What RAGBRAI is about

June 13, 2016

Washington, Iowa

To the Editor:

Watch out! RAGBRAI is coming to southeast Iowa, making overnight stops at Ottumwa, Sigourney, Washington and ending at Muscatine! I hear that RAGBRAI people do a lot of wild parties. Have you heard that, or similar statements? I have, and just how much of this do I really know? Do I hear such statements, and then repeat it to someone else without really knowing if it is true? Isn?t doing so spreading gossip?

I have been making RAGBRAI for 23 years as a support for my wife, Lucille ?Lucy,? and other riders. I know there are some who do much partying during that week. I can only testify of one event as a witness. A vehicle passing by, and a person ?mooning? those who happened to be looking in that direction. I thought, ?How sad ? such conduct.? Then I thought maybe he felt this was the prettiest part of his anatomy and wanted to let others see it. On another occasion, Lucy witnessed a man riding in the nude. Little else could be more despicable. Such acts and wild parties are perpetuated by a very small percentage of RAGBRAI people.

Do drunken parties and uncouth actions make the whole of RAGBRAI an evil event? Just think for a moment: if there are 10,000 riders there must be another 10,000 support people. Select any city of 20,000 population and spend 24 hours with the police and sheriff departments. You will find as much and probably more such incidents occurring in that city. Just read the police log in the local newspaper. That does not make the whole city evil! Neither do the adverse things happening on RAGBRAI make it an evil event.

That?s not what RAGBRAI is about!

What you don?t hear about is the real RAGBRAI. Here everyone is the same: lawyers, doctors, executives, secretaries, mechanics, laborers, utility workers. You can sit by the bike route all day long and never be able to identify one or the other. Only thousands of riders enjoying themselves.

What you do see is people concerned about safety and helping others. A biker falls; within seconds others are around to assist, just helping them up, to be riding again, rendering first aid if necessary; if a serious injury, several are on their cellphones calling 911, then standing by until professional help arrives.

Lucy (this year 89 years old, riding her 24th year), often stops when climbing a hill and on other occasions to rest a few minutes. In every case, other bikers will pause, make sure she is OK, then continue. A biker has a flat tire, others will help. A man lost his wallet, now no money; other bikers began handing him money ? one gave a $50 bill, then rode away. Anyone experiencing a problem will have others wanting to help.

In the afternoon, many are taking naps in the park or on a lawn. Some quietly visiting with other bikers, family members, host families. Some playing games or other entertainment. Some churches have open doors, people going in for a few minutes of quit time, or participating in a sing-along. Many are downtown taking in the sights, food stands, free entertainment. Most will retire to their camping area or assigned host homes to rest for the ride tomorrow.

This is what RAGBRAI is about!

Jack Bonham