RoyBoy
- Active 4 months ago
RoyBoy replied to the topic Rain Gear in the forum Miscellaneous 4 months, 2 weeks ago
When it is a cold or windy rain you will need a rain jacket and helmet cover for warmth. When it is a warm rain you will overheat with a jacket and helmet cover and be totally drenched in sweat, so go without.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Gravel Loop Thoughts and Questions in the forum RAGBRAI XLVII – 2019 4 months, 2 weeks ago
If you are thinking of riding the gravel loop, get some saddle time on some gravel before RAGBRAI. Case in point, a rather tall, muscular guy was bragging how easy it was on the first half of the loop with his carbon fiber fat bike. But when it came to the hills on the second half, he kept losing traction and had to walk up. I had no trouble with…[Read more]
RoyBoy replied to the topic RAGBRAI XLV – "In retrospect, I wish I had……." in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
I didn’t take the time to talk to the local people this year as much I did in the past but I did talk to other riders a lot more this year. And I never did get to talk with Mr. Pork Chop on past rides but I did get to talk to his son Matt this year. It was another great ride.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Be Kind in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
It has been a few years since I had nothing left to ride up a hill on RAGBRAI but if I had nothing left, I’m not too proud to get out and walk. Still happens occasionally on training rides. Like it’s been said, “I’ve never met a hill I couldn’t walk up”. Don’t let it get you down.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Best and Worst? in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
I agree, Clear Lake camping was not very good. There were plenty of kybos throughout the camp ground but they were reserved for special teams and the public ones were a long way away. I heard someone say they used one of the private kybos in the middle of the night and purposely slammed the door as loudly as they could.
RoyBoy replied to the topic RAGBRAI greeting and best wishes in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
Take care Mich. See you next year!
P.S. Do you have your own private curb in your backyard with room to sit for a few friends? Just wondering.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Bath towels? in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
Not all shower facilities have towels to rent so buy yourself a microfiber towel. Give it a couple of shakes and it’s almost dry. Fluffy cotton towels will not dry very well in the humidity and start to smell funky towards the end of the week. And the extra cost to rent one is not bad considering the alternative is having to pack a wet towel.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Bath towels? in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
Get a microfiber towel. Give it a couple of shakes and it’s almost dry. Cotton towels, especially big fluffy ones, will not dry in the humidity and start to smell funky towards the end of the week. And the extra cost to rent one is not bad considering the alternative is having a wet towel that won’t dry.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Waukon to Lansing shortcut in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
Route 9 is the support road. Not recommended. Follow the posted route. When the route turns south (right) keep going straight and turn left (north) on Harper Lansing Road. Much safer and only 3 miles more than Route 9. No pass through towns.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Waukon to Lansing shortcut in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
Route 9 is the support road. Not recommended. Follow the posted route. When the route turns south (right) keep going straight and turn left (north) on Harper Lansing Road. Much safer and only 3 miles more than Route 9. No towns to go through though.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Waukon to Lansing shortcut in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
Route 9 is the support road. Not recommended.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Garmin Courses in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 3 months ago
The GravelRAG17 does not loop back like the posted route shows.
RoyBoy replied to the topic RV Camping in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 4 months ago
The only way to guarantee a nice spot on the first night of RAGBRAI is to get there early. Real early.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Japanese Beetle Uggghhhh in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 4 months ago
I’ve had numerous occasions where I have been peppered with lots of different kinds of flying bugs. June bugs, Japanese beetles, bees, wasps, flies, gnats, you name it, I’ve hit it. Most everyone I ride with just spits them out the best way they can. The worst encounter was a bee sting on the top of my head. The bee got very angry being stuck…[Read more]
RoyBoy replied to the topic How do you thank the host? in the forum Miscellaneous 2 years, 4 months ago
For using the host’s facilities, our team strongly encourages each member to chip in $5. Most times our hosts will decline the money but we tell them to donate it to a charity of their choice. The team leaders also send a thank you card after RAGBRAI is over.
RoyBoy replied to the topic Another Helmet Question in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 4 months ago
I had a black Giro helmet with some white accents at the back of the helmet that looked like giant eyes. It was extremely helpful to wear it when I rode in red winged blackbird country. Before I bought it the blackbirds would pester me to no end and some would even attack my helmet. But when I wore this helmet the birds would still pester me but…[Read more]
RoyBoy replied to the topic to helmet or not to helmet??? in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 4 months ago
Seeing a rider on RAGBRAI without a helmet is rare. Usually a local that rides for a day. Even rarer is a week long rider. Having my fair share of crashes (road, gravel, and mountain biking), I’m glad I wear a helmet every time I ride. I did play football in high school and college and learned how to tuck and roll in a way that lessens the impact.…[Read more]
RoyBoy replied to the topic Trainning For longest day of Ragbrai in the forum Training 2 years, 5 months ago
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I always hydrate before a long ride with one bottle of water and try to drink at least one bottle every hour right from the start of the ride. Every third bottle on a long ride I have an electrolyte of some kind. Eat something about every hour too. You need to consume enough carbohydrates or you will exhaust your…[Read more]
RoyBoy replied to the topic Karras Loop Company in the forum RAGBRAI XLV – 2017 2 years, 5 months ago
Please note that when going through towns it is not safe to ride at speed. This means you will have to slow down in towns and that will require a faster average speed when out on the road. On a crowded road a speed faster that 20 mph is when there are more chances for a collision with slower riders as you will have less time to react. If you…[Read more]
RoyBoy replied to the topic Phone Mounts in the forum Miscellaneous 2 years, 5 months ago
One problem I had with a phone mount is the phone is out in the sun all day long and gets hot in direct sunlight and will shut itself down. So now I keep my iPhone in a jersey pocket. I use a Garmin Edge 520 hooked up with Bluetooth to my iPhone to let me know when I have incoming messages or phone calls. The Garmin tolerates the direct sun better…[Read more]