Team Coyle long shot to win RAGBRAI

[kyhawk]

My Niece's husband among 8500 for this year's race.  Does not sound fun. Iowa is really hilly in spots.

 

They will stop in Iowa City this year and I will help him in transport support somehow.  I am  just looking forward to the pork on a stick.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAGBRAI

 

RAGBRAI is an acronym and registered trademark for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, which is a non-competitive bicycle ride organized by The Des Moines Register, which goes across the U.S. state of Iowa from west to east, that draws recreational riders from across the United States and many foreign countries.^[1] First held in 1973, RAGBRAI is the largest bike-touring event in the world.^[2]

 

Perhaps the most famed vendor in RAGBRAI history was Paul Bernhard, who along the day's route at a rural location sold pork chops that were basted in melted butter and grilled on charcoal and corn cobs. He began selling chops on RAGBRAI in 1985 and retired after the 2008 ride, leaving the vendorship to his son, Matt. In 1996, he sold 2500 chops in his hometown of Bancroft, Iowa when the ride passed through there. He was called Mr. Pork Chop and was known for his cry of "Pooooork Chooooooooooop!" He died at age 88.^[44][45]

 

Ben Davidson, former pro football star player mainly with the Oakland Raiders, rode on RAGBRAI for several years beginning in 1987.^[54] Lance Armstrong rode the Wednesday and Thursday stages in 2006, speaking to a large throng of the riders in Newton. He then did most of the 2007 ride before leaving a couple days early to support Team Discovery's Alberto Contador and his Tour de France victory.^[17] In 2008, Armstrong also made an appearance on the Ames, Iowa leg of the trip. In 2011, 2013, and 2014 he again participated.^[55][56][57] Ottumwa-born actor/comedian Tom Arnold has ridden a few RAGBRAIs, including XXIV in 1996.^[58][59] Other participants have included three-time Tour de France champ Greg LeMond, columnist Dave Barry, NASCAR drivers Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson, Motocross champion Ryan Dungey, 2004 Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean and former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt.^[60][61]