It's Day 4 of the Ride Across Iowa and thousands of riders of all shapes, ages, sizes and abilities are back on the road riding every imaginable cycle. Today's route from Boone to Altoona is relatively short, 56 miles, and has 1,147 of elevation gain. While each rider has a unique story to tell, here is a short bio of each member of Team Mach Busters (yeah, I know, we're still working on a name and, possibly, a bus as well):
Meet the Mach Busters
First, meet Bud, aka LavaMan. Bud is a retired heavy equipment operator whose last gig was driving a heavy sled across the North Pacific. The skipper was known for barking out commands on his 747 high over The Pond: " where's the trop, son?", "yes, yes I see," "oh, very well", "son, when I was your age.........". LavaMan is also a serious chess fanatic who now volunteers his time teaching the game to Chicago area youngsters. During his working years, while his fellow crew members were logging layover time parked on a bar stool at the Flyers Lounge, Bud could typically be found at the local chess hangout happily playing game after game. This is Bud's 6th RAGBRAI, all but 1 accompanied by his daughter, Tracy - talk about makin' memories - wow! Bud is prone to sunburning hence the name 'LavaMan'.
FMO Tracy Trouble is representing Ocho Company on the Ride Across Iowa. Voted Class Clown by fellow graduates in Glen Ellyn HS Class of '90, there is almost nothing she won't do for laugh during RAGBRAI week. While not riding her bike around the country, Tracy can be found at the controls of the FD's big rigs wheeling around the Twin Cities. She is our go-to gal in each host town, gathering intel at the local FD on where to go for the best food deals. Packing up at the Pork Belly camp on the last day, Tracy misplaced her RAGBRAI wallet (ziplock baggie) which contained cash, credit cards and her Fire Dept I.D. and, don't ya know, somebody actually turned it all in. What's up with that? Wouldn't have been the outcome if she lost it somewhere within Red Sox Nation.........Only in Iowa, you betch ya.
Oh yeah, FMO....that's short for Fire Motor Operator or, in Tracy's case, Find Me Outside!
Gulfstream Johnnie, aka Goose, is a retired Teterboro based Gulfstream jockey. When not building yet another beautiful Connecticut home for himself and Anne, he can be found restoring his MGB or sailing on Long Island Sound. Goose provided the laughs (ours, not his) on RAGBRAI Day 2 when he tried to restore balance to his digestive system by downing 2 Dulcolax pills followed by fig and horse radish chasers. It all kicked in while in the back of "Mayor" RoyBoy's pickup during our personal tour of the town of Carroll. "Mayday, Mayday, Gulfstream Johnnie requesting IMMEDIATE deviation to ANY bathroom....I SAY AGAIN......." He spent the rest of his uncomfortable evening not far from a kybo living up to his moniker, "Goose".
Ted Shred, aka Slider, is the consummate outdoorsman. If he's not riding the mountain bike trails around the Twin Cities' fine trail system, then he's on his road bike or rollerblading or paddling his kayak or snow boarding down Buck Hill. Along with Gulfstream Johnnie and PF Flyer, Slider is section-hiking the Appalachian Trail and, so far, has completed the AT from NJ/NY border through NY, CT, MA, part of VT and most of the Presidentials in the White Mountains of NH. Slider funds his outdoor activities by working part time as a FAA licensed Bus driver employed by an Atlanta based multinational. When he finally hangs it up, you'll find Slider mountain biking or windsurfing on Maui where he currently owns a home with million dollar views of the West Mauis and Haleakala. Tick tock, tick tock.....times a wasting Teddy Boy!
Please click here to see pictures of Day 4, Boone to Altoona
