RAGBRAI 2014 Route

[MNCYWX]

An accidental e-mail sent to my work today points to a northern route. Email was from a host city/town with a press release already typed up, dated Jan 25th.

Won't give away what city/town because that's no fun.

Full Route Release is at 8pm Saturday.
http://ragbrai.com/2014/01/20/watch-the-route-announcement-live-here-on-ragbrai-com/

 

[VTXCyRyD]

 

[JP4CY]

I know one of the towns will be close to spirit lake or okoboji.

 

[Cycsk]

An accidental e-mail sent to my work today points to a northern route. Email was from a host city/town with a press release already typed up, dated Jan 25th.

Won't give away what city/town because that's no fun.

Full Route Release is at 8pm Saturday.
Watch the Route Announcement LIVE Here – RAGBRAI.com | RAGBRAI

You don't think that all towns that bid to be overnight towns are instructed to have press releases ready to send on Saturday night when the announcement is made?

 

[MNCYWX]

You don't think that all towns that bid to be overnight towns are instructed to have press releases ready to send on Saturday night when the announcement is made?

That's partly why I'm not saying the city. But if they are writing one, it certainly points to a northern route.



Might have to do it again this year. Absolutely had a blast back in 2003 when I did a couple days. Sure those hills . On the other hand, it made the accomplishment even better. Nothing is better than riding through the beautiful Iowa country side.

Camping out was awesome. Interesting people all along the way. The night life was awesome. Yet, I only did it the one time.

 

[BODWP]

Of course it's a northern route. It's in the rotation.

 

[Cycsk]

That's partly why I'm not saying the city. But if they are writing one, it certainly points to a northern route.

I hope you are right. It has been 3 years since a mostly northern route.

FYI, I don't ride, but I love driving the support vehicle and putting on tailgates at the end of the route each day.

 

[CysRage]

My thought exactly. OP teases how he knows it but won't share=no fun.

 

[Cycsk]

Just for fun, here are my guesses:

Sioux City, Sibley, Fort Dodge, Forest City, Iowa Falls, Waverly, West Union, Dubuque (in that order).

 

[CysRage]

Just for fun, here are my guesses:

Sioux City, Sibley, Fort Dodge, Forest City, Iowa Falls, Waverly, West Union, Dubuque (in that order).

Pretty good guesses there. That wouldn't be too bad of a route IMHO.

 

[Cycsk]

Pretty good guesses there. That wouldn't be too bad of a route IMHO.

A few years ago, I picked pretty close on 5 of the 6 nights and was able to book hotels with points long before the announcement was made (and maybe even before the decision was made). We only had a long drive to a hotel on one night.

 

[CyFanInChiLand]

You stay in a hotel every night? Dear god

 

[Al_4_State]

I've been calling a far Northern route too (as someone else said, look at the rotation). I'll give my guesses for towns:

Hawarden, Sibley, Estherville, Algona, Northwood, Cresco, Elkader, Dubuque

 

[2020cy]

Sibley to Ft Dodge would be a haul.

 

[2020cy]

143 miles

 

[redrocker]

You stay in a hotel every night? Dear god

How else do you shower every night? Or blow dry your hair? Or wash your bike at night? I try to pick hotels that do not have cable, so I am truly "Ruffing" it.

 

[chuckd4735]

Of course it's a northern route. It's in the rotation.

The rotation thing is a myth.

The last ten have been:

Central
North
Central
Central
Central
South
North
Central
Central
South

 

[bellzisu]

I've heard from someone the first overnight is Arnold's Park. So I'm guessing Rock Rapids would have to be the starting spot. Forest City was also thrown out by someone that I trust.


Rock Rapids
Arnold's Park/Okoboji
Algona???
Forest City

After that I have no clue if they stay that far north or swing down a bit.

 

[azepp]

I've been calling a far Northern route too (as someone else said, look at the rotation). I'll give my guesses for towns:

Hawarden, Sibley, Estherville, Algona, Northwood, Cresco, Elkader, Dubuque

I just don't see that many towns under 5,000 getting overnight all in one route. Substitute the following and it would be more likely:

Mason City (it's been 28 years) for Northwood
Decorah (it's been 15 years) for Cresco

 

[Al_4_State]

I just don't see that many towns under 5,000 getting overnight all in one route. Substitute the following and it would be more likely:

Mason City (it's been 28 years) for Northwood
Decorah (it's been 15 years) for Cresco

I've been told by a lot of people that Decorah refuses to host after the last time they hosted. So I think that stop would either be Cresco or West Union, and it's been a longer time that RAGBRAI swung up into the northern tier of counties, then when it went just south. Just 5 years ago it overnighted in places like Clear Lake (which is basically attached to Mason City; so strike that one) and Charles City, so I think if they're going to be overnighting in Arnold's Park/Milford, they will keep it a little farther north.

When you're going into the far northeast corner, it's pretty hard to find towns over 5,000. Plus, places like Elkader and Cresco have a lot of campgrounds in the immediate vicinity of the town.

A far northern route would be great, as we're considering riding the whole route for my brother's bachelor party, and we have friends and family scattered all over the northern edge of the state, from west to east.