The moons aligned Monday for the opening of my personal quest for a 1,500 mile year. That may not sound like much, particularly for those of you south of here, but only the hardiest Iowans -- and the unlicensed -- ride outdoors from October through March.
A year ago, I got a head start logging 70 miles outdoors while vacationing in Florida. Twelve miles on March 31 were my first of 2008. I didn't ride in Iowa until April 23.
The year before, I rode nearly 25 miles over the last four days of March -- seven meaningless miles within my 1.5 mile circus of comfort and the rest at Lake Ozark State Park in Missouri. My first serious Iowa ride was April 22.
So March 16 stands as a personal best, and that it measured 22 miles is perhaps indicative of my level of cabin fever. With temperatures in the high 60s -- and after returning late from a great rock concert in Moline -- a day off was in order.
Road avoidant this time of year, I took the trail north to its pavement end. It was windy, particularly on the return, but I'm not complaining. Tomorrow is supposed to be even nicer, followed by the expected not-so-nice.
Vacation anyone?
Coe College meets RAGBRAI -- Iowa's greatest college tackles the nation's greatest bike ride.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The art of biking
Little Bohemia, the beloved Cedar Rapids tavern that was the subject of a 1944 painting by 1914 Coe graduate and longtime professor Marvin Cone, is going on RAGBRAI. The reputed former hangout of Cone and Grant Wood remains closed while the owner works to recover from last June’s flood. Cone’s painting is on permanent display in Stewart Memorial Library at Coe.
And now, thanks to the skills of Coe graphic designer Christina Kroemer, it is featured on the 2009 CoeBRAI jersey. Christina’s jersey design has been submitted to Champion Systems and I’ve begun taking orders.
Each weeklong rider who was part of our group registration gets one free jersey. Please let me know what size and style you would like (long, short or no sleeve).
Anyone else is welcome to buy a jersey -- $60 for short sleeve and sleeveless, $65 for long sleeve. To place an order, go to our Web site and click on the “jersey order” tab. Sizing information is also available there. All orders must be received by May 15 and will be shipped, along with a complementary CoeBRAI license plate, by mid July.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Oh, the places we will go
The 37th Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, from July 19 to 25, cuts a 442-mile route through the southern half of the state, with overnight stops in Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton, Ottumwa, and Mount Pleasant before ending in Burlington. An average of about nine years has passed since these towns last hosted the ride, with Indianola making its debut as an overnight stop. The Des Moines Registered has revealed the full route for RAGBRAI XXXVII (click link for full map).
Here's a day-by-day summary:
Sunday, July 19 -- Council Bluffs to Red Oak by way of Mineola, Henderson and Emerson. Climb: 3,684 feet. Distance: 52.6 miles.
Monday, July 20 -- Red Oak to Greenfield by way of Stanton, Villisca, Nodaway (sounds like an ideal napping stop to me), Corning, Prescott, Williamson and Fontanelle. Climb: 5,096 feet. Distance: 72.6 miles.
Tuesday, July 21 -- Greenfield to Indianola by way of Orient, Macksburg, East Peru, Truro, St. Charles, St. Marys, Martensdale and Prole. Climb: 4,470 feet. Distance: 77.1 miles.
Wednesday, July 22 -- Indianola to Chariton by way of Ackworth, Sandyville, Milo, Lacona and Oakley. Climb: 2,182 feet. Distance: 44.4 miles. (After reviewing the daily mileages and climbs, I think I'll propose Chariton as the location for our kickball showdown with Wartburg.)
Thursday, July 23 -- Chariton to Ottumwa by way of Millerton, Bethlehem, Confidence, Iconium, Honey Creek Resort, (the optional Karras Century Loop at Lake Rathbun), Moravia, Unionville and Blakesburg. Climb: 3,388 feet. Distance: 76.9 miles. (For those who opt for this day's century, I take it as a good sign that we'll first be making a pilgrimage to Bethlemen before taking in a dose of Confidence.)
Friday, July 24 -- Ottumwa to Mount Pleasant by way of Hedrick, Martinsburg, Pekin, Packwood, Pleasant Plain, Brighton, Germanville and Lockridge. Climb: 2,841 feet. Distance: 75.5 miles.
Saturday, July 25 -- Mount Pleasant to Burlington by way of New London, Lowell and Geode State Park. Climb: 1,145 feet. Distance: 43.2 miles.
Here's a day-by-day summary:
Sunday, July 19 -- Council Bluffs to Red Oak by way of Mineola, Henderson and Emerson. Climb: 3,684 feet. Distance: 52.6 miles.
Monday, July 20 -- Red Oak to Greenfield by way of Stanton, Villisca, Nodaway (sounds like an ideal napping stop to me), Corning, Prescott, Williamson and Fontanelle. Climb: 5,096 feet. Distance: 72.6 miles.
Tuesday, July 21 -- Greenfield to Indianola by way of Orient, Macksburg, East Peru, Truro, St. Charles, St. Marys, Martensdale and Prole. Climb: 4,470 feet. Distance: 77.1 miles.
Wednesday, July 22 -- Indianola to Chariton by way of Ackworth, Sandyville, Milo, Lacona and Oakley. Climb: 2,182 feet. Distance: 44.4 miles. (After reviewing the daily mileages and climbs, I think I'll propose Chariton as the location for our kickball showdown with Wartburg.)
Thursday, July 23 -- Chariton to Ottumwa by way of Millerton, Bethlehem, Confidence, Iconium, Honey Creek Resort, (the optional Karras Century Loop at Lake Rathbun), Moravia, Unionville and Blakesburg. Climb: 3,388 feet. Distance: 76.9 miles. (For those who opt for this day's century, I take it as a good sign that we'll first be making a pilgrimage to Bethlemen before taking in a dose of Confidence.)
Friday, July 24 -- Ottumwa to Mount Pleasant by way of Hedrick, Martinsburg, Pekin, Packwood, Pleasant Plain, Brighton, Germanville and Lockridge. Climb: 2,841 feet. Distance: 75.5 miles.
Saturday, July 25 -- Mount Pleasant to Burlington by way of New London, Lowell and Geode State Park. Climb: 1,145 feet. Distance: 43.2 miles.
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