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.

With Every Paper We Deliver

But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver

You've all heard those lines in Don McLean's "American Pie." When someone asked him what the song meant to him, he Said, "That I'd never have to work another day in my life."

For me, it evokes memories of delivering the Asbury Park Press forty (!) years ago, right around the time McLean's masterpiece lorded over the airwaves.  One of my few achievements in life--and one I'm talking about for the very first time--is having been selected "carrier of the week".  No one ever explained the criteria used in making the choice; for all I knew, they just pulled a name out of a hat.

I mean, other carriers had longer routes or delivered more papers.  I was an honor student, but so were some of the other carriers.  And they won bonus prizes the Press offered for one thing and another, as I did.

Stranger things have happened.

I was reminded of that experience, and McLean's song, by a story someone passed on to me.  




I delivered newspapers all through three New Jersey winters.  I guess that's a respectable accomplishment, but I can't hold a candle to Bud Schaefer, who's been delivering 37 copies of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin in the Minnesota winter.

He admits that when the snow piles up, he delivers his papers by car and rides a trainer.

Still, he has my admiration.   And my respect:  He's 86 years old, and my mother taught me to respect my elders.

A Real Snowbike

So far, this winter hasn't brought much snow up this way.  However, we still have a couple of months to go.  You never know what can happen.

That's the reason why you never know whether you'll need this bike:

From Steve In A Speedo

The fellow who posted the photo uses the bike to train for triathlons.  Seriously, he does triathlons and lives  in Minnesota.  Maybe he's using that rear wheel to grind the grain he'll use to make one of his training foods.