Each month we will publish ten tips to help you prepare for RAGBRAI LIII. Welcome to 2026! We’ll announce the RAGBRAI LIII Route this month, and officially kick off our 2026 cycling season. Complete our Top 10 Tips in January and ensure you’re on route to ride RAGBRAI LIII.
Here are our Top 10 Tips to prepare for RAGBRAI LIII in January:
1. Don’t miss the January Town Hall!
Join us as we prepare to announce the RAGBRAI LIII route on January 24th at the RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party in Waukee! Hear exciting updates from Ride Director, Matt Phippen, as well as exciting news from the full team!
Your free registration is not required, but is recommended so you can ask questions before and during the Town Hall!
Once this Town Hall is complete, you can find a recording of it and all of our past Town Halls on our YouTube channel.
2. Set a mileage goal and get started!
We suggest banking at least 100 miles on your indoor trainer this month. Don’t have a trainer? Wahoo is now the Official Training Partner of RAGBRAI! Get ready to ride – indoors or out – with Wahoo training gear. Find it in the RAGBRAI Shop.
Our official Training Plan will release in February – keep an eye on our Top 10 Tips for February for details! For now, you can browse our training archive.
3. Get excited for the RAGBRAI LIII Route Announcement Party!
It might be the depths of winter but there is a little sunshine peeking in – the RAGBRAI Route Announcement is just around the corner. Join us Saturday, January 24 as we announce the RAGBRAI route for Summer 2026.
4. Think you know the route? Guess!
Do you think you can pick the eight overnight towns for RAGBRAI® LIII? Enter the contest and see how close you come. Last year we had multiple people guess all eight overnight towns. Game on…
5. Join us for our annual pre-Route Announcement Virtual Ride with Director Matt Phippen!
Join RAGBRAI Ride Director Matt Phippen for a Virtual ride on ZWIFT to kick off Route Announcement day. Ride starts at 8am Central sharp. Get some miles in, then join us for the Iowa Bike Expo, and RAGBRAI Route Announcement!
The RAGBRAI LIII Zwift Club has lots of events this time of year – join the RAGBRAI LIII Club to gain access to weekly virtual rides with Murph and AP from the JustGoBike Podcast!
6. Attend the RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party!
Join us as we officially kick off the season by revealing Iowa’s best-kept secret: the 2026 RAGBRAI Route. The party will return to the state-of-the-art Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee. Don’t miss the second most anticipated event of 2026!
7. Once You Know the Route, Register!
You don’t NEED to wait to find out the route to register for RAGBRAI, but some people do! If that rider is you, it’s time to get ready. Make sure your team has a Captain and a plan for registration. Make sure your EnMotive login is ready to go. Our next price increase is 3/1 so don’t wait!
8. Learn about the Iowa City Bike Library!
This month’s highlighted Community Bike Shop is Iowa City Bike Library! Some of the ways they help their community include:
- Give a bike: Iowa City Bike Library accepts all types of bike-related donations. Including: complete or partial bikes, parts, pumps, helmets, clothing, and accessories! You can donate any time to their location at 1222 S Gilbert St, Iowa City.
- Get a bike: Stop in to check out or purchase a low-cost bike and bike accessories Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday!
- Ride a bike: Visit Iowa City Bike Library website or Facebook page to find a list of their hosted bike rides!
- Fix a bike: The Iowa City Bike Library offers work benches for “rent” on Wednesday, Friday, an Saturday. Rent is a suggested $5. The Bike Library will provide tools, work space, and some friendly advice/guidance!
Donate to the Iowa City Bike Library here or during your RAGBRAI LIII Registration!
9. Read Behind the Wrisband – BikeIowa.com’s perspective on RAGBRAI registration, responsibility, and impact.
Read this article to find out how RAGBRAI works when people register. This Feature shows, in plain numbers, why registration matters – for your safety, for host towns, and for the long-term health of the ride. We outline year-round costs (planning, safety, sanitation, community give-backs), compare week-long events across the U.S., and quantify what riding unregistered shifts onto everyone else. This isn’t a press release – it’s BIKEIOWA pulling back the curtain after years of seeing both sides.
10. Register for the 2026 Bike Ride to Rippey (BRR Ride)!
The 49th Annual BRR Ride is the Original Winter Ride! This ride is held each year regardless of the weather – and some years there is some WEATHER! Enjoy some outside on-the-bike time with this classic ride. Register here. More info here!
Helpful Links:
The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) is the longest, largest, and oldest recreational bicycle touring event in the world. Since 1973, it has brought thousands of cyclists together to experience the beauty of Iowa’s countryside, small-town hospitality, and unforgettable memories.
For more information, visit RAGBRAI.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
