KenH
- Active 1 day, 20 hours ago
KenH replied to the topic 2019's Ride– What will you change (for you) for next year's ride? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 day, 20 hours ago
Plans are uncertain at this point of course. As they firm up I will look at PBV. Their rates are a little too rich for my blood for the whole week but 2 or 3 days would be manageable and of course PBV is another RAGBRAI institution that would be nice to experience at least once! Transportation would not be an issue in my case.
No one should think…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic What's with the beaded roadkill ? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 days, 1 hour ago
It is just another silly tradition that helps make RAGBRAI RAGBRAI!
The last couple of years it had almost seemed to have died out. I was happy to see it return to some extent this year. I don’t know when the practice started or peaked or who was responsible since I only go back to 2012 but it was quite a popular “ritual” the first few years that I rode.
KenH replied to the topic 2019's Ride– What will you change (for you) for next year's ride? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 days, 1 hour ago
Next year might be a little different for me because my teammates probably all need to bail out for the last two or three days. I might end up using the Register baggage truck the last few days and sleeping in the general campground, something I have never done. Or I might see if the Riverbend Club/charter can accommodate me the last few days. I…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Green Bay trails in the forum Miscellaneous 1 week, 5 days ago
I had a nasty fall on an icy sidewalk this year too. I highly recommend avoiding that! Sorry to hear that your employer terminated you. I hope you find or have found a better one!!
I live in NE Illinois so I can’t help with trails around Green Bay. Because of football Illinoians are supposed to hate Green Bay but I grew up in central Wisconsin…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Awful Bike Expo Council Bluffs Ragbrai XLVII in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month ago
I enjoyed the expo. It would be nice if it were a big cycling show but other venues get those and I don’t suppose we are enough to change that. They are geared more towards the reseller’s buyers than towards us anyway. It would be nice if nearby manufacturers would attend at least. HED was there, we had a nice long talk with them at their booth.…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Where to next year? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month ago
I don’t have any guesses about the route at this point and generally when I reach the point that I do they are all wrong anyway! But I have to think that Burlington would consider their chance to be an overnight town this year to be a success. It might not be a feature every year or next year but I suspect we will see that kind of a route again,…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Ebikes will naturally amplify the bad habits of their riders. If the rider has none, and a lot do not, this is not a problem. But some do have bad habits and up to an extra 750 Watts makes them more of an issue. But just as it is unfair to stereotype all fast riders it is unfair to stereotype all ebike riders. I do think ebikes are going to become…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic 8th Flattest Route? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 2 weeks ago
I would not know how to quantify this mathematically and as an engineer that bothers me but the hills on southern routes just seem more wearing to me than their number and height would indicate. I do know that if you did not get enough hills this year then your should have ridden the gravel loop. There was a well packed trail for skinny tired road…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 2 weeks ago
On your left is not unique to cycling. I don’t know who originated the term but I do know that the first time I heard it was at the Jackson Hole ski resort in Wyoming in the 1970’s. I was taking a cross trail to get from one chairlift served area to another and for the very first time ever I heard a voice behind me say “on your left”. Skiers will…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Thanks T.J. and crew for another fun year. in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
I had another grand week in Iowa thanks to TJ, his team, and everyone else along the route who contributed to the planning and execution of this ride. My team’s battle plan for the week did not survive entirely intact. The official RAGBRAI battle plan for the week also showed signs of strain. Military professionals will tell you that no battle…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Injuries on the ride – 2019 in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Statistics are depersonalized summaries of information. I don’t believe they can violate HIPAA since there is no way to tie them back to individuals. We do not get injury statistics for this ride however and I am sure that is because the Registers lawyers do not want it released. I wish we lived in a world where this information could be released…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Observations about the ride in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
There is a disconnect about the meaning of “on your left”. It literally means what it says, I am about to pass you on your left. It is intended to be a polite gesture so that you know another rider is about to pass you. Very commonly it has come to mean GET OUT OF MY WAY!! I’ve had people SCREAM on your left at me when I am at the very left edge…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Killer Roads? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
If you look you will see signs that roads have been patched in anticipation of our arrival in many places. But not everything can be done. We bring in welcome money to local economies but not enough to pay for new roads from “coast” to “coast” across Iowa! Sometimes minor patching will go a long way to improve rider safety with little impact on…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Observations about the ride in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
I had a great time and found plenty of Iowans who seemed delighted to have us. Especially in Keokuk where we have been so long in coming back. I had one who expressed his anger at our presence, so inarticulately that I could not understand what he said, and that is it. A few years ago the Cubs won the World Series. On the celebration day in…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Was this year a bust? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
I had a great time in every town I rode through and stayed in this year. From talking to the townspeople they seemed uniformly excited to have us come through. The people of Keokuk were particularly delighted as it has been so long. There were special things to do and see everywhere but generally not enough time to see them all. I had one bad…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Vegetarian Food in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 months ago
To mis-quote the late, great Fats Waller: red beans and rice, sounds pretty nice! I don’t belong here because I’ll have the sausage with the please!!
KenH replied to the topic Question about Breakfast in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 months, 1 week ago
Fungus … could grow on you … GROAN!
I’m not a huge fan of fungi but a mushroom omelette don’t sound too bad. I prefer a nice Farm Kids breakfast bowl or a local fundraiser pancake breakfast first thing in the morning. But an omelette for SECOND breakfast? Capital idea!!
How can I eat all that and still ride all day? Well, if I DON’T eat like…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic RV Generator Noise in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 months, 1 week ago
Occasionally we park our RV in a quiet campground and if we do we shut the generator down overnight. When we are in the RV campground we do what all the other RV owners do. If generator noise bothers you then you want to avoid that campground! However, generator noise is actually worst inside the RV although that is compensated for by the fact…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Heat concerns in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 months, 1 week ago
If you are careful to ride within your capabilities you should be fine. If you have children along you must be very careful with them, especially if they have a history of not being willing to say so when they are in distress. You know your children, I do not, but just be careful of believing “I’m OK” when you think they are not!
I agree, there…[Read more]
KenH replied to the topic Heat concerns in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 months, 1 week ago
I don’t know how much predictions vary and it is still a little early to put much stock in them but the Accuweather predictions for each overnight town next week are currently in the mid to high 80’s. That is pretty typical RAGBRAI weather and if you slow down, manage your hydration properly, and take cooling breaks when you need them it will be…[Read more]