In Which There is a Lull Before

Airing my tent out in the backyard July 20. It's my second RAGBRAI tent, much smaller and simpler than the first. Less complex is sometimes good.

I had not really planned it that way, but Wednesday was my final bike ride before RAGBRAI.

On Monday, I had gone to Des Moines to visit my youngest son, daughter-in-law and grandson there. The daughter-in-law has a new bike given to her for her birthday by my son, and it was a momentous gift, marking her foray into the world of biking. She never learned to ride a bike as a child, and just last week they went to Gray’s Lake, where she glided around for a while on my son’s bike, and then started pedaling.

He shot a video. She pedals by him, saying something about blessed excrement. It turns out, in your 30s, if you're motivated, it's possible for your body and brain to learn the subtle balance needed to keep moving on two wheels.

So, we brought our bikes to Des Moines and pedaled along the paths near Gray’s Lake Park with them. Our speed was pretty slow, dictated by a very young grandson who waffled between riding in a trailer (faster) and zooming along on a glider bike (slower).

On a trail near Gray's Lake, Des Moines, newest rider, daughter-in-law, leads the way.

Still, it was a pretty day, it was fun to enjoy a ride with a new adult biker, and we did also stop at a playground, always fun.

Tuesday, I only did a little riding, going to campus and back and doing a minor amount of work there.

And on Wednesday, pre-RAGBRAI riding reached it climax. I got my mountain bike out of the garage that afternoon, planning to ride on some grassy walkways through a prairie flower garden at Waldo's Rock Park in Marion. It was a fine, warm afternoon. On the way, I encountered a group of turkeys crossing the Lindale Trail, and made some images of them.

And when I got out to Waldo’s Rock, there was a pelican at the pond, which was cool to see.

Pelican (above and below) leaving Waldo's Rock pond.

Pelican in the pond.

Turkey (above and below) seen on Lindale Trail.

Turkeys (above and below), Lindale Trail.

The final ride was thus already a win but it would get even better. I was headed back west, intending to ride the mountain bike trails by the Boyson Trail, when I ran into my wife riding the other way. We decided to ride on the Boyson Trail together. We went out to Menard’s and then turned back. When we got to the mountain bike trail, I took it and she stayed on the main trail. By pushing pretty hard, I managed to finish the mountain bike trail in the same time that she rode the main trail. We rode home together.

She rode 10 miles that day. I rode 17.4 miles. The miles this week were far fewer—deliberately so, taking it easy the week before RAGBRAI is a time-honored strategy to have your body well rested for the long ride.

And it’s shaping up to be a long ride in at least one way. A heat wave is expected, with temps approaching triple digits by mid next week. Hot weather riding—well, I have done that before. Was it 2012? It was my second RAGBRAI, and it began in a heat wave. Temps that year soared to more than 100 degrees.

The strategy was clear—begin each day as early as possible and ride as far as possible before the heat really kicked in. Take hydration seriously. Any time you felt a bit off, stop, find some shade, rest a while. It was a tough RAGBRAI, but I got through it.

I was younger then. And my style of RAGBRAI riding has evolved. During that ride, the goal was to ride every mile. Now I’m on a family team where we share driving duties, and so I have the choice whether to ride a full day or half day.

The hydration and rest strategy will be in place. The start early strategy is also important. The let the ride be what it will be and don’t fuss about riding all the miles idea is new. I plan to enjoy the ride as best I can, let the weather be what it is and roll with it. In the RAGBRAI spirit.

In July so far, I have pedaled 346.9 miles. Year to date, 2,035.9 miles. And more miles next week as I roll most of the way across the state. See you on the other side. My RAGBRAI will probably end Thursday, my plan is to ride 5 days and then be home to see visiting family members.

Good luck to you if you’re doing the ride this year. And next week on RAGBRAI, start early, take it easy and drink—water. Lots of water.