No question, it changed my life, and all for the better.
Because of it, I stopped smoking, kept biking, discovered the beauties of the state of Iowa, met thousands of friendly, decent and upstanding people and a few scoundrels, and formed dozens of friendships that have lasted years and years...What I have enjoyed most on RAGBRAI, however, and especially in the earlier years, is seeing middle-aged women find independence.
Modern feminism was in its adolescence when RAGBRAI began in 1973, and a lot of women in their 30s, 40s and 50s were still laboring under the illusion that they couldn't do much of anything or go much of anywhere without a man at their side. RAGBRAI helped demonstrate to at least one and perhaps two generations of women that they could pretty much go any damn where they pleased without a guy hanging around. The demonstration dismayed as many traditional men as it pleased traditional women. I was more than pleased to have been a part of its happening.
John Karras and Ann Karras, RAGBRAI: Everyone Pronounces It Wrong
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