RAGBRAI LII July 19 - 26, 2025

RAGBRAI XXXVIII Survey Results

  • 13 September, 2010

RAGBRAI would like to thank all of the participants that took the time to complete the surveys after RAGBRAI XXXVIII.

5,931 online surveys were completed, producing valuable information that will help make RAGBRAI a safer and more enjoyable ride.

We thank you for your feedback that will help make RAGBRAI safer and more enjoyable for all!

RAGBRAI RIDER HABITS

  • 77% of respondents ride every mile of RAGBRAI
  • 79% of respondents preferred starting time is 6:00 am to 7:00 am
  • 74% of respondents prefer to ride 11-20 miles between stops
  • 88% of respondents prefer to stop in most or all towns
  • 18% of respondents prefer to stop in every town
  • 33% of respondents rode the Karras Loop

RAGBRAI SUPPORT DRIVER HABITS

  • For 47% of support drivers, this was their first RAGBRAI
  • 62% of all support drivers leave between 7:00 am and 8:00 am
  • 73% of all support drivers visited at least 1 Meeting Town

RAGBRAI ROUTE

  • 51% of respondents rate the signage for the 2010 route excellent or above average
  • 83% of respondents rate their overall RAGBRAI experience excellent or above average

RAGBRAI WEB SITE, REGISTRATION
& ONLINE STORE

  • 93% of respondents registered for RAGBRAI online
  • 82% of online applicants rated RAGBRAI’s online application procedure excellent or above average
  • 80% of respondents felt the registration fees are set just right
  • 68% of respondents visited the RAGBRAI online store
  • 71% of visitors rate RAGBRAI’s Web site excellent or above average

AGE OF RIDERS

  • Under 19        7.2%
  • Ages 20-24    5.1%
  • Ages 25-34    13.3%
  • Ages 35-44    17.5%
  • Ages 45-54    28.3%
  • Ages 55-64    21.6%
  • Ages 65+        7.0%
  • Average age of this year’s RAGBRAI participants is 44.6 years.

GENDERS OF RIDERS

  • Males            64%
  • Females        36%

OTHER

  • 63% of respondents used personal/rented vehicles to transport baggage, while 23% used a RAGBRAI Charter
  • For 38% of respondents, this was their first RAGBRAI
  • 68% of respondents first heard about RAGBRAI from friends or family
  • 128 riders come from 18 foreign countries
  • Only 37% of riders are from Iowa

TYPES OF BIKES

  • 80.5% of riders use a road bike
  • 9.9% hybrids
  • 3.4% tandems
  • 2.1% mountain bikes
  • 2.4% recumbents
  • and less than 2% all others

TOP FIVE RAGBRAI SAFETY CHALLENGES

  • Erratic or unpredictable riding
  • Pace lines
  • Riding left of center
  • Communication and signaling intent
  • New rider education

We thank you again for your feedback that will help make RAGBRAI safer and more enjoyable for all, and we hope to see you July 24-30, 2011 for RAGBRAI XXXIX!

9 Comments

  1. Buck

    Great info! Favorite ride of the year.

    Pace lines are only dangerous to those that ride without regard to anyone but themselves. When they ‘wander’ all over the route, hogging all lanes, at whatever pace they enjoy, – those are the ones that complain when others, of a higher skill level, are not wanting to ride to ‘their’ standards. If slow riders would ride to the right, the faster riders can also enjoy their skill levels also. They are not asking the slower riders to keep up. Why should they have to slow down to the pace of others? I promise, they don’t want to crash, or cause a crash, anymore than anyone else. Cooperation and communication are key to a safe ride.

    It is just like working with a car. Show respect that they are behind you, try to help them pass, safely, and they will have more patience and appreciation for you enjoying yourself also. Disregard where they are coming from, you get attitude that extends to other riders that are willing to work with that driver.

    Thank you for all you do to help us look forward to participating EVERY YEAR! This was one of the best yet!

  2. priceless pam

    Priceless Pam…anyone have an extra RAGBRAI 2010 patch I could buy??? Get one every year for the past 9 and now they are out. Would really like one and willing to pay more than orginal price. Thx, PaM

  3. Deb A

    Hey Pam, I have a patch you can have to add to your collection. Just let me know hoe to get it to you.

  4. CJ

    My daughter rode the 100 mile day and did not get a patch. Is there any one who has oneI could buy for her? She really enjoyed riding and wants to make it a daddy daughter tradition.

  5. roadie

    I disagree with Buck about pace lines. With 10,000 riders all trying to keep a safe distance from the next guy, watching for road cracks, or enjoying the scenery or friends, pace lines are just too hazardous. Usually you only have a few seconds to respond to a pace line’s warning of “on your left,” and maybe you can scoot over & maybe you can’t (road cracks, congestion, whatever). I have watched enough pro cycling to know what happens when tightly packed cyclists go down: it happens in a split second and it takes down everybody in the vicinity. Why put the rest of us in that kind of danger? Finally, there is something too aggressive about cyclists in pace lines in a mass ride like RAGBRAI: “Out of our way!” Keep your ego at home, please. Find a real race to show off your “superior” cycling.

    RAGBRAI is not the Team Time Trial at the Tour de France. It’s a massive public ride with riders of mixed abilities, most of whom just want the joy of biking, the Iowa experience, and the camaraderie of this very special event. Save the pace lines for weekend training rides on deserted roads with your buddies. Or better yet, leave it to the Pros on TV.

  6. Don ho

    Does anyone know where I can get two RAGBRAI 2010 patches?

  7. Rene "Schleck"

    This will be the first RAGBRAI for my wife and I. This survey and comments above provide good inside info—much appreciated, especiall the “pace line” bits. I Googled and found more on it at http://www.inlandempirecycling.com/Cycling/group_riding_and_pace_lines.htm
    That site also has hand-signal and other details that appear useful for both first-time and returning riders. Stay safe!

  8. work from home surveys

    Thank you for any other informative website. The place else
    may I get that type of information written in such an ideal means?

    I have a undertaking that I’m simply now running on, and I’ve been on the
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