Two things that sound like a whole lot of fun.

...from SI's "Ten budget-friendly summer sporting events ruled by oddity"

9. RAGBRAI (July 19 to 25, Iowa)

Ten thousand bicyclists of all shapes, sizes and athletic abilities, pedal the length of Iowa partying along the way. RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Race Across Iowa) begins in the western part of the state, and finishes in the east, 472 miles later at the Mississippi River. The tradition is to finish the race by touching your front tire in the river.

The route, which changes yearly, runs through countless one-stoplight towns, sticking to the cornfield-lined back roads. The townsfolk are grateful for the business the event brings to their small communities; they line the streets, holding banners and American flags, cheering, and offering food and water. Home-baked pies are sold in roadside church parking lots. It almost feels like you're Michael J. Fox, getting into the DeLorean, and going back to 1955.

Each night, after the riding is over, you'll be able to nurse your saddle sores in the overnight town. Each RAGBRAI evening becomes the town's biggest bash of the year, as non-bike riding, good-time seeking Iowans pour in to hang out with the riders and take over the small-town watering holes. The event is open to anyone.

Admission: $140 for a week-long rider, $35 for non-riders, $25 for daily passes

1. Tour De Fat (Labor Day Weekend, Fort Collins, Colo.)

The world's most insane biking event is pedaling pandemonium, a rolling rock n' roll carnival and 100-percent chaotic originality. In 2007, the Tour De Fat smashed the previously held Taiwanese world record for the largest bike parade, as more than 4,000 costume-clad participants hit the road for this two-wheeled circus.

New Belgium Brewery is responsible for the Tour De Fat, an event that makes you feel as though you've just stepped into Alice's Wonderland. The event starts at 9:00 a.m., as thousands of people wearing combinations of their past five Halloween costumes congregate at the brewery's starting line with bicycles in tow. These decked-out cyclists have spent weeks outfitting their bikes, so don't be surprised to see couches pedaled down the street or an electronic piano (with someone playing it) pulled behind a BMX.

When the gun sounds, it's a quick two or three mile jaunt around town, as onlookers line the streets to pick out this year's craziest contraption. The route circles back to the brewery for seven hours of Tour De Fat madness -- including fire breathers on stilts, unicycle jousters punishing each other, pancake juggling and live music. The Tour is spreading its wings to various U.S. cities -- check the Web site to find out of there's one in your area.

Admission: $5 suggested donation for bike ride

(did you notice the common theme? hmmm?)