I'm considering riding RAGBRAI next year

[Critters2]

I'm in fairly good shape. I spent last week hiking rail trails in Iowa, and I hike a lot. But I haven't done much in terms of long bike trips. A friend, who rode RAGBRAI last week, wants me to go with her next year.

So, my question is, what do you recommend I do to prepare for RAGBRAI, training-wise?

Thanks for any advice.

[happyslug]

1. Wanted to know what RAGBRAI was, before I answered, here is the Web Site

http://www.ragbrai.org/

RAGBRAI stands for:
Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

What I would do is first drive over the route to see what it is, then bike it. I would then look at some local route that is similar to it. I live in the Mountains of Pennsylvania, and I have heard the highest point in Iowa is in the Middle of a cornfield. The reason I bring that up is you will need endurance more than hill climbing, thus you are better off training on a similar route as the race itself.

[Kolesar]

2. We made a point of hiking the rail-trail in West Branch when we were there last month

We were on a road trip and got to West Branch early enough to have dinner and then go for a walk before sunset. It was fun. Saw some birds for our wildlife encounter.

As for RAGBRAI, I cannot advise you since I have never done such a group ride. It sure sounds like fun to me. There are probably some sites you could google up for training ideas or a travelogue-blog. Try www.roadbikereview.com . Get your application in early. Get a saddle with a lot of "give" so you don't feel sore on day 2. If you ride a lot, you will get "conditioned" for such. It is always a surprise to me in the spring.

I would think hill training would be good. There are some threads on it in *this* cycling forum.

[DS1]

3. this guy didn't seem to impressed

but eh, that's like just his opinion

http://sittingin.bicycling.com/2007/08/riding-like-a-c.html

[Kolesar]

4. He seemed to be saying "just get on your bike and have fun"

...and that the Tour de France was the big disappointment. I have not been following the Tour myself. I am kind of pissed that the media coverage has been so negative.

[prolesunited]

5. I did it

The trip is what you make it. For some, it's just a rolling party and for others it's just a personal challenge and for most, it's somewhere in between.

It was an amazing experience, but not an easy one. If you're riding with a team and have great support, I think it's a lot easier. I was alone and so I had to get find my gear, set up camp and tear it down every day, which was a chore. Finding food and getting a shower aren't always simple tasks either.

After getting in a good base, I rode about 500 miles a month for three months beforehand. But other people complete it with less training, depends on what shape you're in to begin with. BTW, Iowa is NOT flat. :-)

[Kolesar]

6. Was Iowa pretty?

That's one reason why I always wanted to ride across the prarie. Or what was once prarie and is now farmland. Did you see any nice wildlife?