RA2011 Superlatives Part II

[Superlatives are split into Part I and Part II only because WordPress seems to limit the length of a post.]

Among the Most Memorable Experiences…

• Tire dip, Ocean Shores WA

• Wrong direction descent by Rich from Sherman Pass WA Republic WA to Kettle Falls WA
• Weather contrast on top of Continental Divide West Glacier MT to East Glacier MT
• Detour on Savoy Road between Harlem MT and Malta MT Harlem MT to Malta MT
• Natural air conditioning on bridge over Missouri River west of Washburn ND Stanton ND to Don Steckel Boat Landing ND
• Fireworks at Don Steckel Boat Landing Stanton ND to Don Steckel Boat Landing ND
• 4th of July shared with Bismarck ND Don Steckel Boat Landing ND to Bismarck ND
• Roger and the 300 yards of CAUTION tape, south of Minot ND Berthold ND to Totten Trail ND
• Gobs of cobwebs riding across Garrison Dam ND Totten Trail ND to Stanton ND
• Whitlock! Indian Creek Rec Area SD (Mobridge SD) to West Whitlock Rec Area SD
• Fog bank east of Pierre SD Pierre SD to Fort Thompson SD
• Watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Vermillion SD Yankton SD to Vermillion SD
• Cold Pepsis at the Harley bar in Little Sioux IA Onawa IA to Missouri Valley IA
• Bowling Tournament, Midwest Lanes, Glenwood IA
• Fighting a cold trying to nap face down into my towel in 105F swelter, Glenwood IA Rest day in Glenwood IA
• Finding a tent fan in the Pamida (Ragbrai start town) of Glenwood IA Rest day in Glenwood IA
• Drinking wine margaritas listening to Scoletta Etceterra, Carson IA Glenwood IA to Atlantic IA RAGBRAI XXXIX
• The sight of Roger banging on a sign with a beer can calling out “FREE BEER!” at RAGBRAI
• Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point Park, Sandusky OH Gibsonburg OH to Sandusky OH
• Pelee Island Winery! Ferry day: Sandusky OH to Kingsville Ontario
• Jack and Jesse BARELY making the ferry off Pelee Island Ontario Ferry day: Sandusky OH to Kingsville Ontario
• Niagara Falls Fort Erie Ontario to Niagara Falls NY
• Tire dip Bar Harbor ME

Among the Most Memorable Encounters…

• * Retired orthopedic surgeon Essex MT West Glacier MT to East Glacier MT
• Lady with no teeth missing her dog Coco – western side of Wauconda Pass WA Riverside WA to Republic WA
• L E Baskow (riding about a week with LE in eastern MT, from Glacier NP to Culbertson) East Glacier MT to Shelby MT
• Guy from Lothair MT in bar in Chester MT Shelby MT to Chester MT
• Guy west of Cabinet Gorge who said “You can tell the river is rising because it’s higher in the middle than it is on the sides.” Sandpoint ID to Cabinet Gorge RV Park MT (intersection of SR200 and SR56)
• Game of H-O-R-S-E and Around The World with Malta HS basketball player. Lost on final right handed layup. Harlem MT to Malta MT
• Blankenship Township Fire Department Annual Pinic, Blankenship MT Columbia Falls MT To West Glacier MT
• Jesse and Indian kid on the swings in WOlf Point MT Glasgow MT to Wolf Point MT
• Jim the reflexologist paying our tab in Stanley ND Tioga ND to Berthold ND
• Guy in convenience store in Mobridge SD – “Where are YOU from? You’re crazy!” Beaver Creek Rec Area ND to Indian Creek Rec Area SD (Mobridge SD)
• Bicycle race with kids at West Whitlock Rec Area SD West Whitlock Rec Area SD to Pierre SD
• Credit card return on BIA4, pick up truck RICHARD, east of Fort Thompson SD Fort Thompson SD to Snake River SD
• Waitress who wouldn’t allow Jack to order oatmeal in Platte SD Snake River Rec Area SD to Randall Creek Campground SD
• Guy in pickup truck who advised us of flooding closures, at CR21 & BIA29 north of Marty SD Randall Creek Campground SD to Tyndall SD
• T-ball – Tyndall SD Randall Creek Campground SD to Tyndall SD
• Little league – Berthold ND Tioga ND to Berthold ND
• John and Pam at Muggsy’s Sub Galley, Yankton SD Tyndall SD to Yankton SD
• Saucy waitress at King Dragon Chinese Yankton SD Rest day in Yankton SD
• Lady from Blencoe IA, talked with her at Good Time Charlies in Whiting IA
• Retired state bank employee Blencoe IA
• Harley bar in Little Sioux IA
• “Low talker” at Tim and Jill’s Family Restaurant Glenwood IA
• Phil, Paul, Darlene, and 20,000 other cyclists at RAGBRAI
• Meeting and remeeting Jons and his dad (Dutch guys) at RAGBRAI Carroll IA to Boone IA RAGBRAI XXXIX
• Each and every touring cyclist who stopped to chat and compare notes – too many to name
• Interesting lady proprietor at Acorn Oaks Campground, near Monon IN
• Touring cyclist Don, met outside Buffalo IN

Glitches

Mechanical and medical mishaps. As a team of seven guys, I’d say we fared very well. I’ve only listed those encountered by Jack and me, although others in our gang experienced greater hurdles (heat exhaustion, wheel problems, etc.)

• Jack – Rear wheel spoke fracture (on drive side) in Denver IN
• Rich – Front wheel spoke fracture in the Adirondacks in NY
• Rich – Fender rubbing issues north of Pierre SD
• Jack – Broken chain, near Savoy MT and again in Malta MT
• Jack – Headcold in Washington, also during RAGBRAI
• Rich – Headcold in Glenwood IA
• Rich – Helmet locked in bicycle shop in Havre MT

  

• Rich – Knees threatening to end tour – diagnosed by roadside orthopedic surgeon in Essex MT. They slowly improved over time due to slower riding, ibuprofen, and icepacks when I could find them.
• Road closures – We road 15 miles on dirt roads as a detour near Savoy MT. Other than that, we rode through a number of “Road Closed” signs without consequence, once south of Lake Sakakawea ND, and again south of Fort Thompson SD.
• Flats – Jack 6, Rich 3

On the subject of flat tires, I put together this little table indicating the general experience of the RA team.

Rider	Number of Flats	Tires	Tubes Type / Valve Type	Comments
Bill	3	Continental Contacts	Regular / Presta	Replaced rear tire at 2500 mile mark
Jesse	1	Michelin Sity	Thorn resistent / Presta valve
Rich	3	Schwalbe Marathon Dureme	Regular / Presta valve	Tires rotated at 1500 mile mark
Roger	“dozens” “lost count”	Least expensive possible (Walmart, bike shop discards)	Regular / Presta valve, use of Goop	Frequent replacement of tires
Frank	7 (2 were valve stem failures)	Schwalbe Marathon Supreme	Regular / Presta valve
Gary	0	Continental Touring Plus	Thorn resistent / Presta valve	Replaced rear tire at 4000 mile mark
Jack	6	Continental Contact	Regular / Presta valve	Tires rotated at 1500 mile mark; replaced rear tire at 3500 mile mark

Although it is difficult to extrapolate from this small set of data, use of thorn resistant tubes appears to offer advantages. All riders using Continental tires required tire replacement along the way, while those with Schwalbe or Michelin did not. Roger, while likely winning the contest for least $/mile, paid a price in inconvenience (which, incidentally, I think he was happy to pay in order to save some bucks).

Critter Encounters

• Moose (45 miles E of Colville WA)
• Deer – in many places Lake Crescent WA, Glacier NP MT, West Whitlock Recreation Area SD, Two Bit RV Park in Libby MT, Thendara NY

• Elk, Glacier National Park, also in near Port Royal, Ontario
• Piglets, RAGBRAI XXXIX
• Insects
  • Gnat infestations, Harlem MT and Onawa IA (KOA)
  • Bumblebee stings during descent to Columbia River
  • Mosquitoes – Everywhere, but notably in Shelby MT, Savoy Road MT, and around the Saco Flats MT
• Birds and butterflies too many to name
  • Bald eagles (Libby Dam MT)

Most Scenic Riding

• Deception Pass State Park WA
• Two day of ascent into the Cascade Mountains in WA
• * Descent side of Washington Pass in Cascades WA – WOW

  

• Descent side of Loup Loup Pass WA
• Top areas of Sherman Pass WA (apparently an old forest fire made it seem like we were above a treeline, opening up the views)
• Niagara Falls Ontario/NY
• Lunch on the lake at Blue Mountain Lake NY
• Passaconoway Road, Red Eagle Pond, near Conway NH ****
• Port Dover Ontario to Fort Erie Ontario along the shores of Lake Erie
• Rasar State Park to Colonial Campground (western side of Cascades in WA)
• Colonial Campground to Winthrop WA (over snow-covered Rainy and Washington Passes)
• Lands around ND/SD border – wide open “Badlands”
• Kancamagus Pass NH
• Thomas Pond Terrace, near Raymond ME