We didn’t realize “one L of a ride” meant the temperatures, whew! ;-)

No water in Early was a problem; fortunately a gent on the outskirts was kindly giving away free water — and his little boy was a great shot with a big watergun!

Signage was lacking on the way from PBV camp to the beginning Expo, and people on a team bus who graciously gave me lift partway said the support vehicle signs were sometimes missing.

Otherwise, things ran well, including locals rescuing riders and camp staff getting us into the safety of a storm shelter during Friday’s big storm. PBV even made sure campers’ CPAP machines, etc., were kept intact and available. Many tents were flattened or blown away, but there were no serious injuries or damage.

Kudos to the SAG teams who worked so hard to help us in the brutal heat! It was often hard to connect with them, though. Maybe we should have a webpage where people needing pickup could indicate their location, and also track where the next SAG wagon is located. It would make things easier and more efficient for both the riders and the SAG crew.

The USAF team who helped me box my first bike in the heat were great, and so were the Davenport cyclists who hosted us after the ride, in their lovely air conditioned home!

Thanks, all!

Overall I thought the towns handled things very well this year, plenty of food, water, lemonade, etc. for the crowd. I was so appreciative of all the sprinklers and kind Iowans trying to keep everyone hydrated and cool. You could definitely tell the message got out to the communities.

Yes, I’d say RAGRBAI delivered one L of a ride as promoted. I’d like to know who brought the temperatures from L ? Our group was from TX but I promise we didn’t bring the heat. See you in 2024 for L+1!.

I thought there were several things that could have been better.
There was no excuse for the mandatory gravel section we had to ride, I don’t care if the bridge got washed out the night before, you don’t send a road bike ride on a gravel road.

Altoona having all the amenities on the left side of the road with basically one entrance was horrible.

I didn’t have an issue with registration but others in our group did, it was a real screw up having so many people having to pick up their packets at the expo.

Starting the ride with the largest charters and the Ragbrai campground having to use a narrow bike trail to start the ride was really stupid. Only time in twelve rides that I have been on a bike trail and it wasn’t good.

I was impressed with almost all of the pass through towns this year, I last rode in 2021 and I thought the first three days the pass through towns were horrible. I was concerned this year knowning the number of riders would be high and was worried that the towns wouldn’t be able to handle it but they did.

I still think Ragbrai is a great ride, however I am not sure it is moving in the right direction.

That hardly qualified as a gravel road compared to all the other gravel roads I traveled in Iowa.

This detour was first announced way way back in the Spring on a 2 part Just Go Bike Podcast and described by Matt as the only alternative route to include Colfax. To bypass this very short section of gravel would have added another 10 miles to an already long 88 mile day.

There was plenty of time for someone to either plan their own alternate route or just slip on an old pair of gym shoes to walk it.

Don’t include Colfax if that is the case. I don’t walk on Ragbrai so gym shoes aren’t needed. It is a road bike ride not a gravel ride. There is no excuse for having riders go on that road.

Matt’s explanation of the the circumstances seems reasonable. He’s in charge.

The rides in 2004 and 2005 had gravel sections as regular segments, not detours. This ride was about reliving past history and you just got a history lesson.

If they plan on reliving that past, I am glad it was my last Ragbrai, I won’t miss the gravel or sleeping in a tent from now on. Looking forward to some great road rides and nice sleeping accommodations (hotels) in the future. I will always say Ragbrai is a great ride if not the best, however I do have some concerns about the direction it is going. I wish it well.

This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by Mike Murphy.

Mike Murphy said: “There was no excuse for the mandatory gravel section we had to ride, I don’t care if the bridge got washed out the night before, you don’t send a road bike ride on a gravel road.“

Oh no?   Ever seen coverage of the Paris-Roubaix road race, one of the Spring Classics in France?  Or how about the Tour de France itself, which will sometimes include cobblestones as part of the route, as well as the cobbles for the finale on the Champs d’Elysee itself.
   
And then he goes on about “I won’t miss the gravel or sleeping in a tent from now on. Looking forward to some great road rides and nice sleeping accommodations (hotels) in the future.”   Personally, I think this guy is just a dainty little flower who, if he had taken up mountain climbing instead of cycling, would expect his Sherpa to piggy-back him up Everest.

-“BB”-

OK, Mike, now I get it. You just don’t want to ride RAGBRAI any longer. You should have just said so in the first place.

In my tenure since 2004, most of that was with a team. Indoor housing. This past RAGBRAI riding independently on a tour bike, 5 hotels and 2 overnight hosts. No tenting. No shower lines.

But yes, since my RAGBRAI biking has transitioned from mountain bike, to road bike, to tour bike over the years, I will now be pointing my bike in a northerly direction to a Great Lakes tour next year. I acknowledge the long distance riding experience RAGBRAI has provided and I’m just moving on to other places. No bitter divorce like rhetoric.

Overall, Matt and his team managed things pretty well. I left the door open to a future return, even part time.

If a road bike is where you want to be, may all your roads be perfectly paved and a chocolate left on the pillow of the hotels you visit. Motel 6 will leave the light on for you.

And then he goes on about “I won’t miss the gravel or sleeping in a tent from now on. Looking forward to some great road rides and nice sleeping accommodations (hotels) in the future.” Personally, I think this guy is just a dainty little flower who, if he had taken up mountain climbing instead of cycling, would expect his Sherpa to piggy-back him up Everest.

-“BB”-

BB….I never need help getting up hills, I imagine you were one of the many I saw on Sunday, walking up the first climb outside of Sioux City.

In regards to the Tour and other road races with cobblestone and gravel. That is part of the ride and everyone plans on it. Ragbrai is know for it being a road ride with the last couple of years having a gravel loop option. I just think it was lazy not finding a route that didn’t include the mandatory gravel.

I think Ragbrai is great, I do think it is slipping the last couple of years I did it. Sorry you can’t take criticism of your sacred ride…..sounds like you are a little delicate.

Joseph Schlau think you mean e-bike not tour bike. There is a difference. One is a sense of accomplishment. One takes a cord.

New Riders of the Purple Maize Manifesto: Criticizing, or complaining about, RAGBRAI is akin to criticizing, or complaining about, the weather. Neither RAGBRAI nor the weather requires your approval.

We ride.

– Bobby