Spring in Iowa has presented it's normal challenges this year... just like in years past.  In between the showers and the cold temps, the team has managed to get a few miles in, and we're ready to take it to the next level.  Our first overnight campout ride is set for Saturday/Sunday May 14/15.  We will ride to the YMCA Camp near Boone, enjoy an evening sleeping in tents under the stars, and then return to Des Moines on Sunday.  We may even get to include a side trip to the High Trestle Trail bridge on the return trip.  We'll see if the weather cooperates, and

The team wrapped up our indoor training on Thursday, March 24.  We're all ready to start riding outside.  Outdoor ride orientation is on Monday, March 28, and the first outdoor ride is Thursday, March 31.
 

Thursday, February 17 marks the beginning of our training schedule.  We are currently 45 team members strong, plus our adult mentor volunteers.  We'll go through five weeks of indoor training that consists of spin cycling, running and resistance training with bands. We also mix in some instructional classroom training on topics like nutrition, bike maintenance and safety.  Let the fun begin!

The 2011 season has officially begun.  Returning riders and parents attended a meeting on Monday, January 31 to complete paperwork.  We had a good crowd, with a few extra attendees present.
New riders have been invited to a separate meeting on Monday, February 7 to complete paperwork.  Any returning riders not in attendance last Monday can attend with the new riders to complete paperwork.

This is where the goods go.

Lots of interesting stuff here.

Inspiring indeed.

With all the snow we have hanging around, it is a stretch to think we will be biking outdoors soon, With the hope that the snow will leave us eventually, we have started our indoor training schedule. Through the end of March, we meet twice a week at the Downtown YMCA for ninety minutes of workouts and training.

In may we were able to make most rides with helpful weather. Our evening rides get a little longer due to more daylight and faster riders.
Our Saturday rides get longer and hillier as we prepare for whatever RAGBRAI may offer.
We had a successful ride to the Boone YMCA camp and back after a night in the tents. It was successful in that we learned about head winds on the way up and on the way back we had winds and rain.

We have now been riding outdoors since the first of April and have chalked up 250 miles. Rain and cold weather always cause some ride cancellations in April.

We are very pleased with the progress of riders this year.

We have a favorite hill by Sleepy Hollow Park that tells us how capable the riders are. Very few times have riders stopped. The ones who have, got back on the bike and made it to the top.

We participated in the Mayor’s Annual Ride for Trails where we had a rain experience at the end.

I am writing this entry after two weeks of indoor training. Last night we offered a break from the routine and took the riders and mentors to the Brenton Skating Rink across the river from the Downtown YMCA where we meet for indoor training. Fun was had by all.

We usually meet at the YMCA and form into three groups which cycle through the training stations.
On Mondays we cycle through:

• Spin Class
• Running on the track
• Resistance Band Training

On Thursdays we cycle through:

• Spin Class
• Running on the track

This entry will let you know what has been going on since the finish of RAGBRAI 2008 and what is ahead for the 2009 version of the Dream Team.

A week after RAGBRAI, we held the year end recognition dinner. Riders and mentors were recognized for the accomplishment of our ultimate goal, finishing RAGBRAI with a great sense of accomplishment.

Food and awards are two of the riders favorites.