BR photo by Norman Jameson
Members of the COW team riding in RAGBRAI.
Five miles into the ride on a crisp Iowa morning I suddenly had the "this is almost over" blues. Under a bright, overcast sky rolling freely toward the Iowa River near Iowa City, then climbing leisurely up and out, everyone seemed to have a sense that this has been a great week, there's only a little more of this beautiful ride to go, so let's take our time and enjoy it.
Tomorrow is the last day and I understand it's a mad rush to the end as everyone races to started back to the life they left behind for this interlude on the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). We lingered this morning in the tent, listening to dozens of zippers opening and closing tent flaps and luggage all around us on some field in North Liberty. The extra hour was welcomed and we participated in the morning coffee and conversation that we'd missed on days before, being out with the early riders.
We needed the extra hour to heal because Steve hit the deck hard yesterday after clipping my back tire. He gained a cracked helmet, elbow and ankle cuts, and a great story. No sooner had he hit the deck than a rider just ahead turned around to help. Turns out Cassie is a nurse and was carrying on her bike a complete first aid kit. She carried salve, gauze, tape and a winning smile that made both Steve and I wish she could meet our unmarried sons!
RAGBRAI is run the third week in July because historically, this is the hottest and driest week of the year here. It always travels west to east because historically that is the way of the wind.
We're making history this week because it is the coolest week in RAGBRAI memory and because we've been riding into a headwind for three days. We play mind games buffeting along into the relentless wind: Which would you rather have, hills (which we've had plenty) or headwind? Most pick the hills because at least there is an end point to the hill. You can eventually get to the top and it's over, even if there is another hill looming ahead. At least you have the brief pleasure of a downhill before attacking for the crest again.
But the wind is relentless, psychologically debilitating, constantly buffeting. It's OK to cheat and look for a big body to ride behind. In RAGBRAI that's not even cheating. The aerodynamics of it is like following an 18-wheeler in your car. As you approach from the back the wind calms and your radio seems loud. As you pull out to pass, the buffeting from the wind the truck breaks can push you car right or left if you're not careful. It works the same way on a bike.
Sometimes a pace line of similarly uniformed riders will zip by, the only sound a loud hum of tires and constant shout of "on your left." They're drafting like geese--and practically flying like them too.
The rain yesterday didn't last long, and the weather remained overcast and in the mid-60s...a great riding day. I had to go to the laundrymat when I arrived in North Liberty though, to dry my bedding from the night before when it rained through the screen before I woke to the pitter pat of drops on the tent.
RAGBRAI is famous for fun riders dressed in costumes as they ride. My favorite is the cow team dressed in Holstein black and white uniforms, with their tandem bike decked in a tail and black and white markings and with a mooing horn. At a restaurant the other night one of the riders was there, dressed in a long, Holstein shirt, complete with udder. Commenting on it to the rider, Steve said, "This outfit attracts a lot of attention."
"Really?" the rider asked, as he headed back into the crowd to attract some more.