November 2007 RAGBRAI E-Newsletter - David Harrenstein, Editor

Welcome to the November 2007 issue of the RAGBRAI E-Newsletter. In this issue:

• LOOKING FORWARD TO RAGBRAI IN 2008!
• NEW LOGO FOR RAGBRAI XXXVI????
• 2008 RAGBRAI ENTRIES
• RAGBRAI TEAMS WITH STICKS TO CREATE LIMITED EDITION RAGBRAI ORNAMENT
• JANUARY MEETING FOR CLUBS & TEAMS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE IOWA BIKE SUMMIT
• IOWA NAMES "SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL" DIRECTOR

LOOKING FORWARD TO RAGBRAI IN 2008!

We appreciate the overwhelming support of RAGBRAI riders and various cycling organizations throughout the country that have written, called and e-mailed to express their opinions on RAGBRAI being banned in Crawford County.

RAGBRAI has worked with state, county and local officials for the past 35 years to host the OLDEST, LONGEST and LARGEST recreational bike tour in the WORLD. We have had some productive conversations with the Iowa State Association of Counties and hope to continue to work towards a solution that addresses liability concerns while not eroding the rights of cyclists.

So, what can you do to help? It's simple! We ask that you show your appreciation to the selected overnight towns and the pass-through towns like never before. Show these great Iowa communities that step up to host RAGBRAI XXXVI that RAGBRAI riders and support people are grateful and appreciate their hospitality and welcoming attitude towards RAGBRAI and cyclists.

NEW LOGO FOR RAGBRAI XXXVI????

The new logo for RAGBRAI XXXVI will be unveiled Nov. 15. Check the RAGBRAI.org Web site to catch a glimpse of the new look for the 2008 event.

2008 RAGBRAI ENTRIES

Registration for RAGBRAI XXXVI will open on Thursday, Nov. 15. Individuals and groups will be able to access the online entry form at our Web site, ragbrai.org or through DesMoinesRegister.com. In addition to online submission, manual (paper) entry forms will once again be accepted. If an individual or group elects to submit a manual entry, the entry, including the signed original waiver(s) and payment must be complete, correct and dated no later than Feb. 15, 2008. The deadline, however, for online entries remains April 1, 2008.

Submitting an entry does not constitute being registered for the event. RAGBRAI is limited to 8,500 week-long riders and all entries received by their respective deadlines will be included in a lottery. The lottery selection is entirely random and is not first come, first serve. We cannot over emphasize the importance of submitting a correct and complete entry form, including an original signed waiver of liability (not faxed or copied) for each person, as incomplete entries will be returned for correction and thus risk missing the entry submission deadline.

Lottery results will be posted on the RAGBRAI home page on May 1, 2008.

Important Dates to Remember:

• Nov. 15, 2007 - RAGBRAI XXXVI registration opens
• Feb. 15, 2008 - Deadline for manual (paper) entry submission
• April 1, 2008 - Deadline for online entry submission
• May 1, 2008 - Lottery results posted

Entry Fees

Everyone, whether a rider or a passenger in a vehicle, must submit an entry. The entry fee for a week-long rider is $125. The entry fee for a non-rider is $35. Anyone not riding a bicycle (driver, family members, or friends riding in a vehicle) must submit an entry form and a signed waiver for a non-rider wristband. Daily wristbands are for the rider and/or non-rider who is not able to participate for the full week. The entry fee for daily wristbands is $25 per day with a limit of three days per person.

Vehicle Passes

Only 1,500 vehicle passes are issued at a cost of $35 each with a limit of three vehicles per group. Any vehicle taken on the ride must have a vehicle pass. The driver and passengers traveling in the vehicle must each submit an entry for a non-rider wristband if they are not entering as riders. A non-rider entry does not automatically include a vehicle pass. Only the Group Contact can make the request for a vehicle pass. Entries for vehicle passes will not be processed if the driver of the vehicle is not a part of the group entry. Vehicle passes are not necessary for vehicles left at the beginning or the end of the route. Only groups or three or more (combination of riders and non-riders) are eligible to apply for a vehicle pass.

Group Contact

If you are entering more than one person, one person must be designated as the Group Contact. The group's wristband/credential packet will be mailed to the Group Contact in late May. The Group Contact will be responsible for distributing the member's wristbands, credentials, jerseys and any vehicle passes requested.

The Group Contact will be responsible for sending in the following items listed below, together in one packet to RAGBRAI prior to the deadline:

• Individual Entry Forms for each member (if paper entry forms are submitted)
• Original signed waivers for each member
• Group Summary
• One payment to cover all costs for the group

Waiver of Liability

Each person, whether submitting an electronic entry form or a manual (paper) entry form, must sign and submit a paper waiver with the Individual or Group Entry. Group members who mail a waiver of liability to RAGBRAI, separate from the group entry, will have their waivers returned, as we are unable to match individual waivers to their respective groups. Due to legal issues, best practices continue to dictate that a RAGBRAI Waiver of Liability must be completed by hand and a signed original must be received before an entry is considered complete.

Official Rider Benefits

Having your entry selected in the lottery makes you an officially registered participant entitled to the following benefits:

• Four ambulances and paramedic teams on the route each day.
• Traffic controlled by Iowa State Patrol officers at busy intersections throughout the day.
• Baggage transported from overnight-to-overnight community and unloaded for participants at the end of each day.
• Free SAG service, which patrols the route to pick up riders who break down either physically or mechanically.
• Ten bicycle repair shops dispersed throughout the route, and additional repair services available in the campgrounds during the day and in the evenings. Participants will pay for their own repairs, however, the shops will offer discounts for registered participants on all repairs, accessories and RAGBRAI apparel.
• Provision for camping locations in each host community, in addition to food vending areas, shuttle services, shower services and entertainment.
• Portable toilets with hand-washing stations distributed among the community campgrounds.
• Route maps handed out at the community Information Centers and the RAGBRAI Merchandise trailers.
• Colorful and distinct, route signs that mark the bike route and the separate support vehicle route.
• A free Campground Edition of The Des Moines Register each day.
• A free embroidered patch for week-long riders.
• Bicycle shipping stations at the end of the ride.
• Gifts for registered support vehicle drivers who attend the training meeting on the Saturday before the ride starts.
• Discounts at food vendors, bicycle repair shops, merchandise booths, and shower facilities for all registered participants displaying their wristbands. Displaying the wristband will also give you priority for sag service, bicycle shop repairs and many other services.
• The annual Expo on the Saturday before the ride starts. The Expo features the latest in bicycle equipment, accessories and apparel.
• Entry in a drawing for a free bike for those who watch the RIDE RIGHT® safety video.
• A free century patch for registered participants who complete the 100-mile loop.

RAGBRAI TEAMS WITH STICKS TO CREATE LIMITED EDITION RAGBRAI ORNAMENT

A perfect holiday gift! Two Iowa traditions, RAGBRAI® and Sticks have teamed together to create a personalized limited edition RAGBRAI ornament. This wood ornament features beautiful Iowa landscape with a special cycling touch. We are providing you with the opportunity to personalize the back of your wood ornament with your name or team name. Each Sticks piece is handcrafted and individually designed by artisans in Des Moines, Iowa.
Visit http://shop.ragbrai.org, to purchase your ornament.

JANUARY MEETING FOR CLUBS & TEAMS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE IOWA BIKE SUMMIT

Please mark your calendars for the annual January Meeting for RAGBRAI Clubs and Teams to be held on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Des Moines. This is the annual meeting of the statewide RIGHT RIDE committee members and team and club representatives. Each team or club will receive an invitation to send representatives to attend the meeting. The meeting will focus on ways to make RAGBRAI safer and more enjoyable for all.

The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Iowa Bike Summit (Friday, Jan. 18 - Saturday, Jan. 19) and the Bike Night Gala & Social (Saturday evening, Jan. 19) leading up to the January Meetings. The 2008 Iowa Bicycle Summit is sponsored jointly by the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. The bringing together of these two events will make these the "winter meetings" of bicycling. We hope your club will be represented at these informative meetings. More details to come!

The meetings will be held in downtown Des Moines at the Holiday Inn Mercy Campus (just off I-235 at 6th Avenue) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be served for those that RSVP. Rooms are available for those that want to travel in Saturday night. See below for details.

For Hotel Reservations:
Rate: $84.95 (Mention RAGBRAI)
Block held until January 2, 2008
Holiday Inn Downtown-Mercy Campus
1050 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314
515-283-0151
www.dsm-downtown.holiday-inn.com

IOWA NAMES "SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL" DIRECTOR

Iowa's Safe Routes to School program began work on encouraging kids to walk and bicycle to school. On Oct. 1, the Iowa Bicycle Coalition hired Jennifer Bedet as Safe Routes Program Director.

Jennifer Bedet from Iowa City joins the Iowa Bicycle Coalition after working for ACT as a Test Development associate. Bedet brings her experience as a teacher and a strong commitment to bicycling to the program. Jennifer grew up in New Hampshire and Germany, in addition, lived in Virginia, Indiana, France, and the Czech Republic.

Jennifer is also an active volunteer at the Iowa City Bike Library. The Bike Library program recycles used bicycles, repairs the bikes, and loans them out for use in the community.

The Safe Routes to School program is funded through the SAFETEA-LU transportation bill which works to encourage kindergarten through eighth graders to walk or ride bicycles to school safely. The program has funding for infrastructure improvements, like sidewalks and trails, as well as funding for noninfrastructure programs, like safety education and encouragement activities.

The Iowa Safe Routes encouragement and education program will work to train schools to address how to increase walking and biking, like use of walking school buses and bike trains in a safe and supervised setting.