March 2008 RAGBRAI E-Newsletter
- David Harrenstein, Editor
Welcome to the March 2008 issue of the RAGBRAI E-Newsletter.
In this issue:
- COMPLETE RAGBRAI XXXVI ROUTE RELEASED
- GEOBIKE DETAILS THE RAGBRAI XXXVI ROUTE
- MAYOR'S ANNUAL RIDE FOR TRAILS STARTS THE BIKE SEASON!
- FEDEX BECOMES "OFFICIAL SHIPPING COMPANY OF RAGBRAI"
- TRAINING WITH DUFFY
COMPLETE RAGBRAI XXXVI ROUTE RELEASED
Break out the Burma Shave signs. The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa is heading down the old Lincoln Highway.
A fair portion
of this year's edition of the trans-Iowa ride, July 20-26, will
follow the country's first coast-to-coast highway on U.S. Highway
30. The 471-mile route will also take riders along other officially
designated stretches, such as the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway.
At 471 miles, the route is nearly the same distance as last year's
- 477 miles - but the amount of climb is not. Last year's 10,000
registered riders climbed 13,600 feet. This year they'll face
22,500 feet - it's a return to the hills, valleys and ridges
that define this state.
Read the full story and see the maps in the Des Moines Register.
GEOBIKE DETAILS
THE RAGBRAI XXXVI ROUTE
Are you
wanting more stats and data about the RAGBRAI route? From distances
and climbs between towns to Google Earth Map downloads and GPS
data packages, GeoBike has all the technical data you can possibly
desire. GeoBike also details the RAGBRAI history of each town
and each route. Be sure to read Rich Ketcham's unique take on
this year's route.
Visit www.GeoBike.com.
MAYOR'S ANNUAL
RIDE FOR TRAILS STARTS THE BIKE SEASON!
April 19, 2008 - Des Moines
Join the Mayor, RAGBRAI Host Brian Duffy and the Dream Team on
Saturday, April19, 2008, to experience Des Moines for the 21st
annual Mayor's Annual Ride for Trails. The ride starts at City
Hall (400 Robert D. Ray Drive)
All proceeds from this event support Des Moines' recreational
trails. Registration will be $20; $25 after April 1. Registration
by April 1 guarantees a t-shirt, lunch, and entertainment. The
ride will finish at the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater on
the banks of the Des Moines River. Refreshments, music and fun
will be on the program from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
FEDEX BECOMES "OFFICIAL SHIPPING COMPANY OF RAGBRAI"
FedEx has joined the team as a "Friend of RAGBRAI" and will work with RAGBRAI and RAGBRAI riders to make it economical and efficient to ship bikes and packages to and from the event. The RAGBRAI staff received many notes concerning the bike shipping procedures and costs from the past and we have been working with FedEx to improve the shipping experience for our participants.
Stay tuned for more details (including
costs, shipping addresses and general packing instructions) about
shipping bikes to Missouri Valley and shipping bikes back home
from Le Claire as well as a new feature to ship or receive packages
during the week.
You will get the most enjoyment out of RAGBRAI if you have trained for the ride. The route will be challenging, so the more miles you put into training, the more you will be able to enjoy the event. Brian Duffy, the Register's front page cartoonist and RAGBRAI host, will provide training tips leading up to RAGBRAI XXXVI. Look for monthly training tips coming soon!
CLICK HERE TO START TRAINING FOR RAGBRAI
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