mootsman
- Active 19 hours, 6 minutes ago
mootsman replied to the topic 6:00 pm in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 day, 1 hour ago
I wouldn’t think too much about a few towns being heavy handed. Always a way around that. A group from a team I use to go with purposely leaves very late to enjoy wide open roads with few other riders. And as far as beer stops they like “ditch drinkin”. Buying a convenience store 18 pack and drinking it while relaxing in a ditch somewhere. Of…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic 2018 Recap in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 2 weeks, 4 days ago
LCM,
I used a standard pump for a while and just had to pump super fast. It worked but was not fun. On RAGBRAI just take out the stem and use a tube if you get a flat. That’s what I do on the road after draining the remaining sealant. Also I use a boot on even a small puncture. Ceding is tire is easier by first heating the tire in hot water after…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic 2018 Recap in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 weeks, 2 days ago
LCM,
I bought a Bontrager chamber pump but there are others by Blackburn and Lezyne also. You pump up the chamber to more then the desired tire inflation (I go about 50 lbs over) and pull a lever to blast the air into the tire fast to get it to cede more easily. Yup, the loud pops are normal.
Ken,
Big cuts still flat a tubeless but there are no…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic 2018 Recap in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 weeks, 5 days ago
If your only downside was a flat you can minimize and likely eliminate those by going tubeless. I’ve gone as many as 14,000 miles without a flat since converting. I did have issues with wider rims, wider tires and tubeless but that was a badly (cheaply) designed wider tire. Hutch had made their 23mm tires wider at the beads to make a 25mm instead…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic RAGBRAI length and format in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month ago
I think dipping into another state that the only benefit to the RAGBRAI organization itself would be is it would promoted in that state’s larger metro areas on TV news coverage. That would be a good way to recruit new riders who never heard about it before. That’s why RAGBRAI stays successful even as these other rides have had turnout decline,…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic RAGBRAI length and format in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month ago
James,
Bike Wisconsin was sold to a guy in Illinois named Rob who also owns Bike Illinois. The couple I think owned Bike Wisconsin previously. I know they bought GRABAAWR from Wheel & Sprocket although I’m not sure if Sprocket also owned SAAGBRAW at the time or the couple bought it directly from the Sentinel.
In any case, my point was that I…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic RAGBRAI length and format in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month ago
Ken, the Milwaukee Sentinel abandoned SAAGBRAW many years ago. Its been through multiple owners the latest being from Illinois. First a bike store chain took it over, Wheel & Sprocket. So the S stood for Sprocket’s instead of Sentinel for a while. Then a couple took it over and their last name started with S so that’s what it stood for. Going…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic RAGBRAI length and format in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month ago
As far as the route dipping into other states goes, it isn’t about DOTs or services. This goes back to the 70s when lots of newspapers were putting on cross state rides after they saw the benefit of RAGBRAI to the Register. I road the Wisconsin version at the time, SAAGBRAW with the S being for the Milwaukee Sentinel. I knew one of the cyclists…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic Thinking ahead to 2019 … in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month, 1 week ago
Ames and Des Moines could handle us all for 2 nights. The original route though is not close enough to Minnesota to loop into it. Maybe a Des Moines, West Des Moines or Waukee night with a loop following the Bacoon Ride’s paved bike trails. Might be tough to get 20,000 riders on a trail though.
Since the original route was loopless, I wonder if…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic Thinking ahead to 2019 … in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month, 1 week ago
The rotation has seemed to be north, central, south so 2019 should be south.
Amanda, as for the 6 day original route for the 50th edition, I’d suggest to the route people 2 nights in 1 town with a loop route with 2-3 mileage options for the additional day. Maybe the century town being in Minnesota. Like the TdF dips into other countries at times.
mootsman replied to the topic Input sought: road safety, campground quiet in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month, 1 week ago
JLVP,
Your latest post expresses a good deal of fear. Maybe you can’t adapt in which case you maybe want to consider other rides instead of RAGBRAI. Crashes are rare and if you see unsafe riding, the real solution is for you to figure out how to recognize it before it involves you in a crash and how to avoid it. And don’t worry about RAGBRAI…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic Input sought: road safety, campground quiet in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month, 1 week ago
It seems that you want RAGBRAI to change to meet your expectations. The real solution is how you can adapt to improve your experience. Few people would watch the videos and there will never be bike-cops pulling over offenders so lets get real. Few even read this forum. And a slogan change would change nothing.
Ride safety: Let’s forget about how…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic Pork Belly Ventures – Terrible this year in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Clearing up some potentially miss-leading info in the post above this one.
1) PBV has great showers that have private stalls. No public showering or standing water.
2) Its easy to find your tent at night in a large group, leave a light on so you can spot it easily.
3) PBV has a flush toilet trailer if you like to avoid kybos when possible
4) PBV…[Read more]
mootsman started the topic Join the RAGBRAI Pact in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month, 2 weeks ago
This year due to moving to my future retirement location I had to miss what sounded like a great RAGBRAI. So I am making a pact with myself this was the last RAGBRAI I will miss. Who will also make this their personal pact?
Its such a positive, life affirming experience. I like how on the forum the few threads started as a complaint get turned…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic Pork Belly Ventures – Terrible this year in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 1 month, 3 weeks ago
It depends on what YOU are looking for as to if PBV is your cup of tea. If being downtown is your deal then a well connected Iowa team is best. I was on a team but some of the hosts were further away then PBV’s campsites.
I went with a team for many years and switched to PBV for a more vacation like experience. I think they are great and walking…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic I need beer for the ride, how have you gotten beer in the past? in the forum Miscellaneous 3 months, 2 weeks ago
and your waiting until after the ride, skipping all the places along the way because????
As far as the campsite goes, that depends on if you’re going with a group (RAGBRAI team) or RAGBRAI general services. Most teams usually have coolers full of iced beer.
mootsman replied to the topic No Vendors outside of towns in first two counties in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 months, 3 weeks ago
MR, Maybe PBV would give you free passage and tent service if you become volunteer ambassador with PBV instead of riding. You’ve sold so many riders over the years on their service (including me) that they should.
And to those so worried about no rural vendors allowed in the 1st county with the longest stretch between towns only being 12 miles,…[Read more]
mootsman started the topic Monona County Appreciation Thread in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 3 months, 4 weeks ago
Many thanks to Monona County for hosting the opening day ride on RAGBRAI. This thread is for riders/vendors to express their appreciate for the county’s efforts. RAGBRAI is a ride for riders and vendors who will enjoy every mile of RAGBRAI including our visit to Monona County. And our overnight host, the city of Onawa.
mootsman replied to the topic No Vendors outside of towns in first two counties in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 4 months ago
AL,
Monona county isn’t changing this so adapt (like add an additional water bottle and holder to your bike). And you’re not old for RAGBRAI. Many of us are in the same age range or older. The Monona CB is not selfish.
All,
For all the riders so concerned about 12 miles without a vendor, adapt! Figure out a plan to deal and deal. Add a water…[Read more]
mootsman replied to the topic No Vendors outside of towns in first two counties in the forum RAGBRAI XLVI – 2018 4 months ago
That’s what the CB said. And they know the area. And promoting in town vendors does not exclude other vendors. I usually see Tom’s Turkey in pass through towns each day. Even though Tom’s is from another town. Nothing that will eventually take down RAGBRAI to worry about.