Post RAGBRAI depression

I've been home for a couple of days & its starting to set in.
I go back to work tomorrow so I'm sure it won't last long.
I think I'll have plenty to do once I start working.
Speaking of plenty to do. I really am going to do a report for the RAGBRAI this year. Last year I tried and got nothing. I've been going over my maps and looking at my photos making notes since I got home Sunday. The trick will be moving the report from paper notes to this set up.
Plus making it more interesting than: We rode to that town. Drank beer then rode to the next town.
I walked through the route last night with the map at Mr. Joshua & Laura's new home last night. Realized later I didn't really tell them any good "stories" as much as I just told them where I went. We'll figure something out. Until then (hopefully soon before I get busy with real work stuff) I'll fill this space with a video.
I experimented a little bit on the RAGBRAI with video journal stuff.
It didn't go great but we'll give it a shot anyway.

***************2 hours later************************
OK.
I gave it a shot and they won't post on here for whatever reason
So I'll just direct you to my Flickr page where they are along with my 280-something photos I took over the 9 days of riding.

Ahh... July. Sunburns. Fireworks. the RAGBRAI!!

Its July which means its time to head north for the RAGBRAI



I don't know Ron but I sure do thank for him the use of his 2010 route map. Strangely it was the only one I could find

I head out Friday, the 23rd, from Omaha with the Dutch .
The official RAGBRAI starts Sunday, the 25th, out of Souix City.

The Go, Dutch, Go! Plan:

Friday, Saturday & Sunday we'll work our way North East to the official route via Earling & Breda to Pocahantas.
We pick up the offical route there on what for RAGBRAI is Day 2 to Algona.
It will be our 4th day of riding.
Ah yes.... good times are a come'n

I'm really ready for a vacation. The RAGBRAI fits the bill nicely.
Its a great time that I think everyone should do once.
I think this is my 10th pilgrimage
I've made some great friends on the RAGBRAI & I can't wait to see them



Once again this year I'll be attempting to make posts from the road to my Twitter
Granted this is dependant on getting phone reception. Which in years past on the RAGBRAI has been spotty. We'll see what happens
I'll be back to file a full report next month

I think I'm packed...

I know it looks like the bike is heavily loaded, and it is but not as bad as it looks.
I'm not taking alot, but no more than years past.
And even loaded as is the beauty of this bike is, it rides fantastic!

I think the thing to remember is:
I'm a big boy.
So I require big stuff that doesn't pack as small as other smaller stature peoples gear does.
Also, everything (except my S-Works helmet, in the red bag, and my cowboy hat) are inside the panniers.

Many people use smaller panniers and have stuff like tents, sleeping mats etc on the outside on the rack. I prefer not to do this since I have some really big bags.

Jannd rear panniers:
All camping gear (tent, poles, stakes, tarp, bed roll), blanket, sheet, travel pillow, rain jacket, vest, arm and knee warmers, all tools/tubes, sunscreen, butt balm, cozies, zip ties, spare H20 bottles, spare spokes, clothes (both on the bike, for 7 days of riding, and off the bike) and two bottles of whiskey.

Axiom front panniers:
Personal/hygiene items (tooth brush/paste, floss, contacts/solution, mouth wash, talcum, wet wipes, eye drops, razor, soap/wash cloth), RX glasses w/cases (2pair one for off the bike one for on), sunglasses w/cases(two pair), first aid kit, riding gloves (two pair), nutrition (back up Cliff bars and gel shots), head lamp (setting up tent in the dark), I-Pod, note pad, pen, camera, phone, spare batteries, random odds and ends.

The bike:

Surly Long Haul Trucker 62cm
Surly Nice Racks front and rear
Planet Bike hardcore fenders (yellow)
Thomson 27.2 seat post
Brooks Professional saddle
Chris King headset
Ritchey 100mm 31.8 stem
WTB Dirt Drop bar
Shimano R600 STI brake/shift leavers
Tektro canti-lever brakes w/thin line pads
Shimano Ultrega FD
Shimano XTR RD
Race Face 175mm cranks with 34/44 rings
Shimano Ultregra 12/27 cassette
Shimano XTR "limited edition" hubs 32h laced to Salsa Delgado Cross rims Front/Rear wheels
Continental Contact 700x37c tires

Off to the RAGBRAI in the morning.
I'll try to comment during the week on my Twitter and post photos on my Flickr, and maybe even post a short blog here.
That is assuming that my phone gets any service during the week. I wanted to do all those things last year and had no service.
Plus I was so busy having fun I never took the time. I am taking a note pad (again) to scribble some daily notes about the week to post when I return home.

Looking like its gonna be a great week. Now all I need is for my ride to the start town to show up in the morning.

Next week

This gonna be hard to focus on work this week.
Gonna do my best to not mentally check out before Friday
www.ragbrai.org

2009 RAGBRAI route released!

The route for the RAGBRAI 2009 is released.
Souther route this year which is good for us souther types.
Good times a comin'.

the RAGBRAI in photos

In lew of actually having put my memories of the week in any kind of order
Or having taken the time to try to do so into this machine
Here is the RAGBRAI in photos
Granted they aren't my photos... I didn't have a camera on the trip
So see the RAGBRAI through the lens of Jones' camera
His photo set starts with departure, goes through the week to loading the van for the ride home, 299 photos in total
Some good shots too that pretty much sum up the week


*One of these days I will get my post moved from scribbled notes on the route maps to the key board
Someday

Heading to the RAGBRAI start town...

I'm sure i am over packed... per the norm... but who cares....its go time!

RAGBRAI route released!

Monday

Monday... its still cold.
I know. "Dude. Enough with the crying about the cold already."
Sorry, I fully admit to being a cry baby.
Its true.
I am just not a fan of cold weather.
I have been attempting to convince myself to get back into a regular schedule for riding the trainer.
I told myself that its either outside or on the trainer.
Either way DO IT.

We are past the first of the year which means that if I want to be in any kind of riding shape come March 2nd, it starts now.

March 2nd is the first mountain bike race on my schedule.
Heartland Sports Promotions XC#1 at Landhl Park in Blue Springs, Missouri.
I am not one for training. The goal is just to make sure come race #1 I am in better shape than was last spring and hella better shape than I am currently.
First thing first, dump the extra that I acquired in the just passed holiday season.
I am not the only factor the needs to be different for this season. I need the weather to play along so Race #1 is not my first MTB ride of the season.
I had a pretty dismal showing in the 2007 HSP XC series.
Weather and work did not help.
More than half of HSP races were postponed and moved to different dates thanks to weeks of rain and standing water in the trails.
All the rain dates I miss do to job commitments.
I ended up the MTB season with a DNF at the Perry XC race, a 5th place Duo finish at a 6 hour race.
2 races... oh boy.
Pretty sucky compared to finishing top 5 or better every XC race of 2006. It was the come back season after the accident. I have apparently slacked off a bit since then.
My Cyclocross season wasn't really all that spectacular either.
I came off of RAGBRAI feeling strong on the bike.
Once again I let things slip and I was back to fighting for fitness.
Can't let this happen in '08.

I can't control the weather but the body I do have "some" control over.
My busy spring through fall work schedule cuts out alot to ideal "training" ride hours. This makes it more essential that I don't slack off on the commuting in '08 either. Not only is it just a good thing to do, it automatically gives me 2+ hours a day on the bike. I think taking the long way home should get even longer this year. More often than not the pedal into work turns in to a 15 mile time trial. Racing the clock to avoid being late to work. Hope the cars around me aren't doing their own AM time trial.

I sat down the other day, made a list of my bikes and what if any repairs or part changes they needed during these cold months while they are on break.
Besides a couple of items I would like to change on the Karate Monkey I think my fleet simply needs to be tuned up. Maybe a couple of new chains but everything is pretty set on them.
The KM though I need to throw some money at before March.
I would like to get a new fork. Not suspension, that's not my style, but something that isn't the stock fork that can beat the snot out of you. I have my eye on a Orgin 8 Blak Ops carbon disc 29er fork. I have head good things about this fork, it has no weight limit unlike other forks I have looked at, and the price is right.
I also need to get new axles for my Surly/Salsa 29er wheels. I need to switch from bolt on to quick release. Nothing more frustrating than getting a rear flat with a bolt on wheel. Kiss your race good bye. I could (possibly should) pick up some new disc hubs of some sort (have my eye on a nice set that have been taking up shelf space at the shop for too long) and lace up a set a new set of wheels. Go tubeless too. I had considered getting a whole new 29er all together (eyeball'n the Specialized Stumpjumper 29) but everything in my stable (with the exception of the CRB XC) is steel. Plus new frames cost $$, and I really need to stop giving in to my wants for a while. I have attempted to tell myself that I am NOT buying new bikes in 2008.
Now nothing NEEDS to be changed on the KM. It works fine the way it is and has for a couple of years. The fork and the wheels should be considered "wish list" items since they are not required. It sure would be nice though.

OK. Time to quit. My mind has started to wander and I have spent the last several minutes staring into space listening to music.
No links no photos, boring post today.
5 minutes left in Monday, I got to go.

Its RAGBRAI time!

A couple more days of work and its vacation time!! Once again I will be spending the week spinning down the pave through the corn fields of Iowa. RAGBRAI is upon us and its one of my favorite times of the year. I am ready for a week of riding... I am ready for a change of pace and scenery.
Its been a long season so far with, for one reason of another, not much dirt riding/racing. With a lot of wet weather causing three MTB races I annually do being canceled and/or postponed. I work event scheduled conflicted too much to be able to compete. The one race I did do so far this year I DNFed. Sort of a bummer of a race season for the first one flying the BKB flag. Shit happens and there is always cross season. The only race left on my schedule is the Rapture in Misery 6/12 on August 19th. Last year I attempted the 12 hour solo and crashed out after 4 laps, bloodied me and tacoed a front wheel. Funny how trees aren't inclined to move. This time around I think I should set my goals a little lower and do the 6 hour solo. I was feeling it 4 hours into last year and my fitness isn't any better currently as it was then. Too many excuses as of late for not riding etc.
After RAGBRAI its time for some changes.
If you don't know RAGBRAI is the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa... Register as in Des Moines Register. Rolling, 400+ mile, week long bicycle party... its one of my favorite things and always a great time.
Evil appears to be back in more of a "team" format. A new bus and a new driver but the same great people. I plan on flying the Evil flag all week, pull on the BKB gear for a day or two as well. Friday I head up to the rendezvous point to meet the bus and other Evil people. Then pile in the bus Saturday for the trek up to Rock Rapids, the start town of the week. At some pre noon point Sunday, throw a leg over the saddle and start the week of rolling across the Iowa country side.
Bikes will be ridden, beers will be consumed, photos will be taken... I write you a report when I get back.
Until then here is a little taste of what you will be missing out on, enjoy!






Oh and in case you are wondering...
No, I not excited that Lance is going to be there again.
If nothing else he is an annoyance and leaves crowds of dumb asses in his wake who are simply in my way. The week is better with out him and all his yellow wrist band wearing followers.

Fuck Yellow Wrist Bands