Lincoln rides again
By Etienne Emanuel

Tomorrow Lincoln Sprague, a 13-year-old Ojai native, will have completed a 450-mile bike ride across the state of Iowa, climbing 16,100 feet in the span of a week.

This will be Lincoln's second year in a row that he has finished the race and the fourth year that he has ridden in the RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride across Iowa).

No one could predict that a challenge between editors at the Des Moines Register in 1973 would become the longest, largest and oldest bicycle touring event in the world. Popularity of the ride has swelled from a mere 300 riders in the first RAGBRAI, to an amazing 10,000 riders who began RAGBRAI XXXI last Sunday.

"It is truly an amazing ride," said Shelley Moore, Lincoln's mom, who has completed the ride herself."My husband, Leland, got us started in the race. He is an Iowa native and I took Lincoln when he was just 9 years old."

The ride, she added, "is not a race in the typical sense. It is more of a challenge with yourself."

RAGBRAI riders tour the state of Iowa, starting in the west end of the state, where, as is tradition, the bicyclists dip their tires in the westernmost river in Iowa. Then again at the end of the race, they dip their tires to signify the finish of the race.

This ride has inspired more than 40 other similar rides across the United States.With competitors hailing from all over the world, the RAGBRAI has gotten coverage in the New York Times, Miami Herald and even magazines like Time and National Geographic. In 29 years, the ride has passed through 742 Iowa towns and after the completion of the 25th race the ride had covered all 99 counties in Iowa.
"Each town is like Ojai on the Fourth of July," said Moore. "There are hundreds of people out there cheering the riders on."

At night, Lincoln and his fellow riders split into groups and camp along the way.

"The people are so friendly there," added Moore. "Many riders stop at houses and beg for a nice shower. It is such a test of your endurance. My legs felt like rubber after each day especially after the 100-mile day, or the century day, as it is called. The real soreness is from your seat. If you've ever done any distance bike riding you know what I mean," she laughed.

As one of the younger riders, Lincoln is quite a standout. He has collected countless strings of necklaces, which spectators give to riders along the way each year.

"I'm really amazed by Lincoln. It is quite an accomplishment for anyone let alone a kid his age," noted Lincoln's proud mom.
Lincoln has also played football for the Ojai Eagles and he plans to play at Nordhoff when he gets there.

For more info about the RAGBRAI go to RAGBRAI.org.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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