Hazel’s Cafe in Nemaha… The year my buddy and I found it we were seated and he asked for a menu. Hazel’s reply – ‘I’ve got bread and eggs! What do you what??? So, fried egg sandwiches it was!!!
Yes, there’s camping available on Friday night in CB. You really want to fly on Friday and get setup early and enjoy the show! There is nothing like watching RAGBRAI come together at the starting town! Early Saturday morning the locals and the few early birds, like you, will be the only ones around. Enjoy, go for breakfast at sit down restaurant… Then mid day they start rolling in slowly and in a couple of hours it is full on here they come!!!!
After several years of going with a charter group, then a couple of years of small team groups, I’ve done the last few rides out to the start and partial RAGBRAI’s as a self supported rider. I use a B.O.B. and a rear rack and travel fairly well packed. On the ride to the start (The Ride Out) I usually hook up with a buddy or two and we’ve never had an issue pitching our tents in the smaller towns on the way out. We sometimes even score in house or a camp trailer digs. Everyone knows WHERE and WHY you’re heading west in Iowa the week before RAGBRAI and are most supportive of our travels.
On the ride it does take some extra effort to do the pack riding with full gear on your bike, just stay safe and go slow…
I have never been asked to check my registration before pitching my tent and all but a couple of years I’ve ridden I was registered. Yes, I’ve done some RAG Days as a bandit, it was always a last minute change of plans and just happened. I prefer to ride registered (for the bandit critics)….
When you’ve got your gear with you all the time your options on when/where to stop for the night are always up for grabs. You might not even make it to the overnight towns. Anything is possible!
I am a CamelBak guy too. But over the years getting smaller and smaller. I carry my ‘stash ‘O cash’, ID and credit card in it as well.
I fill it with ice then top off with water. I usually refill the ice once or twice a day in towns… Ice drink and a cooling back pack too… Very nice on those hot July days!
Oh, I carry water bottles too – one for Gatorade and one for Sport Drink. Never want to go thirsty!!!
Memorable RAGBRAI Sight – On my first RAGBRAI, new to the whole thing. I came up on the back side of a bus barn and on the door in the side of the building was a Hazardous Materials Sign listing 4 or 5 items and another sign under it saying “Not all Hazardous Materials within Listed above”. Over both of these signs it had a hand lettered sign “Men’s Showers – Open Slowly”.
Sleep in Sergeant Bluff on Saturday 7/23 and ride to Ida Grove on Sunday 7/24.
And she is gone:
https://www.farberotteman.com/obituary.php?view=1354
Sandaltan – I wish I was joining you!
Hazel’s Cafe in Nemaha… The year my buddy and I found it we were seated and he asked for a menu. Hazel’s reply – ‘I’ve got bread and eggs! What do you what??? So, fried egg sandwiches it was!!!
Love Lowe Tech
Stay off HWY 44 if you can.
Get a copy of the Iowa DOT Bicycle Map:
https://iowadot.gov/maps/msp/pdf/bikemap.pdf
Cheers,
just dave
Scott,
Yes, there’s camping available on Friday night in CB. You really want to fly on Friday and get setup early and enjoy the show! There is nothing like watching RAGBRAI come together at the starting town! Early Saturday morning the locals and the few early birds, like you, will be the only ones around. Enjoy, go for breakfast at sit down restaurant… Then mid day they start rolling in slowly and in a couple of hours it is full on here they come!!!!
Enjoy you early arrival and have a great ride!
cheers,
just dave
check out Bikeflights.com. I live in Florida and I’ve used it several times to get to/from RAGBRAI.
Cheers,
just dave
Dizzy – The Official Rider Count for each day is more like 20K, so 700 ‘Bent and 12 / mile… And the ‘unofficial’ count is higher!
Enjoy!
cheers,
just dave
After several years of going with a charter group, then a couple of years of small team groups, I’ve done the last few rides out to the start and partial RAGBRAI’s as a self supported rider. I use a B.O.B. and a rear rack and travel fairly well packed. On the ride to the start (The Ride Out) I usually hook up with a buddy or two and we’ve never had an issue pitching our tents in the smaller towns on the way out. We sometimes even score in house or a camp trailer digs. Everyone knows WHERE and WHY you’re heading west in Iowa the week before RAGBRAI and are most supportive of our travels.
On the ride it does take some extra effort to do the pack riding with full gear on your bike, just stay safe and go slow…
I have never been asked to check my registration before pitching my tent and all but a couple of years I’ve ridden I was registered. Yes, I’ve done some RAG Days as a bandit, it was always a last minute change of plans and just happened. I prefer to ride registered (for the bandit critics)….
When you’ve got your gear with you all the time your options on when/where to stop for the night are always up for grabs. You might not even make it to the overnight towns. Anything is possible!
ride safely.
cheers,
just dave
Just got the email too!
HOO!HAA!
cheers,
just dave
I am a CamelBak guy too. But over the years getting smaller and smaller. I carry my ‘stash ‘O cash’, ID and credit card in it as well.
I fill it with ice then top off with water. I usually refill the ice once or twice a day in towns… Ice drink and a cooling back pack too… Very nice on those hot July days!
Oh, I carry water bottles too – one for Gatorade and one for Sport Drink. Never want to go thirsty!!!
cheers,
just dave
Sunflower,
You assume that you’ll have cell phone coverage that can handle data. Usually not the case. Text messages even sometimes take several minutes to send.
cheers,
just dave
Memorable RAGBRAI Sight – On my first RAGBRAI, new to the whole thing. I came up on the back side of a bus barn and on the door in the side of the building was a Hazardous Materials Sign listing 4 or 5 items and another sign under it saying “Not all Hazardous Materials within Listed above”. Over both of these signs it had a hand lettered sign “Men’s Showers – Open Slowly”.
Got mine today!!!
Cheers,
just dave
:-P
I got an email from Linda in the RAGBRAI Office:
They will be sent by priority mail the first week in June.
Sorry Michrider, too late for this weekend’s ride!
Cheers,
Just Dave