March 28, 2024

RAGBRAI Q&A

Frank Jowitt

AGE: 55

HOMETOWN: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE RAGBRAI? Second year

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF RAGBRAI? It’s towns like this. When a community gears up for an event like this with 10-15,000 riders, it really is a big deal.

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO RIDE YOUR BIKE? I love the trails in Cedar Falls. It’s really pretty.

Kevin Stewart

AGE: 52

HOMETOWN: Cedar Falls

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE RAGBRAI? Third year

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF RAGBRAI? Small towns. One of the things coming in that was cool was a lady had frozen push-ups. She took the time to hand them out (for free) and cut off the ends. I was born and raised in Iowa. It’s that Iowa hospitality.

WHAT KIND OF BIKE DO YOU RIDE? Giant Defy

Ben Reeves

AGE: 60

HOMETOWN: Platteville, Wisconsin

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE RAGBRAI? First year doing the full ride

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDED TO DO RAGBRAI? I graduated from Creston High School class of 1974. I saw in early May it was coming through Creston and thought this is the year I’m doing the full thing. I have done single days before.

WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE OF CRESTON? I have all kinds of memories here. I ran cross country on the golf course. I caught my first big bullhead at Summit Lake with my dad with a car antenna.

Jacob Lueck

AGE: 15

HOMETOWN: Wauatosa, Wisconsin

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE RAGBRAI? First year

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF RAGBRAI SO FAR? The first day was OK, but today was not fun. Too many hills. But after the shower and eating, you generally feel good.

WHAT FOOD DO YOU MOST WANT TO TRY? Mr. Pork Chop

Bill Danforth

AGE: 66

HOMETOWN: Shenandoah

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE RAGBRAI? 16 years

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF CRESTON AS YOUR ARRIVED? Creston was beautiful. It was a tough day for the guys who were riding.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RAGBRAI FOOD? Mr. Pork Chop is darn good. I love the classics on RAGBRAI — beef and noodles on potatoes.

Jeff Kraber

AGE: 59

HOMETOWN: Forest, Virginia; originally from Iowa

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE RAGBRAI? First year

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF RAGBRAI SO FAR? So far, so good. This is the longest I’ve ever ridden; yesterday I did 55 miles, and today I did 80. I plan on doing the century ride on Wednesday.

WHAT DID YOU DO FIRST IN CRESTON? I went to Elms Club and met other people from RAGBRAI and had great conversations. One guy said he likes to come to RAGBRAI because of the 15,000 friends he hasn’t met yet, and that was a statement that really stuck with me.

Rick and Anna Hill

AGES: Rick, 55; Anna, 50

HOMETOWN: Hammond, Indiana

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE RAGBRAI AS A COUPLE? Five years

FAVORITE THING ABOUT RAGBRAI: There’s a euphoria about it. You forget about all your cares, everyone is relaxed and all the joy and happiness comes out. –Rick

HOBBY OTHER THAN BIKE RIDING: Working on cars. –Rick

Elizabeth Krug

AGE: 24

HOMETOWN: Heber Springs, Arkansas

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE RAGBRAI? First year

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF RAGBRAI SO FAR? I’m happy that I made it. Part of me thought there was no way I’d make it 75 miles, and I did, and it wasn’t quite as difficult as I thought it would be.

FAVORITE WORKOUT CLOTHING BRAND: Pearl Izumi