In Which An Omaha Man Continues To Ride Like They Do In Vegas

From Omaha.com, the web site of the Omaha World-Herald. Mark Crown, year-round bike commuter. Photo by Alyssa Schukar of The World-Herald.

The temperature may be in the teens below zero, but “The World-Herald” in Omaha, Neb., had a story today about a man who commutes year-round to a job at Offutt Air Force Base—in rain, snow, cold, etc.

Intrepid biker Mark Crown is around my age. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe it just takes years to acquire the wisdom to appreciate how much fun biking is compared to driving. Or to go slowly crazy.

Anyway, in other biking news: the "Las Vegas Journal-Review" reports that a local developer there is using bike-theme advertising to promote his “planned” community.

From the Las Vegas Journal-Review.
Photo by Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal

The bikers are well dressed, but not as well dressed as Mark Crown--I guess it's a bit warmer in Las Vegas.

Well, why not promote real estate through biking or ride year round in Omaha?

True, I’m not quite as hardy, or whatever, as Mark Crown is—if MMU is open in the morning, I’m not planning to bicycle there when the temperature is still double digit below zero. But Wednesday? We’ll see.

It might be zero. Clearly, that will be warm enough to bike.

In Which We Attend Two Expos

Eldon, Brigid, Cate, Audrey and I just before the start of RAGBRAI 2013. The Team Joe shirts turn out to be biking wear, so watch for us on RAGBRAI 2013. Audrey is heading home--too sane for the road--and I am the first support driver, so my bike ride starts mid-day Sunday.

The night before RABRAI began, we were at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs for the bike expo. Lots to see, although we missed our driver safety meeting. We'll try to be safe.

At the expo, I picked up laminated day maps, courtesy of the state's hospital association. And we just gawked and walked around. It turns out, despite his massive size, CR Biker can disappear in a RAGBRAI crowd in an instant. I don't know how to use this superpower, but I will try to use it for good.

After that, we held a “tent” expo at the back yard of Paula and Dave Chicoine's home in Elkhorn, Nebraska. I'm proud to say mine is the easiest tent to assemble, hands down.

Audrey's shirt.

Then we broke out the famous “Team Joe” biking shirts and painted away. Emma Chicoine decorated Audrey's with an “I (heart)” before “Joe.” I wrote “I am” before Joe on one, and “am I” after Joe on the other.

After a filling pizza dinner, we got to bed a bit late—around 11. Wakeup was at 5 a.m. Then, we had a hearty breakfast at a Village Inn and headed over to Council Bluffs.

The bikers—Brigid, Eldon and Cate are the first bikers while I'm the first support driver—got on the road shortly after 8. At bit late by RAGBRAI standards, but the first day has only a bit over 50 miles, and despite the hills, should be OK. The weather is giving our bikers a break, with cooler temps and no overnight storm—let's hope that pattern continues.

I'm writing this using Cate's laptop at a rest stop along I 80 before the first meeting town. I've posted some images on Facebook. I'll try to update you regularly during the week.

But for now, time to get on the road. I have some bikers to meet in a town up ahead, and then Francis and I will go for the first of our cruises in the RAGBRAI crowd!

We're putting the band back together. Banded for the ride. Pretty in Pink. During the "tent expo," we put on our official RAGBRAI rider wrist bands. Me, Eldon Rocca, Brigid Rocca and Cate Sheller.

Omaha, Where I Don't Bike

Moved my daughter into an apartment this weekend. She's a student at Creighton University in Omaha, and they don't guarantee upper-class housing, plus she's staying in Omaha this summer for a job.

Well. I am glad I commute by bike in Cedar Rapids. Despite being a "city" to those of use who grew up in over-grown villages, CR is really just a small Iowa town. And although it's not paradise for a biker, it's not Omaha, either.

We got thoroughly lost several times. I can't imagine navigating the city on two wheels without an engine.

Anyway, stayed with my sister in law. Niece was surprised Warren Buffet, richest man in the Milky Way Galaxy, chooses to live in Omaha, which to her is "nowhere."

The universal complaint of 12-year-olds world-wide. In Paris, there are some barely pre-teens complaining about the ennui. Such is life.

When I was living in a town of 700, there was plenty to do. I even commuted (25 miles) by bike then, but only now and then.

This weeks looks pretty good for the first 3 days, as long as I can dodge the rain Monday. It's good to be back in Cedar Rapids.