1

Jeff, Des Moines, IA

Jeff is one the four “kids” who managed to bike all day and party all night.  Jeff’s favorite subject to talk about is Bo weevils that attack corn roots – an instant icebreaker at any party.

2

Kayla, Minneapolis, MN

Kayla’s our group teenage representative, who has a great relationship with her dad, Troy, #11.  Together, they rode on a tandem bike over 500 miles across Iowa.

3

Cathy, Atlanta, GA

Cathy is the wife and tandem bicycle partner of Ralph, both of which should invoke sympathy.  Cathy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1998.  This is the second time she has done RAGBRAI.

4

Unidentified

Quickly shot by the group and discarded in pig slurry.

5

Jay, Atlanta, GA

Jay was the organizer and leader of this year’s Pedaling For Parkinson’s.  He’s an avid cyclist who throttled his animal instincts to ride tandem with his bride.

6

Janelle, Atlanta, GA

Wife of Jay who stepped in with strong leadership when the group needed a kick in the pants, which was often.

7

Kelly, Des Moines, IA

Another of the kids and twin sister of Keely.  Knew all the best places to buy jewelry on the routes.

8

Janine, Des Moines, IA

One of the kids who had the talent to sleep with a full beer in her hands without spilling, or wasting, a drop.

9

Kirk, Des Moines, IA

The last of the kids.  A former professional wrestler whose cycling skills progressed so much over the week that he was leading the pack on the last day.  Kirk needs a new bike and cycling shoes, but the author is forecasting significant success in the future for this young man, and he’ll be able to buy his own.

10

Ralph, Atlanta, GA

Ralph took pleasure luring unsuspecting RAGBRAI behind his wheel and then dropping them like a hot potato, especially riders from the Air Force team.

11

Troy, Minneapolis, MN

Troy has the rare distinction of actually being liked by his teenage daughter, Kayla.  Together, they’ve cycled together on many bike tours like RAGBRAI.

12

Pat, Atlanta, GA

Pat, father of four and husband of one, gets more hall passes than any man I know.  While Pat was eating, sleeping and playing his way through Iowa, his wife was dutifully schlepping the kids through Disney.

13

Chris, Atlanta, GA

Chris is a fellow Parkinson’s researcher with Jay.  The wide-open spaces he enjoyed in Iowa will come to a crashing halt next week as he moves to New York City to accept a prestigious position at Columbia University and Hair Salon.

14

Darrin (goes by Darrell) Milwaukee, WI

Darrin is going to heaven.  A devoted member of the support crew, Darrin worked tirelessly for free beer.

15

Jason, Hull, IA

Jason played a lot of support roles on the trip and exhibited several super-human feats, including u turning the RV-trailer combo in a pinch.  Jason also biked one day and was very strong, completing a tough day at the front of the pack.

16

Keyton, Hull, IA

Keyton was our team mascot.  At three years old, he hung with us old folks amazingly well.

17

Barry, Minneapolis, MN

The good doctor set the high mark for culinary enjoyment on the ride.  Barry set a RAGBRAI world record by eating 15 pancakes in one sitting.

18

Keely, Des Moines, IA

The last of the kids and the heartiest partier, although not the heartiest recoverer as we discovered.  Keely is the twin sister of Kelley if you need a visual.

19

Joel, Minneapolis, MN

Joel was the jack-of-all-trades – a team leader when we needed one, the team’s best bike cleaner, a scout and also the team’s legal counsel, which for secret reasons, we needed.

20

Jim, San Jose, CA

Jim served as our inspiration for the trip.  Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1995, he bravely weathered the hills, wind, and rain on his custom recumbent bike.  Visit his website at www.nevergiveup.org