Mmmm, RAGBRAI?

My uncle is trying to round up the family for a trip across Iowa next summer ... on a bicycle. In case anyone isn't familiar with RAGBRAI, it's a weeklong bike ride across the state, and it's a pretty big deal in Iowa.

I've never ridden in it – I've been around when the thousands of bikers rolled through and stayed overnight in my hometown of Marion. And I thought then that it looked like a lot of fun – for a lot of people, it's pretty much a big party. There's lots of beer, music, dancing, etc.

But, there's also a lot of biking – about 60-90 miles a day. Now, I like riding my bike, but the farthest I've ever gone is about 20 miles. And I hate riding in wind, and when you ride across Iowa, you're going to experience a lot of wind.

And then there's the thing about sleeping in a tent every night. And logistical questions, like where do I put my bike when I'm sleeping, because I'm always super-paranoid about it getting stolen (maybe that's a holdover from my Big House days).

But despite the problems, I'm leaning toward doing it. If nothing else, it gives me something to work toward when I go to the gym. Working out is always easier when you have some kind of goal in mind.