RABGRAI 2015
- Thread starter flander1649
- Start date
Sorry didn't see this thread till now.... Stray's will be there the first few days. After going all week the last 2 years, a few of us are going to use Wednesday on to stay in Des Moines (my house) and ride the trails since there will be no traffic.
Wanted to try something different this year... And also our driver backed out last week didn't help the cause.
Our team drafts all the time. But we will only jump in line if one of our own is leading. Too many people do the speed up and slow down without any notice. Plus we are comfortable with each other. Gets dicey when you get someone who jumps in line, then jumps out to try to race ahead, spend all their energy, and tries to get back in.
We don't mind pulling others, but prefer when they are behind us and not scattered in.
This exactly. Drafting with people you know, who communicate and know how to keep a line and proper spacing is just fine. It is the wild card that is the danger. Personally, I would rather be out in front pulling even if it is a little more work. I don't have to worry about anyone but my buddy beside me that way.
Draft line etiquette:
- Ask before you jump in - most will say 'sure';if they don't want you in there you probably don't want to be in it either.
- Offer to pull if you are up to it, but don't just ride out in front and take over. Only do this if you will be able to pull for a reasonable amount of time and are willing to pull at the speed the draft line has already been making. Don't be offended if they say thanks but no thanks.
- Allow members of the same team to be on the front of the line together. If they have the same jersey as the ones pulling or someone asks you if they can get back in line with their team. By the way, if they are asking you to let them in with their team ahead, there is probably a good chance that you or someone behind you is doing something they see as unsafe and they don't want to be behind/beside it. See bellz' comments above.
- Especially don't enter a draftline without asking if you are playing music. Some won't mind but others want to be able to communicate to keep the line safe.
Haven't done RAGBRAI but I hear a lot of complaining about the draft lines not being safe (especially when they aren't riding far to the left), because there are so many novice riders who don't know how to ride when there is a draft line.
There are a lot of novice riders who aren't safe riding alone as well. I'm not sure what you mean about riding far to the left. Draft lines should ride right and move left when passing just like every other rider should. Frankly people who fail to ride right but instead ride right down the centerline even when people are trying to get over because of oncoming traffic are a huge problem.
We start a little later in the day because we don't want to have to deal with as much traffic and novice riders who don't know how to ride safe.
It is the draft lines that pass closely on the left that I hear the most complaints about. I hear them compared unfavorably to the ones that pass farther out on the left.
The photos I've seen make it seem like there is almost always someone on the right.
It wouldn't be so bad if people rode on the far right. Instead you will find one person riding solo down the centerline.
I used to complain about draft lines, but it's the clueless people that make it dangerous. And the ones wearing ear buds and can't hear you.
I used to complain about draft lines, but it's the clueless people that make it dangerous. And the ones wearing ear buds and can't hear you.
I'll see all you in-shape bastards at the beer tent in Hiawatha. I'll be the fat guy in Hawkeye gear.
This will be my 15th! First one was RAGBRAI VIII in 1980 (after my freshman year at ISU). Therefore you won't be surprised that I'm most looking forward to Cheap Trick in Coralville. I have over 1,600 miles in this season, with 4 centuries under my belt. I don't ride that much to "race" or ride hard on RAGBRAI. I do it because I love to ride, and I feel free to have more fun when the riding is the easy part.
I usually pull pull for folks on my team when we have headwinds. Sometimes I will jump on a pace line when I feel like riding a little faster, or when I need a rest on a century. I appreciate the etiquette points mentioned earlier in the thread - every situation seems different. Sometimes I just look longingly at a line passing by and one of them will say, "jump on!" As the years go by, the extra help is appreciated!!
have fun and have a great ride!!
I usually pull pull for folks on my team when we have headwinds. Sometimes I will jump on a pace line when I feel like riding a little faster, or when I need a rest on a century. I appreciate the etiquette points mentioned earlier in the thread - every situation seems different. Sometimes I just look longingly at a line passing by and one of them will say, "jump on!" As the years go by, the extra help is appreciated!!
have fun and have a great ride!!
News video has our guys wearing their ISU colors.
http://whotv.com/2015/07/19/ragbrai-xliii-underway-from-sioux-city/
Whar our mobile reports from our CF bikers?
http://whotv.com/2015/07/19/ragbrai-xliii-underway-from-sioux-city/
Whar our mobile reports from our CF bikers?
OWI (2nd offense) for the driver...at 6:20 a.m. Rough night?
http://ragbrai.com/2015/07/19/sioux-city-woman-charged-with-owi-in-ragbrai-crash/
I hate to rain on your parade...I saw Cheap Trick twice in concert (once opening for Motley Crue 16 years ago and once opening for Aerosmith two years ago) and they were junk both times. I would look forward to other things.
