RAGBRAI Organizers Split from Register

Ms3r4ISU

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KCCI has had live reports/weather reports from the host town each night so far. The poor new chief meteorologist was just dripping sweat when I saw a glimpse last night during the 6 news.
 

DSMCy

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The former RAGBRAI director (TJ Juskiewicz) who was going to start the Iowa Ride, bolted for Arizona. He's now the director of El Tour de Tucson.

I would guess he found that there wasn't much appetite in the state for 2 week long bike rides. Not only from a participant perspective but also logistics. At one point I think I read the Iowa State Patrol didn't have enough officers to cover both events.

I've only seen some pictures but they look like any other RAGBRAI year. Looks packed but I haven't heard what attendance numbers look like this year.
 

BoxsterCy

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Thought I had heard the Iowa Ride guys canceled their week ride for 2021, and instead were doing a long weekend thing instead (could be mistaken). Traditional RAGBRAI is going on right now, but I haven't heard practically anything about it this year - seems weird, especially after taking a year off.

Only even heard it was a go this year because I posted about riding in 101 heat index here in Twin Cities yesterday and a cousin down in Iowa replied that I should be riding RAGBRAI. That got me thinking that I hadn't heard anything about it or seen anything posted here. Usually some peeps riding and talking about it.
 

Yaz

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Only even heard it was a go this year because I posted about riding in 101 heat index here in Twin Cities yesterday and a cousin down in Iowa replied that I should be riding RAGBRAI. That got me thinking that I hadn't heard anything about it or seen anything posted here. Usually some peeps riding and talking about it.
Was on it for 3 days...about all I care to take of that ride. Rider counts and vendors way down. Availability of hand sanitizer in needed spots was ridiculously bad from both a Ragbrai/vendor and local establishment standpoint, considering what we still have going on. Bars packed and hot as usual. Probably the last time I go. Much better rides available across the country in much more beautiful areas.
 
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moores2

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agreed vendors were a bit down this year, but still had a lot of fun on Monday, Tuesday this week. The fun people haven't quit on it.
 

moores2

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Honestly think RAGBRAI needs to do a better job of allowing bars etc serve food, sell beer, and generally sell their own stuff rather than the same food trucks everyday.
 
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moores2

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Seems pretty normal from what I can tell. People forgot about the Register controversy sometime in March of '20 I'd guess.
also, generally the people on RAGBRAI aren't there because the register puts it on. People from out of state don't care about the Register, and most Iowan's can get over their feelings for it for a drunken bike ride week
 

Al_4_State

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also, generally the people on RAGBRAI aren't there because the register puts it on. People from out of state don't care about the Register, and most Iowan's can get over their feelings for it for a drunken bike ride week

Right. I've ridden quite a few days of RAGBRAI over the years and I've never thought of the Register for a second.
 
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Mr Janny

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also, generally the people on RAGBRAI aren't there because the register puts it on. People from out of state don't care about the Register, and most Iowan's can get over their feelings for it for a drunken bike ride week
Exactly. I'll bet a good number of participants have no idea that the R stands for Register or that they're even involved with it. The "controversy" was only a concern to a select group. Most participants just want to have a good time.
 

moores2

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Mmmmmmm, nothing like 100 sweaty un-showered bodies in spandex packed into a small town bar. Not for me.
lol, kind of like a hot tailgate? I can't imagine you would ever participate in something so dirty.
 

SEIOWA CLONE

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I tend to think it works better to use the smaller to medium sized towns to over night than a larger one like Des Moines or Ames.
Have them stop in say Boone, and the town can roll out the red carpet and it messes with fewer peoples lives that do not care about the hassle of it. Put it in Des Moines, Ames, Cedar Rapids and others, and it becomes a pain for most people there that could care less.
 

Drew0311

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Is the Register even involved with it still? At some point my guess is they will drop out and they will just keep it Ragbrai do to the name.