mcpartla replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 week, 1 day ago
Al
Are electric-assist bicycles “cheating”? Do we get the same exercise benefits? Why do you care if I can go faster than you?
https://www.radpowerbikes.com/blogs/the-scenic-route/e-bikes-are-cheating-no-not-really
mcpartla replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 week, 1 day ago
Most of the time “on your left” is a courtesy the same as anything else said to alert others “car up”, “car Back”,”slowing”, “stopping” etc. and most of the time I’m content to hold back because my intent is to arrive safe and whole at the end of each day. I ride an ebike because it’s fun and not to impress anyone else. I also look healthier t…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 week, 1 day ago
TJ responded to my inquiry before this year’s Ragbrai that re-charging stations are located at or near each pass-thru town water station. I looked for these in several towns but if these existed there were no signs and when I verbal inquiries had the same puzzled responses but I always found a source to re-charge my battery, usually at pools w…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Why do you RAGBRAI? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 1 week, 1 day ago
I enjoy seeing and exploring new places and riding my bike long distances and the route varies every year and I found so many interesting places the first 15 years I brought my wife out this year and showed her some of the highlights driving from Keotuk and up the Mississippi River snd then on mostly back roads to Council Bluffs and back to Des…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 2 weeks ago
I bought my Trek CrossRip after medical issues on the 2018 Ragbrai and I was able to ride 2019 with no problems and enjoyed it far better too. I carried the recharger and replenished at swimming pools each day while I took a refreshing swim. The big pluses were the lack of stress and plenty of time to look around both during and after completing…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Killer Roads? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 months, 1 week ago
In 16 years riding Ragbrai I’ve seen a significant improvement in the quality of roads but of course there’s bound to be a few miles here and there of lesser quality and it’s in our own self interest to drive with care especially when our vehicle and body is subject to severe consequences if we fail to do so. 16 years and I’ve not come close t…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Clarence … age 93 in the forum Miscellaneous 3 months, 3 weeks ago
“Lucy” is correct … memories get muddled with names sometimes … thanks for the tip.
mcpartla replied to the topic Killer Roads? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I found most of the roads to be in good condition but there were more exceptions than usual and that downhill on a curve crossing rough railroad tracks a oversight on safety’s part.
mcpartla replied to the topic Awful Bike Expo Council Bluffs Ragbrai XLVII in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 months, 3 weeks ago
We enjoyed Council Bluffs the week before RAGBRAI touring the Dodge House, Black Angel, Lincoln site, Lewis & Clark but were disappointed more historical places were not open. I planned to see more when I arrived Saturday but the traffic and congestion made this nearly impossible. Council Bluffs is a great place to visit but not during RAGBRAI.…[Read more]
mcpartla started the topic Clarence … age 93 in the forum Miscellaneous 3 months, 3 weeks ago
I met Clarence and his son at a Corn stop the 4th or 5th day and he was 93 and he was accompanied by his son, a youthful 72 same as me. Clarence said he had been riding Ragbrai since he was 78 and took up cycling in his 70s and he was camping and doing the whole week. I wondered if Clarence might have been interviewed and if his story might have…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months ago
I ride a pedal assist e-bike because I’m not nearly as healthy as I look and it makes bicycling fun again. “On your left” is simply a request by a faster cyclist to get past safely. Most of the time I’m content to ride along with the pack but going up hill at a slow pace can be tricky and I’d much rather take the lead and get past the slowest…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Yep and ideally Fargo will soon come with a battery for a little added assist now and then.
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 7 months, 3 weeks ago
My Trek 2300 weighs 25 lbs vs my Salsa Fargo weighs 30 lbs vs my Trek CrossRip e-bike weighs 40 lbs and I can go much faster and further in the same time with e-power. Much faster and much further. No stress keeping up with my more fit and sometimes younger buddies on lighter and often more expensive bicycles. Simple physics. Which bike do you…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Have you ridden an E-bike? I can easily cycle several miles per hour on flat roads with my e-power vs pedaling without really trying. And it’s much more fun too! “You don’t have To be in shape to pedal an e-bike” proclaims one manufacturer. And it’s probably why so many fit riders don’t like the idea of others not “earning” the ability to ride…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 7 months, 3 weeks ago
I agree with you. Some of my fellow club members bought expensive light weight racing bicycles to enable them to keep a faster pace. Others just stopped bicycling as their human parts showed signs of aging. E-bikes are the next step … help us bicycle longer and further. And make bicycling fun again! I tell myself it is helping me age…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Bob, no disrespect intended but it does not sound like these e-power bicyclists presented any hazard to you but just traveled faster than you liked. No different than when a young guy or gal on a 15-lb bicycle goes faster than me … age 71 … on my 30-lb Salsa Fargo. The only thing hurt is our ego. And I have to confess since buying my e-bike…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 7 months, 3 weeks ago
The same thing was happening to me last year but by cyclists on pedal powered bicycles. I knew something was wrong my first day on Ragbrai when my legs failed me and just about everyone on the ride passed me. Day 4 I was at the halfway point when I stopped st a fire station for a b.p. check and the lady medic convinced me to get in her…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 7 months, 3 weeks ago
I understand your point and agree 100 percent but the issue with bicyclists pedaling faster than the pack supplies equally with conventional pedal power bicycles. I’ve participated on Ragbrai since 2004 and been passed by plenty of speedsters on their lightest weight possible racing machines. And how about Lance Armstrong and his friends in y…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Things Not to Miss on the 2019 Route in the forum Miscellaneous 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Good find and story and we have Henry Dunwoody to thank for our savings installing all those cheaper light bulbs. Reminds me of Daniel Drawbridge in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania who beat Alexander Graham Bell in inventing the telephone in 1867 but was too poor to patent it. Bell Telephone fought Henry all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court for…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 7 months, 4 weeks ago
Good for you but of course everyone is not so lucky and some of us need a little more help to keep the pace due to heart disease or Lung issues or maybe we weren’t as fortunate in the genes department or we incurred a curve or too from Mother Nature. Would you really want to deny someone with less skills the thrill of riding across Iowa with t…[Read more]