Ragbrai 2015 (Des Moines, Davenport, Sioux City: campsites, living, cost of)

[Meemur]

The overnight stops were named last night:

Sioux City, Storm Lake, Fort Dodge, Eldora, Cedar Falls, Hiawatha, Coralville, Davenport announced as overnight stops on RAGBRAI.

More info here:

RAGBRAI overnight towns, new gravel loop announced

RAGBRAI is a week-long bike ride through Iowa, July 19 - 25.

I'm excited!

[wingit]

I am so thankful that Muscatine did not get to be the final stop for Ragbrai. The cost of preparing, and the mess left behind, isn't worth having it come to any final stop city in my opinion. Those that get the overnights might benefit, but by the end people are just ready to get back on the road home. The economic impact isn't that great for the ending cities in my opinion.

[Meemur]

I think if Davenport plays their cards right, they'll reap some economic benefit to off-set the clean up. Good food, bands, a festival . . . those aspects might encourage people to hang around a bit.

[funksoulbro]

Originally Posted by Meemur

I think if Davenport plays their cards right, they'll reap some economic benefit to off-set the clean up. Good food, bands, a festival . . . those aspects might encourage people to hang around a bit.

On the flip side, the boring and depressing nature of Davenport will probably encourage most folks to pack up their bike get out of town ASAP. The last thing you need after a week-long, biking-fueled adrenaline rush is the major bummer you'll get from hanging around the Quad Cities too long.

[wingit]

Meemur,
You are probably right. Davenport already has the Bix 7 going on that day, so there is something to keep people's interest in staying a little longer. Muscatine is small, there's nothing that interesting to keep a bunch of road weary bikers in town. We have had them come to town I believe 4 times now, I seriously doubt that there's been a huge boon to our local economy any of those times.

Bikers in general seem to like to tout themselves as eco friendly, the mess they leave behind sure speaks otherwise.

[Meemur]

I don't claim to be "eco friendly," but I certainly pick up after myself, and I've packed out my share of trash at campsites.

Maybe this year people will be a little more responsible.

[Meemur]

Update: I missed getting my "day pass" (the deadline was June 1) but I'm still planning on being at the finish line for the party. (:

[capitalcityguy]

Did something change? You used to be able to get day passes anytime. When I rode a couple years ago out of Des Moines, I just bought my pass the evening before the day I rode.

[Meemur]

Sorry, I meant that was the last day to get them online. You can still get them at the ride if there is space available (according to their website: FAQs | RAGBRAI )