RAGBRAI STUFF!
Not for use in website
As of early April 2024:
Standard registration: $250
Late registration: $275
What was early reg? $225? (Where did that line go?)
Pork Belly Ventures w/ tent setup: $595.
Can I get a refund if I’m dissatisfied w/ PBV?
What’s the gradient of those hills? How long are the climbs? Will I need a triple cransket? Can Scottie be converted to a triple? 05/09/2024 Joe called. He helped me get on Google Maps, and figure out that the access ramp at the Corps of Engineers is about 5% gradient. See also: https://ragbrai.com/forums/topic/iowa-hills/
How do I get to and from Iowa in the first place? Will I need a bicycle case? They’re crazy expensive! Up to $1000.00! And what do I do w/ that case during RAGBRAI? I’d also have to learn how to disassemble/reassemble the bike! 05/29/2024 Nick at bike shop suggested shipping my bicycle.
How will I pump up tires and air mattress? battery-powered small pump. Be sure it fits my air mattress! (Stored in box w/ my cycling journals). 06/06/2024 they say PBV has air pumps for mattresses. For bike tires, too?
How big is PBV tent? 63 sq ft Will it have room for me & bike? Probably. It can fit two people. ~6′ x 8′. Waterproof bottom? Rain fly? Double-wall (aka w/ mosquito net?) Alps Lynx 4, three-season tent, 06/21/2024 watched a YT re:PBV and how they do it. They put a plastic sheet under each tent.
https://pkbelly.com/content/detail/tent_rental
https://pkbelly.com/Event/services/105
How PBV does it:
2: tents, ground cloths
See at about 12 or 13 minutes:
Can Scottie be retrofitted to disc brakes? No / How about a triple crank set?
Can Scottie take a seat-post mounted rack for a single pannier? (for toilet paper; Chamois Butt’r; camera; snacks, etc) Yes, but it would probably cause more sway; And can’t take too much weight.
Maybe try a bicycle triangle frame bag? No room for one unless I remove seat-tube bottle cage
Maybe a handlebar bag; and put that little pouch on the seat post? Would my legs get chafed by it? Be sure a handlebar bag won’t cover up everything in the cockpit
FRONT rack? How would that affect bike handling? Larger under-saddle pack? One big enough for tube of Chamois Butt’r and the other stuff I already carry?
WHERE do RAGBRAI riders keep their bikes overnight? 05/09/2024 bought a plastic bicycle cover ($19.96) Looks like many folks just park bike next to tent.
Get a new bike fitting/tuneup; also new tires and tubes. 05/29/2024 got new tires and tubes. 06/04/2024 bought new sasddle
Will I need to take along a cable lock? YES. Look for a lightweight one.And, a lock and key for charging stations (provided by PBV) Get a padlock. Or would a combo lock be better? No key to lose; but can I remember the combo?
How will I keep track of my keys all week? Be sure they’re in jersey pocket in a.m.
Find that 4-battery fan! DONE. But be sure fan works!
How do I set alarm clock on my cell phone? 04/23/2024 I figured it out
How big are those air mattresses that I have?/3’3″ x 6’5″ and 10″ high; weight 9.97 lbs That’s 1/5 of the PBV baggage weight allowance.
05/01/2024 bought air mattress. It weighs under 4 lbs and has a patch kit
Or how about a sleeping bag? Check for the expected weather the week before. Sometimes RAGBRAI nights drop to the 50s! Don’t forget the baggage weight limit!
Ragbrai 2024 Plans
WHAT DO I NEED TO BUY? 💸
05/01/2024 Bought an Ozark Trail Deluxe Camp Pad ($24.97).It’s 78″ x 25″ x 3.5″. Weighs 3.34 lbs. Use PBV pumps to inflate it. Patch kit included.
battery-powered small pump/PBV does have pumps; but do I want to carry an inflated mattress all over the place?
charging brick (but how do I charge that?) Get several, and charge them up before I leave home? How long does a brick hold its charge? Will I need to recharge them daily? PBV has charging stations. Get a padlock w/ key to secure my bricks. Or get a combo lock. But can I remember the combo?
What all needs charging? Cell phone; headlight; tail light. Bring camera (Canon); or use cell phone? Don’t forget cables!
puck light/head lamp/spare batteries
spare derailer hanger (VERY important) 05/09/2024 Got it!
blanket/sleeping bag. Those comforters I’ve got are too big and bulky
do I need a duffle bag? YES! How big? 40-liter? Remember, weight limit of 50 lbs. May it have wheels? NO! No external frames, either. Get one with shoulder straps? PBV takes care of putting bag in your tent; and picking it up mornings. Per one video, PBV’s stipulation is, you must be able to lift your bag over your head. How much can I lift?
camp pillow. Or take a pillow case and stuff it w/ clothes every night?
eye mask/earplugs for sleep
get a Road ID. DONE. 05/09/2024 Where’d it go? Did I accidentally throw it out? Called them, and they deactivated it. 06/14/2024 Haven’t found it. Order a new one. 06/24/2024 Ordered another RoadID yesterday.
DO NOT buy a tent. Use PBV. They set up your tent for you. (They use Alps Lynx 4, three-season tent). If I bring my own tent, I’ll be forced to hunt for a place to pitch it every evening! When I’m hot, tired, and hungry! PBV puts tarps under their tents!
tent organizer (similar to a shoebag)?
camp chair? 05/01/2024 saw some in Walmart, but I think they’d take too much space in my duffle bag.
cooling bands/cooling beanie? Try both skull caps and see how they work. 05/01/2024 Bought a cooling towel ($4.88) It’s 26″ x 17″. 05/26/2024 tried my white skull cap as cooling beanie. It stops cooling once it gets dry.
quick-dry shower towel (aka pocket towel) Dry-fit MicroFiber (Dry-QUICK?)
loofah (so I can wash my back — I’ll need that after riding w/ a Camel-Bak all day!) 05/09/2024 bought a net bath strap ($4.98) Instructions say to replace it every 30 days. It’s too rough, anyway.
nose-pincher in case I do slip n slide? I don’t need to pick up a brain-eating amoeba!
eyeglasses mirror
leg sleeves? 06/06/2024 I already have a pair but they turned out to be only knee-high
duffle bag/compactor bags/compressor stuff sack
mini-broom and dustpan in case tent needs cleaning.
How about a bicycle triangle frame bag? Looks like I can’t use one unless I remove the seat tube bottle cage. Or both bottle cages! Maybe a larger top-tube pouch?
06/06/2024 I need an eyewear retainer! 06/13/2024 got it!
What will I need to pay for along the RAGBRAI route? How much to allow per day? Many videos say, $50-70. Dpends on what all you want.
food at in-between towns. Try: corn; Mr. Pork Chop; pie; Beekman’s Ice Cream; Thelma’s Ice Cream Sandwiches; Casey’s pizza
One YouTube suggests: roll through the in-between towns and find farm stands to get food. Fewer long lines there.
PBV includes a meal service. Is that just supper; or breakfast, too? Also mid-week laundry, but I don’t trust them to NOT use highly-scented detergent! Ask about that well in advance. Is the cost incl. in the PBV fee? 05/02/2024 Sounds like it
Don’t they (PBV) put your bag(s) in your tent for you in pm; and pick them up there in am? YES
PBV has mechanic service, too.
showers. Included in PBV. They also provide soap and shampoo; but again, can I rely on there being frag-free stuff?
get a spoke bracelet?
RAGBRAI cap?
spork? NOT a flimsy cheap plastic one! Will those W-F recycled things do?
Moreau fan
clothespins
Bike Stuff:
spare tubes/glueless patch kit/small pump
spare derailer hanger!!! I have two
Spare chain? And spokes?
CO2 cartridges. Will they be OK in my luggage all day? Will they get too hot and rupture?
Do they make small pumps w/ built-in gauge? Do I have a mimi-pump? As of 05/08/2024, no.
Will there be air-up stations on RAGBRAI? Yes, for things like air mattresses. Not sure about pumps for bike tires.
chain lube. Is it safe to leave it in my duffle bag, where it will be HOT all day long? Triple-bag it in case of leakage!
Fanttik X9 pump?
06/04/2024 bought new saddle
PACKING LIST 🧳
No hard-side luggage allowed! No external frames! Better get that duffle bag. 50-lb limit. What dimensions? 40-liter? No wheels allowed. Get a backpack-style duffle bag? Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhqHRNiDBkE&list=LL&index=5
For PBV, must be able to lift bag over your head. (~ 36 min). Download PBV app to cell phone.
Doesn’t seem to be any sort of military surplus store) near here. Academy Sports is near the Harahan Walmart, but I’d have to negotiate crossing Jeff Hwy; and thread my way through several parking lots. Academy doesn’t open until 9 am or even 10:00. A lot more traffic by then (W-M open at 6 am).
BICYCLE/Or take along my saddle and rent a bike? What kind of bikes do they have? If it’s heavier than Scottie, I could be in big trouble. Will they have a bike that can be fitted to me? I’m smaller than many adults! And what if their rental road bikes have STANDARD cranksets? I’m used to a compact.
any RAGBRAI papers I need
IDs, health insurance cards, RoadID
Spare tubes/CO2 cartridges/spare tire?/spare chain
ziplock bags (gal, qt, snk)
foil squares (e.g. for a Mr. Pork Chop if I can’t eat it all at once)
Camel-Bak. Don’t forget spare bite valve. One video I watched, the guy said, water-refill stations were surprisingly hard to find. Is that accurate?
squeeze bottles for dish liq, shampoo and detergent. Bottles and C-Bk reservoir will need cleaning! Bring Q-Tips!
DON’T FORGET PRESCRIPTIONS!!! How will I carry them? I’ll want to keep them on my person at all times. Maybe use the fanny pack? Take along the bottles w/ the drug store labels, plus an empty one. Each evening, put next day’s pills in it.
Salt tablets?
grocery store bags for litter, used toilet paper, etc
small battery fan
spare #2032 batts for rear helmet blinkie/AAAs for tap light/D’s for fan
headlight/charging brick. Get several bricks and charge them up before I leave home. PBV provides a charging service.
shop towels, some cut in 4
paper towels/toilet paper/kleenex/foil squares
CO2 cartridges
Camel-Bak!! & bottles
cable lock
pens, notebook, camera(?), cell phone, and don’t forget cords for phone and lights!
Clothes:
*helmet!*
sweat band
cycling shorts & jerseys
poncho
arm/leg warmers, jacket, skull cap. Nights can go down to the 50s!
cycling shoes & socks/spare shoelaces
compression sox
glasses & sunglasses/lens cleaner and anti-fog/spare pair of sunglasses! Don’t forget glasses cases and lens cleaner! Eyewear retainer.
fanny pack?
sneakers/flip-flops
rain gear
sun sleeves/leg sleeves/sun shrugs?
Off-bike clothes (undies, sox, sneakers, shorts, blouses, cap)
old T-brush in case I must clean shoes
reflective vest/or get something that’s less bulky, and can fit better over a camel-bak
clothespins
Toiletries:
towel/washrag/hand sanitizer/clean wipes 05/08/2024 got Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleaning Cloths ($5.29)
Q-Tips for cleaning water-bottle nozzles
insect repellent? 04/27/2024 got some kind of bug-repellent bracelets at salvage store. As of 06/15/2024, haven’t tested them yet.
Chamois Butt’r (at least 2 tubes; or get the 9mL packs. They’ll be smaller and lighter. How many would I use in one day? Two?)
Gold Bond 05/09/2024 got some a few days ago, and I’m trying it on small areas to be sure I don’t have an adverse reaction
sunblock (at least three tubes; I’ll be using it like crazy!) Ask dermatologist to recommend something that lasts more than 80 minutes. 05/09/2024 I’m having a hard time finding frag-free sunblock! Or get leg sleeves and sun sleeves!
SPF 50 lip balm (2 tubes)
soap/soap box/hand sanitizer. Look for frag-free body wash in a bottle. Easier to manage than that box and a bar of soap. PBV provides towels, soap, and shampoo w/ their shower service; but I can’t rely on that stuff being frag-free!
05/22/2024 bought Aveeno Frag-Free body wash @ W-D $8.19 05/21/2024 It might not have added fragrance; but it’s NOT unscented!
toilet paper/handkerchief/kleenex/paper towels/clean wipes
toothpaste, floss, T-brush, cup, gum piks
shampoo & detergent/dish liq so I can wash bidons and C-bk
hand warmers
earplugs, eye mask/filter masks
artificial tears
tennis ball (for massage)/cold therapy?
ibuprofen; Metamucil gels (easier than a canister of powder)
emery board. Clip all nails before I go to IA./safety pins
Funds:
💰 how much will I need? They say, up to $50 per DAY. For food, souvenirs, etc. Can I safely carry that much cash? They also say, ATMs can be hard to find; and they might be out of money! If I have all that cash, where’s the safest place to keep it?
See #11:
Food:*
pack GU-Gels (2-3/day) and some energy bars for pre-ride. I don’t want to be bonking before I can ride to each day’s breakfast town!
Nuun tablets (some halved) and/or Propel powder. Be sure to have some caffeinated electrolyte drink for early in the day. Or, later in the day use one tab to a full water bottle (instead of a 2/3-full bottle)
Try some other elec. powders (Liquid IV, etc.)
Liquid IV tastes too strong made as directed (1 powder stick to 16 oz water) Use 24 oz water, esp. later in the day.
04/22/2024: Gatorade Zero glacier freeze: meh
green tea bags? Put one in a bottle of water at night, so I can get a bit of caffeine w/o Diet Coke
applesauce squeeze packs?
take that set of WF recycled utensils, or get a sturdy spork
*A More Detailed Menu 🥗🍕🌮
Bars
Clif Bars? They’re too low in protein
Clif Builder’s have choc coating. Too melt-y
Ditto for Gatorade bars
RXBars can get sticky, too
Granola bars are too crumbly and stick in my throat. So do Combos
Check out Barbell Protein Bars
Isadora Refried Beans? They taste good, but are messy. And I’d have to keep a spoon with them. Could I use up a pack of them in one day?
Sandwiches are too bulky
Baby carrots?
Meat snacks (e.g. Epic Bites) are tough to chew; and make me too thirsty
Combos have no sustenance and are too crumbly.
How many grams carbs/hour? It’s in this video. Aim for 50 g per hour. Do I get that much during my long rides?
Drinks
GU-Gel Chocolate Outrage
GU-Gel Tastefully Nude
GU-Gel Salted Caramel
How many goos per day? Two? Three?
What for electrolyte? Nuun? Propel? Does BioSteel come in powder form? YES; but in single-serve packets?
Bring tablet-form electrolytes. Less spillable than powders; and a tube of Propel, Nuun, etc. is compact and easy to pack.
Liquid IV is rather high in carbs; and stronger-flavored than I like for ride use.
Notes 🎶
04/11/2024 hauled out old list of Crescent City Cyclists email addresses. Asked everybody, does CCC still do City Rides; and does anyone know anybody who’s done RAGBRAI. As of 08/07/2024, no replies.
Posted a comment in Love to Ride, did anyone ever do RAGBRAI? (04/13/2024) As of 08/07/2024, no replies
05/02/2024 emailed TUCA re: RAGBRAI and training. As of 08/07/2024, no reply. I guess they were busy w/ final exams; and classes were probably over for the Summer
05/11/2024 texted Bruce Smith to ask, does he know anyone who’s ever done RAGBRAI. As of 08/07/2024, no reply.
There’s a daily cut-off time for SAG service. They run 6 am – 6 pm. There are several air-conditioned SAG wagons, each w/ room for 15 people. With a trailer for the bikes.
If I use a bicycle case to get to and from Iowa, what do I do w/ it during the actual ride? Will I need a pedal wrench to take pedals on/off? And the handlebars? 05/28/2024 asked Nick at GNO, is he familiar w/ bicycle travel cases? He says he isn’t; but suggested that I ship my bicycle to the start town.
Look for some of those ultra-light, quick-dry towels.
Pack each day’s clothes in its own zip-lock bag. Include that day’s cash allowance. Label bags for Su, Mo, etc.
Put cell phone in airplane mode between towns. Might not have cell service in towns, because they get overwhelmed. Same for Internet.
Nutrition (remember the pre-diabetes)
Is it safe to let my chain lube go in the duffle bag that will be in a hot truck all day?
Do I have s.th. that can serve as a shower bag? 08/07/2024 not right now
Can I get to Academy Sports sometime?
Put my rider # in: duffle bag; each day’s clothes bag; each day’s money bag; Camel-Bak pockets. Label bags for Mo, Tu, etc.
How do I work my website from my cell phone? I’ll want to keep the blogs going. On the other hand, it’s unwise to advertise that I’m not at home!
Will I need to put a guard on the drive train for bike transport to/across Iowa to starting town?
This video; at about 08:30 minutes. How much training you need for RAGBRAI.
See here at ~5 min. Does he mean PBV? No. Central Iowa Charter
RAGBRAI SAG how many are “multiple” wagons? 4-5, maybe more. Each wagon has A/C; room for 15 passengers; and a trailer for the bikes.
Bag weight:
Finding My Group 🚴♀️🚴🏿
06/07/2024 Watched a YouTube about RAGBRAI; and they mentioned Team 985 in Louisiana! I found their video about training (they’re in Thibodaux); and also put a comment in the BBB video. Looks like I might be getting something going!
06/15/2024 Rode with Team 985! We met at the St. Charles Parish line, and rode to Audubon Park.
CHECK THIS OUT! I’m a star!
08/23/2024 Team 985 doesn’t have room for another rider; so I’ve got to hunt for something else.
- Log in to EnMotive.
- On the left-hand side of the page on the black bar click registrations.
- On the square with RAGBRAI click the three vertical dots on the upper right hand side.
- Click view registration.
- By Team select Join Team.
- Follow steps above showing how to join/create team.
21 hours ago