Here are a couple of sample videos to help document our RAGBRAI 2012 experience.
Anamosa golf course:
Food stop:
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Post 16 - Team B52s Videos
Soni got her GoPro handlebar-mounted video camera charged and running on the last day of the ride.
Here are a couple of sample videos to help document our RAGBRAI 2012 experience.
Here are a couple of sample videos to help document our RAGBRAI 2012 experience.
Post 15 - RAGBRAI 2012 Epilogue
The party's over ...
We survived it. The 15,000+ riders. The 117 degree heat index. The total lack of cell phone and internet coverage. Chafed butts. Sore muscles. And total exhaustion.
And we wouldn't trade it for anything.
We survived it. The 15,000+ riders. The 117 degree heat index. The total lack of cell phone and internet coverage. Chafed butts. Sore muscles. And total exhaustion.
And we wouldn't trade it for anything.
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| Celebrating the finish |
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| B52s' welcoming committee in Clinton |
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| Elaine and Kris relaxing post-ride |
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| Joann, Steve, Peggy, Betsy, Gwen celebrating post-ride |
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| What a team! |
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| Gwen and Kris navigating the way |
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| All for one |
Post 14 - Day 7: Anamosa to Clinton
Today's miles: 69.4
Total ride miles: 471.1
Temp: 82 degrees
Day 7 - the last leg of RAGBRAI 2012. Sporting their handsome team jerseys, the B52s took off for their final stretch.
Total ride miles: 471.1
Temp: 82 degrees
Day 7 - the last leg of RAGBRAI 2012. Sporting their handsome team jerseys, the B52s took off for their final stretch.
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| Day 7 departing Anamosa |
The weather cooperated and provided for a another beautiful morning of riding through the Iowa countryside.
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| Iowa farmland |
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| Corn fields |
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| The final leg |
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| Sue feeling good |
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| Kris and Elaine |
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| Nice jerseys! |
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| Team B52s looking sharp |
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| Elaine and Steve |
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| Soni gives a thumbs up |
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| Betsy, Elaine, Sue enjoy a rest stop on the last day |
Around 3pm the B52s rolled into Clinton, completing their RAGBRAI journey.
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| We did it! |
Post 13 - Day 6: Cedar Rapids to Anamosa
Today's miles: 42.2
Total ride miles: 401.7
Temp: 84 degrees
After a restful night in our hotel, Team B52s was ready to hit the road again. It was college jersey day, so we sported a combination of Utah, Washington, and RAGBRAI jerseys.
Today's ride was the shortest of the week, and the temperatures finally cooled off into the 80's. The team kicked back and enjoyed the ride to Anamosa.
After a late lunch, we took advantage of the golf course cart shuttles down the hill, so we could walk into town to check out the scene in Anamosa.
Some of us spent the evening listening and dancing to the live music that the golf course provided, and others watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics on the TV in the club house.
Total ride miles: 401.7
Temp: 84 degrees
After a restful night in our hotel, Team B52s was ready to hit the road again. It was college jersey day, so we sported a combination of Utah, Washington, and RAGBRAI jerseys.
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| Day 6 departing Cedar Rapids |
Today's ride was the shortest of the week, and the temperatures finally cooled off into the 80's. The team kicked back and enjoyed the ride to Anamosa.
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| Elaine taking Steve's picture |
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| Steve taking Elaine's picture |
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| Soni, Kris, Elaine, Betsy, Steve |
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| B52s owning the road |
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| Easy morning ride |
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| Soni, Betsy, Sue |
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| Sue and Soni |
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| Steve and Elaine |
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| Smoothies for all! |
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| Team B52s passing through Springville |
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| Entering Anamosa |
We didn't have a pre-assigned camp spot in Anamosa, so we were thrilled when Elaine saw a sign for camping at the local golf course. We drove/rode up the steep hill and found a lovely spot on the fairway of the first hole.
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| Camping on the Anamosa golf course |
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| Lunch at the Anamosa golf course |
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| Extreme close-up |
After a late lunch, we took advantage of the golf course cart shuttles down the hill, so we could walk into town to check out the scene in Anamosa.
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| Anamosa shuttle |
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| Getting a ride into town |
Some of us spent the evening listening and dancing to the live music that the golf course provided, and others watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics on the TV in the club house.
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| Steve and Gwen enjoying the live music |
Post 12 - Day 5: Marshalltown to Cedar Rapids
Today's miles: 84.8
Total ride miles: 359.5
Temperature: 90 degrees
Total ride miles: 359.5
Temperature: 90 degrees
Dawn of a new day! The 60-70 mph winds from last night's storm blew the heat right outta here.
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| Day 5 - departing Marshalltown |
Morning temps in the low 70s. B52s feeling perky and ready to mingle and boy did they mingle.
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| Team B52s with Iowa cheerleaders |
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| Steve getting friendly with the locals |
They took the leisurely 90 mile ride through the countryside - reloading on calories at every, and we mean every, opportunity.
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| Devouring cinnamon rolls (and a banana for Betsy) |
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| Ice cream break for Elaine, Steve, and Sue |
"It was the best time I have had on a bike ever" -- Elaine Elliott, July 26, 2012
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| Notice Elaine's helmet tan lines on her forehead |
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| Elaine, Steve, and Betsy enjoying the ride |
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| "Hey Sue, Elaine, and Steve - what're you doing in the corn?!" |
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| Sue, Steve, and Betsy on a beautiful Iowa day |
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| Steve |
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| Elaine |
The team arrived in Cedar Rapids around 2:30p and headed to their HOTEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Best Western is the best hotel in the world - bar none. It was the perfect time in the trip to reach a washing machine and we took full advantage. Everything in the hotel is accessible internally so we never had to leave the premises.
In bed by 9:30pm - except Gwen, our master blogger. She has been our workhorse and the team is going to treat her to an all-expense paid trip to Anamosa, Iowa. She is speechless.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Post 11 - Day 4: Webster City to Marshalltown (Hump Day)
Today's miles: 77.1
The B52s got a great jump on the day only to quickly learn that the weather had melted many a bike brain. The less advanced and even some of the Lance Armstrong types were all over the road, figuratively and literally. Lots of crashes and skinned knees and elbows. But the experienced and ever so safety-conscious B52s powered through the day unscathed. With one small set back--reportedly, some of our team were a little on edge, even grumpy you might say. In the spirit of team loyalty, we won't name names.
Today's ride took us through more beautiful and scenic areas:
After 3 days of riding in 100 degree temperatures, the B52s finally had to break into the well kept SECRETS of the sport of cycling:
After successfully navigating Hump Day - the B52s arrived at our campsite around 12:30pm. And thus began our long journey into the night.
Ride recovery began as usual with cartons of chocolate milk. After the group cleaned up, we retreated to A/C in the support mobile to work on the blog. Within 10 minutes, the team was toast! So much for helping out with the blog.
Nap time passed and we began our daily search for a cool place to hang out until the temps dropped to a respectable 95 degrees. That put us back to our campsite around 9:30p. As we made final preparations for Day 5 - ominous signs were looming...
Suddenly, yes suddenly, the skies lit up and the long awaited "severe" thunderstorm was upon us. We gathered in the RV to go over the Ragbrai safety manual on "severe" thunderstorms and to play "name that famous tv show theme-song tune." Unfortunately for Soni, Big Valley never came up.
Seeing that none of the lightening seemed to be hitting ground, the campers returned to their tents under the trees and promptly got on their cell phones to keep each other informed. Elaine called Lisa in SLC and asked her to call Kris to let her know that she was scared and not very happy about the storm. So - Lisa obliged and called Kris, whose tent was two feet away from Elaine. Then Kris called Elaine, and well, it was ridiculous. In the end, the storm passed and not a single tent or B52 was lost.
Total ride miles: 274.7
Temp: 102 degrees (feels like hottest day yet)
The B52s got a great jump on the day only to quickly learn that the weather had melted many a bike brain. The less advanced and even some of the Lance Armstrong types were all over the road, figuratively and literally. Lots of crashes and skinned knees and elbows. But the experienced and ever so safety-conscious B52s powered through the day unscathed. With one small set back--reportedly, some of our team were a little on edge, even grumpy you might say. In the spirit of team loyalty, we won't name names.
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| Day 4 - leaving Webster City |
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| Iowa country-side |
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| RAGBRAI meds |
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| Setting up camp in Riverview Park, Marshalltown |
Ride recovery began as usual with cartons of chocolate milk. After the group cleaned up, we retreated to A/C in the support mobile to work on the blog. Within 10 minutes, the team was toast! So much for helping out with the blog.
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| Steve taking a well-deserved nap |
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| Betsy relaxing in the RV |
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| Gwen & Kris working on the blog |
Nap time passed and we began our daily search for a cool place to hang out until the temps dropped to a respectable 95 degrees. That put us back to our campsite around 9:30p. As we made final preparations for Day 5 - ominous signs were looming...
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| Storm is a-comin' |
Suddenly, yes suddenly, the skies lit up and the long awaited "severe" thunderstorm was upon us. We gathered in the RV to go over the Ragbrai safety manual on "severe" thunderstorms and to play "name that famous tv show theme-song tune." Unfortunately for Soni, Big Valley never came up.
Seeing that none of the lightening seemed to be hitting ground, the campers returned to their tents under the trees and promptly got on their cell phones to keep each other informed. Elaine called Lisa in SLC and asked her to call Kris to let her know that she was scared and not very happy about the storm. So - Lisa obliged and called Kris, whose tent was two feet away from Elaine. Then Kris called Elaine, and well, it was ridiculous. In the end, the storm passed and not a single tent or B52 was lost.
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