Dear Porkers,
Although this is intended for the
virgins among us, vets may also find it enlightening.
Here's our second installment of veteran advice. If they
contradict each other, very well. Take what you can
use.
A note from Tammy--I've never regretted the
duffel space I've devoted to things that make me feel
clean. Sugar-free gum or sample bottles of
mouthwash. Little bottles of antibacterial hand wash,
the kind you can use without water. Also, alcohol wipes
or those disposable facial wash towelettes. Or anything that
helps you get parts of yourself a little cleaner without
water. I never short myself on ziplock bags to put clean
things in to keep them clean or to put dirty things in to keep
from getting clean things dirty. You can't actually BE
clean on RAGBRAI, but you can briefly feel better about
getting or keeping some part of yourself or your stuff
temporarily clean.
More updates to come, and see
advice below.
Best,
Tammy and
Pete
From Joe:
When using the kybos
with bib shorts remove prescription eyewear/sunglasses from
head before removing jersey. Not following this advice
can be disastrous and may result in an aromatic blue arm up to
the elbow.
From Ralph:
Iowa is hot and
hilly, you'll be working very hard and sweating enough for a
dozen people. No matter how much liquid you drink, if you are
not peeing, you are not drinking enough. There are kids and
families selling water and gatorade along the way. Stop,
replenish, and say hello.
From Kent of the US
Army:
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats:
NONE
1. Don't forget the sunscreen. You may
want some on your head as your scalp can burn from the sun
coming thru your helmet vent holes.
2. Stop and
walk thru every town. You will find many interesting
things you wouldn't see otherwise, and it is good to stretch
the legs and give your bottom side a rest.
3.
Keep your money, cell phone, camera, etc in plastic bags while
you're riding. You don't want to forget you had
something in your pocket after you got sprayed with water,
went under a hose or mister, or got caught in the
rain.
4. You don't have to be in great shape to
do this, but get your miles in before you get here. This
is challenging, but you will miss out if you have to put all
your effort into riding. Save your energy for having fun
instead of being sore and sleeping all day because you're too
tired from riding.
5. RIDE RIGHT. If there
is open space on your right, move over. People tend to
forget this about day 3 and clog up the left lane. If
someone passes on your right in the open road (not in heavy
morning traffic) you're probably doing something wrong.
Ride Right.
From Steve:
Don't worry about
it if your tent leaks during a rainstorm and your stuff and
you get wet. You will still be warm and you can sleep through
it. Your bike clothes will dry shortly after putting them on
in the morning. The rest of your stuff will dry out in about 5
minutes in the afternoon when you lay it out. This happened to
me last year.
From Mary:
Besides all the
stuff in camp, it is sometimes the ordinary looking things
that can do you in. You need to watch where you walk in
the cornfield and even crossing the drainage ditch. You
never know what may be lurking there as far as critters,
creepy crawly things and the "nice" looking plants. Look
up what poison ivy, poison oak and wild parsnips look like, as
they will leave a rash you will not like. If you watch
out for these things, you will have a safe time. To me
the wild parsnips looked like dill. The rash was not fun
and took 2 months to clear up.
From
Chuck:
I saw your hints from veterans, and I have one
that I did not see. Sort of gross, but when you drink so much
during the day, you might wake up during the night or even in
the morning and have to pee real soon. You could be old like
me, and it could be a long way to the Kybos, soooooooo always
have an empty large Gatorade bottle for a urinal. The
large-mouth bottle works well. It also might be raining. Like
I said a bit gross, but I have used this many times and did
not have to leave the tent. Just don't get it mixed up
with your regular Gatorade. God Bless and take
care.
[Editor's Note: In a future update to those
renting our tents, we will address this matter of overnight
peeing in the rental tent. We allow this only for those
tent-renters with exceptional aim.]
From
Frank:
My all-time favorites:
1.
Practice for the ride by watching three hours of television
each night sitting on a broomstick.
2. When
you get up in the morning, stand outside your bathroom door
for 15 minutes before going in.
Cheers!
From
Bud:
Figure out some way to mark your tent, flag on a
stick or something! All tents look alike at 2:00AM when
you're returning from the kybo and trying to locate your tent
with a 5 watt flashlight.
From Big
Dave:
Advice for VIRGINS.
Bring shaving gear and
multiple hair care products. Leave it in your car.
Before, during, after and all done pictures are great.
No one cares what you look like during.
Hand cleaner,
travel size, two or three. Cleans certain areas before
saddle sores arise.
Clothing; Bring little
as possible and stuff you don't mind losing or damaging.
Goodwill is a great place to shop. Tee shirts are fine
and can be tossed instead of washed. Exceptions; bike
shorts and bike socks. Three good pair, one to wear, one
to wash, one for backup if it rains. One pair of walking
around shoes. Crocs are good. Sandals are
better. Some days you'll walk miles attending
events.
Bike: Leave the $5000 dream
machine at home, bring the back up. Or a beater. If you
are a great rider, people will be impressed, if not, you have
an excuse. And even though there is little chance your
bike will be damaged, you'll enjoy yourself much more not
worrying about what could happen.
Tools: regular mini
tool, patch kit, tire levers, one spare tube, 2 ft of duct
tape, maybe a spare chain link and spoke wrench. These
will get you the 20 miles (max) you will ever be from a repair
station. For the camp ground, pack one big honking
screwdriver or a scrench. Ground can be hard, use it to
"drill" pilot holes for the tent pegs. People borrowed
mine.
Money: at least 50% more than you think, because
you'll eat 100% more than you think. (MMMMMMM Pork
Chops)
Ear plugs: get the kind with the plastic cord in
between. Others are impossible to find in a dark
tent.
Bike Light: you may want to ride
somewhere in the dark, always doubles as a flashlight.
Pen light, just enough to see without blinding other
Porkers.
CamelBac: the kind with extra storage.
Keeps my wallet, spare glasses, tools with me and in one
place. Filled with ice in the morning, keeps Gatorade
cold all day, (I put chocolate bars in there, "snap" in 90
degree weather). Plus you can use it for an ice pack or
blow it up for a pillow.
Tammy (Phillips)
Pavich
Pete Phillips
712/328-0161
712/328-6836
tammypav@aol.com petephillips@cox.net
