Any Ragbrai Tips?

[Trout4CY]

Doing Ragbrai this summer. Got my miles in, don't have to worry about that.
Looking for some tips that I might not think about. Like a "Don't forget to pack this...." "This is something that's handy..."

Just looking for some ideas on stuff I wouldn't normally think about.

If any of you are on it this year, maybe we'll have to meet up at a tavern for a few!

As bad as it sounds....I suggest a fanny pack. While at the state fair, you'll look ridiculous, on RAGBRAI you'll fit in. Also, I bring giant zip lock bags to help me distinguish the clothes I retire for the week vs the ones that still have life. Smaller ziplock bags also help you keep stuff dry because some towns like to soak you when you arrive. Also, bring chap stick....the hot sun can make you look like Courtney Love after a few days without some balm.

Last but not least, bring money for the jukebox...cause it's a week of rockin'.

See you at the tavern!

 

[JRCampy]

Doing RAGBRAI is definitely a life goal, but I'm waiting for a year when they do the far northern couple tiers of counties. The first 2/3rds of the way across the state are some of the flattest areas in Iowa. Of course, that last 1/3rd is arguably the hilliest.

Dude, where have you been the last 4 years?! :wink: I'll be riding my 5th RAGBRAI this year and it doesn't seem like we've been out of northern/central Iowa all that time...

On a side note, just from personal experience, you can do all the training in the world, but if you're not ready psychologically to take on rolling hills into a 20+ MPH head wind you may be crying by the end of day 2. Day 2 back in 2006 (Ida Grove to Audubon) was like this, and it was about the worst day I've ever rode. I've never seen as many people walking bikes up hills as I did that day.

 

[NobodyBeatsCy]

Dude, where have you been the last 4 years?! :wink: I'll be riding my 5th RAGBRAI this year and it doesn't seem like we've been out of northern/central Iowa all that time...

On a side note, just from personal experience, you can do all the training in the world, but if you're not ready psychologically to take on rolling hills into a 20+ MPH head wind you may be crying by the end of day 2. Day 2 back in 2006 (Ida Grove to Audubon) was like this, and it was about the worst day I've ever rode. I've never seen as many people walking bikes up hills as I did that day.

Ditto. On rollers, you want momentum from the downhill to carry you up the next one. On that day, you had to peddle just to get down hill.

 

[Al_4_State]

Isnt Western Iowa is hillier than Eastern Iowa...?

Once you get a little bit north of Sioux City, it's pretty darn flat.

 

[DaddyMac]

Once you get a little bit north of Sioux City, it's pretty darn flat.

Too bad it's south..... :wink:

I missed the first day - but about 12 years ago the ride started out of Missouri Valley (or someplace just south of Council Bluffs) and my teammated bitched about until Wednesday about day 1

 

[Al_4_State]

It's just tough for me to take off that whole week, when I like to take off a week in August and climb 14ers in Colorado. I just have to find a year to get it done.

 

[clones_jer]

Ditto. On rollers, you want momentum from the downhill to carry you up the next one. On that day, you had to peddle just to get down hill.

that sucked.

Wasn't there a big deal about Ida county not letting vendors out in the first 20 miles or so? ... it was hot and a lot of people were low on water.

that long south stretch was a death march

 

[JRCampy]

5 more days, I'm pumped!! I'm pretty sure the weather is going to stink this year, it has seemed like its rained every other day in central Iowa for about the past 3 months. Last year the day into West Liberty was terrible, rainy and COLD that morning, hopefully we don't get too many repeats of that day this year.

 

[d4nim4l]

Don't know if this was mentioned in the thread or not but baby wipes are almost a necessity if you are riding. You may ask why, but trust me, you will find a use for them everyday.