March 2008 RAGBRAI E-Newsletter - David Harrenstein, Editor

Welcome to the March 2008 issue of the RAGBRAI E-Newsletter. In this issue:

• REGISTRATION UPDATE
• DAILY RIDERS
• THE TOWNS ARE GETTING READY
• MAYOR'S ANNUAL RIDE FOR TRAILS STARTS THE BIKE SEASON!
• LIZARD KINGS RULE BY RECYCLING BIKES
• RAGBRAI EXPO
• TRAINING WITH DUFFY

REGISTRATION UPDATE

April 1, the deadline for week-long riders has come and gone and we are no longer accepting entries for week-long riders. In addition, due to the volume of entries received, RAGBRAI will not maintain a "waiting list" for RAGBRAI XXXVI.

If you have yet to receive a confirmation regarding your application, do not worry. Our office staff is working diligently to enter and process the thousands of applications received over the past three weeks.
If you submitted a paper application prior to Feb. 15, either as an individual or group, your application will be processed within the next three weeks. Paper applications require an increased amount of data entry thus resulting in a processing delay.

Each entry received and/or postmarked no later than April 1, 2008 will be entered into our lottery. RAGBRAI is limited to 8,500 week-long riders who are selected through a computer drawing. The lottery selection is entirely random and is not first come, first serve. Results for the lottery will be posted on our web site May 1. If your entry is not selected, a full refund will be issued.

DAILY RIDERS

Daily wristbands may be purchased for one, two or three days only, buy submitting an online entry via www.ragbrai.org. Entry, waiver and payment must be received by July 1 for pre-registration and to ensure assignment and arrival of wristbands prior to RAGBRAI.

A daily wristband is valid only on the day for which it is issued. Daily riders are entitled to SAG wagon and medical services for that day. These services are not available on any day for which a wristband is not purchased. For example, if you have a daily wristband for Monday only, but continue to ride, you would not be entitled to SAG wagon service.

Day riders are provided with use of RAGBRAI's baggage service for the day of their wristband. However, baggage tags (and bike license plates) for daily riders are not numbered. Day riders who wish to use the baggage service, should write their wristband number(s) on the baggage tag. Wristband numbers must be listed on the baggage tag for ALL days that they wish to use baggage service. You will have a different wristband number and color for each day. Day riders will NOT receive a bike band or a free patch certificate.

The Des Moines Register, RAGBRAI and the host communities do not provide shuttle service to daily riders at the end of the day. You are responsible for finding your own way back to your car.

THE TOWNS ARE GETTING READY

Over 180 volunteer leaders from all eight overnight communities attended an all-day workshop last month in Des Moines. To get the towns ready, RAGBRAI enlisted the services of the 2007 RAGBRAI host communities and various agencies that work with RAGBRAI to insure a safe and enjoyable event. The 2008 towns will be ready come July!

MAYOR'S ANNUAL RIDE FOR TRAILS STARTS THE BIKE SEASON!
April 19, 2008 - Des Moines

Join the Mayor, RAGBRAI Host Brian Duffy and the Dream Team on Saturday, April19, 2008, to experience Des Moines for the 21st annual Mayor's Annual Ride for Trails. The ride starts at City Hall (400 Robert D. Ray Drive)

All proceeds from this event support Des Moines' recreational trails. Registration will be $20; $25 after April 1. Registration by April 1 guarantees a t-shirt, lunch, and entertainment. The ride will finish at the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater on the banks of the Des Moines River. Refreshments, music and fun will be on the program from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• Click here for more information.
• Click here to download registration form.

LIZARD KINGS RULE BY RECYCLING BIKES

The Lizard Kings have been riding RAGBRAI since the mid-90's. One of their members, Karmin McShane, is the Executive Director of the Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency. Karmin sent an email out to her Lizard King team members stating that they had a surplus of old bikes that the agency had collected and asked if any teammates had any ideas to utilize the bikes since the agency was attempting to divert them from the landfill. Dennis Mumm, a Chicago area Lizard King, knew of an agency that was involved in refurbishing old bikes for third world countries.

The Working Bikes Cooperative of Chicago is the agency that had a use for the bikes. They even sent a truck over to Cedar Rapids to pick up the large collection. A small portion of the bikes collected are refurbished and resold locally to cover the cost to ship the remaining bikes overseas to developing countries. The bikes are often re-tooled into other machines. Instead of piling up in landfills, these bikes are helping those in need.

Thanks Lizard Kings!

Click here to read more on the recycled bikes