It was a grueling year. I also chose not to walk up any hills and I did not. Although I did it a little different. I would stop part way up if I could not make it, take a short break and let the heart rate come back down and then take off again. I know that starting back up on a hill is not the most desirable way to do it, but it worked for me. I ended up taking the SAG wagon 2 times. Once on Friday after half way through the ride. I made it to Mr. Pork Chop where I had some slushy lemonade (no it was not Sassy) and a break under a tree for some shade. I actually fell asleep for a shot time. The SAG wagon was out front and asked it anyone wanted to SAG. I told myself no and got on the bike. I made it about 30 yards and my body said no way. I turned around and took the SAG wagon to Coralville IA. My body was just spent. The second time I had a mechanical failure with my rear tire. I run tubeless and the side wall of the tire failed. I made a repair with the help of two gentlemen from Australia. I got back on the road near Buffalo IA (about 8 miles from Davenport IA) found a lemonade stand for some hydration, rode to the fire station to fill up the water bottles and then began my trek to the dip site. About 1/2 mile down the road the back tire went flat again. I had called for my family to come get me, but they could not find an access to get onto the road since everything was blocked off for RAGBRAI. Just then the SAG wagon drove by and gave me the thumbs up or down and I did the thumbs down. They stopped and I was so grateful. The SAG crew was happy to pick me up and said that this is what the SAG service is for. You made it almost to the end, have a mechanical failure and just not able to complete the day. He said that there were many people that would ride to the 1st pass through town and give up and SAG to the overnight town on a daily basis. He said on Monday there were 10,000 people that used the SAG service and the majority of them did not even ride at all that day. Glad the two of you completed each day. That is quite the accomplishment for the weather that was handed us this year. Keep Riding!!!
I heard about the ride 2 weeks ago, via a TH-cam channel. My goal is couch to RAGBRAI '24. Thankfully we have an RV and my Husband is very willing to be my support team. This video was helpful. Thank you for all of them.
I've watched several channels covering RAGBRAI. You guys are my favorite. I don't see how in the name of everything that's holy you made it with that terrible heat and humidity. Best wishes to you both ✌️
Well done! You said a lot of the things we’re all thinking: it was not as enjoyable as it could have been- and that was 100% about heat and crowds. It was still awesome- and WAY more of a challenge than I expected.
Thank you for creating these videos. We chatted along the route this yers, my first RAGBRAI. I thought the ride was challenging, mostly because of the heat, but I loved every minute of it. When I rolled into towns, they seemed familiar to me as 8 have seen many of the vendors in your videos. When I was in the planning stages, I would zoom in on the vendor menus to see prices to help with budgeting. I followed your advice & left early each morning, thank you for that. If I left later it would have been a whole different ride due to the heat
My first Ragbrai. It was hard but I still loved it. You are the second TH-camrs I watched who run marathons and said this year's Ragbrai was tougher than marathons. Makes me feel even more accomplished. I did every mile too, and same goal achieved of no walking up hills. I tell everyone that the riding was tough because of the heat but it's the logistics and camping in the heat that was the most difficult. I had no tent service, so after riding 100 miles in the heat I would then have to find bags and put tent up in direct sunlight in some campsites with heat index over 100. Still happy I did it. Thanks for the video.
@frankmarchetta2120 I think it turned out to be the best decision for those of us wanting to avoid the masses, lines, and heat. I could not have imagined going thru town and having to wait 30 minutes for a kybo, 30 min for lunch, and then finishing at 4pm or later.
Congrats.....we did it. With the gearing on my bike, I knew that walking a hill was a possibility, so my goal was to finish. Walked three short hills and finished every day by 11:30-1pm. I wanted to meet Ryan, BBB, and you both and never got to Ryan. He was swarmed everywhere. I saw him and met you both at the bike expo. I was in contact with Brentley and MB pretty much every day. I think we hopped over each other all day, I just didn't recognize your bike kits. The early morning departures made a huge difference in the rides people had. If we would of left later, then every single thing we wanted or saw would have been a line. Like Brentley said, they waited 1.5 hours for a beer at a place I had no line. Also, lots of people walked hills just because the whole road had slowed and no lane to ride in. Ugh, that would have been awful. It will be interesting to see how many people come back for another ride if they were newbies on the 50th. Even experienced riders of Ragbrai were admitting they tapped out this year. Be well, and thanks for taking a few minutes to stop and chat with me.
I'm glad you enjoyed the ride. I sure hope they cap the ride at 20,000. I totally agree agree about riding early in the morning. That's our favorite time of the day. Keep on riding!
Hello...This was my first RAGBRAI and it will be my last one. After completing this ride, I am certain I will not come back and this is why...the cost versus value for me is just not there. Three years ago I rode my bicycle across the US from Vancouver WA to Portland Maine and down to NYC for just over 5000 miles and I took five grand and came back with 1800 and I spend 6 days in the Grand Tetons NP , 6 days in Yellowstone , 3 days in Custer State Park in SD, Devils Tower, The Badlands, 10 days in Chicago, plus Niagara Falls and Erie Canal trail, Martha's Vineyard, Boston, Providence and other cities but my point is that when I compare the expense of doing RAGBRAI versus going across country, one time RAGBRAI was enough for me...I met lots of nice people but this event is geared for you to spent money and nothing is free, and camping in that heat is for the suckers....I also felt the stress of the time lines, having to get to the next overnight town at a decent time and to get a $9 shower when I have taking a dip on the Columbia River, the Snake River, the Yellowstone, Chippewa, the Hudson, the Salmon river in Idaho at many creeks in over 15 states, my point is not about bragging about all the places that I experienced , it is about the comparing value and I know they are two totally different things but why does it have to be so expensive and so little value? I am glad I did it and it was nerve wrecking at times riding with so many riders of poor bicycle etiquette and I got to see a lot of crashes, I also waited one day in the scorching sun for a $10 pork shop that was good but not worth that much time. The concerts were great but again, it was expensive to eat at those ventures. It was extremely hot which I am accustomed to deal with the heat and humidity but to camp in that much heat at night takes your energy out most nights. So, for those who do it more than once, more power to them, for me, for the price I paid to get to , eat , sleep and experience ragbrai, I could go again, ride my bike for a month in Patagonia and spent about the same amount of money and not have those types of crowds. Cheers and sorry for the long message and I hope I did not come across as a bitter RAGBRAI finisher, my only intention was to come across the cheap traveler that I am and proud to me.
@@canica99 I totally agree with you about the price tag of Ragbrai. Someone tried to sell me a $3 banana. Come on man. Everyone was trying to make a buck.
@terrymackel2907 I brought a bunch of food to save some money and ate half of it, and half just threw it away. As much as it is true about everyone trying to make a buck, a person could always do the grocery stores of they felt like doing that. I think in the end, the worst part was the heat, and it is what took the fun out of the adventure.
Unfortunately we are not going to make it to Ragbrai this year. 😩😫 We are in the process of retirement and moving to Florida. I'm glad you enjoyed the video's. Good luck this and ride strong.
@@terrymackel2907 Several of us play Wheelchair Basketball in the Military League on the Silverbacks Team in Colorado Springs. Saturday we'll vote, while drinking beer at O'Malley's, between competing in The National Veterans Wheelchair Games in New Orleans or riding RAGBRAI for the 1st time. Watching your year 49 & 50 videos my vote is for RAGBRAI. We ride handcycles or recumbent trikes supplied to us last Summer by the DOD or VA. Learned allot from your videos Thank You.
Was it well worth bringing your own tire pump? Doing my first year in a few weeks! Considering bringing my pump due to unsure if RAGBRAI gen pop supplies air. Thanks for your videos!
It was a grueling year. I also chose not to walk up any hills and I did not. Although I did it a little different. I would stop part way up if I could not make it, take a short break and let the heart rate come back down and then take off again. I know that starting back up on a hill is not the most desirable way to do it, but it worked for me. I ended up taking the SAG wagon 2 times. Once on Friday after half way through the ride. I made it to Mr. Pork Chop where I had some slushy lemonade (no it was not Sassy) and a break under a tree for some shade. I actually fell asleep for a shot time. The SAG wagon was out front and asked it anyone wanted to SAG. I told myself no and got on the bike. I made it about 30 yards and my body said no way. I turned around and took the SAG wagon to Coralville IA. My body was just spent. The second time I had a mechanical failure with my rear tire. I run tubeless and the side wall of the tire failed. I made a repair with the help of two gentlemen from Australia. I got back on the road near Buffalo IA (about 8 miles from Davenport IA) found a lemonade stand for some hydration, rode to the fire station to fill up the water bottles and then began my trek to the dip site. About 1/2 mile down the road the back tire went flat again. I had called for my family to come get me, but they could not find an access to get onto the road since everything was blocked off for RAGBRAI. Just then the SAG wagon drove by and gave me the thumbs up or down and I did the thumbs down. They stopped and I was so grateful. The SAG crew was happy to pick me up and said that this is what the SAG service is for. You made it almost to the end, have a mechanical failure and just not able to complete the day. He said that there were many people that would ride to the 1st pass through town and give up and SAG to the overnight town on a daily basis. He said on Monday there were 10,000 people that used the SAG service and the majority of them did not even ride at all that day. Glad the two of you completed each day. That is quite the accomplishment for the weather that was handed us this year. Keep Riding!!!
Congratulations! We did it!
I heard about the ride 2 weeks ago, via a TH-cam channel. My goal is couch to RAGBRAI '24. Thankfully we have an RV and my Husband is very willing to be my support team. This video was helpful. Thank you for all of them.
The biking was lots of fun, camping in a tent was not. Good luck next year and thanks for watching.
I've watched several channels covering RAGBRAI. You guys are my favorite. I don't see how in the name of everything that's holy you made it with that terrible heat and humidity. Best wishes to you both ✌️
Thanks for watching, It was one hell of a ride.
Well done! You said a lot of the things we’re all thinking: it was not as enjoyable as it could have been- and that was 100% about heat and crowds. It was still awesome- and WAY more of a challenge than I expected.
Thanks for your thoughts, I had fun on RAGBRAI ! Thanks for your videos ! I enjoyed them.
Thanks for watching, keep on riding.
Thank you for creating these videos. We chatted along the route this yers, my first RAGBRAI. I thought the ride was challenging, mostly because of the heat, but I loved every minute of it. When I rolled into towns, they seemed familiar to me as 8 have seen many of the vendors in your videos. When I was in the planning stages, I would zoom in on the vendor menus to see prices to help with budgeting. I followed your advice & left early each morning, thank you for that. If I left later it would have been a whole different ride due to the heat
It was very interesting this year. It was nice to meet you. Keep on riding.
My first Ragbrai. It was hard but I still loved it. You are the second TH-camrs I watched who run marathons and said this year's Ragbrai was tougher than marathons. Makes me feel even more accomplished. I did every mile too, and same goal achieved of no walking up hills. I tell everyone that the riding was tough because of the heat but it's the logistics and camping in the heat that was the most difficult. I had no tent service, so after riding 100 miles in the heat I would then have to find bags and put tent up in direct sunlight in some campsites with heat index over 100. Still happy I did it. Thanks for the video.
What time did you start your days?
@@dfriz8513 No later than 5 AM. Some days earlier
@frankmarchetta2120 I think it turned out to be the best decision for those of us wanting to avoid the masses, lines, and heat. I could not have imagined going thru town and having to wait 30 minutes for a kybo, 30 min for lunch, and then finishing at 4pm or later.
I think I would have pass-out setting up a tent and transporting luggage. 😁
@terrymackel2907 so your saying if you can't get on pork belly you won't be riding?
Congrats.....we did it. With the gearing on my bike, I knew that walking a hill was a possibility, so my goal was to finish. Walked three short hills and finished every day by 11:30-1pm. I wanted to meet Ryan, BBB, and you both and never got to Ryan. He was swarmed everywhere. I saw him and met you both at the bike expo. I was in contact with Brentley and MB pretty much every day. I think we hopped over each other all day, I just didn't recognize your bike kits. The early morning departures made a huge difference in the rides people had. If we would of left later, then every single thing we wanted or saw would have been a line. Like Brentley said, they waited 1.5 hours for a beer at a place I had no line. Also, lots of people walked hills just because the whole road had slowed and no lane to ride in. Ugh, that would have been awful. It will be interesting to see how many people come back for another ride if they were newbies on the 50th. Even experienced riders of Ragbrai were admitting they tapped out this year. Be well, and thanks for taking a few minutes to stop and chat with me.
I'm glad you enjoyed the ride. I sure hope they cap the ride at 20,000. I totally agree agree about riding early in the morning. That's our favorite time of the day. Keep on riding!
Hello...This was my first RAGBRAI and it will be my last one. After completing this ride, I am certain I will not come back and this is why...the cost versus value for me is just not there. Three years ago I rode my bicycle across the US from Vancouver WA to Portland Maine and down to NYC for just over 5000 miles and I took five grand and came back with 1800 and I spend 6 days in the Grand Tetons NP , 6 days in Yellowstone , 3 days in Custer State Park in SD, Devils Tower, The Badlands, 10 days in Chicago, plus Niagara Falls and Erie Canal trail, Martha's Vineyard, Boston, Providence and other cities but my point is that when I compare the expense of doing RAGBRAI versus going across country, one time RAGBRAI was enough for me...I met lots of nice people but this event is geared for you to spent money and nothing is free, and camping in that heat is for the suckers....I also felt the stress of the time lines, having to get to the next overnight town at a decent time and to get a $9 shower when I have taking a dip on the Columbia River, the Snake River, the Yellowstone, Chippewa, the Hudson, the Salmon river in Idaho at many creeks in over 15 states, my point is not about bragging about all the places that I experienced , it is about the comparing value and I know they are two totally different things but why does it have to be so expensive and so little value? I am glad I did it and it was nerve wrecking at times riding with so many riders of poor bicycle etiquette and I got to see a lot of crashes, I also waited one day in the scorching sun for a $10 pork shop that was good but not worth that much time. The concerts were great but again, it was expensive to eat at those ventures. It was extremely hot which I am accustomed to deal with the heat and humidity but to camp in that much heat at night takes your energy out most nights. So, for those who do it more than once, more power to them, for me, for the price I paid to get to , eat , sleep and experience ragbrai, I could go again, ride my bike for a month in Patagonia and spent about the same amount of money and not have those types of crowds. Cheers and sorry for the long message and I hope I did not come across as a bitter RAGBRAI finisher, my only intention was to come across the cheap traveler that I am and proud to me.
@@canica99 I totally agree with you about the price tag of Ragbrai. Someone tried to sell me a $3 banana. Come on man. Everyone was trying to make a buck.
@terrymackel2907 I brought a bunch of food to save some money and ate half of it, and half just threw it away. As much as it is true about everyone trying to make a buck, a person could always do the grocery stores of they felt like doing that. I think in the end, the worst part was the heat, and it is what took the fun out of the adventure.
Sames. This RAGBRAI was brutal. I’ve ridden a cross this whole country. This RAGBRAI was harder.
Followed your adventure. Hope to meet you at 2024 ride.😎🐸
Unfortunately we are not going to make it to Ragbrai this year. 😩😫 We are in the process of retirement and moving to Florida. I'm glad you enjoyed the video's. Good luck this and ride strong.
@@terrymackel2907 Several of us play Wheelchair Basketball in the Military League on the Silverbacks Team in Colorado Springs. Saturday we'll vote, while drinking beer at O'Malley's, between competing in The National Veterans Wheelchair Games in New Orleans or riding RAGBRAI for the 1st time. Watching your year 49 & 50 videos my vote is for RAGBRAI. We ride handcycles or recumbent trikes supplied to us last Summer by the DOD or VA. Learned allot from your videos Thank You.
@@johnschmit6815 whatever you choose have a great time and enjoy the ride. Memories will be made. 🚲🍻🚵♂️🚴♂️
Was it well worth bringing your own tire pump? Doing my first year in a few weeks! Considering bringing my pump due to unsure if RAGBRAI gen pop supplies air. Thanks for your videos!
Yes, definitely, if you have room bring it. Happy riding!🚴♂️🍻😁
What was the cost of PBV ?