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So it seems that I truely am a glutton for punishment, and, after not sticking with cycling consistently since the grand pedal across the country in 2013 (www.lookingoutacrossamerica.com), I decided to sign up for RAGBRAI.  RAGBRAI stands for Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, and has been an annual event since 1973.  It is a different route each time, but basically consists of a week-long bicycle ride from the Missouri River on the west border of Iowa to the Mississippi River on the east border.  I've been eyeing RAGBRAI for years, and finally decided just to jump in, since we'll likely be leaving the Midwest soon, and I don't see myself flying my gear and bike out to Iowa to do it some other year.  No time like the present!  So, from July 24-30th, I'll be pedaling across rolling Southern Iowa in the Midwest heat...

Thousands of people participate in RAGBRAI.  This year's route is a 420 mile route through southern Iowa, spread over 7 days.  Registration is via a lottery system, and as I submitted my application last Fall, I crossed my fingers, hopeful that I'd get lucky enough (or unlucky enough, depending on how I feel at the end of this thing) to receive a coveted RAGBRAI wristband.  Long story short, after waiting about 6 months to find out, I am now a wristband owner, and have been trying to prepare my legs and hindquarters for another bicycle tour!

I haven't done nearly enough prep though, so I'm hoping the fact that there are many rest towns along the route, and that I have all day to figure out how to mentally force myself to power through the pain and into the camp town each night will give me enough stregnth to push through.  7 straight days of cycling 50+ miles isn't for the faint of heart, and I'm hoping to survive, and not hate the week while I'm at it!

Thankfully, for this ride I do not have to carry everything I need for a week of bicycle touring - the fine folks at RAGBRAI truck your duffel bag and tent to the host town each day.  This will make pedaling immensely easier than it was back in 2013 when we carried 70+ pounds of gear on our bikes and had to plow through mountain climbs loaded down with all of that stuff.

Not to say that Iowa is flat - not by a long shot.  It's a far cry from the elevation of Virgina, where we cut our teeth on mountain climbs during Looking Out Across America, but rollers like Iowa boasts can often be worse than one or two mountain climbs (followed by amazing downhill runs) per day.  Rollers are mentally more exhausting - you think you've topped out on a hill, only to look out at the ribbon of road and see more hilly undulations as you gaze out to the horizon in the distance.

I don't expect this ride to be easy, and my nerves are increasing each day as it approaches.  But I'll make the most of it, bring plenty of Advil, and do my best to power through.  Wonder if small-town Iowa has Uber...

And I'll try to keep up with posting on this blog daily in case you want to follow my progress, and read all of my whining as I question my sanity for subjecting myself to such challenges willingly.