navychief01
- Active 7 years, 8 months ago
navychief01 replied to the topic One Hundred Dollars. in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 8 months ago
What about an Uber with a bike rack?
I think the difficulty in getting to RAGBRAI is the thing that keeps people from going or getting there. Every year we’ve gone, we’ve driven and someone has SAGged in our group. Next year I anticipate not having the same team members along. I live/work in the NoVA/DC/MD/South Central PA region. If someone…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Porta-Pottie ratio in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 8 months ago
We stayed at the high school in Leon, and it seemed like they did a decent job with the Porta-Potties. We were on the side where the baggage trucks were.
Last year I thought the situation was stellar. The outhouses were very clean and pretty plentiful. My only complaint then was that in Ft Dodge they picked them all up (the the high school)…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Biking etiquette, common sense and not being stupid. in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 8 months ago
Glad this “on your left” thing came up. I say “on your left” when I passing on your left. I don’t mean you have to move right or even acknowledge me. It also means that I feel like I have sufficient room to safely pass you. If I don’t, I wait. On Day 2 to Creston a woman came up behind me when I was all the way on the left side of the road…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Random RAGBRAI Thoughts For 2016 in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 8 months ago
Maps: The only person who needs a map is the first person on the road in the morning. Everyone else just follows.
Helmets: I saw many more people this year riding without helmets than I did last year.
Earbuds: I saw people using earbuds. Not cool. Using just one? Still not cool. I came upon more than one person and said “on your left”…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic What was with all the car traffic this year? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 8 months ago
Ben,
You’re not the only one who thinks this. I was appalled at the exit out of Mount Ayr where I saw several semis barreling down the hill by the Hy-Vee. There was a lot of on-off cycle traffic in that area and gobs of bikes and no one in authority seemed inclined to at least tell people to slow down or use another route. Also, RAGBRAI needs…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic How many miles do you plan to ride during RAGBRAI week? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 9 months ago
Last year I was 527. I’ll be surprised if I don’t get to 500, but I may SAG a day for my team. Guess I’ll go for a ride after I get the tents set up that day.
navychief01 replied to the topic Law Enforcement Sting Outside Glenwood & Muscatine in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 9 months ago
If true this is a great way to get people to not come on RAGBRAI. Yeah, a vehicle should be safe, but what’s the difference between me driving a fully loaded big-ass UHaul with just my normal license, and driving a school bus with some passengers and some bikes on the roof? Maybe I’ll just take my money to Omaha on Saturday, pull up short of…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Fundraising with son in the forum Miscellaneous 7 years, 9 months ago
My take is that RAGBRAI is a big-ass fundraiser. And not just for charities. I personally have no problem with any one who is riding to be riding for a good cause. I think there are plenty of teams and individuals that are doing just that, so adding one more should never be an issue. Besides, if someone doesn’t want to give they don’t have to.
navychief01 replied to the topic Feet of Climb Question in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 9 months ago
KenH is right. I think it’s kind of an Iowan joke to tell you you just rode up the last hill and it’s only 5 more miles to go. And FWIW I think most people ride way farther than the official RAGBRAI mileage. Last year’s official was 462, but my meter had me at 527 for the week. Now I did double back to bring in a struggling rider from my team…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Newbie Practical Questions in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 9 months ago
I’m kind of late to this party, but here goes. RAGBRAI is exactly what you want it to be. Some nights I go see the band and eat where all the vendors are. Some nights I don’t. Last year in Eldora, we stayed at a state park, so our team showered after the ride that day and drove over to Marshalltown and found an awesome Mexican place to eat.…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Do you lock your bike? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 9 months ago
Locks keep honest people honest. At night we lock the bikes up and we remove saddle bags, water bottles, electronic devices, cameras etc. Those are in the vehicle recharging. I didn’t hear of any bikes stolen last year, but why risk it?
navychief01 replied to the topic Vegan On Ragrai- Tips? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 9 months ago
Two things:
First, I’m enjoying reading that a VEGAN signed up with PBV.
Second, my team is staying at two different churches. They’ve told me what their menus are and they seem to have some veggies and fruit offerings. PBV has a good reputation and I bet they’d be able to help you source what you need. I don’t think it’s uncommon for…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Feet of Climb Question in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 9 months ago
Forget about how much climbing there is. Just learn how to climb. By that I don’t mean become a “climber” in the professional cyclist sense of the word. I just mean get comfortable with your body, your bike, and by extension, your gears. Much of the gain is very incremental. On last year’s ride, especially heading to Coralville Dam, and then…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic How to handle the Heat? in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 9 months ago
Lots of good advice here. EnduroLytes are life savers. Gatorade is fine, but doesn’t contain magnesium and calcium, which help prevent cramps. You must have ridden enough to know your own body. For instance, no matter how hot it is, I don’t take a drink for the first 10 miles. I also eat very little before I ride in the morning. I eat a ton…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic 2016 Participant Package in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 10 months ago
Don’t worry. I got an email about my package shipping, and it was at my house a couple days later, just like they said. It came last Thursday. I live on the East Coast. Also, unlike many rides or just generally things in life you buy over the internet, you can easily reach a real live person at RAGBRAI. I’ve spoken to them a couple of times…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Sunburn Prevention in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 10 months ago
For the sweating issue: I was recently experiencing eye burn from sweat. My LBS recommended a HALO band, which I had seen advertised in the back of Bicycling Magazine. It works pretty good. It’s black neoprene, one size fits most, with a yellow rubbery band inside the headband. It’s designed to channel the sweat away, not absorb it. I wore…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic New Rider Trying to Decide on Ragbrai in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 10 months ago
Lots of great advice given here. Bike fit is important. But one thing that wasn’t mentioned is that sometimes you just have a bad day on the bike. If you rode 35 miles without getting off the bike, I’d say that’s a pretty decent stretch for a touring rider, especially one starting out. RAGBRAI isn’t a 420-500 mile ride. It’s 31 15 mile rides.…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Getting miles in in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 11 months ago
If you’ve ridden RAGBRAI 18 times you could get no miles in and still do fine. I ride as much as I can. No matter how far I ride, I’d like to have gone farther. 7 a day is great, that’s still 200 a month. The most I’ve ridden this year is 40, although I’ve done that a few times. But if there was a century this weekend I was signed up for, I’d…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic I haven't ridden RAGBRAI in ten years (2006) in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 7 years, 11 months ago
I like to eat very little when I ride. I eat mountains of food when I am done for the day. Last year I really think I spent less than $10 a day, 8 of which would typically be on cold Diet Coke. Water is typically free in each town and in one town, right as I rode in, a woman and boy were giving away ice, which was awesome. I do remember…[Read more]
navychief01 replied to the topic Music while you cycle in the forum RAGBRAI XLIV – 2016 8 years, 1 month ago
I enjoyed the music last year-most of it. When someone was playing something I liked, I told them so, and in some cases rode and chatted with them for awhile. If I didn’t like it, I either rode faster than them or let them pass. I’m considering getting a modest speaker for this year’s ride. I think everyone needs to keep in mind that RAGBRAI…[Read more]
