My Training for Ragbrai in Pottawattamie & Cass Counties

Bridge over the East Nishnabotna River Northwest of Griswold

My writing and my riding are both activities I put off – and yet I need them to be happy. Here’s an update on my preparation for my very first Ragbrai. I have decided that this Verve 3 Trek IS the bike I will ride across the state of Iowa, God willing, all 432 miles of it from the Missouri River to the Mississippi, this July. I’m not riding this Ragbrai for the hills – I’m riding it because it passes through so many towns where I have family, history, or friends. (My parents met on the square in Red Oak in 1955 and my brother Charly lives in Griswold right now.) Why let a few hills stop me from doing something If have always wanted to do? Greg kept telling me to buy an electric bike. I even went back to Bike World to try an electric one and several other lighter, sportier, more athletic bikes. I could have exchanged the above bike for a “better” one. But when I rode this one the next day, I knew that I had already chosen the right bike for me. Why? I want to sit up and cruise across the state seeing what I’m going by. I want to be able to step through easily. When I stop, I need to be able to just stand down right where I am, and the step-through “girls” bike makes that possible. These tires are sturdy, treaded, and wide enough for me to feel grounded and even okay on gravel. I can shift easily with my 18 gears, but I usually only use 9 of them. And it’s simple, just like me. I know I need to get a few more accessories such as some sort of rear-view mirror and a light bag, but I’m committed to making this bike work – and if necessary, walking up many of the hundreds of hills I will encounter on the hilliest Ragbrai ever, across beautiful, rolling southern Iowa. I may not be a strong bicyclist yet, but I am a strong walker.

This farm dog joined me a mile before the bridge.

So, I’m doing a 3-Day Silent Ignition Retreat at the Creighton University Retreat Center, and riding the gravel roads near the retreat center seemed like a great way to continue my silence while getting in some training miles. I left around 3:30 on Friday, and found the hills excellent for my work-out. Love the downhills! Had to be careful not to go too fast because I could easily wipe out, and the ditches are deep over here. I passed several horses and heard birds of all sorts. We are encouraged to listen to our feelings, to nature, and God as we do this retreat. I was doing all that – and listening to my heart that wanted to sing as I beheld such beauty from the high point of my ride. The song “How can I keep from singing” came out of my mouth and I wondered if God would be okay with my singing during the three days of enforced silence. I refrained from singing too much. Then on the flat, the Collie dog just ran beside me, wanting to join in the movement beside the newly-planted fields. His owner yelled at him to come back, and I slowed down to let him do that, but the dog continued with me. I did NOT encourage him or speak to him. I just noted that I had a friend along my silent way. At the bridge, I thought, he really needs to turn back. I thought he would, but no, after I remounted, he still came along. I was not going to get too close to HWY 48, for once I had a beautiful dog who would not obey who ran in front of a white van and later died. I was worried about the dog, but I also knew I was just doing a training ride, and it wasn’t my place to stop and ride him back to his home. A white pick-up passed me and parked up ahed. She yelled at the dog and lifted him into the cab. I waved at her a couple times, so happy and thankful that the dog was safe and going home, but she did not look at me and had an angry look on her face. Hmmm. Oh well. I guess she doesn’t love me as much as I love her. I tried not to let that bother me. Once I got to HWY 48, I took pictures of a pretty horse and I headed south on the flat – love flat passages. A man mowing his lawn waved at me. An older man on the north side of the road smiled, waved, and said: “You’ve got as long way to go!” And I replied, “I’m training for Ragbrai!” He said that it was going to pass right by here and I said I’ve heard that. He had a tan face and reminded me of my father who grew up just a county away.

Just North of Griswold on HWY 48

I rode on the wide shoulder south into town, not wanting to risk competing with local traffic. The sign proved true, for my pace was much slower that I usually ride in Johnston, when I go on all paved bike paths or sidewalks or streets. Luckily, there was no road work and taking a short cut through Griswold gave me a view of many nice homes with several friendly smiling folks and a couple parks. It too was flat, and I made good time. I always feel happy in this small town – maybe because brother Charly lives here.

Amazing Grace on corner west out of Griswold on HWY 92

I stopped at this corner before leaving Griswold to drink some water, check my Strava data, and look forward to traversing the flat East Nishnabotna River bottom ahead of me. It was going to be great. The wind would be behind me at last. Signs of God’s presence were all around me own my ride, but this corner with three crosses, a rock, beautiful plantings, and “Amazing Grace” was explicit. The nearest house appears to be a former church, but I don’t know that for sure. Maybe if I keep doing this 10.5 mile loop from CURC I will be able to ask the owners. I loved the flat, and crossing the same river going west this time was easy with the wind helping me – no dogs – just several fast pickups barreling by.

I turned right (north) on Contrail Avenue, the winding gravel road that leads up many hills to the plateau from which one turns right to regain the Retreat Center. I’ve learned that it was an old Indian path and I’ve also learned that many other Native people lived here and that the Pottawattamie often camped along the East Nishnabotna banks. That was in the 1800s, before they were asked, nay required, to leave this beautiful area. I rode up the winding gravel road and saw a yellow cat on the left near an abandoned farmstead and many colorful chickens on the very steep right bank near an active farm. I finally gave up shifting pedaling and walked my trusty steed up and around a few more curves before reaching a high flat again. Cows, gardens, old farm buildings, beautiful views, and finally the entrance to the Retreat Center. I was almost home! I love the views from up there. West to the sunset toward Council Bluffs over so many farm fields, East over the river valley, to Griswold, to Lyman, and all the way to the Cumberland water tower, I think. A dream I have is to ride from CURC to Cumberland (my mother’s birthplace) – but it may not happen before Ragbrai, when I will get to roll into Cumberland anyway. I rode 10.50 miles on this first loop. I had to go to my silent supper at five. After supper, I got back on my bike and did the same thing again. No dog followed me and not so many people were out working or waving. The two loops made 21 miles. My training goal for that day was 20. Wow. I’m happy whenever I can set a goal do it – not to mention exceed it. By the way, Griswold is located in Cass County, and the CURC is located in Pottawattamie County. How cool to train in two counties! I hope you are doing things that make you happy. If you can connect with something I’ve mentioned here, please let me know!