Hello,
Why don’t you just ask your questions here? That’s what this forum is for.
Good luck.

Because we also have a Facebook group with 100+ members, and even though we know we have this forum and the main RAGBRAI Facebook page as references, that where we ask a lot of questions and exchange ideas. If someone had a few minutes and could answer a few questions, it would be super helpful. I point people in this direction all the time.

A FB page for newbies would get lots of questions but would not have as many answers from experienced riders. The forum is better if you want answers based on experience.

This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by mootsman.

Posting here has become a lot less fun since they cranked up the anti-spam controls. For instance, when I finish this message I will copy it and send it to my home email because unless they have adjusted something recently the forum software will not let messages from my work address through. Apparently we are known spammers here at one of America’s larger defense contractors. Except that we are not. That would seriously violate our corporate ethics and get everyone involved fired. So, I type here because it is easier and quicker, then email it to myself and copy/paste/post from my phone. And before I can do that I have to remember to disconnect my phone from the work wifi/vpn.

A few days ago I tried to post a link to a story about RAGBRAI on the Iowa public radio website and no dice. Can’t post links at all anymore it would seem. So I had to verbally describe how to get to the story and much to my surprise one intrepid soul actually did that!

The first time you post here from a new computing device you will be put through a kind of Capt’cha Hell that I have not seen anywhere else.

I can see where newbies would find things like this offputting.

So, I have attempted to join your Facebook group and will offer any help that I can.

My best advice is: Don’t Panic!!

Everything will work out in the end. Maybe even the anti-spam software. But not yet on that issue I was just denied post access again due to my work address….

Caution using anything named RAGBRAI on it as its a protected trademark so the people who control RAGBRAI may not take to any group named RAGBRAI Newbies or other variations. They may see it as trying to officially represent the RAGBRAI organization.

mootsman has a good point. I don’t know if fair use applies in this case or not but they protect their trademarks because by law they have to or they will lose them. If you already have permission then no worries. If not you may be getting a message from them soon. OK, I see you are also using their logo. I don’t know if you can get any flak by using just the name but best have permission to use the logo, they will have to defend that!

Exactly right Ken. The last thing RAGBRAI leadership is likely to want is another group appearing with their logo (also protected) exercising editorial content control appearing to be an official RAGBRAI group. I’d remove the logo and remove RAGBRAI from the name.

Hey all, thanks so much for your conversation about this – we *always* appreciate notification of copyright infringements or other things of this nature. We also really appreciate those who take the time to give (good) advice to rookies.

With the pandemic, lots of people took up biking and there are more RAGBRAI Virgins than ever. Frankly there is a lot of info to know about RAGBRAI and some of it can be confusing or embarrassing to ask about in a fully public forum like this one. For example how the baggage truck works or if you should wear underwear with bike shorts. The more places new riders can go and learn (good) info, the better. Some prefer the forum, some like Facebook, some email, etc.

ANYWAY we’ve talked to Anna (the RAGBRAI for Rookie admin). We’re happy with everything she’s said so far, and will join the group to help give advice if needed. Sounds like she would appreciate it if some of you would too! We are OK with her using the logo in this specific case because she is not profiting from its use in any way.

Thanks again to everyone involved in the thread! AP

Note about the forum – we know it’s crummy right now! Really sorry about that. Our IT team is working on it. Until they can fix it properly, we would rather have the controls be too strict than the MASSIVE amount of spam that was flooding in. Thanks so much for your patience, it should be fixed soon. We know the wristband transfer window is opening soon and hope to have it ready by that time. – AP

So Andrea, underwear under the bike shorts? Yes or no? Or underwear over the bike shorts? LOL
Sorry I could not resist

Here’s my advice for newbies and the answer to most questions. Don’t bring it unless there is a hundred per cent chance that you will use it. Iowa has places called stores, and you can get anything you find out you actually do need at one of those. Better to buy a couple things, than carry a whole bunch of things back and forth to your campsite all week and have them cluttering up your tent.
And one more thought: If you buy your meals at places like churches and legions the money stays in that town, and you can use the flush toilet and clean up a little in the restroom. We usually google up a cafe a little ways off the route for breakfast (no waiting), then go to local places wherever we are at for lunch and supper.

“underwear under the bike shorts?” Yes and No Mostly yes for regular bike shorts but always no for my bibs. Bibs are already to “snug” without underwear! WOOHOO