"Quick Take: After decades of solo touring, I'm shifting to shared roads-Oklahoma Freewheel in 2026 and RAGBRAI in 2027. Same love of the open road, new kind of joy: community, stories, and pie. Even though I've decided to hang up my solo touring shoes, I'm nowhere close to done chasing the open road. The difference now is the kind of adventure I want-one shared with thousands of riders moving toward something unforgettable."
"What Is RAGBRAI? RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is a seven-day, non-competitive ride that crosses the state west to east. The route changes each year and wraps at the Mississippi River. It's not a race; it's a rolling celebration-small towns, music, showers, campsites, and more pie stands than I probably should be around. Why Now? As I approach 70, I think less about miles alone and more about stories, people, and shared miles that turn into something meaningful."
After decades of solo touring, the plan shifts to participating in organized, multi-day group rides: Oklahoma Freewheel in 2026 and RAGBRAI in 2027. The last comparable week-long event was BRAG in 2001, and those memories motivate new ones. RAGBRAI is a seven-day, non-competitive crossing of Iowa that changes route annually and finishes at the Mississippi, featuring small towns, music, showers, campsites, and many pie stands. Approaching 70 motivates prioritizing shared stories and people over solo mileage. Gear choices remain simple: a lightweight tent (often a two-person for extra space) and chamois cream for comfort on long, consecutive days.
Read at Theoldguybicycleblog
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