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>> Today on "bike people," it's
all about ragbrai, getting
ready, getting set, and getting
on the road.
We'll talk with riders about how
they prepare, find people to
ride with and search for the
holy grail of ragbrai.
All that and more straight ahead
on "Bike People."
"Bike People" is brought to you
by the des moines bicycle
federation and the Iowa National
Heritage Foundation, working to
protect and restore Iowa's land,
water and wildlife.
Bike Iowa is your choice for
Iowa bicycle rides, events and
news connecting cycling with
Iowa communities since 2001.
>> My name is Forest.
I got my first bike at age 3.
My next bike was at age 7.
I'd ridden in europe, australia,
and all across our great nation.
>> My name is Suzette.
I'm a mom, TV personality, and
bike lover.
I've known forest for years from
interviews, rides and bike
events.
>> I'm in the bicycle business
and cycling enthusiast.
I've been collecting, fixing and
selling bikes my whole life.
>> We love bikes and all the
people, stories and adventures
around them.
>> We're on a journey to show
you the world through two
wheels.
>> To help you become --
>> Bike People.
>> Hey, there, bike fans.
Thanks for watching "Bike
People" today.
I'm so excited because it's our
first Ragbrai episode.
Can't wait.
>> This is a cool dvd video, it
was the second Ragbrai, first
one I was on as a teenager.
I'm going to see if I'm in this
video.
>> All right.
Let's check it out.
>> It begins on a Sunday in
August.
The challenge, 440 miles of
hills and wind and flatlands and
rain and lemonade stands and
good times and bad times and
sweat and sore muscles and a lot
of fun for just about everybody.
It begins at council bluffs on
the west with the ceremonial
dunking of wheels in the waters
of the missouri.
It ends seven days later in do
you beak on a bluff overlooking
the Mississippi.
Not all will attempt the full
journey for the caravan of
bicycles.
Whether they ride one day or
seven, not one will ever forget
it.
Flat.
Tell that to any bicycle rider,
and he'll laugh out loud unless
he's just ridden up an Iowa hill
and is still trying to catch his
breath.
In a short time the riders were
spread out over many miles.
That's one of the nice things
about the register's second
annual great bicycle ride across
Iowa.
There was only one rule.
You had to smile a lot,
otherwise, everyone rode at
their own pace, stopped to rest
whenever they wanted to and did
their own thing.
Seven tough and glorious days
testing, lungs, heart and legs.
Would we do it again?
You bet we would.
>> What's it going to be like
this year?
>> Well, in all the many years
since that, there's been a lot
of changes.
You'll see more vendors out
there with food and different
services.
You'll see stores out there that
have product to sell, a lot more
repair shops out there to fix
bicycles along the way, because
now there's 20,000 and somedays
30,000 riders on the ride
compared to 1500.
You'll see more great food, i'm
talking rhubarb pie with ice
cream made by grandmas.
You're going to see great
entertainment.
Literally world class
entertainment.
I remember taking my tennis
racquet for entertainment at
night.
I would play tennis at night
with buddies after we'd ride the
bike during the day.
>> That's what a 15-year-old can
do.
>> A kid can do a lot more
things.
A 57-year-old can't do that
anymore.
>> My goal is to survive and
find great food and I hope to
see more helmets out there.
I don't think I saw a single one
on that footage.
>> You'll see 98% of the riders
now ride with helmets, which is
a good thing.
You'll have a great time out
there.
The food is awesome, especially
the rhubarb pie.
>> Fantastic.
>> I had a meeting so I couldn't
ride it yesterday, so thanks for
coming.
That's awesome.
Good ride?
>> Fantastic.
>> Another day in paradise.
>> I think we just park or bikes
over on the railing.
Somerset park overlooking the
lake.
Putting in some miles before
Ragbrai, and these guys can help
me out.
>> You can get good experience.
>> How many years have you been
riding?
>> 14 for me.
>> 14 for me, too.
>> And four for me.
>> That's three more than i've
been riding, so that's quite a
bit.
>> She's a newbie.
>> How do you start preparing
physically to get ready for
Ragbrai?
>> I started today.
Just try to do a little riding,
trying to get settled in on the
seat and ready to go.
>> Do you have a recommended
amount of miles to put in before
you go?
>> 400 or 500 miles would get
you going, I think, already.
>> How about you guys?
>> Just get out on your bike on
the weekend, especially if you
work during the week.
I don't know.
We don't put in too many miles,
but you can ride this trail to
carlisle to indianola and get
around 30 miles if you ride
around banner lake also.
>> 500 is a minimum requirement
for Ragbrai to enjoy it, but a
lot of people that want to do
it, quicker without physical
issues, 1500 miles is a good
goal.
If you can do 1500 miles, you're
in great shape.
>> How do you know what to
bring?
>> Well, we have a list that our
team captain e-mails to
everyone, and you'd be welcome
to have.
>> That would be fantastic.
Right now I can think of about
4,000 things I need.
>> Limited at 3900.
>> We're going to cut that down.
>> I tell you what, we'll put
that on the website and would
love to have it and appreciate
it.
That's the biggest fear of mine,
is going on Ragbrai and not
being completely prepared.
Do you have any advice to
someone who is new to camping or
new to these bike rides that
would ease their mind a little
bit?
>> Hmm.
>> I would say get a pack of
friends, because it just makes
it so much easier when you have
everyone to get together and
solve a problem.
If you're missing a supply, they
might have it.
>> Fair enough.
>> You can always -- I mean team
*** and go is more than willing
to have people come and join us
for a day or night if you need
somewhere to stay or supplies or
snacks or get out of the hot
sun.
>> Normally wherever you are, if
you need help and see any team
on Ragbrai, you'll get
assistance.
It's great.
You're not out there by
yourself.
>> What's the best part of
Ragbrai, do you think, or one of
them?
I hate to say the best, because
it's hard to find it.
>> Rhubarb pie is way on the
top.
I know that for sure.
>> Getting to the Mississippi.
There's just something, you
know -- the day or two before
you think, I don't know if i
want to do this anymore.
You get to the Mississippi, and
it's just all good and worth it.
You did it.
You get to the river.
That's the best part of every
year, when you ride down to that
river and you did it.
>> It's a wonderful experience.
You'll enjoy your first one.
>> I can't wait.
I'm so excited.
Thank you so much for coming out
and riding with us, and for all
the advice.
I'm definitely going to make
sure that I stop by.
All right.
Let'*** the road, guys.
>> All right.
See you guys.
>> I went up a day early to set
up the expo, which is something
Ragbrai started 10 or 15 years
ago.
You met people from all over the
united states.
>> I heard all kinds of great
stories, which we all know you
love.
>> Do you like my stories and
roux bush pie?
>> I do.
I do.
I was amazed at what it took to
get everybody to roll and onto
Ragbrai.
>> It's a lot of work, but it's
a lot of fun work, too.
>> You're getting everything
started here.
Are you going to be out on the
road with me?
>> I am.
We'll load up 250 people and
carry all their luggage and set
up a campground in each town.
We have a big pen, and it's kind
of a circus on the road.
Each day we load up everything
and set it up again and go to
the next town.
>> You have tents, so I don't
have to bring tents?
>> It's probably half and half
for our customers, but we set up
70 tents this year.
That's why we bring all our
young kids to work for us.
>> Are you going to put me to
work?
>> I might.
>> Is this what this is really
about?
>> You don't want to show up too
early.
>> What's your best Ragbrai
memory?
>> I don't know.
Probably back when I got to
ride.
>> How old were you?
>> You know, me and some of my
friends and parents were riding
it when we were 8, 10 years old.
>> Really?
>> Yeah.
>> So you guys met on Ragbrai
how many years ago?
>> Yeah.
>> I ended up with 55 or so from
last year's ride.
>> Thanks for coming up.
You've been doing this how many
years now?
>> 15 years.
>> What's your favorite part of
all this?
>> The pie.
No.
The pie.
It is.
>> I turned 50 this year, and
i've never done Ragbrai.
I thought I could swim the des
moines river and climb mount
everest on door this.
I wanted to be part of this
group.
>> I take a food to look for.
Apple pie with homemade ice
cream.
>> The culinary adventure across
Iowa.
Whether you going for ham balls
or pie, it's like a fair meets
sturgis meets the circus.
That's what it is.
>> I'm riding with my kids right
now with my hybrid, great bike.
I want to get on the road bike,
and I also want to have other
adults to ride with.
I don't at this time.
Kind of intimidating.
>> I tell you what, riding a
bike is fun.
Riding a bike with friends is
more fun.
Find people to ride with.
Great places and resources are
here at the local bike shop.
We have employees that love to
ride and customers that love to
ride.
We can partner you up with
somebody that would love to take
you out and ride with you and
show you the tricks, so to
speak.
There's a lot of good
opportunities.
Here's biff.
Let's see what he has for ideas.
>> We had a couple different
resources.
We have online.
You probably have a computer or
iphone.
You can hop on facebook.
Most cities have websites where
they post rides, races, and
charity events.
Check those out.
At the local bike shop, look for
flyers.
They'll post the same rides in a
paper form.
>> The other great thing about
doing organized rides like that,
you find somebody that rides at
your same speed, somebody you
can really bond with, enjoy a
two or three-hour ride with and
become friends with.
It's a great way to meet people.
>> This is great advice for a
new biker or you move to a new
city and don't have someone to
ride with.
>> Bike shop is the hub for the
bike culture.
That's a great place to start.
>> What happens if I want to
improve?
>> I want to go from average joe
to being an athlete or doing a
triathlon, there's a lot of
coaching services out there.
You can hook up with people that
can teach you how to ride safe
and faster and become a better
cyclist.
>> I like the ideas.
I love it.
I love it.
You guys were awesome.
Thank you so much.
>> All right.
Thank you.
>> So the daily procedure here,
they say they show up.
We have all this set up
hopefully before they get here.
All these tents here are ours,
and all these tents are ours.
That's what all our kids do.
They set them up every day and
tear them down in the morning.
We load the luggage up in the
trucks over here.
>> So you just got back from
another ride, and you're on
Ragbrai doing another week long?
>> Yeah.
Actually we did a two-week with
a cooler on the back of the
bike.
We went up I guess six days
straight towards canada in
minnesota.
>> Southwestern Minnesota.
>> Started at the border there,
and just went to state parks and
conveniently they're every 50,
60 miles.
Camped at night.
>> A full week or longer?
>> Two weeks.
>> It was almost two weeks.
It was about 50, 60 miles a day,
and just enjoyed it.
>> Just the two of you did you
have a group of people?
>> Enjoyed the warm temperatures
in Minnesota.
We thought we would escape it.
>> It found out.
>> It was like 95, 96 during the
day, which was unbearable.
We were a little sweaty in the
tent.
70%, 80% of the tent.
>> How much rest did you have
before Ragbrai?
>> One day.
>> We got on the bikes.
>> Yesterday we got off the
bikes.
>> Do people say what are you
thinking, two weeks on a bike?
Do you get a hotel ever?
>> We did.
>> I knew it!
>> We did one night.
I'm not going to say it was
actually a hotel.
It did say motel on it, but it
was scary.
>> The guy that answered the
door fell through the hotel and
showed up with a hamburger in
his mouth.
Monosalvically answered and
unlocked the door and showed us
that, in fact, the
air-conditioning was working,
which was the main thing we had
the concern about.
And then after that, it was
fine.
>> Okay.
You're riding on Ragbrai.
>> Yeah.
>> Are you taking him?
>> No.
He's going to ride with grandma
in the car from stop to stop.
>> Fair enough.
>> He's been training with us.
He's been riding in the bike
trailer.
>> We're from Minnesota.
>> We're des moines, Iowa, and
the other daughter and her
family is from Kansas City.
>> Where are you from?
>> We're from Davenport.
>> This is a family affair.
That's brothers.
>> Oh.
>> We're from central illinois.
>> Awesome.
Okay.
>> We're from Omaha.
>> we're from Vicksburg,
Mississippi.
>> Okay.
>> We're from San Diego,
California, however, when he
recruited my husband, he was in
here.
>> Where are you from?
>> I'm from Vicksburg.
>> Lincoln.
>> Cool.
So this better be good, right?
>> yeah.
>> I met some amazing people at
the campgrounds.
Families traveling together from
all over the u.s.
I can't wait to find forest.
He is a hard man to find.
Kind of like where's waldo?
I got lost because my camera
people lost me.
Hey, hey.
>> All right, all right.
>> Everyone is together.
You have retail, entertainment,
food.
It's awesome.
This is what the ride is all
about.
>> Tomorrow.
>> Yeah, riding out.
>> You'll be riding tomorrow.
>> I know.
>> Rhubarb pie, rhubarb pie.
Don't worry about that.
You have to get ice cream with
the rhubarb.
Tell me how good it was
afterwards.
It's going to be hot.
Lots of water.
Water, water.
Drink a lot of water, h2o, aqua.
>> All right.
I've got it.
>> Welcome to the very first day
of Ragbrai, and it's my first
Ragbrai ever.
It's too bad you can't join me.
You have to work.
It's almost 90 degrees already
for us.
>> There's nothing more fun than
the first day of Ragbrai.
Remember, so many first days out
there, and people that have
never ridden before, they're so
excited.
There's teams and families out
there.
It's a wonderful, wonderful
thing.
>> A whole team of military
personnel just passing us now.
Only 471 miles to go.
>> And look, the cops are after
you already!
>> Welcome to marcus.
It's the first day, and it's our
first meeting point.
We have about 17 more miles
left, and we've done about 35 so
far.
Can't wait to keep going and get
to cherokee and finish off the
day.
What's the deal with this?
>> they just got married june
16th.
This is the second half of our
honeymoon.
>> How many times have you been
on Ragbrai?
>> This is my fourth time.
>> My second.
>> Did you meet him that way?
>> No.
We met in high school.
>> Okay.
I thought your story would be
better.
>> I know.
>> We met in high school.
>> Where are you from?
>> Sarasota, florida.
>> How did you know about
Ragbrai?
>> We do it for team livestrong.
They have a team, and we just
ride.
He did it one year to see what
it was, because I heard so much
about Ragbrai.
Everybody that bikes has to do
it once.
I did it once, and I'm hooked.
>> What keeps you coming back?
>> Friendly people here, great
pie, you know.
>> The pie.
>> I just love the midwest,
small towns, friendly people,
great experience.
>> Congratulations on your
wedding.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Have an awesome trip.
>> We are.
It's wonderful.
Love it.
>> Thank you.
>> Yeah.
>> We're from Cedar Falls,
Waterloo.
She's from Mingo.
>> Do you ride on trails and
stuff?
>> Yeah, we train.
We have great trails around
Waterloo and cedar falls.
>> Iowa is really doing the
trails.
>> They are.
>> What's your name?
>> Al Hayes, also known as early
bird.
We all have bird nicknames.
>> Because of the flamingo.
See, I catch on.
>> Since I want to get out
early --
>> The early bird gets the worm.
>> That's right, that's right.
>> Thanks for coming out.
You have a team of marines
today.
This isn't it, is it?
>> No, we have nine riders.
We have a team of Iowa and
nebraska together.
We're the first group.
The other group should come from
behind us.
>> Where are you from?
>> We're all from different
parts of the u.s., so right now
we're stationed out of the Des
Moines, Iowa.
We cover parts of -- there's
Nebraskans here and Iowans here.
I'm from Dubuque, Iowa.
>> How many times have you rode
Ragbrai?
>> Everyone in our group it's
their first time.
>> The first time you do it?
>> Yes.
>> Every city we go to we have a
booth set up about the marine
corps.
We all are competitive.
This is an awesome opportunity.
We're only going to be around
for three years, so this is our
one shot to do it one time here.
Whenever we get out, we can come
back and do it.
>> Thank you for talking with
us.
I don't know about all of you,
but I learned so much, how to
pack, how to get to Ragbrai with
ease, and, of course, the first
day of riding was fantastic.
As you know, seven days of
Ragbrai will not fit into one
episode, so you have to tune in
next week for the second part of
Ragbrai.
>> I'm coming back, because on
day one I did not find rhubarb
pie, and I know there's a
rhubarb pie out there with my
name on it.
>> I know there is, too.
All of you out there at home get
out there --
>> And become Bike People.
>> There's a book out a number
of years ago about backpacking,
and the gist of the book was the
only thing you carry in your
backpack or the only thing to
take on Ragbrai are your
insecurities.
Those things you're fearful of
you're going to take care of.
If you like to have a lot of
clothing, bring a lot of
clothing.
Just remember that.
You're bringing along your
insecurities.
>> Okay.
Is there too many that you can
bring?
Do you have a certain container
or duffle bag size or a weight
that you can bring?
>> I know a lot of charter
services you can bring 50 pounds
of insecurities with you.
After that, you're on your own.
That's where the master guard
comes in.
Do you have more insecurities
than 50 pounds' worth?
>> I do.
>> I think you do.
>> Some of these charter buses,
if you want to call them
charter, because I know are old
school buses, I can't remember
they're even still running.
Have you had any trouble?
Apparently that's a yes.
Yes?
>> That could be a whole episode
talking about bus issues.
>> Just last year would be an
episode.
>> Oh, no.
>> What time did we get in
Sunday morning, about 4:00?
>> Like 3:00 in the morning.
>> 3:00 in the morning we got
in, and it was raining.
We unloaded a few tents, and
everybody shared whatever and
got a couple of hours of sleep
and took off.
It was a long, long night.
>> Another good story to tell,
though.
>> That's right.
I'm sure you were very angry,
but as forest says, that it ends
up being a good story.
>> No, you don't get angry.
At Ragbrai you don't have
anything to do but ride a bike
for 500 miles.
>> You're on vacation.
>> Nobody gets angry or upset.
It's a challenge, but you just
do it, and everybody has fun.
You remember it, and it's over.
>> Talking about timing, we
always say it takes about a year
to get to wednesday on Ragbrai,
and a blink of an eye to finish
it off.
It seems like it takes so long,
and then before you know it,
it's just over with.
You think, I'm not ready to go
home.
I'm into the groove now, you
know.
It is like that.
It's very possessive.
It's a wonderful experience.
You'll enjoy your first one.
>> Did we get it?
>> Do we need more?
>> Yeah, this thing is
humongous.
>> You don't want that.
>> I felt like a child.
It's a nun in her habit.
>> Stop!
>> Those are mine, kid.
>> Hi, guys.
We want you to share with us how
you see the world through two
wheels.
Give us the scoop on your
favorite trails, share your ride
pictures or videos.
Send an e-mail with any
questions or information you'd
like to share with all the other
Bike People out there.
>> The scoop I'm hoping someone
shares is a scoop of vanilla ice
cream on a big piece of pie.
>> We're talking about over the
internet like facebook.
>> Like a picture of a piece of
pie on there.
>> Depending on the subject
matter, we may post it on our
facebook page, our website or
maybe even on tv.
>> Remember, this is a family
show, but maybe we can get
recipes for rhubarb pie.
In fact, somebody tell me where
to pick up a piece of rhubarb
pie.
>> You are hopeless.
>> Incourageable.
>>> "Bike People" is brought to
you in part by the des moines
bicycle collective promotes
bicycling as a means of wellness
and recreation in central Iowa.
The Iowa Natural Heritage
Foundation.
Working to protect and restore
Iowa's land, water and wildlife.
Bike Iowa, your source for Iowa
bicycle rides, events and news
connecting cycling with Iowa
communities since 2001.
>> Thanks for watching "Bike
People."
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