What can a first timer expect when arriving at an overnight?
In particular I am wondering what it is like to pick up my bag and find a campsite.
How far will it be from the bag pickup to the campground? I know it will vary but what should I expect? Is it a walk across the street or should I expect a long hike? Over a mile?
Is there a bike corral or do you take your bike to your campsite? If there is a corral would it still be ok to take my bike to my campsite?
I like to travel with minimal gear, I hope to have everything in a backpack that I can wear and ride, in case I need to ride my bike from the bag pickup to the campsite. To clarify, I do not intend to ride from host town to host town wearing my backpack, just when getting around a host town.
Thanks for any input….
16 Replies
It sounds as though you’ll be using the DM Register’s semi-trucks to haul your baggage each day~that is, if you are a registered rider. When you get to Sioux Center locate the Information Booth and get the directions to the DM Register’s semi-trucks/campgrounds. By the 2nd or 3rd day this will become “old-hat” to you and you will do fine. The semi-trucks hired by the DM Regsiter will have your campgrounds right next to the trucks. You can’t go wrong with that. Long before the ride actually starts in July you may want to joing a team and use their logistics instead of the DM Register’s. Plenty of time to explore this. For more info go to this website and point your arrow to “About RAGBRAI” and scroll down to questions you may have about the ride and its many facets. Enjoy Iowa. Cheers. :-D
Thanks for the information.
I should have included that I am a registered rider and, at least for now, plan on using RAGBRAIs luggage service.
I am open to joining a team, but not sure how to go about doing that. Seems a little late to try joining team, but I am a first timer so really don’t know if that is true.
How does one find a team to join? Is it like online dating? Do I post my cycling “resume” and hope someone finds me suitable for their team?
Sam, start reading up on all the posts about how and what to pack etc. Lots of good tips from experienced riderfs.
I was a first timer solo bird last year. I used the Ragbrai baggage semi to transport my duffle bag. As for me, I tried to get my luggage to them first thing in the morning before I took off for the days ride.I started at the at 6 AM in the mornings..Cooler temps, plus it helps you get done quicker to get your baggage from the semi,and get a top notch spot on campsite before they feel up..Best to find the one’s shaded by some trees if possible. At the most it’s usually only walking distance to get gear/camping site…Try and locate yourself by tree’s/semi/showers if possible. After I et up my tent, I headed to get chow someone near town,then hit the showers,then nite nite…HINT>>>Try and make your duffle bag/gear luggage different then everyone else…it’s much easlier to find at buggage pickup when your done for the day…As stated after the first night you’ll be a pro. Best of luck..I had a Army military duffle bag loaded with everything all 60 lbs of it. Most gatoraide/h2O. I would recommend taking/riding your bike to campgrounds by your tent at days end of ride…I put a lock on my bike to be safe,but it was never a issue for me.
I would avoid pitching your tent close to the KYBO’s (port-a-pots for you newbees). While being close may be handy if you have weak bladder control, you’ll be hearing the constant slamming of the KYBO doors through all hours of the night and morning hours as 10,000 other riders relieve themselves. I choose a better’s night’s sleep and a little farther walk to the KYBO over a short walk to the bathroom.
If your plan is to reduce your gear to back pack size, why not rig your bike out with front and back panniers and go self-contained. This year’s route is fairly flat, and hauling that little gear in panniers may be a better way to go then having the hassle of wading through a semi sized pile of luggage. Just my thoughts. Course you may not want to carry the extra weight, but if you’re up to it, it might be the way to go.
BigBird,
I learned from camping to carry a pee bottle (1 liter nalgene) so I do not have a get out of my tent or hammock during the night to relieve myself. Best camping upgrade of my life. So, no need to be close to the KYBOs.
I am still considering carrying the panniers, I have a tour bike with rack and a set of panniers so would be someting I could decide to do at the last minute.
Bigbird… Pee bottle… I down tons of gatoraide after my rides at Ragbrai…and that is exactly what I did with the empty bottles. Never left my tent at night because of this.
Sam, not sure if knees36 meant join a team or join a charter. You can look up charters on the About RAGBRAI tab, and then select Charters. Many of them are probably full at this point, but you might get lucky. They all offer different level of services. Charter campgrounds are typically much smaller than the DMR ones, and therefore finding your bag is much easier.
I thoroughly agree with one of the comments above, make sure you mark your bag distinctively.
This is what to expect picking up your bag using the DMR truck.
This is the QCBC Charter Service. Note the crew had just unloaded the trucks. But all the baggage will be laid out in rows. Nothing stacked. This makes it easy to find your bag.
Charters are listed on this site https://ragbrai.com/about/charter-services/
Teams you would need to check individually. Most charters and teams will be filled by now. But there are always cancellations that make openings. QCBC still has openings. http://www.qcbc.org/ragbrai/ We have several options for riders. We depart from Bettendorf, IA. We have free long term parking in a covered lot. We transport riders on luxury motor coaches to the start town and from the end town. We load your bike on a semi that travels with the buses to the start town. Electronic charging station is provides nightly. Riders lounge is setup in camp daily with cold beverages. Coffee in the morning. Tire pumps and a bike repair stand/tools are available. We have our own kybo’s in camp. Campsites have already been selected. I have maps for our riders too. Using a charter. You do not need to bother with logistics. We do it for you.
QCBC has been great to work with over the years. Well organized with good management. tehy do an excellent job. As i am sure other charters do too. This year we have a group of 15 riders from all over the US and we are using the QCBC again to handle all our logistics after we get to Davenport on 7.20.12
We always have good campsites, even some with shade. They have about everything we need to help make our ragbrai a great experince.
Thanks for the pics Tony, that is definitely a reality check moment. I need to rethink my plans.
As of right now I am shuttling from Omaha to the start and from the finish to Quad Cities airport with PBV. Might go ahead and stay with them for the full week.
Sam, you can’t go wrong with PBV!!!! They have been my favorite Charter for years. Call Tammy at 712.328.0161. PBV offers the best service on RAGBRAI!!!!
My first time at RAGBRAI and I went with Pork Belly Ventures for the whole ‘hog’. They ain’t cheap. Having said that and with experience on BAK with similar services, the experience so far is stellar. Sometime you get what you pay for and I am currently getting my monies worth.
Sam— I am also a ‘first-timer’ and am so glad you are asking these questions!! I am also a solo-rider, no team, and have sigend up with PBV for the week.. perhaps we’ll run into each other — I am also an early rider!! keep those questions coming!!
You’ll love PBV! I’ll see you under the tent!!!