Larry Klaaren
- Active 1 day, 20 hours ago
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Refunds of Registration Fees if RAGBRAI is Cancelled in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 week, 4 days ago
The thing about a novel virus is that it builds up and builds up and then suddenly it is over. Completely over because everyone has either been ill or immune. Very few get sick for a few months. Then the virus goes into a state where it is part of the society’s collection of diseases like the flu or measles. Once in a while, or maybe a little…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic RAGBRAI & How Does Warm Weather Kill Off the Coronavirus? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 week, 5 days ago
Beijing ended their quarantine yesterday, 82 days after the first case was discovered in Wuhan. I don’t know how long Beijing was in quarantine. According to US reporters they were at 60 per cent normal activity the first day, with the limit being supply chain slowness. One benefit for us is that we will see how it goes in other places. If the q…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic What is your favorite pie?? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 week, 5 days ago
Peach. I think it got a couple of novelty votes, but Beekman’s makes a pretty good peach ice cream. About getting multiple scoops, we had a budget conscious person, and one scoop is enough for some people.
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic RAGBRAI & How Does Warm Weather Kill Off the Coronavirus? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 week, 5 days ago
There’s a chance for RAGBRAI. China, had their first day of no new infections today and they are preparing to lift the lock down. The first case was New Year’s Eve, so about 80 days. We are still 121 out from RAGBRAI. Plus we have some accumulated knowledge and technology re this disease from several countries that it hit before us. We will…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic What is your favorite pie?? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 week, 6 days ago
In 2018 we had an ice cream tournament. We picked four Beekman’s flavors and had one each day from Monday thru Thursday. Then we picked the better Mon-Tues flavor and had that Thursday, then the better Wed-Thurs flavor and had that Friday. Then we picked the winner and had that Saturday. Bummer was we did not see Beekman’s on Saturday. I…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic RAGBRAI & How Does Warm Weather Kill Off the Coronavirus? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 weeks, 5 days ago
The stated objective of the approach in the US is to flatten out the curve by limiting exposures so that medical facilities and personnel will not be as overwhelmed in the short term. This is not a proven approach, so we will see.
If it works, then this could extend to late summer or longer. If it does not work, it could be over with in six to…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic RAGBRAI & How Does Warm Weather Kill Off the Coronavirus? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 weeks, 6 days ago
It’s 3% of the people who were both tested and have the virus. It does not include those who have it but were never tested and just got better. Most have mild symptoms.
Morbidity is “the condition of being diseased”. The way morbidity is calculated is per cent of the exposed people who develop clinical signs. Mortality is calculated as the p…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Refunds of Registration Fees if RAGBRAI is Cancelled in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 weeks, 6 days ago
The issue is not if the average person is going to get Corona Virus and die. It is whether people will have mild undetectable cases of the virus and then visit their parents or a nursing home or whatever and pass it on. One of the news stories right now is a nursing home in Washington that had nine residents pass away from the Covid virus. No…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Hybrid vs. Road Bike – question from 1st timer in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 3 weeks, 6 days ago
I ride my hybrid. I like sitting up and seeing what’s happening around me, and it is a much better bike on hills than my Raleigh, especially over and over for a week long period. Still cussing out that Rand Park hill in Keokuk though.
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic RAGBRAI & How Does Warm Weather Kill Off the Coronavirus? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 4 weeks ago
All true. But the thing about Corona virus is that it is novel. That means there is no “herd immunity” or any immunity at all in the population so it can spread through large groups very quickly. It is yet to be seen if there is a mild or silent form that is not being detected, that is causing immunity in some people. It is true that more…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Hy-Vee on RAGBRAI in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 month, 1 week ago
Most Hy-Vee stores will be open from 5 a.m. to midnight. Guess they couldn’t find “helpful smiles for every aisle” overnight.
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Does anyone ride a decent high end road bike? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 month, 2 weeks ago
I ride a pretty inexpensive Trek hybrid bike. It ain’t fancy, but it’s geared for hills and I don’t have to ride hunched over all week. Whatever you bring, if this is your first year, be aware that there are places in Iowa that are hill after hill after hill. This always surprises first year riders from out of state. That being said, I am…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Type of Bike??? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 month, 3 weeks ago
You should get what you want to ride the rest of the year, because you can ride any bike on RAGBRAI if it is comfortable and you are familiar with it. People ride every kind of bike there is. I wouldn’t buy a bike specifically for the one week of RAGBRAI.
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Looking for transportation from Clinton to Chicago at the end of RAGBRAI in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Someone will help you, but plans are on the fluid side until closer to the ride. It’s just that way. You might want to check out Bicycle Illinois and see if they can bring you back to Chicago on a one way basis. You will end up downtown I believe, but you could UBER, take the train, or be picked up. There are a couple of other charters that…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Getting in touch with people when cell phones not working in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 month, 3 weeks ago
I drive from Chicago to Oskaloosa every third weekend as my Dad is in a nursing home there. I have AT&T. It is OK on some major highways. I can not get a signal anywhere else. I haven’t looked if we will be close to Highway 20 or another major route, but if you are on AT&T, that is your only hope. Texts do somehow get through fairly quickly,…[Read more]
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Be aware that during the ride your phone may have coverage but the airwaves are overwhelmed by 20,000 other participants in the same small town.
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Who here will be riding BOTH Iowa Ride and RAGBRAI? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 months ago
If you aren’t from the region, you might want to go between Clinton and Dubuque on the Illinois side and see Galena. Really neat historic town, set up for antiques and all that touristy stuff, the home of President and General U.S. Grant, if you are in to that sort of thing. Fulton, across the river from Clinton has an authentic Dutch…[Read more]
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Who here will be riding BOTH Iowa Ride and RAGBRAI? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 months ago
Just remember, if you make jerseys, you can’t use the trademarked word RAGBRAI without permission. Don’t know how the other ride is about that.
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Brancel Charter in the forum Miscellaneous 2 months ago
To be clear, Brancel is not perfect. The campground was rainy on Sunday last year. But they did fix that.
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Charters back to the Starting Town?? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 months ago
I see you want to go back to the starting town. It’s more common to leave your car at the end and take a charter to the start, then you don’t have to be in the end town in time for the bus to leave. You also don’t have long bus ride after a day of biking. However, there are plenty of charters that go back to the start.
Larry Klaaren replied to the topic Charters back to the Starting Town?? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 months ago
Most of them will offer that service, unless they originate from some other town. I ride a bus from Chicago to the start, and then from the end to Chicago, for example. If you go to the various charters websites, they will have pricing next week, since the route will be announced tonight.