mcpartla
- Active 1 month ago
mcpartla replied to the topic Killer Roads? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 2 weeks 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 1 month, 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 1 month, 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 1 month, 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 1 month, 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 2 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 5 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 5 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 5 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 5 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 5 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 5 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 5 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 6 months 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 6 months 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]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 6 months ago
I asked the Ragbrai insurance company (McKay Group) if they insure bike clubs for e-bikes and if “Throttle-assist” e-bikes are covered and response “e-bikes are acceptable during club activities as long as the bike requires pressure to be applied to the pedals”. Some “Throttle-assist e-bikes” have the option to turn this feature off but how wou…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 6 months, 1 week ago
I have a Trek CrossRip with 500 mg battery and limited to maximum speed of 20 mph and it must be pedaled to get e-assist. Love it! I’ll carry my recharger on Ragbrai ‘just in case’ and Ragbrai officials advise there are recharging stations at most towns we pass through near where the free water is located. Having the e-bike this year makes…[Read more]
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 6 months, 1 week ago
Our local Pennsylvania bike club insurance carrier will not cover “throttle-assisted e-bikes” is the reason I brought up this. I don’t know the carrier’s rationale because these bikes are approved for road use by PennDot provided they meet the requirements but I guess they can set the rules for coverage.
mcpartla replied to the topic Electric assist bikes? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 6 months, 1 week ago
What about Throttle-Assist e-bikes … are these legal in Iowa roads? New term to me but My understanding is these bicycles run automatically and require no pedaling to propel the bike and rider.
mcpartla replied to the topic Things Not to Miss on the 2019 Route in the forum Miscellaneous 6 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks, Chris. I’m also putting together a similar list for all of Iowa as my wife and I plan to drive around Iowa for about a week prior to this year’s Ragbrai seeing some of the highlights from my past 15 years doing Ragbrais.