Packing advice: bring the sunscreen

Bob's post reminds me of an important piece of advice I might forget to mention: bring sunscreen, lots of it. In only two years, the sunscreen application ritual has become a CoeBRAI tradition.

Though I'm not as dedicated as most, as my leathery skin will attest by ride's end, repeated sunscreen application is more important than water to get you to the Mississippi. Iowa in July can be quite brutal. The highways we'll traverse will not be shaded.

Bob got burned on our training ride to Center Point and I got a head start on my farmer's tan. And it was "only" 26 miles, not to mention April.

It was so good to ride with Bob, Katy and Brian on a glorious Saturday. I set a personal best in distance for a non-RAGBRAI day, covering 39 miles, including the distance between my house and our gathering spot, in just over 3-1/2 hours (not including lunch at Joensies, where we took advantage of two RAGBRAI traditions, pork and pie).

Weekly Friday rides begin at noon May 4. Gather at Clark Racquet Center (locker rooms available) for a 10-mile ride along the Cedar River Trail. I'm also available for weekend rides on Saturday, May 12; Sunday, May 20; Saturday, June 2; Sunday, June 3; Saturday, June 23; Saturday, July 7; Sunday, July 8; Saturday, July 14; and Sunday, July 15.

here comes the sun

Just to report: when the temperature outside is 72 degrees, this does not eliminate UV rays. No need to submit a federal grant request to confirm this groundbreaking scientific conclusion. Just come look at my arms. (or trust me. My arms hurt.)

Not since I picked ice plant for four hours from a cliff near the Pacific just south of San Francisco have I generated such a burn. It's not life-threatening, but is at least noticable.

But that is the least of Saturday's adventure. Four of us met in Hiawatha for a good ride; I think we averaged closer to 12-14 mph than my previously predicted eight mph. Heck, I'm ready to push it, sometime. Not real soon, but sometime. WITH sunscreen.

Also, to reiterate: a Coe alum can call themself a 'Coester', which is always handy a parties, because people will hand you drinks, thinking you're trustworthy by the label. Use this benefit responsibly.

Bob

Training ride

Members of Team CoeBRAI in and around the Cedar Rapids area are invited to join in our first group training ride of 2007. We will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday at Boyson Road in Hiawatha and bike 13 miles to Center Point along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. After breaking for lunch at Jonesies, we’ll return to Cedar Rapids.

That’s 26 miles round trip. If you're available and interested, just show up. And bring a friend.

Meanwhile, we've finalized the jersey design and will be submitting orders on May 11. Please go to http://coebrai.coe.edu/ and click on "jersey order" for sizing and ordering information. Also be sure to indicate if you will be attending the alumni gathering in Cedar Falls on July 25.