RAGBRAI 2012 - Photo recap and descriptions

A visual RAGBRAI week

There is a lot here to see, read and experience.  Grab a beverage, and meander through our last RAGBRAI experience. It's a great way to see just one of many ways to do RAGBRAI.

Use the search box below if you want to quickly look for key words from this page or any article in the Journal portion of this website.

Day 1 - Drive from Riverside to Start City in Iowa (Davenport in this case)

Riverside Adventure Company

Our starting point right on the Susquehanna River, @ 100 Avenue D & H north, Riverside, PA 17868

On the road

It doesn't take long before we begin to act like fools.

My wife pointing out other riders

It takes a lot of cars and bike racks to get 15000 cyclists to RAGBRAI.

Tired of driving

12.5 hour of driving in one sitting is a bit.  I want to ride!

Selfie time

Because why not.  Pictures make it fun.

Traffic

As we got close, we got stuck in traffic. I'm trying to show the GPS and my displeasure here.

Arrive in Davenport

Get situated and set up our tent.

Well earned

The kind of Beers.  The big number one is my reward for my road warrior routine on this day.

Banks of the mighty Miss.

The cruise Director shown here at the beginning river, which is the end river, at the beginning.  It's very confusing.

Night 1  - We realize that we might be in Kansas

The first night was a little rough.  Kicked out of camp by cops as a big storm approaches.

Rec center

Hanging outside, after being evacuated.  Waiting for the storm.

Rec Info Desk

We didn't get much info here.  No one knew what was about to happen.

Making the best of it

It's the middle of the night.  People are exhausted from driving, and just want to sleep.

Watching the storm advance

Lots of nervous people after hearing of tornados.

And then it's on us

Looks like we aren't getting back out to camp.

Hunkering down

Astroturf first night of sleeping during a vicious rain storm.

Morgan doing her best

Sleeping on the indoor soccer field was a first.

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Day 2 - Cross Iowa transport

Get your gear and your fanny on the bus and get to the start town and get set-up.

No sleep

So, no sleep due to the storm relocation was a rough start, but we have to keep moving and get loaded.

Team shirts

This year, we were "Team Fighting Amish" to honor our Central PA roots.  We made a sexy logo and gang shirts.

Team Fighting Amish

Here was our bad-ass logo!

Haming it up

A few selfies while we wait for the people bus.

Morning Joe

Morgan looking anxious to get cycling.

Gear related injury

Unloading bikes can be dangerous business.

Document everything

We took copeous notes (well, Morgan did).  We wanted to remember all that went well, and what didn't for future reference.

Twister evidence

As we drove across Iowa, the results of the previous night's storm was obvious. Overturned trucks everywhere.

Another overturned truck

Like I said, everywhere.

Wind farms

Lots of them on the open Iowa plains.

Expance of the Prairie

...that's what'cha have there: the expance of the prairie.  Read 'bout it in a book onest.

Our Guide

My good friend Dave.  Got us to do RAGBRAI after many years of convincing.

Start town camp

This will be a scene that will become very familiar.

Game face...

...coupled with extreme beauty!

Day 2 - Start Town

So after you arrive at your start town, and get unpacked, you have some time to get to know Iowa.  Here are some photos of our first evening.

Bike Expo

The moving circus that is RAGBRAI always has a sideshow of vendors.  Lots of cool bike stuff to be had.

Heading into town

Food, drink and hyjinks 

Always lots of hospitality

Found a nice little bar with lots of cyclist friends.

Sassy!

My travel partner is a handful.

Bar parking

Shouldn't all bar parking look like this?

In town

Lots of food, music, friendship.  Great environment.

Having a great time

Just hanging out and taking it all in.

Disobey

These cyclists can't read.

Church Lady and pie

A RAGBRAI tradition!

Team Bus

You will see crazy vehicles like this all along the ride.  Some aren't road worthy.  This one was being pushed 10 minutes after this photo was taken.

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Day 3  to Day 7 - Hitting the road

Finally!  All the gear is arrived.  You got a good night out on the town.  And now it's time to ride!

RAGBRAI offers so much to see and do in all the different towns, that it's almost overwhelming.  From the magnificent to the corny to the obsure to the obvious.  And participants can choose to do the entire event exactly as they see fit.

Spend lots of time in each town, or simply ride fast each day between start and finsh towns - or mix it up each day.  It's entirely up to you!

Here you will find some of the things we saw and did on the RAGBRAI ROAD:

Early week

Towns

Usually traffic slows in towns and you have to walk your bikes.  Mostly, you will want to do this anyway.

Our Guide

Dave is one of a kind.

Friends

Miles of open roads (and an occassional flat tire) gives you time to talk to a person.

This is the landscape

Rolling, mostly flat.  Mostly corn.

Crowds

Towns have them.  Otherwise, it's mostly open roads.

Cool off

This tank is in front of a a firehouse.  Iowa folks give riders lots of opportunity to cool down.

KUR-SPLASH!

It's all about style.  Doing a flip into the tank of freezing water is extra style points.

Unharmed

Look, I lived!

Taking it all in.

Lots to look at when you decide to take a break.

Goofy hats are smart.

May seem just goofy, but an unusual helmet helps you find the people you know in the huge crowds.

Speaking of goofy hats...

Dave has one that has a moving, flying bird on top.  It's an ice breaker to say the least.

*TIP* - Shady camp

If you are on the road for a long time, good SHADY spots might be taken by the time you arrive.

Charging

We are sitting here waiting for our cell phones to charge at one of the many places to charge devices.

What else can you do for $1.00?

Cool off and break teeth

Grabbing a can of beer with your teeth in ice water is tougher than you think.

Strategy

Eyeing my target, and focus power.

Attack!

Beer bobbing engaged!

SUCCESS!

...Now someone call my dentist.

Team Amish engaged!

Dave goes in for an attempt.

Team Amish doesn't lose

Faliure is not an option. 

Making new friends

Everytime you stop to eat, you get new friends.

New bike shoes

Mine shoes gave up during the ride.  Luckily, gear is everywhere.

Memorials

Lots of patriotic areas to explore.

Shady break

Our biker chick takes a break under a tree.

Theme boards

Each team seems to have one of these boards that you can stick you face in.  I'm thinking it's "a thing".

More theme boards

Like I said, they are everywhere.

Attitude

This is what I deal with.

Lovely people

We joked that this was us and our friends in a few years...it's happening.

Signs,

Old cool signs can take you back in time in Iowa.

Signs,

Some are funny.  This one says, "Modern Appliances" and has stuff from the 40's in the window.

Everywhere are signs.

Funny.

Giant parties!

Some bigger establishments really pull out the stops for RAGBRAI in the overnight towns.

Mass of cycling humanity

Every town is a new party.

Meat

Yes, Iowa has it.  Turkey legs and pork chops on sticks.  GET SOME!

Early cycling

Captain Cavegirl shows her style.

Clydesdale lite

There is a place for understatement.

Sign the silo

Lots of opportunities to personalize RAGBRAI along the way.

No words needed.

Bikini chicken

Of course.

Toilet target

Throw the bikini rubber chicken through the toilet lid for valuable prizes.

Again, it's about style

This is what I call, "The PA Pluck" style of throwing.

Thirsty

Chicken throwing makes us thirsty.  BEER GARTEN!

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MID WEEK

Weather was generally "good".  In RAGBRAI terms "good" equals 100°± and about 98% humidity.  A few rain drops, but nothing to complain about.

Heading out

Hitting the road.

Super-riders

Lots of crazy outfits at RAGBRAI

Banana bikes

What?  Like that's weird?

Carmen

You can't have a banana team without a Carmen.

Prototype

You will see it all at RAGBRAI

Crome Penny Farthing

Anyone riding one of these is insane.  In other words: let's party with them!

Morning Joe

The happy time of each morning on RAGBRAI

Bike art

Towns do what they can to make every destination special.

Typical

Most of your time is spent like this: riding with groups of people and support on on the side of the road.

Stuff to see

Always something interesting.  This car was awesome!

Bike Ice Sculpture

Anything cool is good at RAGBRAI.

Creepy

Not everything can be cute or appropriate.

Make your own kick stand

Leaning your bikes together makes them like each other.

Dunk Tank

An American classic.

Meat, meat, meat!

Ribs are the best food for cycling.

Pirate

I'm "all in" at this point.

Stop for a swim

All water along the route, is a potential place to swim.

Swim stop

This park offered a break and a swim.  Perfect!

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LATE WEEK

Still hot and humid (but that is just a given).  We are in the full groove of the experience now.  Smelly, sunburned, tired and loving it!

Party girl

Why I married her.

.38 Special

Great concerts every night.

Rocking it!

Late 80's early 90's style southern rock.

This guy.

Did the whole ride on a penny farthing.  Handlebar mustach.  Wool sweater.  No breaks.  What?

Candy shop

Very famous, popular stop along the ride.

Old, blind weirdo

Yeah, that's weary me.  Taking a break and wearing my glasses.

Shade is popular

In a grove

Music, dancing etc awaits in each town.

Lines

Some events and meals are REALLY popular.  Know your goals each day and plan accordingly.

Cheap breakfast

These are some of the most popular meals on RAGBRAI.

End town

No shave all week means I now have a beard.  Your milage may vary.

Missus and the Mississippi

Tired, burned, sore bits.  But feeling great about RAGBRAI.

True Grit

We are almost done, and she still looks great.  What gives?

Sculpture

...or as close as we came to making anything.

Cop poke

All along the ride, each town proudly shows it's heritage.  This kid was cute.

Duke's flags

This town was both the birth place of John Wayne, and had a huge flag display of national significants.

Everywhere

Random stuff like this guy playing tuba, is everywhere at RAGBRAI.

"Oh look, another party."

It's a 7 day cycling party.

Time forgotten

Iowa has some places that time has forgotten.

Giant Flag Cranes

Iowa folks REALLY do all they can to welcome RAGBRAI to each town.

Veteran

She's making it look easy by this point in the ride.

Iowa humor

Iowians have a good sense of humor about their midwestern stereotypes.

This guy

'Cause why not?

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We hope you enjoyed our 2012 photos of RAGBRAI.  

After looking at the event, we hope you have a more clear picture of the flavor, feel and demands of the ride.  I am comfortable saying there is nothing else quite like it.  It's not a 'BUCKET LIST" item for nothing.  

Comment below if you enjoyed, hated, or have questions about RAGBRAI.