Join Team CoeBRAI on RAGBRAI XXXVIII®

Early registration has closed with 24 full-time riders signed up for Team CoeBRAI. Space is at a premium, but you can still ride along with the official Coe College team on the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), scheduled for July 25-31, 2010.

Coe students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends are all welcome to join Team CoeBRAI for all or part of the journey. Need a ride to the start in Sioux City? Need a ride home from Dubuque? Only riding a day or two or three? Want to order a Team CoeBRAI jersey? Interested in hosting Team CoeBRAI in your town?

All options are available. Just contact Lonnie Zingula at lzingula@coe.edu or (319) 399-8613 and we’ll do our best to accommodate your particular request. Unregistered riders need not apply.

The Route
RAGBRAI XXXVIII will treat riders to one of the shortest and flattest routes ever as it winds through northern Iowa from Sioux City to Dubuque. That combination means the 10,000 riders will navigate a 442-mile route that ranks as third-easiest historically, at least as far as hills and mileage go.

Beginning in Sioux City on July 24, the ride will stop in Storm Lake (July 25), Algona (July 26), Clear Lake (July 27), Charles City (July 28), Waterloo (July 29), and Manchester (July 30) before ending in Dubuque on July 31. It’s the sixth shortest route of all time and the 14,527 total feet of climb ranks as the fifth lowest in RAGBRAI history.

Again in 2009, we are seeking hosts from among the Coe community at each of the overnight towns. We are particularly interested in hearing from residents of Clear Lake and Manchester.

Entry Fees
Weeklong riders who have registered independently with RAGBRAI may join Team CoeBRAI for $300, which is due July 1. In addition to the benefits provided by your RAGBRAI registration, this fee includes a Team CoeBRAI license plate, bus transportation from Cedar Rapids to Sioux City on July 24 and Dubuque to Cedar Rapids on July 31, gear transportation, some meals, and snacks and non-alcoholic beverages at each overnight stop.

Registered part-time riders can join us for $25 per day, which includes gear transport to each overnight stop and snacks and beverages.

Part-time riders and full-time riders who were not part of Team CoeBRAI’s group registration will have the opportunity to purchase a Team CoeBRAI jersey, but it is not included in the entry fee.

As space allows, transportation may also be available from Cedar Rapids to Sioux City on July 24 ($75) and/or from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids on July 31 ($35).

Additionally, participants should plan to spend $20-$30 per day on food and beverages, bike repairs, showers, etc.

Refund policy
While we understand that life happens, we must insist on a no-refund policy for cancellations after July 1. Additionally, we will follow this refund schedule: 75% on or before May 1, 50% on or before June 1 and 25% on or before July 1.

Registration
Theoretically, RAGBRAI is limited to 8,500 week-long riders and 1,500 daily riders. Entries will exceed the number of riders allowed, so a random computer lottery takes place after all of the entries are entered in the computer. Lottery results are available online on May 1.

In actuality, RAGBRAI participation will swell to 15,000+ riders on any given day. Many people participate, either a day or two or all week, without registering. It is the policy of Team CoeBRAI to participate only as official RAGBRAI registrants. Participants who are part of an organized team have a far better chance of selection than individuals. Members of team CoeBRAI have received RAGBRAI credentials for five years running.

While we will make separate arrangements for some of the things provided by RAGBRAI registration, our entry fees contribute to many more benefits that you may never need, but without which the ride would not be possible. Included are sag wagon service for break downs, both physical and mechanical and especially mental; emergency medical service; route markings and daily maps; wristband discounts; free issues of The Des Moines Register in each of the host communities; 11 bicycle shops on the route to service your bike; an entry into the free bike drawing for riders and other prizes for support vehicle drivers; access to long-term parking; bicycle shipping stations; and free lost and found mailing service. Apparently, the registration fee doesn’t pay for the awesome service provided along the route by the Iowa Highway Patrol, but that vital service would disappear if it became a disorganized ride dominated by unregistered bikers. The Register claims its fee also pays for “great Iowa hospitality,” but that’s free of charge.

WAIVERS OF LIABILITY: Neither Coe College nor the Coe RAGBRAI® Organizing Committee (aka Team CoeBRAI) accept any liability for your personal health or safety. You waive all claims against anyone associated with RAGBRAI®, including Coe College and the Coe RAGBRAI® Organizing Committee (aka Team CoeBRAI), when you sign the official RAGBRAI® AGREEMENT, WAIVER & RELEASE OF LIABILITY. Read it before you sign it! Riding in motor vehicles, riding bicycles, being out in the weather, eating food prepared by strangers, etc., all entail a degree of risk. You assume that risk.