RAGBRAI primer: 33 useful tips for newbies on the ride

Sara Stibitz
Special to the Register

RAGBRAI: A tale of two rides.

On one hand, it's a party ride. On the other, it's a picturesque trip from one end of the state to the other, bringing riders from all over the world to experience the culture, tastes, and small towns of the state in their purest forms. This year's RAGBRAI starts in Rock Valley and ends in Guttenberg, and more than 10,000 people are registered to ride.

The ride started in 1973 as a challenge between two Register writers. Writer and copy editor John Karras challenged writer Don Kaul to travel across the state on his bicycle. Kaul accepted, but then invited Karras to go with him. The writers became riders, and the first RAGBRAI was born. Together they covered miles and stories, and as many as 500 other bicycle enthusiasts joined them along the way.

So how do you prepare for this weeklong celebration across the state? As one veteran of the ride told me, it's easy to get advice about RAGBRAI. It's hard to get good advice, because everyone prepares differently.

With RAGBRAI on the mind, we asked veterans to share their advice for newbies over refreshing beverages at Mullet's, el Bait Shop and Cumming Tap — three hotbeds for cyclists in the metro. Read on for their sage advice.

1.It's not a race. Just have a good time.

2.Bring your strongest liver ever.

3.Ditch the team. Be a bagger and ride the bus.

4.Don't be that drunk.

5.If you're using both lanes, 'cause you're that drunk, maybe just stop and sag.

6.You'll find cheap sagging on any party bus.

7.Bring freezer bags for electronics. Double-bag everything.

8.A cheap shower cap will keep your seat dry.

9.Communication with other riders is key. "On your left" is your friend.

10.There's not a storm you can't out-drink.

11.Bring at least three extra tire tubes. You'll give one away and probably use the other two for yourself.

12.Training your liver before is just as important as training your legs.

13.Be nice to the bike valets along the way. They're taking care of your ride.

14.Stay with a host family. You'll meet people in the community, have a nice cool place to sleep and have access to a shower that doesn't have a line. And sometimes they will feed you.

15.Enjoy the hospitality of the people in every town. Stop and talk to people you don't know.

16.Keep in mind that every convenience store will have a 30-minute wait.

17.Check your tire pressure at the beginning of every day.

18.Never miss an opportunity to go to the bathroom.

19.Stop at least once a day at a stand run by kids. It makes 'em feel good.

20.Don't pass up water or live music.

21.Get padded shorts.

22.Don't swerve.

23.Get hydrated before you get dehydrated.

24.Always carry roadies: one bottle of water and one bottle of booze.

25.It's a challenge to find camping if you're riding solo; it'll be easier if you stay with a group.

26.Get in line for the kybo at the end of town, not at the beginning of town. And do it before you have to go.

27.Make sure you have a connection to a bus, or some alternate form of transportation.

28.Ride every mile. See every town. The beauty of RAGBRAI is the small towns.

29.Don't camp near the pickup shuttle if you want to get any sleep.

30.The big parties and vendors are great, but find the church pie and the local kids selling lemonade.

31. You can ride up to anyone and learn their life story.

32. Your only goal is to bike toward the next town, eat and drink. When does your life get more simple than that? When you come home from RAGBRAI your body should be wrecked but your mind should be refreshed.

33. Everywhere you go you'll hear, "The people are great here," and that's not really true in most places. But it is in Iowa, and especially when you are on RAGBRAI.