Team Cycle Sport once again made the journey to Iowa for RAGBRAI 31.

Our team this year numbered 14 riders, and included 3 RAGBRAI virgins, and two new members to the Team. The newest members were Pat Schilling and Micky, and they were both welcome additions to the group. Pat is an accomplished rider, and the brother of "Missouri Mike". His first RAGBRAI was when he was a teenager, so this was a return engagement for him. Micky is a new rider, but she did a terrific job. On the third day, the last 20 miles were characterized by the incessant hills and a stiff headwind. Micky was working hard, and I could see in her eyes that she was not having much fun at that time, but she kept at it, and finished the day. I think we were all very proud of her.

The morning of the first day was very foggy. The nice thing about the fog was that you could not see the tops of the hills. The riders all started in a jovial mood, but as we would start up a hill, the chatter would slow untill it was just the sound of gears being changed and occasionally heavy breathing. It gave those quiet moments in the mists an almost mythical feeling. Later in the day, of course, the fog burned away, and then it just got hot! But, it was a short day, and we all made it to camp in good shape.

Our second day was not as hilly as the first. As usual, we ride for about an hour and then stop for breakfast. After breakfast, we took off, and I took part in a pace line. It was wonderful, really. Nice flat road, good concrete pavement, and a bit of a tailwind, so we could really make some time. A good pace line is indeed a thing of beauty, with a leader who safely guides the group down the way, and the following riders all working as a single unit. Those who know me, know of my appreciation for quality vintage bikes. On this day, while riding along on ol' Blue, my '89 Paramount, another rider came up and commented on my ride. I looked, and he was riding a '76 Schwinn P-15! (Same model as my bike Liberty, except his had a perfect chrome finish!) This gentleman is the head of Natural Resources for the State of California, and we enjoyed riding together and talking vintage bikes for several miles!

On the third day, guess what! More hills!! At one of the pass-through towns, they had a pair of guys who lip synced to the Blues Brothers album. However, before they would come out and perform, they passed around a cardboard box so the crowd could throw in any money they wished to "bail" the Blues Brothers out of "jail." When they finally did appear, they were absolutly wonderful! I just happen to have the album they were performing to, and the second song on the album is the theme from the old TV show Rawhide. In the movie, when they do this song, the crowd throws beer bottles the whole time..and shortly after starting this song, and empty beer can archs over the crowd, and every one just roared!! Oh, and the money that was raised when they passed the box around....well, by the end of the ride, the Blues Brothers had raised over $3000 that was all donated to cancer research. On one of the days when I was riding along, I noticed that one rider had a set of Indian Clubs tied on the back of his bike. While I have seen all kinds of things on bikes on RAGBRAI, these did have me curious. Later that day, while eating at Pastafaris, this lad and 4 of his buddies put on a juggling show, and once again, passed the hat. These young men were putting on these shows every day, and all of the money raised went to the Shriners Burn Hospitals. Mount Aer was a very nice town, and had old bikes parked along our route, with baskets full of flowers decorating the town. I also stopped in New Market, and had to stop for a beer in a bar I had not been in since 1978!! The name had changed, but the place looked exactly the same!!

One of the highlights of the forth day was the wonderful little band we saw at New Virginia. It was a 5 piece band, and they really did a good job. They even played a couple requests that I made. Talking to a local, I found out that this group had been playing together for 50 years, and the banjo player was the youngest member of the group, and he was 76 years old! The old boy playing the acoustic guitar was wearing his overalls and workboots, but he had a fresh polish on them for this day. Also on this day, Goerge and I happened across John, a parapalegic, who was riding a hand powered tricycle. John had lashed what appeared to be an old hocky stick onto the back of the seat, and had a little sign identifying it as the "Help me up the Hill Handle." What you would do is ride up next to him, pick a good gear, grab the handle, and pedal like crazy! George and I took turns helping him up the hills, and had a nice chat with him as well! It was really wonderful to see him out there having a bit of fun with the rest of us!

On the fifth day, after breakfast, I rode with a family on a tandem, with a tandem tailabike! The dad was the captain, and an 11 year old boy was stoking, and on the trailabike was a 7 year old boy pedalling along, and last, but not least, was a little 4 year old girl! She was just along for the ride, and she looked so cute, I gave her a string of beads. As I was riding back to the front of this long contraption, the 7 year old boy had made a little braclet out of leather and plastic beads, and he gave it to me! I wore it the rest of the trip, and it is already set aside to wear next year! Later in the day, I had been riding along, and latched onto the rear of a double pace line. I rode in the back untill I was thouroughly rested, and I noticed that no one was taking any turns at pulling. I pulled out of line, and up to the front, and offered to take a turn. The gentleman declined my offer, and explained that this was a club ride, and many of the riders were new, so they were just taking it kinda easy while they learned. A good deal, I thought. I rode next to the leaders untill we arrived at the next town, and we all had lunch together. Nice bunch of folks.

On the 6th day, we were in and out of the Des Moines river valley three times. The little towns we passed through were really wonderful! The towns, and the people in them, were just delightful! Many of the buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and were a delight to see. And, at the end of the day, we camped on the grounds of a steam engine museum!! I am a steam train nut, and of course, George, being an railroad engineer, we were both intrigued by the trolly cars that were giving rides around the park. It wasn't long before George and I got a guided tour thru the car barn, and rides on the trolly. Then, we were off to the museum, and true to form, we, along with Patty, got a personally guided tour thru that as well! We even got to go inside the displays and learn about the various engines, and even got a tour of the machine shop. What a wonderful time we had!

On the last day, it was hard to believe it was over for another year. The ride was not bad, and as we entered the last town of Fort Madison, they had a sign declaring that it was the top of the last hill! I know my initial reaction was "Yeah, right!" but at the bottom, the sign said "No, really!" And, they were right, it was all down hill from there on! We had all joined up outside of town, with our virgins in the lead, and the rest of the Team following along behind. When we entered the downtown area of Fort Madison, the street were lined with citizens and other riders who were cheering us on, and giving us the thumbs up. It was a real treat. Then, it was on to the Missippi River to dip our front tires and pose for pictures.

This ended my third trip to RAGBRAI, and I am still amazed by this event. It is very well organized, and the attitudes of the riders it a thing of wonderment. If they are newbies, or experienced riders, the atmosphere is still friendly and full of fun. On the last day, I had a flat, and as I was fixing it, I lost track of how many times I was asked if I was okay, and did I need anything, and that there was a sag wagon close at hand if I needed it. I ran into people who have become "see-'em-once-a-year" friends, and even managed to meet up with a lady and her husband I had toured with on the NUMB ride back home! I rode with Lynn (http://www.fitnesslynn.com) who I have ridden with every year so far. She is a delight to be with, and I was also pleased to get to talk to her husband, Kelly. He is in the service, and had only returned from Iraq the Wednesday before the ride! Having just got back from the desert, where he wore the long sleeved army uniform, when people asked him if he thought Iowas was hot, he could honestly say he didn't think so!