They are obligatory, not mandatory..morally constraining

The wristband is proof that a rider has registered.  Registered riders receive a rider’s wristband, a band for the bike with the same number, and baggage tags in case they are going to use the RAGBRAI trucks for hauling their stuff.  A lot of people register, but a whole bunch of people just ride without it. See the threads here about bandits, etc.  The Des Moines Register, sponsor of the ride, does not own the roads of Iowa, so of course it’s not mandatory.  Riders who want to get one apply for one long before now.  A few are still trying to buy and sell them, as you see by the posts on this forum.

And they leave great tan lines! :)

Also… the bands get you discounts on food and other amenities.  If you have a need to quit the ride during a day and Sag, the tag identifies who you are so you may get your bike back.  There are many other smaller details about the wristbands, but the most important item is the identification process in case something happens to you so someone may be notified.  It isn’t manditory, but recommended.  Hope this helps, and enjoy the ride!

Just go do the ride, there is no benefit to the wristband except to the DMR and if you feel there is a “moral imperative”.  I have a moral imperative: to keep my money in my pocket, that is how I keep sustainable, keeping it green, in my wallet.

The “discounts” on food and other amenaties bring the price down on the crap to 120% of regular price you pay the rest of the year.

Sorry, I played by the rules in 2009, paid my $140 for absolutely nothing. My girlfriend sagged me and I didn’t even get free water on the ride, lots of people trying to sell me $1 bottles of tap water. Then at the “official camp spots”, people were roping off areas for their “peeps” and then if not them, then RV’s running diesel generators all night.

But if you feel the need to pony up the $$ and feel good about it, have at it. I fell for it once, kind of like voting for obama.

Thank you.

50% pay 2.7% (income) .. Your free ride ragbrai philosophy suggests you will vote for him again..
Might as well squeeze in a political rant since this board will be deleted back to zero in a few days.

No, I paid fair and square the first time, realized I didn’t need to. And I didn’t vote for obama, it was an anology.

Do as you will, I was a sheep once too.

tiki

tiki said: No, I paid fair and square the first time, realized I didn’t need to. And I didn’t vote for obama, it was an anology. Do as you will, I was a sheep once too. tiki

This topic has been beat to death here, and tiki, as you know, the vast majority of forumites think that paying is the right/ethical/moral thing to do.  So all I’ll say to you is…..sheep once, freeloader since!

Never freeloaded. 

And consensus doesn’t make things right. Just as 75% of govt funded scientists agree global warming is real, doesn’t make it so.

Once upon a time almost all scientists and the Church stated the sun circled the earth. Copernicus proved them wrong.

You sir, are a sheep, bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Lets not feed the troll

If paying the fees isn’t a problem, then why don’t you ride across IA on a different week than Ragbrai most of the paid fees from registered riders accomadates what it takes to put on a ride such as Ragbrai. If you feel so strongly about the fees, then ride across IA a different week/month……all I’m saying. See everyone Tueday…ride on and safe!!!!!

I don’t live anywhere near Iowa, thank God. I did for 10 months last year, longest 5yrs in my life.

Just saying, the rider fees are a ruse for rubes.

Thank you.

Another thread to avoid because of *******s.

Just in case you were not sure what it meant….
feeding the trolls…. When you reply to a troll or group of trolls on the internet, usually angrily and while showing signs of being offended.  When you do this, you give the trolls the attention that they crave. You’re responding in the way that the troll wants you to respond.

Yeah whatever there “mlwalk”, grab a slice of pie and tell others how to live.

My opinion is just that, mine. Even me posting here makes the DMR $ as every hit here gets more cash ($) for the DMR with all the banner ads they fly.

Take that mlwalk troll.

thank you.

tiki