jake d

jake d replied to the topic Observations about the ride in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 years, 10 months ago

Sandaltan, I agree with your post 9 out of 10 times. However, when the bonus miles increase from 20-25 miles in years past, to almost 60 this year, TJ is flat out fudging the numbers. Most towns have hosted before, and know where the main campground will be. That is how the mileage used to be figured. Anyone doubting that should know it came…[Read more]

jake d replied to the topic 8th Flattest Route? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 years, 11 months ago

The charters tell riders when the busses are leaving on the last day, and advise you to plan your day accordingly. That’s not easy when you throw in 10 extra hilly miles.

jake d replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 5 months ago

Okay, I have to admit I’ve been late to the party on following this thread. However, in the process of playing catch up it seems much of the conversation regarding E-Bikes would be more appropriate in an informational thread, perhaps titled ‘TOOLS’.

jake d replied to the topic 2019 Route Predictions in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 5 months ago

Ah yes I remember Fayette. Set up in a stubble field until someone talked a local into letting us camp on an empty lot next to his house. The town had one restaurant, one convenience store, and one grocery store. Plus a handful of local vendors set up. Everyone was out of food by 7PM except the store. The store looked like a swarm of locust had…[Read more]

jake d replied to the topic How many counties have you visited? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 5 months ago

The pins across the top/right are the 29 rides my wife and I have done together. The ones on the left are any others I could get, some are part of the 7 my wife did with her family growing up. The highlighted routes are what we actually rode, which was not ‘always’ the actual route.

jake d replied to the topic How many counties have you visited? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 5 months ago

Cory, I am not exactly the most tech savvy person, but if someone will repost how to put a picture on this board I’ll see what I can do.

jake d replied to the topic How many counties have you visited? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 5 months ago

Like Skunky, a lot of us were able to cross off 99 with the ending in Lansing. As I recall there was a lot of prodding on this forum, myself included, the year before to get TJ to pick a Lansing finish for that very reason.
I too have a DOT map hanging on the wall of my man cave with all the routes and overnights marked.
After 29 years it’s…[Read more]

jake d replied to the topic 2018 Recap in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 10 months ago

Skunky, glad to see Ames focused on downtown instead of having everything around Jack Trice. I’m not a big fan of towns that set up everything in a big parking lot. Show off your town. Take note Council Bluffs.

jake d replied to the topic Thinking ahead to 2019 … in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 10 months ago

I vote Rock Rapids. Council Bluffs has had it twice since Rock Rapids.

jake d replied to the topic Day 1 was boring:empty countryside in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 10 months ago

Jayteeme, I’m not a grammar/punctuation expert so I will concede the point on what you meant.
Glad to hear you had a great time. I love the scenery in that part of the state, but admit I found myself noting locations along the route that would have been perfect stops.
Monona county never sees RAGBRAI unless we start in Onawa. The last time being…[Read more]

jake d replied to the topic Thinking ahead to 2019 … in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 10 months ago

I’m guessing a Missouri Valley start for next year, it has been 10 years.
I have nothing against Mo. Valley, it’s just a lousy place to start given
all the train traffic, day and night. We are talking something around 70
trains a day, or on average about every 20 minutes.

jake d replied to the topic Thinking ahead to 2019 … in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 10 months ago

Ragbrai XXIII, a classic Jim Greene route. I chose other words to describe that year. Iowa Falls to Tama/Toledo, 98 miles. Unless you did the century that made it 110. The following day some of you may remember was Saggy Thursday.
The first five days that year averaged 77 miles.
Thank you TJ.

jake d replied to the topic Thinking ahead to 2019 … in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 years, 10 months ago

My guess is the rumor is just that. Not saying they couldn’t do it, but that would probably relegate Williamsburg to being a pass thru town.
The ’73’ route included a 100 miler from DM to Williamsburg, no way TJ goes for that.
Not sure what the mileage for the last day was, but Williamsburg to the Mississippi on I-80 is around 82 miles. On back…[Read more]

jake d replied to the topic Input sought: road safety, campground quiet in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 10 months ago

Well I declare Joe, you’re right. This is starting to get way out of control.
We need to Nip It, Nip It, Nip It, in the bud while we still can.
I hereby nominate You, Barney Fife, Dudley Do-right, Quick Draw McGraw,
and Roscoe P. Coltrane to head up next years Ride Marshal committee.

jake d replied to the topic Traffic control in Davenport abysmal in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 10 months ago

On the last day most people are on a schedule determined not by them, but their charter. The last thing they want is the hassle of waiting on shuttle or bike truck. Especially given the extra miles we were treated to just getting there.
Had we been told that the shuttle was not just a matter of convenience, but in fact you would be risking life…[Read more]

jake d replied to the topic Pork Belly Ventures – Terrible this year in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 10 months ago

OooKaaay. I’m going to offer a totally different perspective. I have never gone with PBV. I have nothing against them or anyone who chooses their charter. I have only heard wonderful things from their customers. I go with a less luxurious charter, but if I had the means, would seriously consider PBV.
What does burn my backside is when a…[Read more]

jake d replied to the topic Hardest climb. in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 10 months ago

Hands down the hardest climb for me all week, was climbing out of bed in Sigourney.

jake d replied to the topic Day 1 was boring:empty countryside in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 10 months ago

This thread started out as Day 1 being boring, empty countryside, and somehow morphed into no free water in towns. The countryside on day one was anything but boring.
I’m not crazy about riding the Loess Hills, but they do offer some fantastic panoramic views. Provided you slow down and take in the whole experience. Ragbrai is about getting on…[Read more]

jake d replied to the topic Traffic control in Davenport abysmal in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 years, 10 months ago

Cory you would have loved the ride when Jim Greene was wagonmaster. Average days were 75 miles, 80-90+ were common, and 500+ mile weeks were not that unusual. Add in 4-5k feet of climb, especially on the first couple days.
By the way, you can’t go by the past overnight town grid to get these numbers because that was the announced mileage. It…[Read more]

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