If you intend to ride self-supported, then why connect up with a team in the first place?  Unless self-supported means something other than what I think it means.  

There’s ten thousand people or more on this ride; if all you’re looking for is someone to ride with on the road, then there’s an embarrassment of riches out there.

-“BB”-

This will be my first RAGBRAI. So excuse me if I asked the question incorrectly. I wanted to find transport to the event with a group of similar minded folks who might support each other. I also read that there is a lottery for getting tickets to this ride and that it might be easier to get a ticket if one is part of a team. The “self supported” term, in my mind anyway, has always meant that I would rather carry my own camping equipment, change of clothes etc. rather than depend on a truck or sag wagon. Some people have found this easier because they don’t need to track down the truck or arrange a driver. Just get up and go. I realize its easier to have someone else lug your stuff around and I’m not opposed to that or anything and yeah, it slows me down, but I’m not really about speed and from what I understand this ride is not a race. So are you implying I can’t ride self supported and be on a team? Maybe I’m not seeing something right.

Should I have maybe said “self contained”?

No offense intended.  It’s just that people usually form or join ‘teams’ just so that they *DON”T* have to carry all their own equipment or put up with the Register-provided baggage shuttle; they just find the team vehicle in camp, rally around it, and all their stuff is right there.  In addition a team usually also makes arrangements for a communal camping area with the entire group concentrated together as well as generally having some amenities like cold liquids or maybe some form of rainfly or other shelter in the camp once one hauls themselves in off the road.  Paying to be a member of a team but then doing all the work for yourself seemed a little screwy to my way of thinking.

-“BB”-

Where in Vermont do you hail from?

I live in Tunbridge and work for Local Motion (statewide walk/bike advocacy). I make the pilgrimage from Vermont to Iowa annually (mostly) and would be happy to answer questions about how I’ve been able to make it work. If you’re close to Burlington we could get together one of these days at my office on the waterfront.

Best,
~ Kevin

Hi Kevin
Thanks for responding.
From what I understand there are several ways to do this ride.
One would be to simply show up and ride. Don’t even pay the fee.
Probably not fair to the promoters.
Another is to buy a ticket (hope you get one, that is) and use the Register provided baggage shuttle and whatever else they offer.
Another is to go as a team, pay for the ride and use whatever services the team offers which seems to vary quite a bit. One description I read said
“TEAM BAD BOY (infamous) brings along a full bar and kitchen sink – on the back of their bikes! They’re an self-contained, rolling party” Not sure I want to go that route, but hey, whatever makes them happy.
So what is the best way to ride this?
Driving out there from Vermont seems like the first big hurdle.
I’m an intermediate long distance touring cyclist used to carrying all my stuff and riding at a very moderate “smell the roses” pace.
I live up in Bakersfield. I’d be happy to meet you sometime in Burl.
I’m retired so have pretty much a wide open schedule.
Steve

vtstream: I also read that there is a lottery for getting tickets to this ride and that it might be easier to get a ticket if one is part of a team.

VT, you are correct. RAGBRAI does hold a lottery. However, I don’t know of anyone who ever registered, correctly and on time, that did not get in! I think Kevin (Gypsy R.) if your best resource for finding a local team. RAGBRAI is great ride!!!!

Steve,

Drop me a line (kevin at localmotion.org) and I’d be happy to sort out a time to get together in Burlington to talk all things RAGBRAI.

Best,
Kevin

Might be a team leaving from upstate NY – possibly as self supported group (details yet to be developed) – meaning no sag wagon and carry all your own gear.

Team Camillus

Might be a team leaving from upstate NY – possibly as self supported group (details yet to be developed) – meaning no sag wagon and carry all your own gear.

Team Camillus Style