Almost July. Let's See Your C&V RAGBRAI Bike.
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Almost July. Let's See Your C&V RAGBRAI Bike.
Here is my 1982 Claud Butler, which after months of tweaking is finally ready to go.
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I'm gonna bump myself just this once to ask: Surely I'm not the only C&Ver doing RAGBRAI this year?
#3
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Team colors:
More info about the bike here: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...es-thread.html
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Excellent! But now I have to adjust the fenders to be even like yours.
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The only thing I have from Rivendell is a pair of GOAT gloves, but I'll be bringing those. (Note: I also have a pair of the $10 Home Depot gloves that Joe Biden wears for his biking photo ops).
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Not doing RAGBRAI this year, but have done it a number of times before. I've done it on a Raleigh Gran Sport, a Raleigh International (as a fixed gear), and some other steel bikes.
The better question is: what does the Father of RAGBRAI ride??
Well, I snapped this photo in 1991 of John Karras, and I can't tell what the bike is.
high resolution version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...81cb8_4k_d.jpg
Steve in Peoria
The better question is: what does the Father of RAGBRAI ride??
Well, I snapped this photo in 1991 of John Karras, and I can't tell what the bike is.
high resolution version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...81cb8_4k_d.jpg
Steve in Peoria
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Beginning the drive from PA to Iowa tomorrow with my dad, who'll be riding a Trek 750. My sister is flying in to meet us there and will be on a Trek 950. First year for all three of us. I've been in the midst of a move for the last month, so I haven't had tons of time to ride. I'm a little nervous but think it'll be fine once things get going.
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Beginning the drive from PA to Iowa tomorrow with my dad, who'll be riding a Trek 750. My sister is flying in to meet us there and will be on a Trek 950. First year for all three of us. I've been in the midst of a move for the last month, so I haven't had tons of time to ride. I'm a little nervous but think it'll be fine once things get going.
The first and last days are always a little nerve-wracking for me as they tend to be the hilliest, but everything else is generally smooth sailing. Just bring a little more cash with you each day than you think you'll need -- that's all some vendors will take. Oh, and remember to apply plenty of sunscreen and butt butter each morning, and drink plenty of water as you go.
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#11
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Not doing RAGBRAI this year, but have done it a number of times before. I've done it on a Raleigh Gran Sport, a Raleigh International (as a fixed gear), and some other steel bikes.
The better question is: what does the Father of RAGBRAI ride??
Well, I snapped this photo in 1991 of John Karras, and I can't tell what the bike is.
high resolution version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...81cb8_4k_d.jpg
Steve in Peoria
The better question is: what does the Father of RAGBRAI ride??
Well, I snapped this photo in 1991 of John Karras, and I can't tell what the bike is.
high resolution version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...81cb8_4k_d.jpg
Steve in Peoria
This year I will be meeting Jeff at my shop in Niles, MI a few days before the Auburn Bicycle Classic the end of August. We'll be swapping frame building and painting techniques like we have many times in the past. Both of us will be presenting a seminar in Auburn.
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I 100% know Jeff Bock built John Karris's RAGBRAI frame. I met Jeff on my 1st RAGBRAI in 1978 and almost every year after that we would ride together for one day. Occasionally I would ride a few miles with Karris too. If memory serves, he has passed away. I haven't done RAGBRAI in a long time. I usually spend 3 weeks in the summer working on our bike project in Bucha, Ukraine and it was difficult to slip one more week of vacation into the summer. Someone must stop for me at the home made ice cream place that uses really old gasoline engines to turn the ice cream makers. I never passed that stop by wherever it was.
RAGBRAI had a number of vendors that followed the route, and these became favorite places to take a break. Beekman's homemade ice cream was one of mine too. I took a few photos to memorialize this favorite spot back in 2009.
a shot of the line at the window...
happy customers enjoying their ice cream.
three "hit and miss" single cylinder engines power the ice cream making machines.
Steve in Peoria
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#13
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Beekman's is always one of my favorite stops. It's like a very miniature "old threshers reunion" for those into antique farm equipment. C&V in its own right.
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People in this forum are not typical.
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Mason City (the "River City" prototype from Meredith "The Music Man" Willson's youth) is on my bucket list.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
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Packing up the Claud Butler and leaving early tomorrow for Sioux City. Broke a spoke on the rear drive side last week, and the Red Clover freewheel key worked like a charm. Unfortunately, when I took the freewheel off I realized most of the drive side spokes were pretty traumatized. Somebody must have thrown the chain a bunch of times back in the day, so I had the whole back wheel rebuilt at the LBS. Also the aero bars in the picture at the top busted a spring so I will be going with the more traditional look.
Cheers and good luck to all the RAGBRAI riders.
Cheers and good luck to all the RAGBRAI riders.
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....Broke a spoke on the rear drive side last week, and the Red Clover freewheel key worked like a charm. Unfortunately, when I took the freewheel off I realized most of the drive side spokes were pretty traumatized. Somebody must have thrown the chain a bunch of times back in the day, so I had the whole back wheel rebuilt at the LBS.
It's a shame that it didn't happen when you had more time to spare, though. Would have been a great excuse to learn to true the wheel yourself!
Have fun on RAGBRAI, and watch out for the folks who don't know what they are doing (and that's about 80% of the participants, IMHO)
Steve in Peoria
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Yeah, I had a spoke wrench and was able to true the wheel enough to get home, but if I had more time I would have liked to rebuild it myself. The LBS did a really nice job though, so I can't complain.
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Good point! There are a lot of riders who are not used to riding in groups, so you need to be vigilant about people suddenly swerving to the left or right for no apparent reason.
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Not c&v, but its a Columbus steel frame and fork and rolls on 32s.
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A friend of mine recommends steel on RAGBRAI...
Years ago, he was on his Lemond Zurich, enjoying RAGBRAI, when the R chain stay snapped.
It had been rusting internally for years, unbeknownst to him.
He just happened to break down across the street from a welding shop.
The guy had him back on the road in an hour or so.
My friend has several bikes, and no longer has the Zurich.
However, after hearing this story, I built him one, and it RAGBRAI's this year.
If you see him, say "Hey," to Paul.
He'll be with his daughter, who, after years of being taken to RAGBRAI, treated her dad to it this year, all expenses paid.
It had been rusting internally for years, unbeknownst to him.
He just happened to break down across the street from a welding shop.
The guy had him back on the road in an hour or so.
My friend has several bikes, and no longer has the Zurich.
However, after hearing this story, I built him one, and it RAGBRAI's this year.
If you see him, say "Hey," to Paul.
He'll be with his daughter, who, after years of being taken to RAGBRAI, treated her dad to it this year, all expenses paid.
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#21
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Donald Kaul was riding a Masi when I rode with him for a bit on the '73 Ragbrai. I don't recall riding with John at all. I was riding a '73 International, stock 14-24 2 x 5 speed w/52/43 front. Of course I was in much better shape then
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1973 was just the second year for the ride... that must have been an interesting experience!
Steve in Peoria (1980 was my 1st RAGBRAI)
#23
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Yes, it was an interesting experience. That was the first Ragbrai (it wasn't called Ragbrai until the 2nd year). Donald Kaul lived in DC, so probably easier to get a Masi there, though I'm not sure where he got it.
I remember riding with him going into Des Moines as well. Downtown, on the way to the Register's HQ, we came to a red light, and I looked over and saw him grab a girl's shoulder. He was wearing cleated shoes and couldn't get his feet out of the pedals, so grabbed her shoulder to keep from falling over until he could get a foot out. Must not have gotten a toe strap loosened in time.
As for bikes, there was at least one Paramount, etc. that I saw on the ride. I went with a friend (we were from Cedar Falls) that decided this sounded like fun, so we did it and rode the whole thing, with motel rooms every stop. There was a maximum of about 500 on the ride at its most crowded, but normally around 300 on any given day. A far cry from the thousands on it today. I never rode another one, but still have my patch from that one.
I remember riding with him going into Des Moines as well. Downtown, on the way to the Register's HQ, we came to a red light, and I looked over and saw him grab a girl's shoulder. He was wearing cleated shoes and couldn't get his feet out of the pedals, so grabbed her shoulder to keep from falling over until he could get a foot out. Must not have gotten a toe strap loosened in time.
As for bikes, there was at least one Paramount, etc. that I saw on the ride. I went with a friend (we were from Cedar Falls) that decided this sounded like fun, so we did it and rode the whole thing, with motel rooms every stop. There was a maximum of about 500 on the ride at its most crowded, but normally around 300 on any given day. A far cry from the thousands on it today. I never rode another one, but still have my patch from that one.
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IIRC, his column was titled "Over the Coffee", and I'm sure I saved a number of them. I wonder if I've still got a few stashed away??
My hazy memory says that the second ride was titled SAGBRAI, for Second Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The Wiki entry says it was 1974.... which seemed wrong. However, I did RAGBRAI 8 in 1980, so maybe '74 is correct??
Or maybe RAGBRAI is like Woodstock.... if you can remember it, you weren't there.
Steve in Peoria
#25
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I forgot that he was based in DC.
IIRC, his column was titled "Over the Coffee", and I'm sure I saved a number of them. I wonder if I've still got a few stashed away??
My hazy memory says that the second ride was titled SAGBRAI, for Second Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The Wiki entry says it was 1974.... which seemed wrong. However, I did RAGBRAI 8 in 1980, so maybe '74 is correct??
Or maybe RAGBRAI is like Woodstock.... if you can remember it, you weren't there.
Steve in Peoria
IIRC, his column was titled "Over the Coffee", and I'm sure I saved a number of them. I wonder if I've still got a few stashed away??
My hazy memory says that the second ride was titled SAGBRAI, for Second Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The Wiki entry says it was 1974.... which seemed wrong. However, I did RAGBRAI 8 in 1980, so maybe '74 is correct??
Or maybe RAGBRAI is like Woodstock.... if you can remember it, you weren't there.
Steve in Peoria
That 1st year we went, the 4 of us in our group decided to get up early like at 6:30 Sunday morning to get an early start. To our surprise almost everyone had already packed up their tents and left. I think there was something like 5,000 riders that year. We would actually run into some of the same people when we stopped at venders along the way. When it got bigger later, It was rarer to see the same people again.
BTW, I was talking to Jeff Bock last week on the phone and he told me Karris's RAGRAI bike is now in the Iowa Historical Museum. Enjoy the madness!
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