TIPS FOR IVBC RAGBRAI RIDERS 2026

The following information has been compiled from several experienced riders to help first-time and other riders. An official charter schedule will be shared in early summer. Specific questions or concerns can be directed to Kyle Jaeger 641-990-6654 (operator) or Tony Etcher 641-691-8728 (registration coordinator).

    • Meet at Marshalltown Community College. If you need to park your vehicle for the week, you can leave it in the college parking lot.

    • Bikes can be loaded on the semi starting at 6:30 AM. Pedals must be removed from your bike prior to loading. (Pedal wrenches will be available and there will be people there to help you get them off.)

    • Need breakfast or coffee? There are options nearby, around the intersection of Hwy 30 and Center Street/State Hwy 14, slightly north of the college.

    • Registration is from 6:30-7:30 AM.

    • Buses depart at 8:00 AM.

    • We anticipate arriving in the start town around 12:30pm. Everyone helps to unload the bikes right away.

    • Once we’ve unloaded and you’ve set up camp, enjoy yourself! Take the time to visit the expo, stop at food vendors, and do the traditional rear tire dip.

    • From 5:00-6:30 PM, we will have a cheese and cracker reception (with door prizes) to get to know our fellow IVBC riders and crew!

    • Get up, get ready, tear down your tent, and pack up your gear.

    • Load your gear onto the baggage truck. (If you leave early and the truck is not open yet, just leave your bags on the ground at the back of the truck.)

    • The baggage truck leaves at 7:00 AM.

    • Enjoy your ride! Remember – RAGBRAI is a ride, not a race. Take time to experience the pass-through towns.

    • Official RAGBRAI support services are available between 6 AM and 6 PM.

    • Find our campsite – use the pin drop provided via email or by QR code.

    • Stop at our hospitality table. Grab a complimentary pop, sport drink, and/or ice water. Check out maps of town. Scan the QR code for the next day’s campsite location.

    • Grab your bags and set up your tent.

    • Enjoy your afternoon/evening! Check out the expo, get a bite to eat, find a shower, and relax.

    • Follow your regular morning routine.

    • Ride to the end town! When you arrive, head to the tire dip or to our loading site.

    • Please be at the loading site no later than 2 PM. You’ll remove your pedals and pack your bike on our semi-truck. We board buses starting at 2:30 PM.

    • The buses and semi leave promptly at 3 PM to drive back to Marshalltown.

What to Expect Day to Day

  • Helmet, gloves, mirror, bike bag, water bottles, tire pump, spare tube, tire levers, small repair kit, bicycle lock

  • Tent, ground cloth, baggage (up to 40 lbs each), sleeping bag, pillow, sleeping pad, rope, stakes, flashlight

    TIP - know exactly where your flashlight is before it gets dark!

  • Towel, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, soap, razor, comb/brush, hair ties, deodorant, mirror

    Skip hairsprays and gels as they melt with perspiration and get into your eyes, and it really burns!!

  • In-camp clothes: T-shirts, shorts, a jacket, pants, underwear, socks, good walking shoes, flip flop shower shoes, sleepwear, swimsuit, sweatband/bandanas.

    Riding clothes: Pack everything in gallon Ziploc bags for moisture/rain protection. A day’s riding outfit in each bag works nice (shorts, jersey, socks, headband, etc.). Just grab a bag, and you will have all the clothes for that day. Put your dirty clothes in an empty bag and seal; no smelly clothes to stink up your whole bag.

  • aspirin, Advil/Tylenol, adhesive bandages, lip balm with sunscreen, sun block SPF 30 or greater, insect repellent, Pepto Bismol, anti-diarrhea medicine, antihistamines, prescriptions, other medicines you take regularly

    Sore butt treatment ideas - A&D ointment, Gold Bond Powder, udder balm, medicated Vaseline, Chamois Butt’r. Nothing works like adequate preparation though!

  • ID, cash, credit card(s), safety pins, alarm clock or watch, spare glasses, scouting knife, camera, earplugs, medical insurance card, journal, pen, pencil, stamps, address book, small rope for clothesline, few clothes pins, small bottle of hand sanitizer, tissues/handkerchief

    No electrical outlets are available for hair dryers, curling irons, etc.

Packing Suggestions

    • Quiet time at our campsite begins at 10pm. If you want to socialize later than that, please do it up town at the expo.

    • We are guests in the host communities, and we ask our riders to behave as such. The IVBC is responsible for the behavior of our members on the road, in the communities, and in the campgrounds.

    • Please help keep the litter picked up around our camp site each day.

    • We're all on "vacation" together, so please pitch in and help around camp – help put up and take down the canopy, and load/unload charter gear (chairs, tables, etc.)

    • Our drivers and on-site crew get paid, but they have very specific responsibilities. Their jobs are to drive the truck, stake out our campsite each day, unload the bags from the truck, and keep the water jugs and pop coolers filled. Please let them know you appreciate their work.

    • Ride PREDICTABLY and DEFENSIVELY! Watch the “Ride Right” video at the RAGBRAI Headquarters on Saturday afternoon. You will learn about sounding off when passing and the proper way to get on and off the road. This is very important! (It’s a nice break because the video is always shown in an air-conditioned hall.)

    • Be aware of and courteous to motorists and other riders.

    • Always wear a helmet.

    • SOUND OFF when passing another rider, DON'T STOP ON THE ROADWAY, and KEEP TO THE RIGHT if you are traveling more slowly than others.

    • The complete week of daily route maps, with mileage between pass-through towns and other information is available online at ragbrai.com/maps.

    • We post paper maps and overnight town info at our hospitality table in camp each day.

    • Beginning in 2025, it is RAGBRAI policy that charters are not allowed to mark the routes to campsites with paper signs like in years past. We will provide you with a digital pin drop of our campsite location in advance and by QR code and have a map of the next town’s campsite location at our hospitality table.

Things to Know

  • RAGBRAI weather is typically hot and humid with highs in the 80's and 90's. However, it is not uncommon for temps to dip into the 50's during the night. Bring a sweatshirt or a light jacket for the evenings.

    Rain is a very real possibility. A rain poncho or a garbage bag with holes for neck and arms works well. Some people feel you get just as wet with or without protection. Do what works for you.

  • Bicycle repair is available along the route and in the overnight towns.

  • SAG FOR A DAY: The official RAGBRAI sag wagons patrol the route to pick up riders who break down physically or mechanically. If they see you with your bike flipped upside down, they’ll pick you up. NOTE: you may be riding the wagon for a while, as they drive until the vehicle is full before driving passengers to the overnight town. IVBC does not provide sag services, as we cannot use our baggage truck as a sag vehicle.

    END YOUR WEEK EARLY: If you decide you cannot finish the week of riding, you must make your own arrangements for transportation home. Make sure you notify one of our crew that you are leaving, as we keep tabs on all our riders in case of emergency or messages.

  • The main rider route will be marked each day with red arrows and patrolled by emergency medical crews, Iowa State Patrol, and RAGBRAI personnel.

    The Iowa State Patrol and local authorities direct traffic at intersections to ensure the safest ride possible.

Questions

Tips from Experienced Riders

  • It's easy to get caught up in the excitement, especially the first day. Pace yourself - you have 7 days to ride. Walking around in the evenings helps loosen up the legs.

  • Drink before you are thirsty. A bottle of water every hour is a good rule of thumb. Make sure to also drink beverages with electrolytes.

  • If you develop knee pain, check your seat position for proper height and increase your pedaling cadence by using lower gears.

  • Use sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen throughout the day.

  • You will be packing a dew-dampened tent every morning, but it will dry quickly when you pitch it again in the afternoon at the next campsite.

  • Train at least 500-1000 miles.

  • Get your bike tuned up, lubed, and safety checked before the ride.

  • Carry a spare tube with you while riding. It’s best to know how to change a flat tire, although there are always people willing to help in camp and on the route.

  • Check the air pressure in your tires before leaving every morning. The charter has tire pumps available on the truck. Tire pump end connections and how they operate vary tremendously. If you are not familiar with the types we have, please ask for assistance. It’s not uncommon at all (happens every year) that a rider pulls the stem out of the tube because they forget or don’t know how to properly release the connector.

  • Food and drink will be available in bountiful amounts in the campgrounds, in churches and restaurants, and along the route. Be sure to bring along enough money to cover your meals, beverages, showers, etc. for the week. If you run out of cash, ATMs are available in towns along the route.