jshlaw
Stay Clear of Wild Parsnip!
 OfflineDowntown Chicago
Expert
Posts: 271
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« Reply #45 on: August 25, 2011, 11:42:37 AM » |
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I know this is a dumb question, but what do you do with your gear? Obviously someone has to transport it via car or something but how does that work/how do you arrange it?
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #46 on: August 25, 2011, 11:54:17 AM » |
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It was an organized tour...and I mean ORGANIZED. You would load your gear into a U-haul truck before 9am, and off it would go to the next locale. When you rolled up, you just had to find your bags in the pile and stake out a homestead for the night. Breakfast and dinner were served at each school, lunch was on your own. There were SAG vehicles everywhere, as well as a rolling bike shop that followed the route every day and was available each night. The routes were marked on the road with spray paint PLUS they supplied you with a booklet that gave you not only mileage and sights-to-see info, but also the elevation profile. They've been doing it (and many other tours) for 25 years, so pretty much everything is DOWN.
The demographic was funny, though. Michelle and I were the KIDS in the bunch....average age was 55! LOTS of bike dorks. I was expecting a collage of drool-worthy rigs, but I found a lot of recumbants and comfort-touring bikes. Couple Sevens, Serottas and carbon goodness here and there, but Michelle and I were among the only people on "race" bikes. We were usually among the last to start (waking up early is not her strong suit) and finished the day toward the front, even with stops. Everyone was really friendly.
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o-n-e-f-k-g-s-p-d
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #47 on: August 25, 2011, 11:57:03 AM » |
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Heading for Mackinaw City...
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o-n-e-f-k-g-s-p-d
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #48 on: August 25, 2011, 11:59:00 AM » |
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Michelle wanted to spend the night in this tent as it was already put up...
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o-n-e-f-k-g-s-p-d
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #49 on: August 25, 2011, 12:00:19 PM » |
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Made it to the top of the mitten!
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jshlaw
Stay Clear of Wild Parsnip!
OfflineDowntown Chicago
Expert
Posts: 271
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« Reply #50 on: August 25, 2011, 12:00:28 PM » |
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It was an organized tour...and I mean ORGANIZED. You would load your gear into a U-haul truck before 9am, and off it would go to the next locale. When you rolled up, you just had to find your bags in the pile and stake out a homestead for the night. Breakfast and dinner were served at each school, lunch was on your own. There were SAG vehicles everywhere, as well as a rolling bike shop that followed the route every day and was available each night. The routes were marked on the road with spray paint PLUS they supplied you with a booklet that gave you not only mileage and sights-to-see info, but also the elevation profile. They've been doing it (and many other tours) for 25 years, so pretty much everything is DOWN.
The demographic was funny, though. Michelle and I were the KIDS in the bunch....average age was 55! LOTS of bike dorks. I was expecting a collage of drool-worthy rigs, but I found a lot of recumbants and comfort-touring bikes. Couple Sevens, Serottas and carbon goodness here and there, but Michelle and I were among the only people on "race" bikes. We were usually among the last to start (waking up early is not her strong suit) and finished the day toward the front, even with stops. Everyone was really friendly.
Most of that sounds AMAZING! Don't know about eating at schools and hanging out with old bike dorks but the rest sounds amazing. I might just pick up road biking again so I can do this next year. Seems like you'd feel really "free" sans car, etc. |
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #51 on: August 25, 2011, 12:04:27 PM » |
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Rolled in to Mac City and immediately jumped on a ferry to Mac Island. 15 minutes later we were on island...rode a lap (about 8-1/2 miles), then did some sightseeing. This is the Grand Hotel. They won't even let you ride a bike in front of it. I got yelled at. It's $10 just to walk inside and look around. Too classy for my assy.  |
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #52 on: August 25, 2011, 12:05:50 PM » |
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Mac Island is beautiful, but it REALLY smells like horseshit.
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o-n-e-f-k-g-s-p-d
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #53 on: August 25, 2011, 12:07:26 PM » |
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Nice view...
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o-n-e-f-k-g-s-p-d
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jshlaw
Stay Clear of Wild Parsnip!
OfflineDowntown Chicago
Expert
Posts: 271
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« Reply #54 on: August 25, 2011, 12:10:02 PM » |
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 Now you're just rubbing it in. 
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #55 on: August 25, 2011, 12:12:47 PM » |
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Day 9 - 500+ miles (I think I finally rode more miles in a week than Cory!). More Oberon and some homemade potato skins prior to buying some Mac Island fudge...which did not make it back to the mainland (it was soooo good).
It was pretty cool not really riding in a car much...it felt wierd to drive again, actually. But my biggest takeaway was that I rode the whole length of a state...hopefully not my last. Michelle had done RAGBRAI twice before, so this was her third complete tour.
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sommerfliesby
CAMBr Member
Black mountain biker of death
OfflineFrankfort, IL
Pro
Posts: 2256
Chapter: South
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #56 on: August 25, 2011, 12:14:38 PM » |
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Happy to be done!
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spicyride
CAMBr Member
pro bike geek
Offlinedepends
Expert
Posts: 270
Chapter: South
Type: Supporting Member
Member Since: 2008
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« Reply #57 on: August 25, 2011, 12:37:05 PM » |
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Awesome. Thanks for sharing Mike.
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ride.
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SmilingBob
CAMBr Member
OfflineMiddle of no where on the IL - WI boarder
Citizen
Posts: 87
Chapter: North
Type: Fat Tire Member
Member Since: 2010
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« Reply #58 on: August 25, 2011, 01:06:43 PM » |
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Love the narration to go along with the pictures, THANK YOU!
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longhairmike
suck my balls Patrick Quinn
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Posts: 693
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« Reply #59 on: August 25, 2011, 03:04:55 PM » |
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we rode up to makinac with our summer camp in '91,, back when i had a 50lb steel road bike,,
i remember a really really bloated dead porcupine the size of a garbage can lid lying dead on the shoulder of one of he roads, looked like it was ready to blow.
also that july mornings were colder than shit, and everyplace on the island sold fudge.
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