Dad and I rode Day 7 of RAGBRAI, 65.4 miles from West Union, Iowa, to Lansing, Iowa, last Saturday, July 30th! Everything I knew going into the course is in the image below – that it was hilly – 2,966 feet of climb. Ha.

RAGBRAI is the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. It’s a weeklong ride from the western to eastern side of the state where the course changes each year. RAGBRAI is in its 49th year. Dad and I have been doing one day for 8 years now. And this is not our first time cycling to Lansing – we also did in 2017 but went on a completely different course. 

The week(s) leading up to RAGBRAI I had a swollen left foot and didn’t even know if I’d be able to get my bike shoe on! I was wondering how riding would feel, but happily, the swelling had gone down a ton by the day before, and the ride did not bother my foot during – it was screaming at me the next day when I tried to wear a water shoe.

Transportation to RAGBRAI is always interesting, since it’s point to point, and almost always requires help! This year, Steven and Mom were our drivers! Steven drove us from Guttenberg, Iowa (where we stayed) to the start, then drove our car to the finish and left it there, and Mom met him there and they went back to Guttenberg together in her truck. We appreciate them so much.

Something strange happened at the beginning of the ride. Well, two strange things, but the first I was going to mention is how cool it was! Maybe 60°F? It’ the first RAGBRAI Dad and I remember feeling chilly at the beginning of, but we were grateful for it!

Beautiful fog on the drive in

The other strange thing is that my bike tire had a lot lower psi than the front one. I was worried, because that was the one were were having issues with! I felt nervous, but figured I would put air in it each time we stopped.

The ride got off to a great start and we had a beautiful descent into the first town, Elgin.

I pulled over right away and checked my back tire and it had lost some air so I pumped it up with my hand pump… then it completely deflated. GAH. I was so freaking over my issues with that tire at that point! We’d found metal in it two weeks prior and figured we got it all out, but no. All we could see then was a hole in the tire, which should not be a huge issue.

So we got in line at the bike repair tent and could tell it was going to be a LONG wait. Gah. We started early on purpose, so we had time… but I didn’t want to delay our whole day. Dad went and looked for another tent but that was it. Then we figured instead of having them fix it, we’d buy a new tire, use one of my tubes, and change it all ourselves.

I could not have done this on my own! I am so thankful Dad did most of it, and REALLY thankful it did not go flat on that downhill. Yikes

After I hid a few rocks (see my rock hiding reel here!) we got back on the road. I was having phantom squishiness in my bike tire and feeling paranoid for a bit but I eventually got over it and could thankfully just enjoy the ride and the beautiful cool weather!

We had our first big uphill after Elgin, and I can barely remember it, because the horror of the second one is still with me… oh! I do remember we were both drenched in sweat though, since you lose all your wind when you’re going so slow up a hill.

Our eating plan was to have a gel every 10 miles, drink a full water bottle between each town, and get some real food at the big passthrough town, which I assumed was Waukon, but looking at the map now, it may have been Postville, since it has a star by it. I did buy a slice of watermelon in Postville, but we mostly walked through, hid a few rocks, bought RAGBRAI pins (I get one each year for me and mom), and filled up our water.

We had a nice downhill after Postville then I noticed I was feeling low on energy, and was only 40 miles in and still had 25 left. Um, not good. I couldn’t figure out what was going on, so after a few minutes I asked Dad if we were going uphill?

GAH yes we were. We were starting a crazy long incline that sucked the life out of us. Ha. It just never ended. The road would curve and you’d be like, “that’s it! It ends at that curve.” No, no it does not. Ha. I was so glad to have that over. And I hadn’t really studied the course map to know that was the last super nasty uphill but I am so glad it was.

We split a CLIF bar which tasted disgusting but I felt reassured there would be food in Waukon… then we missed it all. A lot of people did. The food vendors are usually in the downtown area but in Waukon there were right in the beginning and most people don’t stop there. I was so sad! And hungry! We found out there was a church 6 miles out of town with some options so we planned to stop there.

They were sold out of a lot but Dad got a hot dog and I got some protein balls which were a cold version of the Clif Bar I had eaten. Ha. At least at that point we had less than 20 miles to go!

We had a few gentle rolling hills, and I stopped and got a pickle on the course, which gave me my life back.

Then. THEN! We had the most amazing descent toward the finish. Like… the best finish we’ve ever had for a RAGBRAI, hands down. I just coasted most of it. I only stopped when a giant beetle flew into my shirt because ICK I needed to get that out.

We had a few baby rollers then finished! Our watches were pretty spot on when the estimated 65.4 miles, which rarely happens! It was 77°F, a somewhat cool finish!

It’s customary to dip your front tire in the Mississippi River at the finish, but we skipped that (we’d already done it in Lansing). I hid a few rocks and we walked to the car. Mom had left a cooler in there WITH A DR PEPPER! Ha. I wanted one so bad on the course and saw a girl who had one in her pack and maybe asked her too many questions about it…

We had to go the long way to get back to Guttenberg because of the course, but were able to get back in an hour and a half! Dad went out on the river and I thought I would too but once I showered it sounded nicer to lie in bed for a bit. Ha.

Overall, it was a very fun day! I wish my tire had behaved and that I had found some real food, but I will plan better for food next year. I can’t wait to ride again with Dad!

A few random things:

• When I was riding I saw a girl lying on the side of the course (taking a break) and petting a farm cat! I would have stopped but it was right after my flat and I was annoyed. Ha. Dad later saw the cat in an article!

• Toward the end I heard a strange noise whenever I pedaled and figured out my bike pump was extended and dragging. It’s all scratched up now. Ha.
• GAH. I made a brand new playlist with tons of songs on it and my phone chose to repeat them. It made me freaking bonkers. I need to figure out why it starts over when I pause it.
• I put on so much chapstick and my lips still felt burned. I wonder if the SPF in it was bad.
• Oops, I think we only reapplied our SPF once. I was a little burned on my face.
• My toes didn’t cramp as bad as they used to. I stretched them a lot. My neck and butt were sore, but not horrible.
• I am the same size and weight as last year and ordered the same size of jersey that fit me last year and it was too snug! But it was all I brought. I was a bit disappointed! I really like the design and colors though.
• Dad and I spend some of the time talking, and some to the time just listening to music and riding. I’d share our convos… but they stay on the ride. Ha! Needless to stay, the church didn’t burn down when we stopped there, which was our main concern.