T. Gap Woo
- Active 3 days, 18 hours ago
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Why do you RAGBRAI? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVIII – 2020 3 days, 18 hours ago
My story begins in 2004, when I began my teaching career as a middle school math teacher at age 51.
Per the curriculum, I began the year with a unit on pre-algebra. I was using a book called “Variables and Patterns”, the gist of which introduced the concept of using constants and variables to determine patterns. The “story” of the book involve…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Smaller rides and competitive forces. in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 weeks, 1 day ago
I am truly torn over “Ragbrai vs Iowa’s Ride”. Can Ragbrai pull everything together with a relatively new and inexperienced staff in such a short time? Can Iowa’s Ride overcome the typical start-up problems that a new venture encounters?
My gut reaction says “Stay away a few years until all the bugs are worked out.” Then, rely on that old le…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic RAGBRAI L? (aka the 50th anniversary ride) in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Try this route on for size: since this is Ragbrai L, how about an L-shaped route? Start in the north in Rock Valley and ride south along the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers to Hamburg. Then turn east along the Iowa/Missouri border to Fort Madison. A perfect L shape!
Of course, this route would probably take two weeks and DMR wouldn’t go for it. I…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo started the topic Please “clean” the Forum! in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Good afternoon, TJ!
Here’s a project for your IT staff. If one doesn’t already exist, create a method where the DMR webmaster can officially close out a thread and prevent new posts to an old thread. If you already have this capability, use it! Perhaps creating a Ragbrai XLVIII – 2020 will automatically freeze out any new posts under prior yea…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic What prevents you from riding RAGBRAI every year? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 months ago
I’ve missed two RAGBRAIs in the past seven years 😢.
In 2016, the week before Ragbrai, I was in Culver City CA taping an episode of The Wheel of Fortune. There just wasn’t enough time to get back to the east coast and then drive out to Glenwood IA. Although the heat and humidity in Costa Rica, a vacation trip I won on the show, reminded me of Iow…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Please fire Aaron Calvin in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 months, 2 weeks ago
And this story relates to RAGBRAI …. how? Old tweets and First Amendment issues aside, this thread more appropriately belongs on the Letters to the Editor page of the DMR, not on the RAGBRAI forum. Let’s stick to all things bicycling, shall we?
See you along the I-O-Way next year.
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Solve These Two Issues…. in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I’ll address the “younger rider” issue first, as it will ultimately affect the gender balance issue in the future.
When I was teaching junior high schoolers (2004-2017), I noticed a disturbing trend. Probably half of my students were overweight. This applied to both boys and girls. Their weights ranged from slightly overweight to extre…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Killer Roads? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 months, 1 week ago
Truer words have never been spoken! I have had the “pleasure” of biking US Rt 209 through the Delaware Water Gap national recreation area, the Stroudsburg Greenway through the Cherry Valley nature preserve, and PA Bike Route Y from Hawley PA to Narrowsburg NY. I didn’t mind the hills and curves, as they were nothing I couldn’t handle. However…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Items shipped from Ragbrai Store in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Please look under the “Shop” tab on this website. There is a statement saying their shop is closed for post-Ragbrai inventory. They expect to be open ASAP, but no later than the end of August.
Patience is a virtue! As Daddy Woo used to say, “Lord give me patience, but give it to me NOW!”
See you along the I-O-Way next year. I can’t wait!
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Where to next year? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 months, 3 weeks ago
….. And thus starts the great debate! It’s going to be a long, cold winter, so let’s get at it. Just remember, folks, to keep it civil, non-political and on-topic.
See you along the I-O-Way next year (wherever direction the route takes!).
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Where to next year? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 3 months, 3 weeks ago
As the name indicates, Ragbrai runs ACROSS Iowa. Who says that “across” means west to east? Why can’t we ride “across” Iowa from north to south? Why not ride along the Big Sioux/Missouri Rivers or along the mighty Mississippi? If the total mileage doesn’t add up to the usual number, just throw in some non-optional loops. Go south to north as a…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Weird thing in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months ago
If you remember Allen Funt and Durward Kirby, you’re as old as I am. Darn, we’re as old as dirt!!
I had a similar incident several Ragbrai’s ago. On a hot Iowa day (aren’t they all?), I put down the kickstand and went into a Casey’s. When I came out, my Trek was on its side with the kickstand buried deep in the asphalt parking lot. Now I loo…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic 8th Flattest Route? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months, 1 week ago
Greetings, fellow Nutmegger from a native Torringtonian (now living elsewhere)!
Mrs Woo and I have solved this issue! In those years where the route is north or central, we book a motel in the Quad Cities area. We sightsee on our way there on Saturday, get a good night’s sleep and then head east on I-80 to the greater Cleveland area, where w…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic E-Bikers, A Few Etiquette Improvements in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months, 1 week ago
Thank you for confirming what I wrote on a prior thread.
“On your left/right” is not unique to Ragbrai. I have heard other cyclists call this out on the Delaware and Lehigh Canal Trail between Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia PA, the Pine Creek Trail between Wellsboro and Jersey Shore PA, as well as along the Great Allegheny Passage/C&O Canal Tra…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Bus Insurance in the forum Clubs, Teams & Charters 4 months, 1 week ago
Mark,
Contact your local general insurance agent (not tied to any specific company). They will be able to guide you to a suitable insurer and hopefully get you the best coverage and rate (more bang for your buck). Good luck!
See you along the I-O-Way next year.
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Those With Youth Riders: Youth Road Bike? in the forum Miscellaneous 4 months, 2 weeks ago
My LBS has a trade-in program for youth bikes. Buy one when your child is ready. When they outgrow it, trade it in for a larger bike. When that bike is too small, trade again when they should be ready for an adult bike. When the Woo grandchildren are old enough for bikes, this is what I’m doing. Right now, they’re training on tricycles and are alr…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic 8th Flattest Route? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Ha ha! Love that sense of humor. You’re a real card (joker, perhaps?). As the Sage of Rabbit Hash would say, “There’s no hill in Iowa I can’t walk!”
See you along the I-O-Way next year.
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Observations about the ride in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Whoa! Slow down! This forum is supposed to be bicycle-related and about all things cycling. It ought to be politics-free. To paraphrase Barney Fife, “We’ve got to nip it in the bud!” Take the political discussion to a more appropriate forum.
End of rant. See you along the I-O-Way next year.
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Observations about the ride in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months, 2 weeks ago
May I respectfully disagree with your “on your left” comment? Calling out “on your left” is NOT a demand that the rider being overtaken must move to the right in order to allow a straight line for the passing bike. Rather, it is a common-sense safety measure intended to warn the bike being passed that they should hold their line in order t…[Read more]
T. Gap Woo replied to the topic Where to next year? in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months, 2 weeks ago
LeMars to LeClaire is perfect. Mrs Woo and I can hit the Blue Bunny ice cream parlor at the beginning of the festivities and top off the week at the Wide River Winery shop. The only way this route could be better is if it went through Pella, where Mrs Woo and I can enjoy letter cookies and Dutch meats. Yum!
See you along the I-O-Way next year.