Bike Noob

Because I'm Always Learning Something New

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Riding Across A State

08.14.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 7 Comments

Now that RAGBRAI is over, I’m thinking about getting into a ride across state myself. What’s RAGBRAI, you ask? It’s the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa — the granddaddy of all the cross-state rides.

Cyclists dip their tires in the Mississippi River, the traditional way to end RAGBRAI.

In all, about 40 states have some kind of cross-state ride. They’re pretty neat, because they offer a chance for cyclists who do not tour on their bikes to sample a long-distance, multi-day trip. Typically, these rides offer sag support, medical attention, bike repair, meals, and rest stops. A day’s ride can be anywhere from 40 to 100 miles, but usually run about 60 miles.

Most of the time, riders will camp at a large group campground each night. Some rides make arrangements with area motels to take cyclists who are not the camping type.

One of these years, I’m going to do RAGBRAI. The 2011 version has already wrapped up. Their website is already anticipating next year’s ride. The catch is, RAGBRAI is so popular, it limits the number of cyclists who ride the whole trip to 8,500 — and fills that quota with a lottery. So you might not get in.

But there are other options if you don’t. Most of the other cross-state rides aren’t as famous as RAGBRAI, but worth considering nonetheless. Here’s a sample.

California Coast Classic: Sept. 17-24. An eight-day trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Dick Allen Lansing to Mackinaw (Michigan): Aug. 31-Sept. 4. Five days from Lansing to the tip of the Lower Peninsula, with an option to continue up to Sault Ste. Marie.

One Awesome Tour Bike Ride Across Nevada (OATBRAN): Sept. 25-Oct.1. Starts and ends in Lake Tahoe.

Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee (BRAT): Sept. 11-17. The 22nd annual. Overnight camping in state parks. Figure 8 loop west of Nashville.

Tour des Trees (Virginia): Oct. 2-8. Ride from Virginia Beach to Washington, DC and plant trees along the way.

These are all still scheduled, so if you want to ride one, act fast. Most of the cross-state tours seem to happen in spring, especially June. Some worth considering are the Oklahoma Freewheel: June 10-16, 2012; south to north across the state; Biking Across Kansas; Great Annual Bicycle Adventure Along the Wisconsin River (GRABAAWR); June 16-23, 2012; Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN). You can also cross a state in one day in the Ride Across Indiana (RAIN), which goes from Terre Haute to Richmond — 160 miles.

The idea of crossing a state appeals to me — much more than riding across the entire country. I’ll be putting several of these on my bucket list. If you’d like to scope out even more options, the fine touring blog Biking Bis has a whole section devoted to them.

Have you ever done one of these cross-state tours? What do you think?

 

 

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // Rides Tags // charity ride, organized ride

Doing a Group Ride? Take Some Responsibility

07.24.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 4 Comments

We looked forward to another Mamma Jamma training ride today, but Pat woke up feeling poorly, so I was on my own. That actually gave me the opportunity to ride the 37-mile route, which is one that I like because it gets farther out in the country on roads where cars are scarce Sunday mornings.

The Mamma Jamma training ride organizers do a nice job of putting these things together. Each week, they come up with a different sponsor to provide sag for the ride. The sag is often needed, because on these kinds of charity rides (Mamma Jamma raises money for breast cancer research) a lot of beginners are trying their hands at longer distances for the first time. The organizers also try to post a map of the week’s route on the training ride website, so riders can download it and carry it with them.

I didn’t have a map, but I’d done the route several times before, and was quite familiar with it. We met at a school parking lot, signed the required waivers and contact info sheets, and got our instructions. Another ride sponsored by the Austin Cycling Association (ACA) was leaving at the same time from a different corner of the lot, so cyclists were in abundance.

Riders could pick 45, 37, 22 or 18-mile routes. I’m not crazy about the 45, because it goes onto two different spur roads that dead end and require riders to backtrack. The 37 is a more or less figure-8 shaped loop that gets us back to a convenience store at about 25 miles — just when it’s convenient.

Bill, the ride leader, briefed the group.

“If you’re taking the 45 or 37-mile routes, pass by the convenience store nine miles into the ride,” he told us. “We’ll come back to that later in the ride. If you’re in the 22 or 18-mile groups, that’s where we’ll turn around to head back.”

Bill was riding sweep for the 37-milers. Out in front was our ride leader Jenny, whom I had met before. We headed out, and it wasn’t long before several of us off the front distanced ourselves from the rest of the group.

We reached the convenience store at nine miles and kept going. By this time, we had caught up with some of the 45-milers, who had left a few minutes before us. Jenny waited at a corner for some riders to catch up, while I rode on and chatted with the sweep for the 45-milers.

“Hey,” she said, after a few miles. “Do you know where we turn? I think we passed our turnoff.”

“No, it’s up ahead,” I told her. “This road turns left. The 37-mile route turns right about a mile past that, and the 45s keep going.”

“Oh, good,” she said. But when she realized that I was in the 37-mile group, she got on her cell phone and called her ride leader to make sure.

By now we were getting indications that the ride had broken up. Two of the 37-milers had turned back, thinking they’d missed a turn. I was out of sight of Jenny and the people she was with, and rode alone for the next five miles or so.

As I pulled into the convenience store at 25 miles, there was Bill with a gaggle of riders. They had never gotten beyond the nine-mile point.

“The ACA ride stopped here,” Bill said. “These folks stopped with them, then got confused about where to go next.”

He told them the bad news.

“This has just become a 22-mile ride,” he said. He was greeted by groans and complaints.

He reiterated to them his instructions not to stop at the store on the way out, but wait until the return leg. Instead, like sheep, they had followed the ACA riders into the store. It turned out that none of them had the route map.

We had other problems, too. A county crew ripped up a section of road, and we had to dismount and carry our bikes across a trench.

Pat and I (and our friends, Cynthia and Liz, who I also saw today) like these rides, because they’re well organized and supported. They’re easy rides, but still challenge less experienced riders. But that doesn’t mean the rider has no responsibilities. When as much support material is offered as on these rides, take advantage of them. Download the map (there’s a cue sheet on the other side). Look it over the night before the ride, to get familiar with the route. Often, if a map isn’t available online, you can get copies at the start. Check your bike the night before, so you have no last-minute adjustments to make. Arrive at the start early — leaving time enough to get your things together, take a nature break, and get the ride instructions. Carry a few bucks so you can buy something at the convenience store. If you’re going to use their facilities, and top off with water, it’s only right.

These training rides have been going on all summer. The Mamma Jamma ride is in October, so we still have plenty more opportunities. I hope that cyclists will wise up before then. And bear these simple tips in mind for any other organized ride you’re part of.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // Rides Tags // organized ride, Rides

Skipping the T-Shirt Ride

03.13.2011 by Ray Niekamp // 12 Comments

I’ve been mulling over my riding plans for this year. You might recall that I mentioned in an earlier post that I hoped to do more organized rides than I did in previous years. But I’ve reassessed that idea.

Organized rides are a lot of fun. You get to see other bikers and look over their equipment, size up their riding abilities, and put down lots of miles in the company of people with whom you share at least one interest. You plunk down your $30, or $35, or $40, and in return you get a route that’s been scouted out, sag support during the ride, and rest stops manned by usually helpful volunteers. There’s also a goodie bag that might have a water bottle, an energy bar, a discount coupon or two for biking supplies, and other tchotschkes.

But the other evening, I was enjoying a ride with my friend David, and talk turned to those rides. “Yeah, you pay 35 bucks for a t-shirt,” he said.

David has done his share of those rides over the years, but is no longer interested in them. He noted that in most cases, the rides run over routes that can be ridden for free if the rider is willing to forgo the kind of support the organized rides provide.

Now, I know that most of these rides are sponsored by worthy charities. In fact, that used to be one of my criteria for taking part. But I’ve been rethinking that aspect, too. For the past several years, my wife and I have picked a small number of charities to support — only two to three — and that’s where we send our money. I’d like to think that I’m not entirely selfish.

In my area, the biggest riding group around, the Austin Cycling Association, does informal rides on Saturday and Sunday mornings. You show up, get a map, get some brief instruction from the ride starter, and then you’re pretty much on your own. Even if the rides don’t exactly mirror some of the better-known organized rides, they do cover a lot of the same ground.

Or, you could just sit down with a map and plan out an excursion on your own.

Last night, I started doing just that. Nothing definite yet, although I do have several ideas in mind. I think I’ll start riding places I haven’t been to yet, even if they look like a lot of places I have been to, just so I can break new ground. I had already made up my mind to skip the MS 150 this year (although that’s one I’ll probably do again in the future), and I think I’ll drop my plans to take part in some other rides.

The weird thing about this is, I’m surprised it’s taken me so long to come to this conclusion. I follow lots of biking blogs, and it seems that most of their authors just hop on their bikes and go. But I, on the other hand, have had a pretty well set repertoire of routes, and I need to expand on that.

So, one of these days I’ll put the bike on the car rack and head out to the Pedal Thru the Pines route. I’ve been meaning to do that ride for three years, and haven’t yet. But I’ve got the route map, and I’ll go without the crowds. Ditto the Real Ale Ride in Blanco, Texas. And the Wurst Ride in New Braunfels (which I’ve actually done once, but it’s been awhile, and I’d like to tackle it alone). I’m looking forward to the rest of this year, and all the new places to go and things to see.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories // Rides Tags // organized ride

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next Page »

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 257 other subscribers

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • Getting Back on the Bike: Road Cycling Tips for Older Cyclists
  • Are BCAAs and EAAs Good for Cycling?
  • How to Fix Numb Toes When Cycling
  • How to Find and Vet a Bike Club
  • Celebrate Pearl Izumi with Big Savings in the Memorial Day Sale

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Bike fit
  • Bikes
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • clubs
  • Cold weather
  • Community
  • Commuting
  • Components
  • crash
  • cycling
  • Equipment
  • Favorite rides
  • fitness
  • food
  • guest post
  • Heat
  • Injury
  • logs
  • Maintenance
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
  • Odds 'n ends
  • People
  • Poll
  • Racing
  • Records & stats
  • Review
  • Rides
  • running
  • Safety
  • soreness
  • Specialized
  • Technique
  • Technology
  • Tips
  • tires
  • training
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • May 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • March 2022
  • October 2020
  • November 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • January 2016
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Copyright © 2026 · Modern Studio Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version
%d