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This past July I participated in my first RAGBRAI ride, and wow, I thought I knew what to expect, but boy was I in for a surprise. RAGBRAI, for the uninitiated, is the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
In their own words, RAGBRAI “is more than just a bike ride, it is an epic eight-day rolling festival of bicycles, music, food, camaraderie, and community. It is the oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world.”
I was lucky enough to attend RAGBRAI with Shimano, who I’ve formed a close relationship since their initial support of All Bodies on Bikes the film. Our rag-tag crew included brand managers, a vice president, and an executive from Japan, along with a number of regional sales representatives. I might catch some flak for this, but going with Shimano meant sleeping in hotels, air conditioning each night, and a respite from the crowds, which was absolutely essential for me.
Part of the Shimano crew I got to do RAGBRAI with, including Meredith Miller and Nick Legan, supporters of All Bodies on Bikes since the inception.
I will fully admit to not knowing what to expect from RAGBRAI, so I’ve put together a list of five tips for folks considering their first RAGBRAI. I hope you find it helpful, fun and insightful, and maybe it’ll just entice you to sign up for next year!
Be ready for lines.
With crowds ranging from 30,000-80,000 each day, lines nearly everywhere are a given. Most days, I chose where to eat lunch based on who had the shortest line. And it worked - everything I ate was absolutely delicious.
Hot tip: starting your ride super early in the morning will not only help you beat the heat, but also some of the bigger crowds.
Get ready to get wet
Iowa in July is HOT and HUMID. Thankfully, there is no shortage of ways to cool off during the ride, from neighbors opening their backyard pool to riders for a dip (typically donation based) to slip and slides in a field.
Hot tip: I highly recommend riding in shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, such as the Shimano SPD sandal. Bonus, you’ll get some really sweet tan lines.
Dial in your bike fit and comfort before the ride.
This one should be obvious, but RAGBRAI is full of long days. In 2023, the shortest day was 50 miles with every day clocking over 1000 feet of climbing.
Hot tip: Get a bike fit early in the season to give your body plenty of time to get used to any changes. Also, bike fits are sometimes covered by insurance!
Cash is Queen
I was genuinely surprised by how quickly I went through cash while riding RAGBRAI. Cash is preferred by nearly all vendors for the quickness and ease of the transaction, and with the volumes of people they are serving, the faster the better. I would recommend $30-50 per day, depending on your eating preferences and how gullible you are to cute kids on the side of the road shilling pickles.
Hot Tip: If you drink alcohol. If you drink, I recommend bringing a whole lot more cash for the Iowa Craft Beer Tent that sets up along the route each day.
Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen
We started riding before the sunrise most days in an attempt to both beat the heat and the crowds. But once the sun comes up, there is no hiding from it. I recommend anything you can do to protect yourself from the sun - long sleeves, mineral sunscreen, and a nerdy (but actually cool on RAGBRAI) helmet visor.
Hot Tip: If you forget your helmet visor, you can grab one at the big bike Expo the day before RAGBRAI, but be ready to pay up. I saw prices ranging from $35 to $75!
In Closing
Registration for RAGBRAI LI is now open, with the route announcement happening in late January. I had an absolute blast at RAGBRAI 2023 and definitely have it on my calendar for 2024!
