We're ba-ack! And we're better than ever! (Or something like that...) Okay, maybe not better than ever. :) However, we ARE back and Team Cyclee is getting ready for its 2nd year riding a full week of RAGBRAI. We've been talking about this since we finished the 2008 ride at the Mighty Mississippi last July. Can't believe how fast the year went! In just 44 days we'll be in Council Bluffs kicking off the ride.
Thus far the Chicago contingency of Team CycLee appears to have learned from experience and is slightly more prepared for our 2009 Ride through the Corn. We're putting a little more effort into training over the past few months... For example, Karla went to spinning class after work this Spring; Kristin borrowed her friend's indoor trainer so she could also train after work (then promptly stored it in her closet when she couldn't figure out how to set it up); Kristin participated in Bike the Drive over Memorial Day; Karla rode go-karts super fast over Memorial Day; Karla bought a road bike on Sunday and took it for a spin; Kristin ate a pulled pork sandwich on Sunday... clearly you can see my point... we are confident that at this rate, we'll be ready for whatever Southern Iowa can throw at us.
Side note: I do need to thank Judy Strandburg for helping my training. Bike the Drive over Memorial Day weekend was a true RAGBRAI rehearsal... I rode 43 miles and then I ate homemade rhubarb dessert! Yum!
In all seriousness, we have started our training a little earlier than last (admittedly that's not saying much) and believe a few more miles of preparation should benefit us. We also plan to be better equipped for our week on the road. I already mentioned Karla's new kick-a** road bike. (It makes her fast like a cheetah.) I bought some aerobars to add to my bike... no, not to make me faster... just to give me a different position to sit in cuz after so many miles, no matter how many packs of, um, special butt'r I buy, my bum demands an alternate sitting position... And this weekend we're going tent shopping so that if there is a big storm like last year, we don't have to worry that we'll be sharing tents with Dad and Evan for the rest of the week (their tents were just a TAD more solid than ours). I did some preliminary tent shopping at REI a couple weeks ago and it was fun! The salesperson, a 2007 RAGBRAI veteran, had me putting up and taking down tents in the store... because, as he said "You need to be able to do this quickly when you are half asleep, at 6AM, when the rest of your team is waiting for you to get packed up so you can get on the road." (I'm pretty sure Dad or Evan called him in advance and said "Please sell that woman something that will get her to move faster in the morning!" Bad news guys... nothing gets me moving very quickly at 6AM and, unfortunately, they didn't sell tents with an "automatic pack" button.)
Another side note: Whenever I mention RAGBRAI, everyone talks about all the partying all across Iowa... Now, maybe its because I elected to ride RAGBRAI with my dad, but that's not how I think of RAGBRAI. (Although I admit that a cold Boulevard beer after a long day of riding was the. best. beer. ever.) My non-partying point of view was supported by this REI salesperson who said to me "So, don't you think RAGBRAI is more like an opportunity to eat your way through Iowa?" He followed up with "Seriously! Dude! It was so fun... and all those church ladies with their pie and pulled pork sandwiches rocked!" Between that and his insistance that I be able to take down my tent quickly in my sleep, this guy was hilarious. (And had very valid points.)
Anyway, in addition to our weekend tent shopping plans, Karla and I both have long bike rides planned. Weather permitting (it looks iffy), Karla will give her new wheels a spin on the lakefront on both Saturday and Sunday. I'm hoping to travel out to northwest Illinois to participate in the Udder Century. Really... how can you not ride in an event with the word Udder in the name? Although it is called the "Udder Century" I don't plan to ride 100 miles. Thankfully they have shorter routes!! It seemed like a good opportunity to get some country road miles under my belt.
In closing, I'm happy to report we've recruited one new member to Team CycLee (Kim Ingerslev) and our two partial-week riders, Matt and Ken, have elected to join us for a few more days this year. Yeah!!
Cheers,
Kristin
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