Define “solo”.  Do you mean carrying all your own gear on the bike, or do you mean depending on your own abilities to get to the start (and home from the finish), and allowing the Register’s shuttle to carry your gear day-by-day?

If you’re referring to the second, I’ve done that several times.  Unfortunately, that was back in the late ’70s – early ’80s.  Sometime around 1987 I hooked up with a kindred bunch of flakes known as the Rainbow Cyclists, and used their services for the next 10 or 11 years.

However, even by then I was noticing that it was getting a little more difficult to just get by with the Register’s support only.  The ride had gotten so much larger that we weren’t able to be camped all in one place; if you were using the Register baggage trucks you were pretty much stuck camping wherever they were, unless you wanted to schlep your stuff to another location (and of course, schlep it back in the morning).  And then there was the upsurge of team buses, vehicles, Ryder and U-Haul trucks, RVs, motorhomes, and camping trailers — all of which required parking spaces, trash services, KYBOs, and so on.  As a result, we started to get scattered out further and further.  I began to feel like the RAGBRAI riders were on a par with nuclear material, and towns were spreading us out to prevent our being able to reach critical mass.

It still can be done, of course.  And high marks to you for trying to do it in the classic manner.

-”BB”-

Posted 11 months, 1 week ago ago #257207

Patrick Graves:
I meant showing up completely alone without friends.

Impossible.  This is RAGBRAI.  Dick Dastardly could show up and within twenty minutes have over a hundred friends.

-”BB”-

Posted 11 months, 1 week ago ago #257240

I did my first RAGBRAI last year, and I did it solo. I had a great time. I met some very nice people in the campgrounds, and we ended up going to some concerts together. I was really surprised with how quiet everyone was in the campground in the morning. Some times I would wake up and half of the people in the campground were already gone. There are plenty of interesting people to talk to while you are riding and the people in the past through towns are great. Don’t worry about going solo, just enjoy the ride.

Posted 11 months, 1 week ago ago #257476

I can understand your anxiety about going solo, but I agree with others — you’ll find new friends and maybe even experience more things you enjoy about the ride than you have in the past with a group.

I’m traveling with a small group which includes my husband and friends. We’ve agreed that we’ll probably have to tolerate each others’ meltdowns (limited to one per person) and think we might use a yellow-red card system like they do in soccer. If I get a red card, I might be going solo!

Posted 11 months, 1 week ago ago #257508

Yes, it was GREAT!

Posted 11 months, 1 week ago ago #257592

Patrick,,, I am going solo for the my 1st Ragbrai. I am with a charter but do not know anyone. I am 48 going on 30 something and I ride a recumbent trike. shoot me a pm if you want to meet up or something….

Posted 11 months, 1 week ago ago #257649

This will be my first RAGBRAI and I am going solo with just RAGBRAI support (no charter, no team).

I was lucky enough to find host accommodations for the majority of nights and will be camping for the other nights.

I really like that I will get to experience two of the traditional ways of traveling with RAGBRAI (with a host and camping).

Posted 11 months ago ago #257814