Day two - Storm Lake to Algona

This was a really fun day. The ride was not over especially difficult terrain although the last 10 miles were mostly uphill, but the length made it interesting. I decided to do the century today - that's 100 miles for the day - and the wind got stronger today from the south so it was a factor.
But the most interesting thing today was that Allison Foil and I connected about 33 miles. There are about 13,000 riders in this event. Allison is one of our Davie County Cycling Club riders from NC and is the only club member other than myself in the ride. We spoke by phone last night and I told her that I planned to wear our Davie Club jersey today and to look for me. Well, one wouldn't really expect her to be able to find me. We all leave to join the ride at different times, we ride at our own speed and we stop at towns and meal stops for various lengths of time.
I left at 7:10 this morning and rode with Jim from our group. We travelled with hundreds of other cyclists on the road headed for Varina, the firsty town some 16 miles down the road. We stopped briefly for watermelon just past Varina, electing not to stop in Varina because there was such a crush of people and long lines. After the melon, which served as our second breakfast after the juice and a bagel with cream cheese,we rode on and I increased my speed leaving Jim a little behind. The road was so flat or slightly downhill so I could easily manage a 16 to 20 mph average. The wind was negligible.
Pocohantas was the first sizeable city on the route and as I was slowing into the town I heard a voice shout "Hey Davie County -- Roger!" It was Allison. We rode the rest of the way together averaging 15.5 mph for the 100 mile trip. Allison, like me, wanted to take advantage of the interesting things along the way. We stopped for Ice Cream, PB&J with raisins and bananas, corn on the cob, pasta, visited with mechanics, grabbed beverages enroute and, best of all, toured the largest grotto in the world in West Bend. The grotto in West Bend is a remarkable structure that took more than 80 years to create. The structures covered with semi precious and interesting stones from around the world. The stations of the cross, the italian marble statues depicting Christ, the holy family in stone covered settings that are difficult to describe but are housed on roughly 2 acres of property. It was worth the ride.
We averaged 15.5 mph, rode about 6 hours of the total of 8.5 hours before arriving in Algona.
I missed the turn to our housing so wandered around the outskirts of Algona before I found someone who gave me directions to the home where we are staying. Big hills in and around Algona.
Lets talk about the ride situation. The wind picked up from the south during the day so we had a cross wind or head wind most of the time. It made the ride challenging at times.
I also had my gears and derailleurs worked on last night to correct a slight rub of the front derrailleur. Well, that $10 was not well spent. I could not get on the large ring (gear) on the front without a great deal of difficulty and if I could engage the ring, the derrailleur rubbed so much it created a racket. During the 20 mile "loop" those of us doing 100 miles instead of the posted 80 miles, we came across a mechanic who also worked on my gears and pronounced them fine. Wrong. So I think this is a larger problem than I can get handled on this ride. Guess I'll be riding with the first and second rings and forget the large ring so I need to get used to it. Its not a huge deal, but relaxing and going real fast are out of the question. Barbara will like that.
Did I tell you that one of the claims to fame Algona claims is that it is the home of the world's largest Cheeto? Seems someone in England opened a Cheeto bag and found a Cheeto larger than a golf ball but smaller than a tennis ball. It was put up for auction and somehow the city began bidding. Some DeeJay in town took the ball and got it rolling. The bidding outpace the town's ability to pay getting up to a ridiculous $1,000,000 on EBay. Well, the Brit who owned it decided that Algona really needed the Cheeto so he awarded it to them for whatever and today it is housed in a bullet proof display case in town. I haven't seen it (likely won't) but it is a claim to fame.
Enroute we passed more wind farms with their giant blades turning on the horizon. These mammoths are really remarkable to see. There was more corn and soybeans than you could believe. In one area the corn stretched from horizon to horizon. That's a lot of corn.
Tomorrow we go toClear Lake , an Iowa town I've never seen. I'm told it is really beautiful and interesting. The route is only 8 miles and looks like it has rolling hills and is east west. It gets me one day closer to seeing childhood friend Carmen in Charles City who has promised me a rhubarb pie when we have dinner together.
The group I'm riding with is really interesting and we have shared stories about the college from the days I went to now. It really is nice to know this school has maintained its high standards as a liberal arts institution and, from what I can see, has moved to make things even better for the students than when I attended. It also costs $30,000+ a year vs. $2,000
Don't forget to help the Clemmons Food Pantry by sending a check to Clemmons Methodist Church, Clemmons, NC 27012 and note either Food Pantry or Roger's Ride on the check. You will help some very deserving people who volunteer to proved help to some other very deserving people.
Thanks.

Day one - Sioux Falls to Storm Lake

We dipped our tire in the Missouri River on Saturday evening before going to an early sleep experience in the tent. I did pretty well in the tent and got up at 6, packed everything up and got my bike ready. I had a problem keeping my valve stem in the tube so finally got my tires up to pressure and set off about 7:20. Just an aside, if you rode RAGBRAI last year, this year's route is soooo much easier. There were hills of course but they weren't endless and only about four or five were more than 5 degrees of climb.
Stopped at the first town to get my valve stem tightened, then off I went. About 10 miles in I threw the chain and after getting it back on it gave me fits for the next 10 miles. Kept jumping gears which made it impossible to put much pressujre on pedals during the climbs. So my pace was much slower than I might have done. Got to Kingsley and spent an hour getting through the line to get it repaired. Discovered my chain was bent so replaced it. Filled my drink bottles and off I went. I promised Barbara I'd ride carefully this year so I slowed my pace from last year to about 13 mph and didnt fly downhills. I've also learned a lot about how to more effectively climb hills without tiring out and just spun my way up the hills without a lot of effort.
Met some interesting people on the ride, as you would expect. A violinist with the Cherokee Symphony was identified by his tee shirt. He said they were giving a free concert in Storm Lake so I said I'd go. I did, by the way, and the all volunteer group played to a standing room only crowd and it was lots of fun. Music was good and appropriate for the audience.
Talked to lots of other folks who commented on my Coe College riding clothes. The Coe group I'm riding with has neat clothes designed by the head of the art department, Peter Thompson. His paintings of farm yard scenes look great on the jersey and elicited a lot of conversation. There are 23 people on our group and they each have interesting personalities. More on them in the future.
The ride went through some really pretty Iowa scenery and this year I was committed to watching more of it rather than trying to "finish first". There are very large wind farms with huge windmills to generate electricity. One of the turbines was destroyed by lightning two nights earlier during the storms that swept through the state. Bet the insurance bill for that is high.
The streams were all still very full although they were receding.
It seemed like there were a significantly larger number of riders this year. We spent more time walking our bikes because of the large crowds at some of the more popular food stands along the road than I remember last year. We still have to get off and walk through the towns like last year though.
I ate very well as usual. Corn on the cob, rhubarb pie, pork sandwich all met the expectations of a trip through Iowa.
The weather was cool in the morning and hot in the afternoon. I arrived in Storm Lake at 3:30 and the team had barbecue pork sandwiches, watermelon, potato salad and chips for dinner.
It was a good day for a ride of 69 miles through the Iowa countryside. We are staying at a funeral home tonight after staying at a beautiful home last night that was more than a hundred years old. I showered and pitched my tent. Got my gears adjusted, attended the concert, enjoyed conversation with the team members and now I'm going to bed to get ready to ride to Algona tomorrow. Algona by the way is the home of the world's largest Chito. I think I might try to get a look at that when I arrive.
Talk to you tomorrow.

And we're off

An uneventful drive to Sioux City has Team CoeBRAI ready to ride. The Karpuks opened their lovely yard to our merry band and a tent village soon emerged on this picturesque property. SMASHMOUTH headlined the RAGBRAI kickoff party, consequently I'm up well past when I should be.


Flooding in northeast Iowa is prominent in all of our minds as we begin this adventure. Our prayers go out to all of the affected communities, some of which we will be biking through in just a few days.


If the forecast holds, we're in for nice weather to open the week. With 3,687 feet of climb over 68.5 miles, rain would only add insult to injury.


We'll be wearing our Coe jerseys into Beaver country, as Storm Lake is home to Buena Vista University. Our host is Erin Toomer Smith '99. More later. Must sleep.