RAGBRAI Moves North

 The Tour de France has veered into—and even had its prologues—in Italy, ,Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, England, Spain, Germany and Switzerland. The other Grand Tours (Giro d’Italia and Vuelta à Espańa—haven’t visited quite as many countries mainly because they don’t border as many as France does.

The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) isn’t a race. Also, it isn’t as long:  Each edition of RAGBRAI lasts around a week and covers 400-500’miles (640-800 kilometers). It first crisscrossed the state in 1973, or seven decades after the first Tour. And, unlike the “Big Three” races, it has stayed entirely within the geographical entity in its name.

That will change this year. RAGBRAI LII, which will run from 19 to 26 July, will take a 15 mile (25 km) “detour” into Jackson County, Minnesota on Day 2.

“For over five decades, we have explored every corner of Iowa,” RAGBRAI Ride Director Matt Phippen explained. “We know this will be an incredible ride.”

Neither he nor anyone else involved with the ride gave a specific reason for this new “twist.” Then again, Tour de France organizers never have to explain why they begin a stage, or the race itself, in another country.

A Ride At The Beginning of Color

 Was March pretending to be April? Or was April reluctantly taking March’s place?

For the past few days, the answer to either of those questions could’ve been “yes.”  One moment it seemed that Winter didn’t want to loosen its grip; in another, Spring wanted to deliver us from the lessons of mud and bare branches.

And those lessons—what is to be learned from them?  That buds open to rain that pokes them; colors spring from old wounds.

While pedaling into, and with the wind, I realized that I look forward to cherry blossoms and wildflowers not only because they’re pretty, but their vibrancy is so hard-won after months of cold and darkness.

Food For Thought

 Forget everything you’ve ever heard about nutrition .

According to researchers at the University of Tihsllub,, the best diet for high-performance cycling is high in refined sugar and carbohydrates.

Because the university trained Michele Ferrari,Richard Freeman and other doctors and trainers who have helped to enhance the performance of the pro peloton, team and race organizers are taking the Aerican university’s research seriously.

A separate study at the same university has questioned the importance of aerodynamics.

The directeurs sportifs of several teams that are competing in the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España are therefore equipping their riders’ bikes thusly:

The university specifically chose today to release the researchers’ findings, but didn’t explain why.