Joseph Schlau
- Active 2 hours, 56 minutes ago
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Tent Fan and Chairs in the forum Miscellaneous 1 day, 15 hours ago
I use a Tripole fan from Amazon. USB plug in, 3 speeds, base can be used on floor or inverted and hung from the gear loft inside the tent. Very low on power consumption. Works well.
For seating I use a Coleman stadium seat. The kind that folds in 2 and rolls up. I use it to sit on the ground or inside a tent for back support. If crawling out…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic "Better Call Saul" in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 5 days, 19 hours ago
Please don’t define RAGBRAI for me: I’ve been on 37 of them.
Last year I took a bike tour, camping, cabins without tv, you know, a time when you turn off and tune out. It was great.
Then came the AirBnB with Netflix. Binged watched Manifest till late. Next day back riding the bike. None the worse for the tv experience.
It’s your RAGBR…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Iowa Weather Trends in the forum Miscellaneous 5 days, 22 hours ago
I am trying to get a feeling for a summer sleep bag/quilt/bag liner to use. Any suggestions?
I returned from a weekend “shakedown” trip testing the bike and camping equipment prior to the self support ride to RAGBRAI.
I am using a rectangular synthetic sleeping bag and a thermarest lite air mattress. The bag has a very optimistic rating of…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic RAGBRAI 2022 Outlook? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 2 weeks ago
So, will RAGBRAI be a debacle, or are the organizers in Iowa more on top of it? I know the numbers have fallen at RAGBRAI recently as well, which is sad, the days of 15-20,000 are long gone.
Mr. Dark Clouds,
Let’s answer the easy question first. Yes the days of 15-20,000 are gone. Looks like a minimum of 17-30,000.
You seem to have been s…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic RAGBRAI 2022 Outlook? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 2 weeks, 2 days ago
Hey Mr Dark Clouds,
In a June 5th article in the DesMoines Register titled Forecast calls for bonus-size RAGBRAI as annual route inspection ride starts New Ride Director Matt Phippen says 17,000 riders already have registered. ‘It’s record up right now.’
While registration for the 2021 ride was down about 5%, Phippen said he’s ready for a r…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Iowa Weather Trends in the forum Miscellaneous 2 weeks, 6 days ago
In any case, we will have a lot of company out there.
While registration for the 2021 ride was down about 5%, Phippen said he’s ready for a return to pre-pandemic levels of participation — or beyond. More than 17,000 weekly and day-long riders already are registered for the nation’s largest annual cycling tour.
“It’s record up right now,”…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Iowa Weather Trends in the forum Miscellaneous 3 weeks ago
In a June 1st article in the DesMoines Register the headline Iowans warned they may see rolling blackouts this summer as NOAA predicts above-average temperatures caught my attention. The article mainly addresses the status of the midwestern states power grid and the possibility of rolling blackouts of 1 hour duration if, with emphasis on if,…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Self Supported (Bagger) info in the forum Miscellaneous 3 weeks, 3 days ago
There are a number of different ways available for handling overnights. At one end of the spectrum is stealth camping, just finding some green spaces and camping out, without expressed permission to do so. Something I would not do unless it were an emergency. But people do anyway.
My preference is a combination of Bed and Breakfasts, AirBnBs,…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Self Supported (Bagger) info in the forum Miscellaneous 3 weeks, 6 days ago
Technically there is nothing wrong with riding the Ragbrai route and staying in the towns. It’s a public highway and open for use by all cyclists. In my case, I will be taking a self supported ride to and following Ragbrai. I am however registered and will join my team during Ragbrai then be back to self supported.
An unregistered rider h…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Annual notice to e-bikers… in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 1 month ago
Glenbo66, May 26, 2022 at 7:12 am
I love how people have nothing better to do than to play the troll card. Try and Be better.
Playing the troll card on the information superhighway seems to be a normal condition in public discourse. Sometimes though, the thoughts, opinions, and comments shared between an adult community on line spills over to…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic what to do with my bike overnight (self-supported rider)? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 1 month, 1 week ago
robert garton, May 17, 2022 at 5:49 pm
in the morning SURPRISE your bike will be there. There is no reason to lock your bike in camp or daily on the ride. Seeing someone locking there bike is a insult to all in the Ragbrai community.
So Robert, this “Iowa Nice” way of thinking of the world is interesting.
Can you perhaps explain why Iowa has…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Annual notice to e-bikers… in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 1 month, 1 week ago
Sorry to continue this deviation from the e-bike thread, but I want to add my two cents about horns.
Since Covid started I mostly ride alone, so I put my AirZound horn on my carbon recumbent. I know motorists can hear it and it has saved me a few times from an accident.
When I was commuting to work before dawn, I used the AirZounds on my bike.…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Annual notice to e-bikers… in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 1 month, 1 week ago
So, JPC, you are back posting your stern warning to all e bikers, Behave.
You did not elaborate on what you were talking about, so for the benefit of new riders I’ve included your post from last June.
Behave yourselves. You are on an assisted bike, while the rest of us have to pedal ourselves. Don’t shout for us to move out of the way, just for…
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Halfday rider needs rides to host towns in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 1 month, 2 weeks ago
David, I touched on the logistics of parking and finding the car. Another important consideration is the commitment and reliability of those driving your car. Some insurance companies have restrictions on age and zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol.
Lining up your driver or drivers ahead of time helps too. While you will have no problem…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Halfday rider needs rides to host towns in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 1 month, 2 weeks ago
I did the same half day splits one year when a family medical problem delayed my arrival till day 2. In that case, a team member split the day or took the whole day with my car.
The issue that often comes up is where to park the car so you and the ride share driver can find it. As has been discussed, cell phone service can be spotty depending…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Saturday the 30th in Lansing in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 1 month, 3 weeks ago
I will be staying over in a campground in Lansing. They have a 2 night minimum which is fine. The time there will allow for a fresh start back home across Wisconsin, then home.
But there is also a practical medical consideration. It will be 3 days post Ragbrai before I meet up with family, one is immune compromised. The three days will give…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Iowa Weather Trends in the forum Miscellaneous 1 month, 3 weeks ago
If you go back in the forum about 3 1/2 months, there was a topic called Rain Gear. There were a number of posts related to past years (rainy) weather days and the differing opinions on adequate prep and gear.
Many riders just look at weather averages during July and incorrectly assume that is what they will encounter. Several of the posts…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau started the topic Iowa Weather Trends in the forum Miscellaneous 1 month, 3 weeks ago
From a recent DesMoines Register article.
So far this year the National Weather Service has issued 39 wind advisories in Iowa — 39 notices of sustained winds of 31 to 39 mph expected to last at least an hour and/or when wind gusts are expected to reach 46 to 57 mph. That’s tied with 2012 for the second-most wind advisories through April 24 s…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic GPS Apps? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 2 months, 1 week ago
There are navigation apps for the IPhone, however an app with each day for Ragbrai preloaded does not exist as far as I am aware.
First, the Ragbrai route is still in the draft form. The final route is usually posted around July 4th and is still subject to changes as necessary.
Ragbrai has usually made gps files available around the same time…[Read more]
Joseph Schlau replied to the topic Info about hosts in each overnight town. in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 2 months, 1 week ago
On the Ragbrai site is a list of links to overnight towns. Each town will have a coordinator who handles private housing requests. Requests for housing arrangements starts May 1 st
