Each month we will publish ten tips to help you prepare for RAGBRAI LIII. May is Bike Month and what better way to celebrate than to get out and bike. It’s time to get serious about your RAGBRAI training. Complete our Top 10 Tips and ensure you’re on route to ride RAGBRAI LIII.
Here are our Top 10 Tips to Prepare for RAGBRAI LIII in May:
1. Celebrate Bike Month by learning about your Community Bike Shops!
May is Bike Month and what better way to celebrate than to learn more about your local Community Bike Shops! In Iowa, we are lucky enough to have six: The Iowa City Bike Library, the Street Collective in Des Moines, Chain Reaction Bike Hub in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective in Waterloo, We-Cycle in Ames, and the Dubuque Bike Co-Op.
They may focus on free bicycles to unhoused folks (We-Cycle), infrastructure advocacy (Street Collective), or youth programming (Bike Library) – but all advance the common goal of making bicycles accessible to all.
You can donate to these bike shops during RAGBRAI LIII registration, or directly by following the link below.
2. Registered? Double check your address in EnMotive.
Wristband packets will start shipping soon! Be sure your mailing address in EnMotive is current. Have questions or need instructions on how to update your info? Email [email protected].
3. Plan your Trip with our Logistics Page
Long Term Parking for both Onawa and Dubuque is now live! You can also find information about Charters, shuttle services, long term parking, car shipping services, bike shipping and rental, lodging, and more, all on our Logistics page!
4. Attend our May Town Hall Meeting
The April Town Hall covered the full RAGBRAI LIII Route Announcement. It was a great rundown of the 2026 RAGBRAI towns, for new and returning riders alike.
The May Town Hall will be Thursday, May 14. This month, we will highlight the many people and partners who help make RAGBRAI successful and share the plans and initiatives underway to make this year’s ride the best RAGBRAI yet.
We hold Town Halls each month through July, with a variety of topics. Registration is free. It’s not required to attend, but it is required if you want to ask questions.
5. Sign up for the RAGBRAI Merchandise Newsletter
Next up in our RAGBRAI Top Ten Tips for May, sign up for the RAGBRAI Merchandise Newsletter. From hats, to jerseys, to stickers, and shorts, get the latest on our merchandise releases and upcoming sales!
6. Catch the Latest from our Overnight – and Pass Through – Towns!
Our Route page is a one stop shop where you can find all things Overnight, Pass Through, and Meeting Town! You can also find route maps, housing request forms, entertainment listings, and more! Updated frequently so you’re always in the loop.
7. Learn More about the RAGBRAI LIII Full Route
The JustGoBike Podcast has released it’s much-awaited episode featuring RAGBRAI Director Matt Phippen, detailing the RAGBRAI LIII Route. Matt dives into mileage, elevation and talks a bit about each of the towns we will be visiting on the RAGBRAI route.
8. Ramp Up Your Training!
By now you should be in the thick of your RAGBRAI Training! Want to be sure you’re on track? Check out our Training Blogs! In the latest blog post, Coach Ertl shares how to gradually increase your endurance and distance.
If you’re ramping up from no training at all, it might be a good idea to reference Coach Ertl’s Training Plan to see where you need to work up to. Or check out coach Erin Oliphant’s blog entry with some great workouts to get ready for RAGBRAI.
9. Enjoy a Community Group Ride
Mix things up by joining a group ride in your community! You could meet fellow bike enthusiasts, log some training miles, and support a great cause. If you live in Iowa, a great resource for finding rides in your area is BikeIowa.com.
10. Apply for Overnight Town Host Housing (if you want!)
Hosts in each Overnight Town will open their homes to riders. This can be a great way to get to know community members, take a hot shower, and possibly snag a little air conditioning. Host housing can be requested as towns prepare the request forms. Host housing isn’t guaranteed due to demand, so having a backup plan is always recommended!
You can find links to each Overnight Town’s host housing applications on our Route page.
When you’re applying for housing, it will ask you for a wristband or confirmation number. Use the confirmation number listed on your registration in EnMotive. Wristband numbers will not be issued until a few weeks before the ride.
Thank you fo reading our RAGBRAI Top Ten Tips for May! We’ll post pointers here on the RAGBRAI Blog each month to help you get ready for RAGBRAI.
Bonus Tip:
Register for RAGBRAI before prices go up June 1!
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.
