Suggested packing list

Last year, Bruce and I read all the online articles about what to bring, how to prepare, etc. The result was, we finished and had a great time. Of course, we also way over packed. Here are my suggestions for RAGBRAI this year.

Bike Stuff

• Bike (remember both wheels if you put your bike in a fork mount rack)
• Helmet
• Good gloves
• Cycling Shoes
• A couple of tubes (you can always buy more)
• Tire levers
• Frame Pump or CO2
• Multi-Tool
• CamelBak (some people like water bottles, I prefer lots of cold water)
• Extra cleats for your shoes/pedals (you never know)

Clothes
Riding:
4 each (we have free laundry on Wed night)

• Cycling shorts
• Jerseys or wicking t-shirts
• Cycling socks
  
  
• A light windbreaker/rain gear to carry on your bike

Overnight:

• Shower shoes/Crocs/Slides
• A basic pair of shorts
• A couple of t-shirts (you’ll only need 2-3, you’re not in them very long each night)
• A pair of pants (in case it gets cold)
• Sweatshirt or something for a cool evening (it’s not likely to get that cold, but you never know)
• A pair of gym shorts for sleeping in and running for the bathroom

Toiletries

• Sunscreen (you’ll apply it 2-3 times a day!)
• Toilet paper (corn fields don’t have that and neither do some Kybos)
• Small pack of baby wipes to carry on the ride
• Basic personal hygiene stuff
• A camp towel (something that dries quickly)
• Chamois BUTT'r (don’t laugh, it works!)
• Gold Bond Powder (trust me!)

Camping

• Tent
• Sleeping bag (you’ll sleep on top of it most nights)
• A Sheet to sleep under
• Good sleeping pad
• Battery powered fan (a little one will move a lot of air in a tent)
• Small pillow
• Camp chair
• Tent & pole repair kit

Misc. Stuff

• Trash bags/HUGE ziplock backs (to pack stuff in, bags are placed outside rain or shine until you pick them up each day)
• Sunglasses
• Skull cap for sweat and sun protection
  
• Camera
• Batteries for said camera
• Memory for said camera (Bruce this means shoot at high resolution!)
• Ear plugs
• iPod
• cell phone
• cell phone charger/car charger
• a good book
• journal
• laptop (it will travel in the support vehicle, some towns will have WiFi)

Snacks

• Twizzlers Bites
• Cliff Bars
• Energy drink powder (pre-measured in bags makes life easier)

Money

• Budget a minimum of $30/day for food/drink
• Bring some cash and traveler’s checks
• Most things drinks cost $1-2
• Most meals cost between $5-7
• We’ll figure out fuel at the end

Things that Velodox, Inc will provide:

• Floor pump (pump your tires up EVERY morning)
• Dead blow hammer for tent stakes or Bruce
• Bike Stand
• Basic bike tools (yes, a cassette tool, too!)
• Cooler for evening festivities, support car will refill each afternoon with drinks/snacks
• We'll all donate to the "refill" fund . . .
  

Things not to bring

• Bad attitude
• Ego
• Too many clothes
• Perishable food
• Race mentality! (this is a RIDE, have fun)
• Expectations: whatever you expect RAGBRAI to be, it will likely be something else