I’m considering taking my extra wheelset with me to Ragbrai. I’ll be riding with the Keokuk Bike Club, and they’ll be schlepping our duffles and equipment from town to town in their equipment truck. We have been told we can take more than just a duffle, although I think I’ll try to keep my stuff limited to one! The extra wheelset might be a good idea. I have an entire extra bike I could bring, but that might be overkill 
Good advice on the pedal under-tightening issue cyduke. Good info everyone needs to know.
Last year I had a “clank” sound with every revolution of my pedals beginning Thursday in the ride. I paid $20 to one of the repair shops set up at the halfway point. I wanted them to check my crank and bottom bracket. They reported the bottom bracket was a little loose – and tightened it up. The clank persisted for the rest of the ride, so the BB wasn’t the problem. Still – I had peace of mind for having it checked. I changed out the chain when I got home and problem solved. If a chain had broken or locked up, it would have been an easy fix for any place on the road.
Speaking of flats – I bought a set of Gatorskins last year thinking it would help revent a flat. Got my first (and only) flat 14 miles into the first day. I had the tools and pump (and tube) to fix – but I sure had a lot of offers from people who were stopped eating the free bananas! Nice bunch of people.
