Cornfields and KYBOs 🌾
RAGBRAI 2025 Day Four brings me to cornfields and KYBOs — no, not that kind of corn! Although I admit it’s possible to develop corns during a week of long daily rides!
One of the time-honored to-do items for RAGBRAI newbies is to p** in a cornfield. There are cornfields aplenty along the route, and KYBOs in towns; but I didn’t visit a cornfield until Day Four. It really isn’t bad in there, especially if the ground isn’t wet from downpours.
I had to bail again today! 😞 RAGBRAI Day Four was another day of relentless headwinds; and my left knee was bothering me a bit. On top of it all, I had developed a blister from so much walking in bike shoes the day before. Fortunately it bothered me much less while riding than while walking; but it was still uncomfortable. At the day’s meeting town, I ended up on a super-SAG, aka a school bus, with many other riders.
Then, during the night, I found a new dirty word!
New Dirty Word 🧼
You can learn a new dirty word anywhere; but I never thought that R-A-I-N would be among them. The night of RAGBRAI Day Four proved me wrong.
Starting about 10:00 or 11:00 pm, a T-storm broke out; with lots of lightning and a seemingly endless, torrential downpour. Good thing I didn’t need to look for cornfields and KYBO’s just then!
It soon felt like I had some water leaking through the top of my tent; and next I realized that it felt like I was lying in a river! I hadn’t especially noticed; but my tent was in a low spot.
My sleeping bag got drenched; and so did other items. My phone seemed to stay dry, thank goodness! Around 3:00 am I got up and began trying to dry some things with my microfiber towel; but with standing water at least a half-inch deep in my tent, the towel kept getting into the water! No wonder R-A-I-N is a new dirty word to me.
Incidentally, the lightning up there is peculiar. Here at home, it typically is a split-second flash. That night, it was a slow-motion on-and-off, with the “on” lasting one or even two whole seconds. I guess they never heard of greased lightning.
Massage 💆🏼
By this time in the week, my leg muscles needed something to ease them. Although Pork Belly offered a massage service, I didn’t use it.
I chose a cheaper option: I brought along a massage ball. The orange one only, with soft, longish spikes. There wasn’t room in my bags for all three!
It was mainly my quads and hamstrings that needed attention; and I would roll the ball over them before I went to sleep. I think this mini-massage helped keep my leg muscles from turning to concrete!
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ABOUT ME
I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story.
I live in New Orleans; and retired in January 2023. More time for cycling!
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I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.
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