Rivendells on RAGBRAI 2025 -- ride report

[Julian Westerhout]

This year's RAGBRAI was shortish and flattish (406 miles, 10800+ feet in 7 days), but had only one day with tailwinds, and several days with strong head and side winds, and moderate to heavy rain for a few hours on the last day of riding. Still a fun ride -- all sorts of bikes and all sorts of riders. This was my 3rd RAGBRAI -- my first was in 2018 -- as expected, less and less steel bikes each time -- this year I was struck by the increase in e-bikes -- still a small minority, but a strong growth in their numbers. 

There were a few lovely old classics on the ride, and a decent handful of Rivendells. I rode my 68cm Toyo Atlantis, saw Rusty several days on his Hillborne, had several good conversations with a woman on a Platypus (whose outfits nicely matched her bike's colors), talked to a fellow on a Roadini, saw a HHH, several other Atlanti, two AHHs, and several customs. 

I also saw several folks on Surlys or Riv'ed-up old MTBs wearing MUSA shorts or other Riv-items (including a guy I saw at a stop on a high-zoot carbon bike wearing a Riv lug bandana under his helmet!). Lots of folks recognized the Atlantis as a Rivendell, including several who had read the NY Times article a while back and were dreaming of a Riv of their own. I did not take very many photos -- should have taken more. 

Julian Westerhout

Bloomington, IL 

[mark e]

Great report Julian. It's good to see one of the really big Atlantis's. Sounds like a good number of Riv's were out. 

[Jason Willey]

Hey Julian, 

It was great getting to meet you during the ride.  (I had the blue Homer with the fenders and racks.)  I also met Rusty and another rider whose name escapes me.  Seeing other Rivendells in the wild was a fun experience.  I got to see a couple Hillbournes, a Rambouliet (super fast rider), and a sharp looking Roadini was parked at Oelwein Friday night.

Bummed I didn't get to see the Platypus or the HubbaHubba.

This was my first RAGBRAI but probably not my last,...that said I won't do it again sleeping in a tent.  Too many hours riding and too few hours sleeping.

Thanks for slowing down to chat along the ride.

Jason "glad to be sleeping inside again" Willey

Dayton, OH

[Ken Yokanovich]

My wife and I departed Saint Paul, MN on Friday morning and rode 230 miles to meet up with RAGBRAI in the overnight town of Milford, IA by Sunday night. We managed only 2 full days of riding with the route to the overnight in Forest City, IA.  The combination of the heat and wind was enough for us to decide to turn north early and head home. By the time we got home again on Thursday night we rode a total of 515 miles in 7 days.

This was my 36th time of participating in some form of RAGBRAI. I have ridden down to Iowa from Minnesota more of those years than not. I am still processing what I learned about myself and my quirks of a personality. It was an amazing experience to share. It turns out that spending so many hours on a bicycle saddle frequently alone on the open road isn't for everyone ;)  My wife enjoyed having completed the adventure, but not all points in-between. Proof that she was still smiling after day 5 in the overnight town of Forest City, IA. (Before trying to sleep in a tent when it was >80 and humid)

Many compliments were received on the HubbuHubbuH which performed amazingly and without any mechanical issues.

[wpm...@gmail.com]

Thanks, Julian for starting this thread and for the ride report.  Spectacular "rando Atlantis" setup. When I rode 2002 RAGBRAI on my "Atlantis wannabe," (a) I don't recall seeing any Rivs (though there were several mustached handlebars) and (b) we also had (heavy!) rains with lightning on the last day.  We tend to be a "more fendered than average" bunch, and those fenders served well.  In fact, mine was one of very few bikes with fenders, with the exception of a 63 year old who rode across Iowa on a 1941 Schwinn (see "1939 Man on 1941 Schwinn" here).  Love seeing all these bikes with fenders in the above thread! --Will M

[Julian Westerhout]

Jason, 

Your Homer is lovely -- it was good to talk to you -- and delightful to get home and sleep in quiet air-conditioned comfort! 

Julian 

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 3:52:19 PM UTC-5 jwil...@gmail.com wrote:

[Julian Westerhout]

Ken, 

Yours was the HHH I saw -- sadly I did not see you guys -- it was parked near a shower truck when I saw it. Quitr a nice setup! 

Julian 

[Julian Westerhout]

On the rainy day I wished others had fenders -- the unrestrained spray from many hundreds of tires was a bit annoying. The friend I rode with was on a standard carbon non-fendered bike -- he and his bike were pretty dirty at the end of that day -- I was comparatively clean. 

Julian 

[Ryan]

@Ken...I totally empathize with your wife....and I know from my own experience that heat and wind are not fun...and can be hazardous. Not dishonorable to bail in those conditions ...or during violent storms either...I've bailed in those conditions a time or two if I'm honest and I have no regrets about doing so. 

I think I felt existence for good or for ill keenly when bike touring (including my own fragility from time to time). Still happy I had the opportunities to ride a bike and camp, overall though. 

[rlti...@gmail.com]

Nice! How did the Hubbuhubbuh perform loaded down? What rear rack are you using on it? We have a Hubbuhubbuh here that I hope to be able to tour on eventually. I need to get rid of this job first though…

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 29, 2025, at 3:16 PM, Ken Yokanovich <reflector...@gmail.com> wrote:



My wife and I departed Saint Paul, MN on Friday morning and rode 230 miles to meet up with RAGBRAI in the overnight town of Milford, IA by Sunday night. We managed only 2 full days of riding with the route to the overnight in Forest City, IA.  The combination of the heat and wind was enough for us to decide to turn north early and head home. By the time we got home again on Thursday night we rode a total of 515 miles in 7 days.

This was my 36th time of participating in some form of RAGBRAI. I have ridden down to Iowa from Minnesota more of those years than not. I am still processing what I learned about myself and my quirks of a personality. It was an amazing experience to share. It turns out that spending so many hours on a bicycle saddle frequently alone on the open road isn't for everyone ;)  My wife enjoyed having completed the adventure, but not all points in-between. Proof that she was still smiling after day 5 in the overnight town of Forest City, IA. (Before trying to sleep in a tent when it was >80 and humid)

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Many compliments were received on the HubbuHubbuH which performed amazingly and without any mechanical issues.

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 3:52:19 PM UTC-5 jwil...@gmail.com wrote:

Hey Julian, 

It was great getting to meet you during the ride.  (I had the blue Homer with the fenders and racks.)  I also met Rusty and another rider whose name escapes me.  Seeing other Rivendells in the wild was a fun experience.  I got to see a couple Hillbournes, a Rambouliet (super fast rider), and a sharp looking Roadini was parked at Oelwein Friday night.

Bummed I didn't get to see the Platypus or the HubbaHubba.

This was my first RAGBRAI but probably not my last,...that said I won't do it again sleeping in a tent.  Too many hours riding and too few hours sleeping.

Thanks for slowing down to chat along the ride.

Jason "glad to be sleeping inside again" Willey

Dayton, OH

On Monday, July 28, 2025 at 3:49:44 PM UTC-4 weste...@gmail.com wrote:

This year's RAGBRAI was shortish and flattish (406 miles, 10800+ feet in 7 days), but had only one day with tailwinds, and several days with strong head and side winds, and moderate to heavy rain for a few hours on the last day of riding. Still a fun ride -- all sorts of bikes and all sorts of riders. This was my 3rd RAGBRAI -- my first was in 2018 -- as expected, less and less steel bikes each time -- this year I was struck by the increase in e-bikes -- still a small minority, but a strong growth in their numbers. 

There were a few lovely old classics on the ride, and a decent handful of Rivendells. I rode my 68cm Toyo Atlantis, saw Rusty several days on his Hillborne, had several good conversations with a woman on a Platypus (whose outfits nicely matched her bike's colors), talked to a fellow on a Roadini, saw a HHH, several other Atlanti, two AHHs, and several customs. 

I also saw several folks on Surlys or Riv'ed-up old MTBs wearing MUSA shorts or other Riv-items (including a guy I saw at a stop on a high-zoot carbon bike wearing a Riv lug bandana under his helmet!). Lots of folks recognized the Atlantis as a Rivendell, including several who had read the NY Times article a while back and were dreaming of a Riv of their own. I did not take very many photos -- should have taken more. 

Julian Westerhout

Bloomington, IL 

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