McClain family reflects on RAGBRAI then and now

Quiet strength, creative adventurers.

Kevin McClain had biked roughly 20 miles July 25 when a sharp pain in his leg got his attention. It was a team decision that it would be best if he became the support vehicle driver for the rest of the day, and his wife Kathy would join their daughter Abby and her friend Benny Borremans as they finished the ride. Kevin was laying out tents under shade trees by the gazebo on the north side of the Fairfield Community Center as he told how their morning had gone.

He had arrived a little bit earlier and gone inside the center to talk with the nicest woman who runs the place. He had asked if they could set up their tents and a portable shower and he'd be appreciative if he could hook up their garden hose onto the spigot on the side of the building. He promised they would make sure the ground was left in very good condition.

'She had been so helpful,” he said, as he finished his tasks and entered the shade of the gazebo, taking a respite from the high sun of the afternoon.

As a young man, he had participated in the third, fourth and fifth RAGBRAIs. Back then, there were only about 1,000 people participating. A biker had to bring their own pup tent. All gear dry or wet was thrown together into one U-Haul trailer early in the morning and a rider never saw it again until he had completed the day's ride to sort through the whole pile of gear for his own.

Then life became busy as he and Kathy took on careers as insurance adjusters while raising their son Connar and daughter Abby. Kevin found selling tools much more fitting to his own nature and interests so he left insurance for his new love. Kevin and Connor picked up on riding RAGBRAI again, with the 2019 ride being his fifth ride in a row. This time though, Abby is making her first ride. But speaking of family and all, it caused him to pause a minute to wonder how far along the route his team of three were.

He explained that the cell towers connecting these small Iowa towns to the internet were not ready to handle the workload a river of device-armed cyclists kept demanding of them until the river had flowed into another tower's streaming service. The McClain family had come to understand they might have to wait and not receive text messages from each other for some time after they were sent.

Kevin's attention returned to the support rig which was one panel van with its own trailer in tow. The sliding side door was open on the panel van. Kevin says that is where the story is.

Benny Borremans, a biologist from Antwerp, Belgium, on fellowship at UCLA for three years, had purchased the van and converted it into a house on wheels. Kevin's vigilant watch for his family was rewarded later in the afternoon when the three bicyclists rolled onto South Court Street. Like a fine waltz the four of them moved through this part of their day, a bite to eat while catching up on the details of it, individually taking turns using the portable shower to then rejoin the easy evening conversation in fresh clothing. A beautiful dance between two generations taking turns leading and supporting, supporting then leading in work and sport together.

When Abby was young, the McClains vacationed in California. When she saw the marine creatures at Sea World, she knew what she wanted to do in life. She applied herself to her studies and graduated from Iowa State University as a veterinarian who specializes in dolphins and sea lions.

Now she is working with an organization which rescues, rehabilitates, and releases to the wild again. More frequently the organization is asked to deal with sea lions that have a particular bacteria that is problematic for them in the wild. So they teamed up with UCLA research team to study this all along the western coast where sea lions accumulate. That is how and where Abby and Benny met, in the midst of a beach filled with sea lions and their smelly droppings. This joining of forces is utilizing the resources both agencies have to solve the mystery of this bacteria and how it specifically affects the marine mammals and where exactly it can be eradicated from their habitats.

These two young people had another problem to solve in the area of affordable housing for themselves. What was available was small and too expensive or had to be shared with numbers of roommates. Each one had toyed with the idea of converting a vehicle into living quarters just because they could take it with them when their job site changed. 'I have always wanted to do it because I am outdoorsy.” So the idea was incubated as Benny researched over seventy hours of renovation ideas. They began to formulate the plan and discussed it with Kevin and Kathy. Then Benny purchased the panel van, installed solar panels on the top, and ran the 110 wiring throughout. 'But I had to learn everything. And Kevin taught me how to use a jigsaw. The first time using it was funny apparently but it worked.” He cut and fitted the cabinetry to fit the curved van sides. After the units were set in place Abby added the paint and furnishings. They find their solution makes much more sense when he works in LA and they live in San Diego now.

Now they can add one more experience to the growing adventures, RAGBRAI biking and camping. Though the panel truck will travel to the southwest coast of California, it will carry back the prairie fragrances of this Iowan summer. May be amongst the rolling hills between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers an idea was incubating about the solution for the sea lions too. And then over the McClain dinner table as the generations converse a plan of trial and experience will come forth.

What they found works best in the midst of a sea of moving wheels was constantly communicating to help each other out. 'It's like they are all one big biking family even though they are from all over the world. We just talk and point out things and make sure to let other people know what you are doing and then they let you know what they are doing.”