife had to work both of those days; they got up in the morning and headed out to work as the riders were…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic in the forum Jack in VA 3 years, 9 months ago

I’m bringing the fixed gear / single speed bike again this year – FG the first few days, and SS/freewheel the last 2 or 3. I’ve had to walk it up a few of the Iowa hills on past rides, and it looks like there might be a few more this year. Oh well – it’s all good!

AND I’M NOT AT WORK!

Jack

Jack in VA replied to the topic to helmet or not to helmet??? in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 3 years, 10 months ago

I can understand someone’s desire to NOT wear a helmet, but to state that they do not make a difference is just wrong. I lost a very good friend several years back; he was only 19. A group was slowly riding around campus, and he didn’t have a helmet on – hit a small bump, took a spill, and took what seemed to be a slight glancing blow to the…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic What are you riding? in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 3 years, 10 months ago

Masi Fixed Especiale – 8th time riding fixed (with occasional flip over to single speed) across the great state of Iowa!!!

Jack in VA replied to the topic Communicating with team mates in the forum Miscellaneous 3 years, 10 months ago

Based on input from others, AT&T is almost worthless throughout most of the rural areas of Iowa. Sprint / Boost also had very limited coverage in rural areas – better in the larger urban towns. Verizon seems to be one of the best bet, although (as previously mentioned), dropped calls, voice and text time delays seem to be the norm. Definitely…[Read more]

Jack in VA replied to the topic Sunday's Gravel Loop & Monday's Karras Loop in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 3 years, 10 months ago

Heather, Two years ago the gravel loop was fairly flat and smooth. Last year, it was quite hilly with a LOT more gravel on the road. I tried keeping the bike in between the road tire tracks but still had some difficulty with it. Just keep rolling smooth and steady and it’ll be fine. Since we’re in northern Iowa, it should be a lot flatter than…[Read more]

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