As you start to think about what equipment you will need for RAGBRAI, I’ve put together this list of items you will need or want. Not all are essential and some are optional. There are a lot of other things you will need to pack as well for your trip such as camping equipment, but I’m limiting this list to cycling related items, hence cycling essentials. You probably have other things (e.g. slap koozies, radios) that you like to bring along and those are up to you.
Required Equipment
Helmet: These are required for RAGBRAI and should be worn all the time anyway. I just saw a crash last week where a person landed on her head and put dents in her helmet. A dent in the helmet is much better than a dent in the head.
Cycling shorts: You need these or else your trip will be a pain in the butt, literally. Cycling shorts cushion your tush and prevent chafing. And no, you don’t wear underwear under them. You don’t want any seams getting in the way. On the first RAGBRAI jean cutoffs were all the rage. Don’t wear those!!
Water Bottles: I recommend carrying two on your bike, one for plain water and another for an energy drink of your choice.
Tire repair tools: Yes, if you have a flat tire, there are plenty of people on RAGBRAI who can and will stop and help, but if you have tools and a spare tube, people are a lot more willing to help. Carry at least one spare tube, tire levers and either CO2 cartridges or a hand pump. It doesn’t hurt to bring along a small cycling multi-tool as well.
Saddle bag: To hold your tire repair tools, as well as phone, cash, credit card, and all other small essentials.
Not Required by Strongly Recommended
Cycling gloves: Three reasons for these:
1) your hands will get sweaty and may cause them to slip on the handlebars
2) they cushion your hands and help prevent numb hands
3) if you should fall, they protect your hands from whatever you land on.
Cycling shoes: I would consider these essential but not everyone does. You can certainly ride RAGBRAI in tennis shoes or I’ve seen sandals, but make sure whatever you wear has a firm sole that doesn’t bend easily. You don’t want your shoe constantly bending while pushing on the pedals. Many people use clipless pedals which require cycling shoes.
Clipless pedals: See above. Makes cycling more efficient and prevents your feet from slipping off the pedals. Requires cycling shoes with cleats.
Glasses: Keep bugs out of your eyes and provides sun protection.
Chargers and batteries: If you have any electronic equipment on your bike such as cycling computers, lights, power meters, heart rate straps, cadence sensors, you will want to carry either spare batteries or charging cables.
Optional
Rear view mirror: These are the small mirrors that attach to the helmet so help see cars coming up from behind. I list this as optional because on RAGBRAI pretty much all you will see behind you are bikes, as far as you can see. Very few cars dare drive on the roads in the same direction as the riders. They regret it. However they can be handy for seeing bikes coming up from behind.
Rear rack and bag: If you plan on bringing bulkier items like jackets or leg warmers, you will want a place to put them and rear bags are common and handy. These require a rack to mount them on.
Bell: To warn folks that you are coming but because there will be at least 9,999 other riders out there, you shouldn’t surprise anyone by being on a bike.
Cycling computer: These are fun to have to track distance you’ve ridden 😊, or distance you still have to go ☹️, time ridden, speed etc. On some of these, you can even put in a GPS map of the course, but you can also just follow the stream of bicycles in front of you. You have to try to get lost on RAGBRAI. Editor’s Note: RAGBRAI will publish their official GPS maps on this website and the Ride With GPS app in mid-June.
Headlight and taillight: If you plan to get up and going before sunrise to beat the heat, or if you stop a lot and get in after dark, you will want lights, both front and rear. I use a rear red taillight when riding on the roads now, but with RAGBRAI and so many of you out there, cars have no choice but to see you. But you will see plenty of people running taillights during the daytime on RAGBRAI though and its never a bad idea.
Sports drink and energy bars: If you have your favorite energy drink mix and energy bars you prefer, you should consider bringing them along as you can’t guarantee you will find them out on RAGBRAI or at convenience stores.
Oh, don’t forget your bike, or it will make for a very long walk.
Coach David Ertl
Coach Ertl on the JustGoBike Podcast
Coach Ertl was just on the JustGoBike Podcast to tell us all about his 2026 Training Plan. You can listen here or follow the link below!
Find All 2026 Training Blogs
Find all of Coach Ertl’s Training Blogs, as well as the 2026 Training Plan in our Training section on RAGBRAI.com.
David Ertl is a USA Cycling Advanced Certified Coach. He coaches individual cyclists through the Peaks Coaching Group www.peakscoachinggroup.com/davidertl. Ertlalso provides cycling training plans and ebooks at his website: www.CyclesportCoaching.com. You can contact Coach Ertl at: [email protected].
