Have you explored the Wabash Trace Nature Trail yet? The Wabash Trace Nature Trail is a rail trail that leads riders through the rural forests and countryside of southwest Iowa. The trail stretches 63 miles from Council Bluffs to Blanchard. On this episode, Murph chats with Erin and Matt about a fun event that doubles as a fundraiser for the trail. It is the third year for the Wabash Open which is a fun bike ride on the Wabash Trace that includes mini golf stops along the way. Riders play 18 holes during the ride, which starts in Council Bluffs and ends in Mineola. This event takes place June 8, 2024 and the theme this year is all about the Goonies! https://bikeiowa.com/Event/15798/the-wabash-open-3 Episode about the Wabash Trace Nature Trail: https://soundcloud.com/murphology-podcast/episode-78-exploring-the-wabash-trace-nature-trail Tour of the Battenkill Episode: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-302-tour-of-the-battenkill Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration: ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

Is this going to be your first RAGBRAI? If so, you are not alone! On this episode Murph & AP answer some common questions that people new to RAGBRAI ask. -Can my luggage have wheels on it so I can get it from the RAGBRAI luggage trailer to my campsite easier? -Are there any good ways to track my miles besides a bike computer? -Hydration options...is a water bottle enough or do I need a hydration pack as well? -Can you explain charters? Do I need a charter on top of registration? -Should I leave my vehicle in the start town or the end town? -When will wristband numbers be available? -Are e-bikes allowed on the course? -Are you required to stop in each town? -Can you share some advice for a newbie? -Will you guys be doing podcasts during RAGBRAI? Many questions can be answered by checking out the www.ragbrai.com website and clicking on "THE RIDE" tab! Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com RAGBRAI LI Registration: ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

This episode Murph sits down with Pasha and Laura to talk about the Tour of the Battenkill, a one day event in rural upstate New York. The annual “Queen of the Classics” will take place in Washington County on May 18, 2024. It is a challenging but an incredibly fun, all-inclusive, single-day cycling event and party. You have three events to choose from: The legendary 77-mile Gran Fondo, a 40-mile Medio Fondo, and the 24-mile Piccolo Fondo. Pasha and Laura tell us all we need to know about the event. Registration is still open! www.tourofthebattenkill.com Luke Hoffman episode: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-273-iowa-bicycle-coalitions-new-executive-director-luke-hoffman Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration: ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

This week AP and Murph sit down with ride director Matt Phippen to talk about RAGBRAI LI and the full 2024 route. This is part two where Matt dives into mileage, elevation and we talk a bit about each of the towns we will be visiting on the RAGBRAI route, from Winterset to Burlington. RAGBRAI Gives: https://ragbrai.com/community-fund/ Bozz Prints Merchandise: https://www.bozzprints.com/collections/ragbrai-li Clarence Pickard episode: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-286-parrottalk-reads-more-on-iowa-legend-clarence-pickard Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration: ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

This week AP and Murph sit down with ride director Matt Phippen to talk about RAGBRAI LI and the full 2024 route. This is part one of two where Matt dives into mileage, elevation and we talk a bit about each of the towns we will be visiting on the RAGBRAI route, from Glenwood to Winterset. We also talk a bit about the RAGBRAI Community Fund and the recently released town t-shirts. Each community worked with the local Iowa artist to create a custom print that embodies their community. Proceeds from this merchandise line go to the Community Fund! Episode 289: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-289-matt-phippen-and-an-overview-of-the-2024-ragbrai-li-route RAGBRAI Gives: https://ragbrai.com/community-fund/ Bozz Prints Merchandise: https://www.bozzprints.com/collections/ragbrai-li Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration: ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

The Dream Team has kicked off another year and director Jeff Van Genderen is on this episode along with youth member Addy who is returning to be part of the team again. The Dream Team is a nonprofit organization in the Des Moines area that partners youth with adult mentors to provide a unique opportunity to build relationships, learn life skills and achieve personal growth as they train to ride bikes across the state during RAGBRAI. The program has been around 27 years and Jeff is going to tell us some updates along with the latest news on the Dream Team. Addy shares her experiences being part of the Dream Team, and why she decided to come back for another year. The Dream Team has launched a podcast!! You can listen to ‘Moving Forward’ on most podcast platforms. Dream Team podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moving-forward-the-official-podcast-of-dream-team/id1737706851 https://www.dreamteamdesmoines.org/ Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration is open! ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

On March 24, 2024 Matt Bernhard passed away. Known as Mr. Pork Chop Jr., Matt was a RAGBRAI celebrity and alongside his signature pink bus, he made and sold grilled Iowa pork chops on the route each year. Riders would stand in long lines to get a chop that had been grilled on a bed of corncobs right there on the side of the road. His dad had launched the business back in the early 80’s after RAGBRAI came through their hometown of Bankroft and when Matt took it over, he perfected grilling techniques and riders responded by stopping whenever they saw the big pink bus. On this episode you will hear an excerpt from Episode 2 of Matt being interviewed by reporter Kyle Munson, and also an excerpt from Episode 127 when Murph interviewed Matt. We also have some special guests on to share memories of Matt and the big pink pig bus. Matt Bernhard is an icon that will be greatly missed. Special thanks to Matt Phippen, Brian Brinkema, Brian Powers, and Scott Sumpter for sharing. Episode 2: Continuing Legacies with Mr. Pork Chop Jr. https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-3-continuing-legacies-with-mr-pork-chop-jr-and-ragbrai-45 Episode 127: Behind the Chop with Matt Bernhard https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-127-behind-the-chop-with-matt-bernhard Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration: ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

Joe and Coz Lindsay are on to tell us about life as a RAGBRAI SAG Driver. Joe and Coz are part of a great crew of drivers in 15 passenger vans that are spread out along the route each year, picking up riders who are not able to ride on. The guys tell Murph what it is like to be a SAG driver, reasons riders use the SAG, and also they provide riders with some good tips so you might not need to use their services. Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration is open! ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

We are rolling way back to the late 1800s on this episode to talk about Kittie Knox, a female African American cyclist who as a teenager took cycling to a new level for both women and women of color. AP digs deep into Kittie’s life and what it was like to be a cyclist in the 1890s. Sources for this episode: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittie_Knox https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2020/05/26/breaking-the-cycle-the-kittie-knox-story/ https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-culture/kittie-knox-black-cyclist-activist-who-challenged-race-gender-barriers-1890s https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-culture/the-outer-line-the-kittie-knox-award-for-equity-diversity-and-inclusion-in-cycling/ https://www.kx3lifestyleandcoaching.com/blog/the-history-of-women-s-cycling Nelson Vails Episode: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-214-meet-olympian-medalist-nelson-vails-retired-road-and-track-cyclist Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration is open! ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

Coach Ertl is back to talk to us about training for RAGBRAI! NOW is the time to get those training miles in so that you can be in your best shape to tackle the miles, and hills, of Iowa in July. Coach Ertl says preparation is the key…training your body to sit on the saddle for long periods of time, testing out equipment and clothing, and of course dialing in your nutrition are just a few ways to get yourself prepared. And don’t forget to get your bike tuned up! Coach Ertl Training Blogs and Training Plan: https://ragbrai.com/category/ragbrai-training-blog/ Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com Get registered for RAGBRAI LI! ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/

Will Walker completed his first RAGBRAI in 2023 in a different way than any other cyclist who rode their bicycle across Iowa. Will rode the whole route backwards! And by backwards, we mean he positioned himself so that his bike moved forward but his body was facing backwards. He sat on the handlebars and pedaled this way all 500+ miles!! Many years ago, biking backwards started as a kind of a joke or challenge with his friends and quickly became a way of cycling that is now Will’s normal. All of his rides are pedaled backwards so when he heard about a 7 day ride across Iowa, he didn’t even know what RAGBRAI was but registered immediately with the intention to do all of it backwards. Will, who lives in Alaska, packed his bike and came to Iowa for the first time last July. He found out that the state is definitely not flat and he also found out what Iowa Nice means. With so many supportive and friendly people, RAGBRAI turned out to be an awesome experience for him. He will be back to ride again this year and will be launching Against the Odds Cycling, a line of Backwards Biker merchandise with the intention to give back to others. You can follow Will on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_willxwalker/ Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at [email protected]. www.ragbrai.com www.murphologypodcast.com RAGBRAI LI Registration is open! https://ragbrai.com/ragbrai-li-registration/ Photo credit to Will Walker’s Instagram page