Club News

Pat Stout was hostess to Fleur-de-Lis Club members and guest, Jan Boyd, on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 1:30 p.m. in the WSB Room at the Washington Public Library.

A short business meeting was conducted by president, Nancy Kimmel. Roll call was answered with eight members and guest telling of their first bicycle or a bicycle experience. The secretary and treasurer?s reports were given for June by Linda Birney since the group did not meet during July and August. A thank you was read from the Roger Stout Family. Bev Crandall of the Remembrance Committee presented a bill and this was paid. The Fall Vintage Market of Miss Emma?s was held Sept. 23 and 24 at the Stout Farm on G-36.

Following the meeting, Jan Boyd, gave a very informative and interesting talk of her experiences on nine RAGBRAI?s she has been on. RAGBRAI was first started in 1973 by John Karras and Donald Kaul with 300 friends starting, but only 114 finishing the ride due to only six weeks? notice. It was only six days long. Jan went on her first RAGBRAI ride in 1979 that went from Rock Rapids to Burlington, which was near their home across the river in Illinois. This was more of a diagonal route which doesn?t happen now. Baggage was in two semi trucks. Now riders have wristbands instead of baggage claim stubs. Things have now changed and Bicycle Clubs now handle much of the baggage. In 1982 she and her husband traveled with their 15 months old son in a trailer, but only went half way. In 1984, RAGBRAI started charging fees to go on this event. In February of each year, the upcoming route is announced to the public and towns begin planning for the invasion of riders. Then with a growing family, she took a break and stated back in 2010 on a regular basis. It is good exercise and something her family enjoys. There are nine bike shops allowed to go on RAGRAI and set up and Washington?s Bike shop is one of the shops on the ride. RAGBRI provides a Sag service from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. She noted how bike clothing has changed over the years and pie is still one of the favorite foods along the ride. Many towns have water stations, water slides and bicycle art for the riders. When RAGBRI was here overnight in July, her church hosted some of the Adaptive Sport Riders which are riders with handicaps or disabilities. Jan belongs to the local bike group called ?Spoke-Busters." She has kept a scrapbook of all her rides with clippings and pictures which our group enjoying reviewing.

Following the program, the group then went to Dodici?s Shop for refreshments compliments of the hostess with the remainder of the afternoon visiting and catching up. The next meeting will be Oct. 27, at 1:30 p.m. with Theresa Hora serving as hostess.