ROUGH RIDE IN IOWA

It is 104F in the Iowa shade, if you can find any. That means the temp out on the roads (asphalt with no shade at all) is 120. Six of our 70 riders have thrown in a sweaty towel and left the ride. Two others have spent an overnight in the hospital and one (me) was in the ER for about three hours. Heat related all.

In past years nine-passenger vans filled in as sag wagons. They pull trailers that can hold a dozen bikes. If the the riders are small or willing to sit in laps the sag drivers can cram 12 riders into the vans.

Today, Wednesday, so many riders are dropping out that yellow school busses are replacing the nine passenger vans. Instead of bike trailers at least one 53 foot semi has been pressed into service to haul the bikes to the overnight town.

All in all, a rough day to ride in Iowa.