I suppose I’m writing in hopes of all the ways RAGBRAI will become special to me if my Dad and I are selected to be riders for the 2021 ride! If selected my Dad will be celebrating his 66th birthday on July 26th, and I’ll be celebrating my 30th birthday on July 31st! It was his idea to do the ride together as we celebrate our birthdays and finally get to spend some time together. It will be the first RAGBRAI for us both! The pandemic has caused us to miss out on so much as we don’t live in the same state anymore (I’m in Idaho and he’s in Florida). We haven’t seen each other in a year and a half.
I grew up hearing about this wild bike ride across Iowa from my Dad. Years later, when I got into bike touring, he knew he had finally found the perfect recruit to make this wild hair of a dream to ride RAGBRAI come true! Help get this father daughter duo to Iowa!
Any advice or feedback is much appreciated!
9 Replies
If you are still looking for a team, check out Siouxlandcyclists.org. We provide transportation for your gear, pre-selected campsites, our own kybo, showers and charging stations for your electronics. We also have a charter bus rented to return from the end of RAGBRAI back to Sioux City; which is where we are based. Our website gives you information; and you can email us at ragbrai@siouxlandcyclists.org.
Check out the Charters under the XVLIII services link. Especially for out of state people they solve the challenge of getting to and from the airports on either end of RAGBRAI. Plus they rent tents and air-mattresses they put up for you so you don’t have to lug camping equipment onto the plane. The services they offer vary but the more expensive ones usually offer more premium services.
https://ragbrai.com/charters/
I think that in your situation you should consider going with a team or charter, that way you have a built in source of advice. Once you see it all in action you will be prepared to do it on your own next time although many find their club or charter to be a can’t miss part of the experience. I’m three years ahead of your dad so if he has any doubts about doing it at that age tell him not to worry! As you may know, if you should get left out in the lottery there will probably be people selling their registrations because they find out that they can’t come. You will see seller’s ads here almost as soon as the lottery results are announced in a normal year. No way to predict what might happen this year. If you go with a team then if one member of the team is selected in the lottery you will all be selected. So, you are not going with a team you and your dad can form a team of two and once again if one of you is selected you both will get to go.
Good luck, you will love it!
Check Padres Cycle Inn. They are a top notch charter service that has a shuttle service out of St. Louis. They are a full charter service. You can register as part of their team if this is the route you decide to go. Good luck to you :)
I’ve been considering driving for a team using my travel trailer. I would need to charge a certain amount to make it worth the effort so might be cost prohibitive for just two people, but if we/you could find a few others to cut your costs down it wouldn’t be to bad.
If your interested let me know. Vroc7907@yahoo.com
Check out Bicyclists of Iowa City. They take a charter bus and transport your bike from Iowa City to the beginning and end towns. They haul your gear all week and have other other amenities. Decent bikes can be rented from the University of Iowa Rec Center, get a bike box from one of the local shops and you wouldn’t have to bring your own bicycle.
Link: https://ragbrai.com/charter/bicyclists-of-iowa-city/
My daughter will also join me for this years RAGBRAI. It will be her first time riding, although she’s heard plenty of stories from my five rides since 2015.
I suggest using a charter. We will use Pork Belly…showers on site, great service, entertainment, etc. Drop us a line if you use this option and we can compare the days notes over a hoppy beverage.
We’re not looking for a team but this will be the first Ragbrai for my daughter and I. So looking forward to this. We are also using Pork Belly and would love to join for a hoppy beverage…Ride On!