R.A.G.B.R.A.I. is rolling through our town today! What the heck is THAT you say??!
R.A.G.B.R.A.I. stands for (Des Moines) Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.
A lot shorter way of saying there will be more than 10,000 bicylists riding across your great state, some drunk or with great hangovers and/or sunburns.
My brother rides it *almost* every year. He had to take a year off to break his back, but he's right back in the thick of things again.
For several years, his sons, or at least one rode with him. For a couple years, Ryan rode along for a day when it was near us. Each day of the RAGBRAI week, they ride about 90 miles or so and then party hard in the town they're staying overnight in.
Mark had shown Ryan how to de-nerdify his ride and his look. Ryan got the official team Marley t-shirt, head and wrist bands. Mark ripped off the sleeves and gave him bumper stickers to decorate all over the $600 bike Mark advised him to get. Well, us to go in halves with Ryan for Christmas... Mark loaned him some packs to attach for his stuff and they were OFF!
Doesn't Ryan look cool? Yep - completely de-nerdified!
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The above pics are from 2008. AND it looks like that was Mark's bike... Could only find the one when he actually got the thing... It's blue.
This year, our town is about half way through their days ride. So there shouldn't be anything too weird going on in town. 80% of the townsfolk though are sitting down on the main drag through town in tents and selling stuff to the bikers rolling through.
This morning before work, I drove out to the cardtrol pumps and
caught a few over eager bikers cycle into town. These are the ones who
may party, but it's early and they're on the roads by 6am the next
morning.
They're in it to win!
I parked the car and walked with my camera out to the highway to
see if any bikers were coming into town. Out by the cemetery I saw a
tent with some of our locals there playing music on loud speakers and
welcoming the visitors. I had to chuckle when I heard what
they were playing.
Rolling Rolling Rolling, get them doggies rolling! Rawhide!
These pics are from this morning.
8:00am
I plan to spend my lunch time out there and watch them doggies ride into town.
It's a major event!
I'll update this post with more substantial biker shots throughout the day.
10:30am
8 comments:
Sounds like fun! You guys have those nice, long stretches to ride on!
I have a nephew in Des Moines who participated last year. I'm not sure if he is in it this year or not.
We have the Katy Trail here. It's one of our state parks and stretches almost across the entire state. My older sister and BIL have biked it all, a section at a time.
None for me, thanks. I don't even have a bike.
I don't think I could ride a bike anymore sober let alone drunk/hung over/sunburned!
Look too hot for me to be doing that!
wow..looks and sound alike fun to me! i was at a party this weekend and the riding club was there...they seemed very serious about this club! i asked them what if you can't make it up a big hill..they said...well, that is not an option.
I see your upclose shot was that of a shirtless dude!
m.
RAGBRAI!! Just another thing I love about Iowa! My little brother and I would offer to clean glasses for a dollar when they came through our town, that was back when we were pretty young and could get away with being cute haha
I would love to do RAGBRAI one day! I'll have to get a lot faster to cycle 90 miles in a day, though. Especially day after day.
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