I’m almost positive that the new ride ends within 30 miles of the RAGBRAI start town.

That would be amazing! Unfortunately, I don’t think I have enough PTO.

At some time during the next two and a half years I will be switching over to infinite PTO mode so I might do both one year, if I am still able! In the short run I am committed to RAGBRAI this year because I want to support it fully in its hour of need and in 2022, it being #50 after all. During other years I might end up doing part of both. Three of the four members of my team have events they need to cover late in RAGBRAI week or the week right after. They would like to ride for a full week and together the two rides would allow them to have their cake and eat it too. I’d be amenable to that so that is what we might end up doing.

I’m a little surprised that some support vendors are saying that they cannot cover two rides on consecutive weeks. Apparently they rely a lot on friends and family as workers and they also have trouble getting enough PTO. If both rides survive and thrive long term then I would suppose the vendors will work out how to handle both. It’s low hanging fruit after all.

[quote quote=1313181]
I’m a little surprised that some support vendors are saying that they cannot cover two rides on consecutive weeks. Apparently they rely a lot on friends and family as workers and they also have trouble getting enough PTO. If both rides survive and thrive long term then I would suppose the vendors will work out how to handle both. It’s low hanging fruit after all.[/quote]

My guess would be that the majority of vendors will go where there will be more riders and that will be RAGBRAI by a lot. TJ will probably get some local vendors you wouldn’t usually see on RAGBRAI.

Smaller rides require fewer vendors. Won’t need the full slate of charter services like PBV, Bubba’s, Brancel, etc. for a small ride. Bubba’s has already committed, and will probably be sufficient for the % of riders who want that level of service. As far as all the cycling rep tents at the Expo and overnight towns, that’s never really appealed to me anyway and I won’t miss it. Will I miss Pork Chop Man and Beekmans. Personally, I won’t but others might. As long as there is food and water in the pass-through towns and overnight towns, it will be fine for my needs. I suspect IR will resemble smaller rides with fewer vendors and less fanfare. Maybe a throwback to what RAGBRAI was in the early days. I think they will find their niche.

As long as life doesn’t interrupt and barring no complicated logistics, I’m in for the double cross.

I can’t imagine that vendor(s) wouldn’t fall into place to transport riders, bikes and/or luggage from Iowa’s end town to RAGBRAI’s start town. D

exactly! you can’t NOT do both rides– we don’t know what the situation will be next year. this might be our only chance to do 14 days in a row.

[quote quote=1313192]exactly! you can’t NOT do both rides– we don’t know what the situation will be next year. this might be our only chance to do 14 days in a row.[/quote]
Agree!!

I’m 100% doing all 14. :)

Similar to Ken, in 2022 I will transition to permanent PTO. Until that day comes, I have to carefully budget my PTO. I’m very interested in a half/half by doing a Thursday thru Wednesday thing…so the last half of Iowa’s Ride and first half of RAGBRAI. The catch will be whether the end and start towns are the same, and for me whether the Wednesday night towns will be the same for both rides (or at least fairly close). This will allow me to leave my car in the Wednesday night town, and ride back to it. Kind of an improvised loop tour.

Dizzy – given how this whole scenario was created by former director and staff, I think you hit the nail on the head with your description of “double cross”!!

Honestly, I think the chance of Iowa’s ride ending where RAGBRAI starts is about the same as getting your Ford salesperson to drive you to the Honda dealership.

swiifg: I didn’t come up w/”double cross”. It originated in another thread.
It sure poses a double entendre, no?
So let’s use a more neutral term such as “crisscross”.

Larry: I totally agree w/you as far as the rides not matching up on either end of the state. However, business is business.
I can’t imagine that someone wont facilitate moving participants from one area to the next and in the process, generate some easy revenue. D.

[quote quote=1313192]exactly! you can’t NOT do both rides– we don’t know what the situation will be next year. this might be our only chance to do 14 days in a row.[/quote]

I have no desire to spend 14 days riding across Iowa. One week is plenty for me.

[quote quote=1313225]
I have no desire to spend 14 days riding across Iowa. One week is plenty for me.[/quote]

Not to mention increased chance of headwind and riding into the sunset every day.