Greetings from Ottumwa, Iowa! I’m here for RAGBRAI, a big bicycle ride across the state. No, I’m not pedalin’ — the only two wheels for me are the motor kind!
But I do have a few motorcycle observations about Iowa:
- It’s not as flat as I thought. Though I am having trouble knowing which way is north at any given moment.
- ATGATT is a foreign concept here.
- Even a tiny town will have a big beautiful Harley dealership.
- The chicken strips here are impressive! (and I ain’t talkin’ about the food)
Speaking of chicken strips, I’ve signed up for a Team Oregon ART class on August 10th. I’m looking forward to it!
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Ms. Bolty: Hey you justa stones through away, about 60 miles. Shot me an email and lets meet up. ATGATT? You funny
Oh and watch out for those “bikers”. They think they own the roads and WILL NOT move over to save their lives.
fasthair
IOWA!!!!!!! I was born there and grew up just across the Mississippi River in Illinois. Oh, how I miss the midwest. I remember knowing some people who did the RAGBRAI once or twice. I miss the riding back there. Well, I miss riding almost everywhere; Vegas riding stinks. IMHO.
So, any plans to meet Steph? (http://iowaharleygirl.blogspot.com/2009/07/different-kind-of-biker.html)
oops – guess I found a bug in WordPress… Don’t surround URLs in parens. http://iowaharleygirl.blogspot.com/2009/07/different-kind-of-biker.html
I know of RAGBRAI very well as a former avid bicyclist. Here in Kansas we have BAK (Bike Across Kansas) that occurs early in June each year. I never did it because I could never get in good enough shape so soon after “tax season”, but have lots of friends that have done both BAK and RAGBRAI. The ride in Iowa has about 5 times the number of people, frequent parties at stops for the night, and the cities compete with each other to get the ride to stop in their town because of the economic impact of 3,000 or so riders coming in for the night.
WRT ATGATT
That concept is not common in Kansas either. Not even helmets many times.
Here’s something to think about from my bicycling days. It was explained to me once that Newton’s laws of gravity play a major role in potential head injuries. The reason is that it is not always the speed of travel that can cause the injury as much as it is the distance from your noggin to the ground. Bicyclists, because they have to sit atop the frame can actually be higher off the ground than motorcyclists. That increased distance combined with the law of gravity is the reason that it is so important to wear at least a helmet.
I would guess that most of those bicyclists are wearing helmets, moreso than many motorcyclists. Motorcyclists should learn something from that, I think.
I also remember RAGBRAI from a long time ago when I used to ride bicycles a lot. Always wanted to go on that ride.
@fasthair: Wifi has not been easy to come by, alas. Check your email, though.
@Ken: I was born in Illinois but my parents moved west a few months later. Can you believe this is the first time I’ve been east of the Rockies (that I can remember)? I’m not well traveled. (But soon…)
@cpa3485: I can certainly see how an event of this magnitude could benefit a town’s economy. I heard a roadside burrito vendor say that he made 6 month’s worth of sales in one day!
Good points also about the use of helmets. Almost all the bicyclists here were wearing helmets, but I passed a first aid tent once and watched them patch up a young man who was covered with road rash from head to toe — and that was just from a bicycle wreck! Those tight lycra shorts make your butt look good but aren’t too protective.
@Richard: I’ve had a good time during the three days we were on the RAGBRAI route. Everyone we’ve met has been gracious and welcoming.
Wasn’t that the home of Radar from Mash?
I’d reconsider the ART. I’m running lead!
Was it? That’s funny.
I did have to reconsider the ART — work stuff came up and now I can’t get the day off. I’ve already canceled.