Ragbrai 2014

[sethpo]

@ejwillis62 72801 wrote:

So i just entered my name into this RAGBRAI 2014. If I get selected I will be riding across IOWA this year. Yikes. Sounded like a good idea at the time. I did the climate ride and loved it and this one will be in warmer weather. Anyone ever done this?

LIZ W.

I REALLY want to do this but don’t see how I can make it work logistically. Some day.

Congrats on CR!

[ejwillis62]

I haven’t worked out the logistics of it yet but we shall see. If all else fails I will be shipping my bike and flying in. Very exciting adventure.

[Mantadiver]

I have done it twice. It is lots of fun. Last year the weather was great. The year before it was very hot. Over 100 for 4 days. It’s best to use a charter to haul your gear and have a separate camp. I use Brancel Charters. As far as logistics, I drive to Iowa with my bike and park at the ending town and Brancel has a bus that brings you to the starting town. BTW everyone basically gets selected for the ride. I have met people who have done the ride 30 times and they have never not been selected. If you have any questions let me know.

[TrikerOne]

@ejwillis62 72801 wrote:

So i just entered my name into this RAGBRAI 2014. If I get selected I will be riding across IOWA this year. Yikes. Sounded like a good idea at the time. I did the climate ride and loved it and this one will be in warmer weather. Anyone ever done this?

LIZ W.

You’re insane … I’ve done it six times, the last one on a recumbent trike. Make sure you do a *lot* of hills. If anybody tells you Iowa’s flat, they’ve never been there. Lots and lots of half mile up, half mile down hills. Make sure you get a battery powered fan if you’re going to be sleeping in a tent, and make sure you pack your stuff in waterproof bags. There’s usually at least one good thunderstorm at night during the ride. Earplugs are a must if you want to get some sleep. If you go out to a church or anyplace that’s serving food, they frequently run out of food as it gets later. You must eat at least one pork chop…

The RAGBRAI website has lots of good information.

[sjclaeys]

I’ve done it twice, the last being in 2003. It is the most fun and mind cleansing thing that you can do on a bike. Yes, it is likely to be hot and humid, there will be thunderstorms, the hills can be quite high and repetitive and the biggest challenge is getting some sleep with the noise and heat. However, every through town has a festival, everyone is friendly and the the landscape can be quite beautiful. Often times the only place with air conditioning is the local bar, so we would meet up at the first bar on the left, unless it is on the right. I joined a local club, the Quad Cities Bike Club, because you are guaranteed a spot if you belong to an Iowa bike club and they take care of getting you from Davenport to the start town and carry your stuff from town to town.

[ejwillis62]

Can I ask you What do you mean by a separate camp? Does this mean you are set up in a different place than the other bikers?

LIZ W.

[TrikerOne]

“Separate Camp” just means you could be in a different campground, if you go with a group such as Pork Belly Ventures or one of the bike clubs. In some smaller towns there may be a main campground and others at the local high school or churches. Most towns set up a shuttle so you can get to where food and other activities are.

Here’s a few shots from RAGBRAI:

http://www.pbase.com/harry1/ragbrai_xxxviii

[Mantadiver]

There are usually several campgrounds. One main one for riders who use the RAGBRAI truck for hauling your gear (which can be very interesting finding your gear at the end of the day) and several other campgrounds for charters and clubs. The charter that I used negotiates ahead of time and tries to get a campground a bit separate from the mayhem of the main camping ground and as close to showers as possible. Don’t worry about being separated from the anything. These are generally small towns and if distances are an issue shuttles are set up to ferry riders around town. With 20,000 bikes hitting a town of 10,000 for instance, there is no one place that can accept all campers in one spot generally.

[ejwillis62]

Thanks for the advice, I signed up with the charter group you recommended. Now I just have to work out the logistics of getting to the end point to meet the bus. I would love to have my husband drive me but i don’t think he would look forward to a week hanging out in Iowa waiting on me to return. I will probably just rent a suv and put the bike in the back and drive myself. I am looking forward to this adventure. It will give me lots of incentive to stay on my bike this winter.

[Mantadiver]

Some of the charter services have space in a van or bus for non-riders. Maybe your husband would be more amenable to that. It’s still pretty early to plan because they have not even chosen the route yet. It may end in a northern city or southern city which could influence you mode of getting to RAGBRAI. I haven’t decided whether I am going this year, but probably will and I am sure there are others from this area who will go and maybe you can ride with them. Maybe post on this board and the RAGBRAI forum in the springtime to see if you can get a ride.

[dasgeh]

Just got back from DSM, staying with in-laws who have been doing RAGBRAI for over 2 decades. Did you know Park Tool makes a pizza cutter?>

I haven’t done it, but have heard it’s awesome. My mother-in-law prefers to get up early and is usually finishing her day when the massive party gets rolling in the previous town. But she loves it — more time to enjoy and explore the town before the party comes through (and more sanity and quiet on the roads). As we get closer to the date, let me know if you’d like me to put you touch – I’m sure she’ll be doing it again, and she’s usually with a group of similarly aged ladies — the ones I’ve met are really great.

[ejwillis62]

okay planning on my RAGBRAI trip. anyone else on this list going? The logistics of this are a bit overwhelming but I am excited.

[dasgeh]

@ejwillis62 87212 wrote:

okay planning on my RAGBRAI trip. anyone else on this list going? The logistics of this are a bit overwhelming but I am excited.

My mother-in-law does it every year and loves it. PM me your email address if you’d like me to put you in touch with her.

[JimK]

Ditto to what sjclaeys said: The people along the route in Iowa are great. It’s like a moving festival.

[Mantadiver]

@ejwillis62 87212 wrote:

okay planning on my RAGBRAI trip. anyone else on this list going? The logistics of this are a bit overwhelming but I am excited.

I am going. PM me with your info and I can help you with logistics/questions.

[Author]

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