montestaples
- Active 5 months, 2 weeks ago
montestaples replied to the topic G.O.A.T.? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 5 months, 3 weeks ago
I said to several people on the way home that this was the best RAGBRAI ever of my 16 that I have ridden. The cool weather and frequent tailwinds were major factors. The Century day was amazing with beautiful weather, tailwinds most of the day, minimal climbing, mostly good roads, and a great campsite to end the day. For me it was a personal…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic 100 mile completion patch in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Thanks to beautiful weather, a tail wind, and an early start I got to the Century patch site when it wasn’t too busy. It only took about a minute to get the patch and some free snacks. From what I heard later, it got so backed up that riders could not get off the road so that the road was blocked. I don’t think they ran out of patches but that the…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic COVID this year? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 5 months, 3 weeks ago
I started coughing and rhinitis (runny nose) on Tuesday of RAGBRAI. I thought it was my usual symptoms I always get when biking since I have a long history of asthma and chronic rhinitis. However I felt really good all week and never felt sick. When I got home I tested positive for covid so I called Urgent care. Since I felt fine and I was on day…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Gravel Day? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIX – 2022 10 months, 1 week ago
David mentioned “It wouldn’t be practical to send ragbrai down a rail trail.” Many years ago, I would have (did) said the same thing but after doing the Bacoon Ride every year I know it would not be a problem. Especially for a gravel loop or even a Karras Loop. The Bacoon ride has 71 miles on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and about 3000 riders. Y…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Tent question in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2021 10 months, 3 weeks ago
My first year on RAGBRAI, 2006, I used a fairly tall, straight sided, inexpensive tent. In Waukee we had a bad storm. I was inside with all my gear which kept the tent from blowing away. The side of the tent hit me a few times as it tried to fold up but somehow nothing broke. I used my camp towel to bail water afterwards. Some unoccupied tents…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic What is the issue around town shut down times? in the forum Miscellaneous 11 months, 3 weeks ago
The only time I experienced shut down times was in 2019. I finished the loop around the lake and stopped to rest after 114 miles with about 8 miles to go. I laid down under a shade tree surrounded by many riders and several vendors. I woke up when I was no longer in shade to find almost everybody gone, except a couple vendors all packed up and…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Century Day in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2021 11 months, 3 weeks ago
There is no Karras/Century Loop this year. The Century will be the route, like it was many years ago before the optional Karras Loop was established. No big deal for all the riders that have done the Loop every year but maybe a problem for some. The loop would not be the same without the opportunity to get a picture shaking hands with John Karras.…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Best Charters in the forum Clubs, Teams & Charters 12 months ago
I have used Central Iowa Charter and Lake Country Cyclists for 15 years. Really the same charter that had a name change a few years ago. I would call them a small to mid sized charter at roughly 120 bikers. Over the years they have added services and hired more crew. They are great people that keep a lot of regulars coming back year after year.…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Rain gear in the forum Miscellaneous 1 year ago
I always pack a quality, waterproof rain jacket on RAGBRAI but only carry it while riding if rain is predicted. Almost always that works out fine. I always use a Camelback hydration pack so it’s easy to carry a rain jacket. In 15 years of RAGBRAI I have ridden several days of cold rain. The worst was 2014 riding into the pass-through town of…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN ON RAGBRAI in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 years, 1 month ago
When I saw this post I immediately thought of 2006, day 2, Ida Grove to Audubon. DenBiker described that day pretty well but I would add a couple things. Many of those large hills were what I refer to as 40 mph hills which usually means coasting down at over 40 mph. Several times while having to pedal down those hills to keep from being blown over…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Getting in touch with people when cell phones not working in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 years, 11 months ago
I have always had Verizon for the last 14 years on RAGBRAI. Text messaging is much more likely to work although I have received some messages even the next day back in 2011 I think. It seems to me that phone service on RAGBRAI has gotten better over the years. In recent years RAGBRAI has provided a few portable cell towers in the overnight towns…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic RAIN! in the forum Miscellaneous 2 years, 11 months ago
Becky Gilreath said:
I have a question about gear…I have a couple of rain jackets, so I’m good. But I’m not sure what to do with my head. I thought I wanted a hooded jacket, but then I started to think how hard it would be to turn my head to check traffic etc.
So what do you suggest as a head covering?[/quote]
One rainy RAGBRAI day I had a groce…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic RAIN! in the forum Miscellaneous 2 years, 11 months ago
In 2011 my daughter and I rode all day in a cold rain. We eventually took refuge in a convenience store in a tiny pass though town along with about 200 other riders. They kept making hot chocolate and running a wet-vac to keep the water level on the floor below 1/2 inch. Eventually someone yelled “I got the weather to work (on a laptop). It’s…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Biking coast-to-coast and RAGBRAI: advice wanted in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 years, 11 months ago
Thank you Gypsy Rose for the great story. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt and I had tears running down my face. I will carry that mental image for a long time.
montestaples replied to the topic Does anyone ride a decent high end road bike? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 2 years, 11 months ago
I have been on 14 RAGBRAIs and never been concerned about locking my bike. It is mid-range in cost, about $2000. However a few times I was starting to think it was stolen but turned out I was looking in the wrong place. The worst was at a mid-day stop, parked in a large hay-field. When I parked there were only a few bikes. When I went to leave…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic CPAP? in the forum Miscellaneous 2 years, 11 months ago
The Schumacher Multi-functional Portable Digital Power Station in an answer above would probably work as it has an 18 amp/hour battery. However it is a starting battery and a lead/acid battery so it is not likely to be a deep cycle battery. If you deeply discharge it too many times it probably won’t last very long. I would get one without a…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic CPAP? in the forum Miscellaneous 2 years, 11 months ago
I worked for a respiratory home care company for 10 years so I worked with many hundreds of CPAP and BiPAP patients. Any normal CPAP/BiPAP will run on an inverter (convert 12 volts to 120 volts) attached to a battery, most likely as large as a car battery. There are some small portable CPAPs designed for travel use but it may depend on your…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Charter Q from first timer – Pork Belly Ventures vs. Central Iowa Charters in the forum Clubs, Teams & Charters 2 years, 11 months ago
Central Iowa Charters (CIC) changed names last year. Before that it was Lake Country Cyclists (LCC), named after a bike club in Ankeny, Iowa. They have been around a long time and always had riders not in the club. They are much smaller than Pork Belly Ventures with about 80-100 riders. Almost everybody brings their own tent and most set it up…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic Laundry in the forum Miscellaneous 4 years, 6 months ago
On 12 RAGBRAIs I have usually found a laundromat mid-week. It is best to locate them before RAGBRAI and plan ahead because internet access on a smart phone is pretty iffy during RAGBRAI. I carry one of those really inexpensive (free) backpacks with cords over the shoulders just to carry a load of laundry while riding. Works fine but not…[Read more]
montestaples replied to the topic No License Plates this Year? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 4 years, 6 months ago
I always thought the license plates were a good idea and have always used one. However most people do not use them so I was not surprised when one was not in the packet. I think they finally decided not to bother and save some money. It seems to me that more people around camp knew my name than I knew theirs. And sometimes out on the road I was…[Read more]
