RAGBRAI rider killed first day.

[IADEMO2004]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/life/living-well/ragbrai/2016/07/24/ragbrai-rider-death-iowa-state-patrol/87501742/



GLENWOOD, Ia. — A cyclist was killed in a collision with a pickup truck Sunday morning near Glenwood, at the two-mile marker of U.S. Highway 34, according to Iowa State Patrol.

Wayne Etzell, 72, of Jacksonville, Fla., was going west when a pickup truck hit him from behind at around 6:40 a.m., said Sgt. Nathan Ludwig, spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol.

Rob Philippus, 34, of Glenwood was the driver of the truck. Iowa State Patrol is investigating the accident to determine whether any charges should be made, Ludwig said.

"The driver was just going down the road and didn't see the biker," Ludwig said.

[independentpiney]

1. I skimmed through the article and still don't know what ragbrai stands for nt

[BuckIA]

2. Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa

[Lucky Luciano]

3. That shoulda been obvious! :-)

[rurallib]

8. Started by the Des Moines Register (newspaper in Des Moines)

in 1973 by a couple of reporters that worked there back then.
They weren't planning on starting a tradition, just a challenge between them to ride across Iowa.

They wrote articles as the date drew near. They also published their route and a few enthusiasts showed up.
and it grew

[progressoid]

4. Damn.

"It is the ultimate irony," Juskiewicz said. "Here we are, putting together an event to remember those that have fallen, and to start off while people were probably riding the Mile of Silence, there was a cyclist struck and killed by a vehicle."

Dammit.

Was thinking about RAGBRAI as I was riding our local bike trail today. 6+ years ago, my brother died in a car collision while training for RAGBRAI. Just when you think things are improving....

[IADEMO2004]

5. Oh no very sorry.

We used to drive to a trail to ride because we never felt safe on streets. Again very sorry.

[progressoid]

6. Thanks.

It took me a couple years to get back on the bike. Not so much because of safety (we have some pretty nice trails here) but I just didn't feel like it.
Now that I'm riding a little more, I think it's time for a new seat!. My old butt can't deal with that hard seat anymore!

[IADEMO2004]

7. Happy Trails.