Kickball anyone?

After receiving a rather intimidating e-mail from my RAGBRAI-organizing colleague at Wartburg College, the competitive juices flowed like Gatorade -- my red to Kendra's orange. Before the day was out, we had agreed to a kickball match between members of Team CoeBRAI and members of Team Knight Riders.

She even threatened to hold practices, "so we can dominate." I won't go that far, but I'll bring the game ball on RAGBRAI. I'll need at least 10 of you to commit to an hour of off-bike physical activity on Thursday, July 26 in Independence. The game will be held at our hosts' house, which gives us home field advantage and is conveniently (for Wartburg) located adjacent to the hospital.

(Having suffered through more "adult" kickball tournaments than I care to remember, I will serve exclusively as bench coach.)

You remember kickball, don't you?

You might wonder why Coe's historic rival isn't the opponent. I have approached organizers of Team Ram with the same challenge and am awaiting their response. I have to say, though, that the Coe-Cornell rivalry is currently based solely on duration. While we are academic peers, the two Linn County schools have enjoyed much different athletic success since leaving the Midwest Conference for the Iowa Conference. While Wartburg tends to dominate Iowa Conference athletics, Coe has more than held its own. Ask any current Coe student-athlete who they want to beat most and 99.9 percent will say Wartburg. Don't let them down.

Ride on

The real RAGBRAI training began tonight, over pork and pie, at a drivers' meeting held at the home of Sara and Brian Farrell. Sara, a Coe psychology professor, has graciously agreed to drive our rental truck. Brian, a local attorney, will be biking across Iowa for the first time.

Also attending this meeting were my wife, Lisa, and kids, Zach and Karissa. Zach will be accompanying me on bike for the first time. Lisa and Karissa will operate the family camper and assist with ensuring your comfort.

Tony Bata, the sag wagon driver and sous chef for the last two CoeBRAIs, also attended to offer some sage advice and to share some tasty wine.

Tony's presence reminded me that this RAGBRAI will be different than the past two, although I'm the only one who will notice. And while we won't have someone preparing lavish meals for us each night, we won't go hungry either.

Here's a rundown of the CoeBRAI itinerary:
Friday, July 20 -- Pasta dinner in the Coe cafeteria at 6 p.m. Free for all CoeBRAI participants. We'll hand out wristbands, jerseys, maps, etc. at this time for all who can attend.

Saturday, July 21 -- Gather in the parking lot behind Eby Fieldhouse for a planned 10 a.m. departure for Rock Rapids. (RAGBRAI theme: Wild Wild North West.) Please allow ample time for loading your bicycle and gear (packed in a 30 gallon plastic tub). We'll camp at the home of David Springer '94 in Rock Rapids.

Sunday, July 22 -- Bike 75.7 miles to Spencer (RAGBRAI theme: Licensed to Thrill), where we'll camp at the home of Tarrel Zwiebahmer Storey '93. The Storeys have invited us to make use of their deck, fire pit, and bathroom off the garage. Showers will be available at the YMCA, three blocks away.

Monday, July 23 -- Bike 77.4 miles (or 100 for those opting for the Karras Loop) to Humboldt (RAGBRAI theme: A Holiday In Humboldt). It's an official CoeBRAI jersey day as we hope to gather for lunch in Havelock with Brady Krischel '07 and her family. Brady and her father are recovering from a near-fatal traffic accident over Christmas break and we plan to present her with her very own CoeBRAI jersey. Biking across Iowa is small potatoes compared to the journey she's on. We don't yet have a host in Humboldt, though I haven't given up hope. If nothing materializes, we'll likely be camping in the main RAGBRAI campground at the fairgrounds in northeast Humboldt.

Tuesday, July 24 -- Bike 71.1 miles to Hampton (RAGBRAI theme: Hot Fun in the Summer Time), where we'll be hosted by Tess and Henry Wieck, parents of Joe Wieck '04. The Wiecks have graciously offered a free barbecue for all CoeBRAIers.

Wednesday, July 25 -- Bike 68.2 miles to Cedar Falls (RAGBRAI theme: LiveLarge). We'll camp at the home of Barb and Al Poe, parents of current Coe student Anson Poe. The Poe home will also be the site for the alumni dinner, free to CoeBRAI participants and catered by Famous Dave's (mmmmmmm). This could be a wild overnight as Blues Traveler headlines a benefit concert at the UNI-Dome ($10 for RAGBRAI participants).

Thursday, July 26 -- Bike 62.9 miles to Independence (RAGBRAI theme: America's Fame is in Our Name). We'll camp at the home of Coe Admission staffer Mary Ohl and we'll be treated to Mary's husband's famous barbecue pork loin. (See what I mean about not going hungry? Or broke?)

Friday, July 27 -- Bike 64.7 miles to Dyersville, home of the Field of Dreams (RAGBRAI theme: Ride the Distance). Here we'll be hosted by Colleen Ries '04 at the home of her mom, Charlene Willenbring. Their home is most conveniently located on the inbound route through town. You're on your own for dinner, but they have rented a port-a-potty for our use.

Saturday, July 28 -- Bike 56.6 miles to Bellevue and the Mississippi River (RAGBRAI theme: Soaring into Bellevue on the Mississippi). This should be the most challenging day of the week in terms of hills. While we'll almost never ride as a pack, it's a cool feeling to enter the end town as a unit, so we'll gather at a school on the edge of Bellevue and finish our journey (wearing CoeBRAI jerseys) as a team. We'll then bus back to Cedar Rapids. In the past we've been back on campus by 3 p.m. That might be a best-case scenario this year, but we'll be home on Saturday regardless.

Special note about housing: Anyone needing a place to stay before or after the ride should notify me ASAP. Please don't assume that we can put you in a vacant dorm room without notice. Much as I wish it worked that way, it doesn't.

RAGBRAI 101: Roll with the punches

"You can't always get what you want" is not only the greatest lyric ever, it's also the first, last and only rule of RAGBRAI -- and, apparently Swine Trek.

We had last-minute plans to camp, but scrapped them at the last minute when a steady rain settled in Friday night. We left home shortly after 6 a.m. in order to arrive in time for registration and a 7 a.m. departure from Pleasant Creek State Park.

It was cold and we were under-dressed, but determined. We felt good arriving in Center Point about 8 a.m. and stocked up on fruit and cherry donuts. But when we went to leave I discovered my front tire was flat. Inflation proved futile, so I replaced the tube with the spare I always have with me. (Lesson #2)

By the time we discovered the route out of town, my front tire was flat again and our ride was over. We summoned a sag wagon and rode back to Pleasant Creek, 10 miles in to what was supposed to be a 50-mile ride.

I traded a two-hour wait for the chicken dinner for getting our bikes in for a tuneup (Lesson #3) and proceeded immediately to Northtowne Cycling. They tell me it will be two weeks; I pray it will be shorter.

In review:
Lesson #1 -- "you can't always get what you want."
Lesson #2 -- carry a spare tube
Lesson #3 -- get your bike tuned up at a reputable shop that will assure RAGBRAI readiness