Looking for RAGBRAI advice
November 20, 2013 7:34 PM Subscribe
What charter service would you recommend to both shuttle me to and from the airport, and to provide support during the ride itself.
I know about RAGBRAI's list of recommended services - just looking for any personal advice.
More questions: I'm traveling with 3 others - is it better for us to link up with another team, or should we just register as our own team?
I'm traveling from Philly - what airport should I be flying into?
What are the chances of me finding a decent beer somewhere along the route?
I know about RAGBRAI's list of recommended services - just looking for any personal advice.
More questions: I'm traveling with 3 others - is it better for us to link up with another team, or should we just register as our own team?
I'm traveling from Philly - what airport should I be flying into?
What are the chances of me finding a decent beer somewhere along the route?
Looks like the route won't be announced until January, so specific beer recommendations are probably best served after that's settled.
The most convenient airport to much of western Iowa is Omaha, Nebraska (OMA)'s Eppley.
posted by worstname at 8:02 PM on November 20, 2013
The most convenient airport to much of western Iowa is Omaha, Nebraska (OMA)'s Eppley.
posted by worstname at 8:02 PM on November 20, 2013
Best answer: I've gone twice with Pork Belly Ventures. Pricey, but worth it - if you rent one of their tents, at the end of the day there it is set up with your bags in it; they make gallons of fresh coffee every morning; they have their own shower truck; they put on dinner and a band two or three nights for everyone, and are good about finding a food vendor to set up at or near camp for when you roll in after 75 miles and MUST EAT NOW; and most importantly, every evening you can present your official mug to be filled with delicious ice cold Boulevard beer.
posted by Flannery Culp at 8:59 PM on November 20, 2013
posted by Flannery Culp at 8:59 PM on November 20, 2013
I assume that you've found out today whether or not you'll be going, since the lottery results came out today. Hopefully some of this info will help, if not for you, then for someone else who's going this year.
First, if you haven't done so, register at RAGBRAI's own website and check out their forums, especially the Clubs, Teams & Charters forum. You can put your questions directly there.
Pork Belly Ventures (PBV) is probably one of the largest, if not the largest, charter service operating in RAGBRAI; if I'm not mistaken, the largest section of the camping area in each town--row upon row of identical tents in a neat grid--is PBV. Their standard camping rate (which you'll need to get from them by email) includes a bunch of extras, and they also rent the tents if you don't bring your own, and also do a shuttle from Omaha to the starting town, and from the end town back to Omaha, so that solves that problem for you, too. The camping rate, tent rental, and shuttle service are all separate fees.
Brancel is the charter service I'll be using this year, which is based on advice I got from the RAGBRAI forums from people who were unhappy with PBV for one reason or another. They're smaller, and their charter service runs from the end town (where a lot of people park their car) to the starting town. If you wanted to use them, you could fly into the Quad Cities, and use the Quad Cities Bicycle Club charter service to get to/from Bettendorf to the starting town, and from the end town back to the QC.
There are other assorted charter services if you want more alternatives, depending on how much you want to spend and/or how picky you are about the company you keep. There are even some private teams who are willing/able to take on additional members, but you might still need to arrange transportation to the starting town and from the end town yourself.
Good luck and have fun! I'm in this year and looking forward to it.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:28 PM on May 1, 2014
First, if you haven't done so, register at RAGBRAI's own website and check out their forums, especially the Clubs, Teams & Charters forum. You can put your questions directly there.
Pork Belly Ventures (PBV) is probably one of the largest, if not the largest, charter service operating in RAGBRAI; if I'm not mistaken, the largest section of the camping area in each town--row upon row of identical tents in a neat grid--is PBV. Their standard camping rate (which you'll need to get from them by email) includes a bunch of extras, and they also rent the tents if you don't bring your own, and also do a shuttle from Omaha to the starting town, and from the end town back to Omaha, so that solves that problem for you, too. The camping rate, tent rental, and shuttle service are all separate fees.
Brancel is the charter service I'll be using this year, which is based on advice I got from the RAGBRAI forums from people who were unhappy with PBV for one reason or another. They're smaller, and their charter service runs from the end town (where a lot of people park their car) to the starting town. If you wanted to use them, you could fly into the Quad Cities, and use the Quad Cities Bicycle Club charter service to get to/from Bettendorf to the starting town, and from the end town back to the QC.
There are other assorted charter services if you want more alternatives, depending on how much you want to spend and/or how picky you are about the company you keep. There are even some private teams who are willing/able to take on additional members, but you might still need to arrange transportation to the starting town and from the end town yourself.
Good luck and have fun! I'm in this year and looking forward to it.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:28 PM on May 1, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:46 PM on November 20, 2013 [2 favorites]