u/Patient-Prize2524

Am I the only one who feels like the playoffs haven't started yet?? I don't know how else to describe this feeling...maybe it's the fact that the games started at 9pm, local time, and I didn't stay up for a complete game. Or maybe that the games were on an app instead of a 'real' channel. Or maybe it was that we started Boyd and Gausman instead of a front-line starter. Or maybe it was that the offense looked like they were playing spring training games. Or maybe that both games were on the road. I just keep feeling like "okay, but when do the Cubs start playing??" Am I crazy??

So first, thank you to everyone who answered all my questions here beforehand. (Almost) all of you were very helpful lol! Like the title says, this was the worst, best vacation I've taken...by that, I mean it was physically and mentally exhausting and my body is still recovering, but it was also the best experience I've ever had on a vacation and I'm 100% doing it again!

For anyone thinking of doing RAGBRAI for the first time in 2027 or beyond, here are some lessons I learned being a first-timer, going alone, and using a charter (PBV):

It goes quickly! I was so worried about being *able* to do it, I don't feel like I got a chance to enjoy the experience. Make sure you take the time to appreciate each of the towns you pass thru and stay in overnight. Most of the people I came across were very kind and welcoming...some giving away free water, popsicles, pickles, etc. If you think "oh, i'll just skip this town and eat in the next one", I would suggest not doing that! Each town has different offerings, so there's no harm in hitting up each one (it's not a race!!). There are also road-side vendors and stands that offer very inexpensive drinks/snacks. Before going to the food trucks that travel around, try the locals first! I did my best to eat at local restaurants and from local vendors...it's their town, I think they should get the majority of the business.

PACKING: I think it takes actually experiencing RAGBRAI to know what *you* do and don't need to bring. I received some amazing advice beforehand, but also some contradictory advice. I erred on the side of caution and brought too much: 7 days worth of riding clothes, 2 shirts/shorts/underwear for afterward, snacks, more than enough of electrolytes, 3 battery chargers, 2 person tent, collapsible chair, sleeping pad, fan, all my vitamins, shower stuff, blanket (not sleeping bag), backpack, fanny pack, 2 water bottles, tissues/dude wipes, sunscreen...there may have been more. Honestly, the only thing I'd change is the amount of clothes (would probably bring 3 days' worth and wash them) and maybe not the chair (think I used it two or three times). Otherwise, I used all of it. I'm going to look into a more compact sleeping pad (mine was great, but bulky).

CHARTER: PBV was just great. The people were helpful and friendly! Having a shower ready for you after every ride was the best. On Sunday and Monday, I took two showers: one right after finishing to get clean and a cold shower right before they closed at 8pm to cool down to sleep. Having the option to bring two duffle bags made all the difference for me...again, going alone and having bulkier stuff made it difficult to pack 'light'. The food options were good, the free beer/lemonade was amazing. Having 3 dinners included helped a lot at the end of a long day. You also have the option to pre-purchase the other nights' dinners...I did one additional night and it was good (not great, but very solid!) There was also entertainment every night at the PBV campsites. I would say sometimes the locations of the PBV campsite was pretty far from the main campground/entertainment, which made it difficult to get over there, even with the shuttles (I experienced issues with the shuttles...some took different routes, even though their route# should have brought them back to PBV. Also, shuttle pickup spots could have been called out better!) I got a flat on Tuesday and had to walk a little over a mile into town to get a replacement, cuz PBV can't sell you parts. But the PBV mechanic who helped me was amazing and the fact that there were people there to help was great! There's also the option to rent a tent from PBV, where they set it up and take it down afternoon/morning...definitely thinking about using that next time. After a long day, trying to find your bags, finding a spot and setting up, you're just exhausted. Then having to (quietly) take your tent down at 5am...ugh. But to arrive and just go to a tent that's already set up and in the morning, packing your gear and not having to take the tent down?? Yeah, I'm gonna look into that! To begin my PBV experience, I had to park in Dubuque and take the E/W shuttle to Onawa and it's not cheap! But you get to ride in a nice coach bus and not worry about how to get to your car at the end of the week.

BIKE: First and foremost, I learned I need to get a bike fit. I should have done it beforehand, but I didn't and definitely regret that decision. I hadn't ridden 7 days in a row before and found out how ill-fitted my setup was around day 3. I had some terrible saddle sores by the end that are still healing. Also my clothes...when I ride around home, even 70+ miles, shorts that are a little too big don't cause too much of a problem. But on RAGBRAI, I found out how much of a negative impact that can have. So get a bike fit to make sure everything is set up the best possible way and make sure your shorts are the correct size for long rides! I also noticed that almost everyone was riding a road bike with clip-ins (can someone explain to me why having clip-in pedals is referred to as "clipless"??), while I was using flat handlebars, flat pedals and regular Nike shoes...I'm also going to look into going clipless, because it can only help on rides like this.

RIDING ETIQUETTE: So...I don't know...I always thought you passed on the left and not the right unless you just couldn't get to the left. But people were really doing whatever they wanted out there. I had people riding so close to me FOR NO REASON that one guy actually hit my handlebar as he passed me, causing me to almost fall and just goes "my bad" as he kept going🤨. On day 7, somebody passed on the right shoulder at such a high speed someone else yelled out "oh, I didn't realize this was the TdF!" lol I think people need to get ahold of themselves and stop treating this like it's a race...you don't win anything at the end, guys!

Can't really think of what else to say. It was an amazing experience that I'm definitely going to do it again, but I'll be better prepared next time! For anyone thinking of doing it for the first time, please ask any questions you want! I'm happy to go into my experience more!!

This may sound like a very first-timer thing to ask...but how are you people fitting all of your stuff into one duffle bag?? I'm using PBV, so I'm allowed 2 duffle bags and I quite literally filled both during a trial packing. I genuinely don't know how people pack all their stuff in one bag.

I've got my tent, collapsible chair (saw quite a few people say they wish they'd brought one), sleeping pad, small blanket (the sleeping bag wasn't quite working), fan, clothes for each day and a couple shirts/underwear/1 pair of shorts for after the days' ride (all in ziplock bags), flip flops, toiletries, electrolyte packets, bottles for the bike, helmet, bike bags, a few snacks.

So my question is: what am I bringing too much of??

To start, this is my first year and I'm doing it alone.

RAGBRAI says you get one duffle bag...but how would one fit ALL their stuff in one bag? Does that include your tent, sleeping bag/inflatable mat for under the sleeping bag, and chair? Then to get all your clothes, tent fan, snacks, toiletries etc...how's everyone fitting all their stuff in one bag if they're going alone?

Hey everyone!

First, thanks for your help with my last question around being a first-time rider. I appreciate how supportive everyone here is. Second, I've been trying to gather little (and big) items I might need for the week and wanted to pose a question to everyone:

What's something you WISH you knew to bring with you your first time, but didn't know you'd need it? Could be as simple as chewing gum/chapstick or as big as multiple pairs of shoes because it could rain.

Thanks again and I look forward to seeing everyone in a couple months!