RAGBRAI 2018

Each year I ride across the state of Iowa, I fall in love
with it and it's people all over again.

Today I'm having RAGBRAI withdrawals; it's a thing.  One would think it would have happened yesterday since it was the first day with no riding and no team members around me all day, but yesterday I spent the day washing RAGBRAI gear and putting it all away.  As I woke up today, I felt a bit more of a struggle than I did yesterday.  For the past 9 days (including 7 days of riding) RAGBRAI has taken up the entirety of the day.  With nothing RAGBRAI today, I'm back to the mundane of grocery shopping, looking at the August calendar, reading...  It's making me a little melancholy, so I decided to finally write my RAGBRAI post.

I started to write about each day, but they tend to blend together.  It's really a week of the same thing comradery, laughter, drinking, cycling, and small talk.  We waved at and shouted thanks to community members and officers keeping the route safe.  As we stopped in each found we searched for places to eat/drink and sat in a circle laughing and enjoying hijinks.  New people joined our group and became integral to our fun and laughter.  The small group of ten to fifteen people I ride with become a tight-knitted family for the week, and for some reason the other 20-30 folks on the team also become a big part of my life for the week.  When three of my close-knit group didn't ride on the last day, I was actually saddened and felt alone, but as always others stepped up to support me on a couple tougher hills including our climb to the bus.

I was concerned about the support staff that puts up our tents and takes care of things at camp, but they were phenomenal.  We even had frozen margaritas delivered to us as we waited for showers in the evening.  They make the week easier by having our tents set up as we enter camp.

One thing I look forward to each year is watching the Air Force Cycling Team help fellow cyclist (20,000+) with problems around the route. This year we actually needed their help.  We met on Air Force cyclist who helped us with an initial flat.  When that tire shredded several miles down the road. we met another member of the team. As we called our friends to let them know we needed help, they asked, "Aren't you with the Air Force Team?"  I was shocked to know they knew, but it seems they, too, were with an Air Force member.  They had been part of a big accident with at least five bikes down.  Our Air Force member had called theirs to see if he had a tire, and he shared that he was with our team.  It was amazing to see them work and help although next year, I hope it's from afar and not close up.