[BlazingPedals]

Originally Posted by Freemason Cyclist

You ever ridden RAGBRAI? Even one day of it?

I don't see that Camilo's (or my) objection to the phrasing have anything to do with whether or not we've done the ride. But let's turn your question around. What other multi-day tours have you done?

[SUX VR40 Rider]

Originally Posted by BlazingPedals

I don't see that Camilo's (or my) objection to the phrasing have anything to do with whether or not we've done the ride. But let's turn your question around. What other multi-day tours have you done?

I'll answer that after I state this:

Unless you participate in RAGBRAI, even if it is just one day, you can NEVER truly understand what it is about nor can you understand why it is called the worlds oldest, longest and largest multi-day bicycle tour. RAGBRAI is truly seperate from other multi day tours. Why? For one there are over 10,000 people riding it. From it's beginning there have been no less than 300 people. It brings over 2.5 million dollars to each overnight town and a little less to the pass through towns. Nothing else compares to RAGBRAI, nothing.

To answer your question I have done a multi day ride organized by the Catholic Diocese of Sioux City in celebration of their 100th year anniversary called Pilgrimage on Wheels, or POW, it was a one time event. I have also participated in the Tour De Kota, South Dakota's multi day tour and Bike Ride Across Nebraska or BRAN. Neither of the 3 multi-day tours I did even came close to comparing to RAGBRAI. RAGBRAI is still the best multi-day tour to particpate in.

[BlazingPedals]

I continue to think the phrasing you (and RAGBRAI) use is ambiguous and misleading. Why exactly is it necessary to state it's a multi-day ride if it's claiming to be the longest? Wouldn't that naturally follow? As you acknowledge, it's not the oldest multi-day ride; so why use the term at all? "Longest" is not very specific. I understand that the claim refers to time, not distance; but the claim doesn't state that. There are lots of 7-day rides. To my knowledge, none of them are older, so stating it's the "oldest 7-day ride" would be more succinct. For some reason, the organizers refuse to do this, though; I guess they prefer obfuscation. To appeal to the proper demographic, it might be better to call it the "oldest 7-day ride to have beer tents at every pass-through town."

Sorry to sound combative. It's obvious that you like the ride a lot. But everything you like about it, I hated. I found the constant throngs and the blatant commercialism tedious; and they got in the way of enjoying the ride. Your idea of "the best" is waaay different from mine; so I'll be kind and say that your assessment is subjective.

[SUX VR40 Rider]

Originally Posted by BlazingPedals

I continue to think the phrasing you (and RAGBRAI) use is ambiguous and misleading. Why exactly is it necessary to state it's a multi-day ride if it's claiming to be the longest? Wouldn't that naturally follow? As you acknowledge, it's not the oldest multi-day ride; so why use the term at all? "Longest" is not very specific. I understand that the claim refers to time, not distance; but the claim doesn't state that. There are lots of 7-day rides. To my knowledge, none of them are older, so stating it's the "oldest 7-day ride" would be more succinct. For some reason, the organizers refuse to do this, though; I guess they prefer obfuscation. To appeal to the proper demographic, it might be better to call it the "oldest 7-day ride to have beer tents at every pass-through town."

Sorry to sound combative. It's obvious that you like the ride a lot. But everything you like about it, I hated. I found the constant throngs and the blatant commercialism tedious; and they got in the way of enjoying the ride. Your idea of "the best" is waaay different from mine; so I'll be kind and say that your assessment is subjective.

I am not the one who came up with the the term as the worlds oldest longest, largest, etc. Of course that was done as part of the marketing strategy. You gotta admit it was a good idea. The ride keeps attracting over 10,000 people annually. But the statement is also true. If you don't like ti take it with the RAGBRAI officials.

[SUX VR40 Rider]

Originally Posted by BlazingPedals

I continue to think the phrasing you (and RAGBRAI) use is ambiguous and misleading. Why exactly is it necessary to state it's a multi-day ride if it's claiming to be the longest? Wouldn't that naturally follow? As you acknowledge, it's not the oldest multi-day ride; so why use the term at all? "Longest" is not very specific. I understand that the claim refers to time, not distance; but the claim doesn't state that. There are lots of 7-day rides. To my knowledge, none of them are older, so stating it's the "oldest 7-day ride" would be more succinct. For some reason, the organizers refuse to do this, though; I guess they prefer obfuscation. To appeal to the proper demographic, it might be better to call it the "oldest 7-day ride to have beer tents at every pass-through town."

Sorry to sound combative. It's obvious that you like the ride a lot. But everything you like about it, I hated. I found the constant throngs and the blatant commercialism tedious; and they got in the way of enjoying the ride. Your idea of "the best" is waaay different from mine; so I'll be kind and say that your assessment is subjective.

What did you hate about RAGBRAI, specifically? I have only admitted to being excited about this RAGBRAI because of the historical sites I will be able to visit and photograph. I have not said anything about the beer tents. Not sure where you get that idea. I tend to stay away from the beer tents and gardens. So what if RAGBRAI is commercialized? You have a problem with advertising now? What specifically bothered you about the advertisement and commercialization? The signs put up along the way betwen towns? Whichj type of signs? The ones advertising the churches serving meals or the ones advertising the larger groups/organizations?

[BlazingPedals]

It was like being stuck in a movie theater concession area for a week. At one stop, we were plopped in the middle of a field. It was 94F in the shade, of which there was none. There was a concession shack about 300 yds away. It had a faucet on the back wall, but the guy running the stand had stacked boxes in front of it so nobody could see it. It seems that people filling their waterbottles at the faucet had cut into his bottled water sales at $2.00 each. Want pizza for lunch? A franchise in a mall would sell pizza for $1.75-2.00 per slice. But RAGBRAI special price was $4.00/slice. The first few days I told myself, "it's vacation, just try to enjoy it." After a few more days, though, it became "geez - am I single-handedly putting this guy's kid through college?"

If you've been on their forum much, you know the low opinion most of the riders hold for 'racers.' Since I typically ride at more than 12-14 mph, I was considered one of the Bad Boys. If I wanted to ride at my customary pace and there were bikes riding 6-8 across and blocking the entire roadway, then tough! "It's a tour, not a race!"

The beer tent remark wasn't fair, but it's obviously an important part of the ride for a lot of people. There sure there were a few good points to the ride, but I can't seem to remember any.

[camilo]

[edited, deleted.... I'm getting too testy in my old age and it's pointless!]

[SUX VR40 Rider]

Originally Posted by camilo

[edited, deleted.... I'm getting too testy in my old age and it's pointless!]

Well have you ever ridden any part of RAGBRAI? A simple yes or no will suffice.

[camilo]

Originally Posted by Freemason Cyclist

Well have you ever ridden any part of RAGBRAI? A simple yes or no will suffice.

oooookayyyy. Since it's so durn important to you, you old grumpy midwesterner, you, I'll answer.

The answer is no. Now answer me a question: what the dingdang guldurn does that have to do with anything? If I actually criticzed the event itself, I certainly didn't intend to and don't believe I did. So, you're just being silly, maybe from being associated with the silly promoters of that (probably excellent) tour?

By the way, I never will ride it. Not because I "hate" it for any reason. The reason is I live thousands of miles away and the midwest has absolutely no attraction for me in terms of recreational opportunities, geography, or history, especially an event crowded with thousands of midwesterners. If I ever do an organized event (which I can't see any reason I would), it would probably be something more interesting in the mountains or coastal areas if such things exist. I grew up and lived in WI and MN for 25 years, haev traveled extensively in IA, IL, ND, SD, NB, during that time and since, you name it. So this isn't a blind ignorant bias, but one based on my personal experience and preferences. My brother loves Davenport and my sister loves Milwaukee, bless their hearts.

I have absolutely nothing against the event. Just the silly, nonsensical promotional phrase and this stereotype I have of midwesterners (based on 30 and more years of experience) that they tend to inflate the wonderfulness of where they live and what they do, many not knowing anything else.

There, you made me repeat what I'd deleted earlier, hopefully we can all learn not to take things too seriously.

[SUX VR40 Rider]

Originally Posted by camilo

No.

Fify

You have no reason or room to complain about anything regarding RAGBRAI because you have never ridden it. You truly do not and can not understand what it is about and thus have no bases on which to form an opinion. So I suggest you STFU about it!

Ther excuse of living too far away is a piss poor cop out at best. RAGBRAI attracts people all from 50 states and several countries who live a lot further than you do. Come up with a better excuse than that. The "I live to far away is really weak."

Blazing Pedals has every right to say what he thinks because he has done RAGBRAI. Until you ride it you should not speak of things you know nothing about.

As I mentioned though you stupidly think it silly the terminology of the ride being the worlds oldest, longest, etc. has worked and worked well ever since it has been called that. They would not call such if it were not true. They could not because they could get in trouble for false advertising.