15 Comments

1. 

   Shawnx86 on May 22, 2012 at 5:51 am

   I am getting my liver prepped now. Can’t wait!

2. 

   Mike Clark on May 22, 2012 at 6:09 am

   Trying to get those all important training miles in.

3. 

   CraigD on May 22, 2012 at 6:22 am

   That’s my goal!!

4. 

   Jochen Ditterich on May 22, 2012 at 6:41 am

   can hardly wait

5. 

   David Thompson on May 22, 2012 at 6:42 am

   I’m following the training schedule but am doing 5 – 10 more miles per ride than it calls for. My goal is 2,000 miles before RAGBRAI. I hope that will make for an easier ride, this is my first time and I don’t want to bonk!!!

   David

6. 

   Ron Dickinson on May 22, 2012 at 7:11 am

   David:

   2,000 miles is overkill for Ragbrai. This is one of the easier rides, but even on the toughest years, I put in around 1,000 per ride. Many of my friends have less. I have completed 11 state rides.

   If you want ot ride 2,000 miles for over health and exercise that’s great, but the Ragbrai challenge doesn’t require it.

   That being said, there is nothing worse than being undertrained.

7. 

   Craig on May 22, 2012 at 9:33 am

   I played golf all one year and only road 30 miles ahead of time and it was fine. I usually try to get about a thousand in but that’s more for fun.

8. 

   dbkguy on May 22, 2012 at 9:35 am

   2000 miles? I think that’s great. You’ll be in great shape for Ragbrai. You’ll have more fun, you’ll hurt less, and the hills won’t be as bad. Sure it’s a bit of overkill, but hey, you won’t regret it.

9. 

   Lynn on May 22, 2012 at 3:47 pm

   David,

   I’m a first timer, too and am also shooting for 2,000 miles of training. I have about 1,100 in so far. Nothing like being prepared! Plus, it’s a great excuse to just get out and ride.

10. 

    strut on May 23, 2012 at 8:09 am

    Full time over the road truck driver. I have in 600 miles
    can’t wait

11. 

    SLB56 on May 23, 2012 at 8:15 am

    3rd year rider, along with outdoor riding, take every spin class that is available. Endurance is the key…. Looking forward to a GREAT year!

12. 

    Whitney on May 23, 2012 at 8:53 pm

    This will be my 14th RAGBRAI over the last 26 years. When you are younger, you can get by with fewer training miles. But it doesn’t work so well when you are older. One really great thing with more miles is that your butt will be much happier. Now in my late 50’s, I’m shooting for at least 1800 with 500 done so far. Have fun!!!

13. 

    Eman on May 26, 2012 at 8:14 pm

    I have ridden 28 RAGBRAIs beginning in 1984. I can tell you from experience, it’s not so much the miles you need to prepare for, it’s time on the saddle. If you have not been riding, your saddle will tell you by Tuesday whether or not you have trained enough. Bag balm, or the like, during the day and a nice dusting of Gold Bond after your evening shower work great!

14. 

    Cathy on May 27, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    Thank you all for your comments! Very helpful for this first timer in her mid-50’s. Having trained for and completed my first full-marathon in January, I began training for RAGBRAI in March. You would think there would be some great places to bike/train in South Florida but the trails/lanes are few and far between for distance riders. So far, I’ve completed about 640 miles (spinning & biking) of training. Did 45 miles in the Keys yesterday during mid-day heat and it was tough. The humidity and blazing Noon sun did me in. Sure hope I’m up for the challenge! Be safe & have fun training!

15. 

    Discounts on July 23, 2012 at 12:11 am

    I do believe all of the ideas you have introduced in your post. They’re really convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are very brief for starters. Could you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.