klkoopman
- Active 1 day, 6 hours ago
klkoopman replied to the topic RAGBRAI beer in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 5 days, 1 hour ago
Bill Tourdot: I will send you a couple of empty Tailwind cans, I assume the Post Office may frown upon full ones. In the spirit of “Iowa Nice” and in penance for my crazed, raving commentaries in the great RAGBRAI-IR “debates” in November, there is no cost. Please send me your address through the website’s PM capabilities.
It would be funny if…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic RAGBRAI beer in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 5 days, 18 hours ago
Full or empty? It makes a difference in postage!
klkoopman replied to the topic RAGBRAI beer in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 5 days, 20 hours ago
In 2019 a local microbrewery (Big Grove) “did” create a commemorative brew (called Tailwind) for the ride. The RAGBRAI logo was featured prominently on the can. They must have reached a sponsorship deal. Evidently, the Des Moines Register did not fear liability issues.
Personally, I did not like the taste very much but I did buy a 6-pack at…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic Traveling to RAGBRAI via Airplane in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 6 days, 4 hours ago
A ticket to any airport other than Omaha or Des Moines must cost a fortune from LAX, right? If you want to purchase a ticket soon I’d simply book Des Moines. As the largest urban area there are many options for charters to take you the rest of the way. Des Moines will always be located (roughly) halfway to the start town and, don’t forget,…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic I don't understand the anger. in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 week, 3 days ago
Understanding the anger is easy: Many people are passionate about this ride and have individual, personal motivations why that is so. The fact that it exists was taken for granted until a month ago, but when threatened it’s understandable that people (a majority, to TJ’s surprise) were motivated to defend it. The Register did a dumb thing, but…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic Some of us would like to do both rides in the forum Miscellaneous 2 weeks ago
Please, please, please, RAGBRAI; locate the starting town as far south as possible. Maybe even in the State of Missouri. Hopefully they will not be tempted to kowtow to all this nonsense.
klkoopman replied to the topic Show me the Money! in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 weeks, 5 days ago
The end town seems to separate us from a decent amount of money. The Friday before the ride my wife and I will usually spend $150 for a hotel, $55 for weeklong parking (which goes directly to the city) and $45 for dinner/ maybe a drink or two. So, that’s $250, more than I spend in any other town.
On the way out we may hit a couple of vendors…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic Some of us would like to do both rides in the forum Miscellaneous 3 weeks, 1 day ago
That connection may be difficult to make given T.J.’s habit of underestimating the last day’s mileage by around 20%.
Hopefully this charter/ shuttle would do your laundry between point A and point B.
klkoopman replied to the topic Iowa’s Ride new dates in the forum Miscellaneous 3 weeks, 4 days ago
This is all getting very complicated.
klkoopman replied to the topic Iowa’s Ride FAQ Section in the forum Miscellaneous 3 weeks, 6 days ago
The nearly half century old RAGBRAI institution is going to collapse if it refuses to cow-tow to TJ and his merry band of 450 hard-core Iowa bike club members? It has to ask permission to tag along with his ride? Three quarters of the thousands of RAGBRAI registrants don’t even know there is some sort of controversy, or don’t care. Registration…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic 2020 Jerseys in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 weeks, 1 day ago
All terrific ideas, especially the knives.
If you’re a fan of the TV comedy show, “The Office”, you’ll understand why a major sponsor printed on the IR jerseys should be “The Michael Scott Paper Company”.
klkoopman replied to the topic Can the DMR replace the RAGBRAI staff in time? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month ago
Brancel Charters committed to RAGBRAI last night (Saturday) via a Facebook posting. The PBV newsletter was a bit incorrect stating Brancel had committed to the ride, they were still deciding. I’m not sure people will stay loyal to their charter company’s decision. After using Brancel four times, my wife and I were fully prepared to become…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic TIme to Make Peace and Come Back Together as 1 Ride in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 2 weeks ago
The Iowa State Legislature or the Iowa State Patrol or the County dogcatcher could care less about when or where you ride. If you are riding with 15,000 other people on the same day, then they care.
In the six days you’ve been a participant in the RAGBRAI forum, you may not have picked up on it, but it’s not nice to call people names.
klkoopman replied to the topic RAGBRAI, its just a name Gannett owns in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
David C can speak for himself, but I believe he is talking about the original “RAGBRAI it’s just a name” post. It’s obvious that the post is advocating “Iowa’s ride” (who is run by an A+ team while Gannett PR “spins like a tornado”). If that’s Tony’s opinion, that’s fine, but David C is suggesting that it should be posted on an IR website…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic RAGBRAI, its just a name Gannett owns in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
There is no Forum yet on the IR website, but the IR Facebook page is downright giddy. You may want to post this essay there.
klkoopman replied to the topic Which Ride Will "Win"? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Hopefully, no one will get a dead fish delivery.
klkoopman replied to the topic Ode to TJ's Ego in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
It’s amazing that, after many years of reading this forum, not once has anyone raised the issue that the Des Moines Register sponsors the RAGBRAI event (for 47 years) because they are money-grubbing greedy bastards. If anyone can find such a post, please point it out. I think most people have said “You know what, $175 to support this ride and…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic Ode to TJ's Ego in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
TJ has done a lot for RAGBRAI because he was paid a salary to do a lot for RAGBRAI. Don’t quite understand the elevated status assigned to him, that he is somehow above criticism……or satire.
klkoopman replied to the topic Sides are being taken in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
KenH is absolutely right, like all startups, it could take a while to show a “profit” that can be donated to charity. I think it would be wise for TJ to convey just what sort of dollars we are talking about. For example, if RAGBRAI’s current budget is $2.5 million does a typical year show an $85K surplus after expenses or a $1 million surplus?…[Read more]
klkoopman replied to the topic TIme to Make Peace and Come Back Together as 1 Ride in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 3 weeks ago
The ISP has stated that they typically assign 18-20 officers to RAGBRAI, half paid by the by the taxpayers and half paid by RAGBRAI. It takes just as many officers for an 8,000 person ride as it does for an 18,000 person ride. Where is the ISP going to come up with 40 officers for two rides? Officers are just sitting in their patrol cars with…[Read more]