Coe College meets RAGBRAI -- Iowa's greatest college tackles the nation's greatest bike ride.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Kodak moments
Here's a photo album from our adventure, including this group shot from the banks of the Mississippi River. More added as photos are sent to me.
Take me to the river
Team CoeBRAI veteran Judy Floy led our group to the Mississippi River tire dipping site in Clinton, culminating a 69-mile day from Anamosa and a 471-mile trek across the great state of Iowa.
After starting with 29 riders in Sioux Center on Sunday, July 22, 23 survived Iowa's heat and hills to the finish on Saturday, July 28. Along the way, we experienced Iowa's legendary hospitality, scenic landscape and homemade pie.
While physically exhausting, RAGBRAI provides an annual opportunity to restore one's faith in humanity and to experience Iowa in a uniquely intimate way. To do that while representing Coe College is a labor of love that I cannot possibly describe.
You really have to experience it to understand. Next year?
After starting with 29 riders in Sioux Center on Sunday, July 22, 23 survived Iowa's heat and hills to the finish on Saturday, July 28. Along the way, we experienced Iowa's legendary hospitality, scenic landscape and homemade pie.
While physically exhausting, RAGBRAI provides an annual opportunity to restore one's faith in humanity and to experience Iowa in a uniquely intimate way. To do that while representing Coe College is a labor of love that I cannot possibly describe.
You really have to experience it to understand. Next year?
Friday, July 27, 2012
Riding like we stole it in Anamosa
Like most every bike ride, today's 42-miler to Anamosa seemed more difficult during than after.
After a night indoors - most of us in our own beds - breakfast on the 16th Avenue Bridge of Lions closed a historic RAGBRAI overnight in Cedar Rapids. Then it was off to Mt. Vernon, where the street was packed like none other, vendors sharing space with a huge influx of riders for the shortest stage of RAGBRAI XL.
A stiff head and cross wind made the 10-mile ride to Springville tougher than it should be, but all were in Anamosa soon enough. Personally, I struggled to get comfortable in the saddle, but persevered to the Anamosa city pool to go 6-for-6 in post-ride swims.
That streak will end tomorrow with a 69-mile ride to Clinton to finish the adventure. Our numbers have dwindled in recent days, but the Coe crimson and gold will be on full display as Team CoeBRAI dips front tires in the mighty Mississippi at the end of the world's longest, largest and greatest bicycle touring event. Sore muscles will be soothed by the pride of a difficult mission accomplished. And on Sunday, we'll begin planning for 2013.
Who's in?
After a night indoors - most of us in our own beds - breakfast on the 16th Avenue Bridge of Lions closed a historic RAGBRAI overnight in Cedar Rapids. Then it was off to Mt. Vernon, where the street was packed like none other, vendors sharing space with a huge influx of riders for the shortest stage of RAGBRAI XL.
A stiff head and cross wind made the 10-mile ride to Springville tougher than it should be, but all were in Anamosa soon enough. Personally, I struggled to get comfortable in the saddle, but persevered to the Anamosa city pool to go 6-for-6 in post-ride swims.
That streak will end tomorrow with a 69-mile ride to Clinton to finish the adventure. Our numbers have dwindled in recent days, but the Coe crimson and gold will be on full display as Team CoeBRAI dips front tires in the mighty Mississippi at the end of the world's longest, largest and greatest bicycle touring event. Sore muscles will be soothed by the pride of a difficult mission accomplished. And on Sunday, we'll begin planning for 2013.
Who's in?
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