camp in Marshalltown before the storm rolled in
Marshalltown to Cedar Rapids 85 Miles
Good thing we were prepared for last night’s storm because things were well saturated when Logan threw me out of the tent shortly before 6 am. The rain seemed to cool the ground a bit as the morning started a little later than usual. Forgetting his Fairdale Kit on top of the tent seemed to make it hard to put on, shamed further by changing in the middle of the campsite. A risky move made possible by not tripping.
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We landed a Disposed gallery over on Defgrip from our recent Seattle to San Francisco trip. Check it out here!
Here’s a nice little Parser Frame and Fork build over on the Headtube blog. Thanks for the support!
There were all types of bikes on this trip. From $17k Specialized builds to some $65.00 huffy mountain bikes. It was nice to see people out on two wheels regardless of how “vintage” “light” “specifically designed” or “custom built” the bike.)
Webster City to Marshalltown 77 Miles
Today was long and straight. There was a lot of time to just sit back and stare at the bikes that seemed to pass on both sides of us all day long. Some of the bikes were pretty wild race machines with aero bars and bladed carbon wheels. Wildly overdone for this type of ride in my opinion, but who am I to judge? I didn’t pedal one time the whole trip.
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the view from camp in Webster city to the north
Lakeview to Webster City 81.2 Miles
Today started early. No alarm clock needed as Logan shoved me out the door at about 5 am. Yesterday’s headwind had made a lot of riders rethink their morning. We packed in a rush and jumped on the bike and hit the road before the sun came up.
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Green machine, Fairdale weekender and out trusty tent.
Cherokee to Lake View 63 Miles
Today started out early with the shuffling of tents and the soothing zipper alarm clock that would become the theme song for me getting tossed out of the tent while things are packed up and loaded onto the semi with everyone else’s gear. Today’s ride will end at a lake, I know I am excited and it seems like Logan is looking forward to a relaxing swim after today’s 63 miles.
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Me surfing and Logan pedaling.
Sioux Center to Cherokee, 55 Miles
The first day started significantly earlier than I thought. The overwhelming sound of zippers proved too difficult to sleep through even tucked soundly under the feet of the sleeping bag. I needed to make sure that Logan had the tent and gear packed up and in the truck by 8 am each morning. One of the benefits of being a registered rider for the event is that they carry your gear in a truck. So you fit all of your camping needs in a duffle bag along with kibble and beef jerky treats and they will carry it to the next camping town where you pick it up and set up camp.
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Making the long drive across Iowa in the back seat of a pick-up truck. What a perfect way to reach the starting point. Thanks to Logan’s parents for the lift.
Day 0-
Today we began our journey from East Moline to Sioux center for the start of RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. I was sent out from our office in Austin on a mission to accompany Logan, the gentle human who feeds me and will on occasion take me to fun bike events. He sometimes finds himself in over his head, so I was asked to keep a close eye on him, and document the events of RAGBRAI for this very first Field Trip entry.
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Today we are proud to announce the arrival of our new Fairdale team rider Seth Holton.
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Leif Valin took a nice cruise while out on the East Coast and sent us a little photo essay.
“Good little 45 mile ride from Baltimore to York, mostly under a canopy of trees passing through little towns. I started in Hunt Valley on the NCR trail which later turns in to the Heritage Rail Trail, I suggest this route to anyone around the area or passing through, a stress free scenery filled ride.
I met some nice people and animals along my ride and my heart was beating the entire time! good day!”
-Leif
