Ready to join thousands of cyclists on the ultimate ride across Iowa? RAGBRAI (The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is not just a ride; it's an adventure. To make sure you have the best experience possible, you'll need a thorough packing list. Whether you're a seasoned rider or a newbie, this guide will walk you through everything you need to pack for RAGBRAI.
When it comes to packing cycling gear for RAGBRAI, keep in mind that you don't need the latest and greatest cycling gear. If you already have a bike and the basics (helmet, water bottles, etc.), you probably won't need to buy much or possible anything at all! Cycling can get really expensive really quickly, but RAGBRAI isn't a race, it's a fun ride/tour. Have the right equipment to keep you safe and comfortable, but don't worry about bringing all the latest gadgets and gear.
You'll see every type of bike at RAGBRAI, so in short the best bike for RAGBRAI is the bike you already have. We both used our old and pretty basic road bikes that have gotten us each across America twice. They're not fancy, but they've carried us thousands and thousands of miles and we're pretty sentimentally attached to them at this point.
If you're in the market to purchase a bike, shop around, visit multiple different bike shops, and do lots of research online. Buying a bike is an investment and you get what you pay for! If you're on a budget (like I was when I was shopping for my bike), keep an eye on Craigslist. I was able to snag my almost new Cannondale Synapse for $900.
Don't have a bike? Renting a bike is an option for RAGBRAI, too. However, I would only recommend this if you're only planning to ride one or maybe two days. While the bikes rented are often good quality, it's more about getting used to the bike ahead of time and making sure everything is adjusted properly. It's amazing how even the smallest adjustment to seat height or handlebar position can completely change the amount of comfort or pain you're in when riding for extended periods of time. When you rent a bike you aren't going to get that finely tuned in fit that you could do ahead of time by visiting a bike shop and having your bike professionally fit and adjusted to your specifications.
Packing a helmet for RAGBRAI is a must. You will likely see a couple of riders out there without helmets, but honestly, don't be that person. I've had many a friend fall and get concussions with bike helmets on, and the concussions would have been much more severe had they not being wearing a helmet. Even my most dangerous fall was broken by a helmet. Accidents happen so quickly and you should always be prepared by always wearing your helmet.
Helmets vary greatly in price and truthfully you don't need a crazy expensive helmet. If you don't already have one, consider shopping places like REI or Nashbar to save on name-brand helmets. Price is often dictated by aerodynamics and ventilation more than it is quality and level of safety. When choosing a helmet the most important thing is to make sure you get the right fit.
Another important note is to make sure you don't buy a used bike helmet. While we're all for shopping secondhand, helmets are one thing I would never buy used, only because once a helmet has taken a hit in a fall it should be replaced. Buying used doesn't let you know whether or not the helmet has taken a fall or not.
It's always good for each cyclist to carry all the gear they need to change a flat. If for some reason you end up having multiple flats on your trip, you can always purchase more tubes from bike shop vendors set up in each town the ride stops through. Bike tubes can be purchased at REI or any bike shop, just make sure you know what size you need before you go in to buy.
Again, this is part of being able to fix your own flat tire. Each rides should carry a CO cartridge to inflate the new tire tube. Alternatively you could install a mini bike hand pump on your bike.
Nobody likes to bike with a squeaky chain, so be sure to bring chain lube. There are different kinds of lube for wet and dry conditions, or you could buy one that is good for both. I snagged a fresh bottle of this chain lube before we hit the road for RAGBRAI and it served us well.
In order to change a flat tire on a bike, you'll need to carry a set of tire levers with you. The plastic ones work best!
While most people don't lock up their bikes during rest stops on the ride or even at night, when we left our bikes for an extended period of time (like leaving our bikes at camp while we went into town for dinner) we'd lock them up. Most people are good, but it'd be too easy for someone to walk through and just snag a bike unnoticed.
A lot of people completing RAGBRAI do not bike with cycling specific shoes with clips. However, if you're like me and have cycled with them in the past, it's hard to go back to not riding with them. If you're not familiar with cycling cleats, cyclists who pedal correctly using shoes and pedals that clip can get 25% extra power when pedaling. This is because cleats allow you to pull up on your pedal stroke instead of only pushing down. If you want to get more into cycling, I'd recommend cycling specific shoes and pedals, but if RAGBRAI is the only cycling event you plan to participate in, some sort of closed toe athletic shoe would probably serve you best.
We talk about our three different bike bags in depth later in this blog post under the luggage section.
I debated on whether or not I should pack a full size bike pump for RAGBRAI and I'm so glad I did. While there are bike shops who make a few bike pumps available each morning, it was nice to have our own pump with us so we could prep our bikes the night before and not have to worry about standing in line for a pump at 5:00 AM. Looking back I wish I had just gone ahead and splurged on a new on-bike hand pump with a gauge that would have saved a lot of space in my duffle as well saved me from having to purchase and carry CO cartridges for fixing flats on the road.
RAGBRAI tends to be very hot and humid so you'll definitely want to be prepared by carrying plenty of fluids on the bike with you. While I saw some people getting away with just one water bottle on the bike, for me this just isn't enough. For years I've always carried (2) 24 ounce water bottles which is generally the right amount to comfortably get me 10-20 miles on a really hot day (further if it's just normal hot). Everyone is different, but this system has worked well for me.
We purchased a headlight/taillight combo set on Amazon right before RAGBRAI 2024 since our other taillights and headlights have somehow disappeared over the years. The set we chose included a 9000 lumen headlight (which is really bright!) and a taillight that offers enough brightness to draw extra attention to you even on a sunny day. Both have multiple flashing and brightness settings, too. We purchased (2) sets of lights and one worked great, however the second set's headlight seemed to not hold a charge and it wouldn't stay on more than a couple of minutes at a time. We're going to return it and try to get it replaced because for the cost and size they're a great value!
Do as I say and not as I do, wear gloves when you bike! Not only do some gloves make gripping the handlebars for long days more comfortable, but they seriously protect your hands when/if you fall off your bike. Falling happens so fast and most people tend to land hands first and rip their palms open. Trust me, I've done this and while the skin on the palms heals quickly, it hurts like heck for a few days! Chris purchased these Giro gloves for RAGBRAI and he's really liked them so far.
We talk more about this in the electronics section a bit further down in this blog post.
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to packing clothing for RAGBRAI. There are two main things we want to remind you of:
Laundromats are pretty easy to find along the route so we packed three of everything with the plan of doing laundry twice during the week since we had seven days of back to back riding. You could get away with less if you want to just wash your clothes by hand daily, but I'd rather just find a laundromat a couple of times vs. hand washing everyday.
Everyone prefers different things, but I prefer wearing road cycling shorts for all my road cycling rides. My favorite ones are Rapha's shorter length cargo shorts. Chris wears their cargo bibs and shorts as well and loves them! They're pricey but they last a long time and the cargo pockets and chamois are top notch. Wear whatever works best for you! If you're not someone who will bike much beyond RAGBRAI then wearing regular athletic shorts might be just fine for you. Whatever you choose to wear, make sure you test them on the bike multiple times before bringing them with you for RAGBRAI.
For RAGBRAI 2024 we splurged and snagged a couple of Ostroy tops we've had our eyes on for a while. Chris also snagged one by Topo Designs that was really breathable and that was perfect for long touring days of cycling. Other than that, I packed my favorite running tank top but I ended up alternating my Ostroy tops every other day since they had better sun coverage.
RAGBRAI is hot and humid (I know you're probably already sick of hearing me say this), so bring shirts that are breathable and quick drying. You can wearing cycling specific tops that offer pockets for your phone, bike tubes, and other necessary gear, or you can simply wear workout tops that you'd wear for any other exercising. The choice is yours!
Sara's cycling tops: Ostroy banana shirt, Ostroy flower button down, Ostroy flower crop top
Chris' cycling tops: Ostroy banana shirt, Topo button down
Vests are a great way to stay warm during the cool, early morning rides. I don't think it'll ever be cold enough in Iowa in July to need a full blown jacket, but a vest is just right because it packs small to put away when the day warms up. I snagged this bright yellow vest by Fjallraven x Specialized and loved it! Bonus that it matched my cycling shirts so nicely! Chris packed an old cycling vest he's had for years by Giro, but between his short sleeve shirt + sun sleeves he never felt the need to breakout the vest to stay warm.
I packed three sports bras for cycling and one bra for around town and sleeping, plus underwear for sleeping and around town, too. Pack whatever you'd like, but really just a few of each should be plenty since you'll be able to wash clothes at laundromats and/or by hand regularly while riding.
We both prefer Vuori shorts and a cotton t-shirt for sleeping in. Not only are they comfortable and breathable but they can also double as clothes for around town. I did pack leggings and a long sleeve shirt in case I got cold at night but I never came anywhere near needing those!
If you know me you know I love my overalls. I packed both my denim overalls and a pair of bright yellow overalls by Wild Rye, plus a couple of t-shirts to mix and match underneath the overalls. I also packed a pair of running shorts just because I feel like I can never leave home without my favorite comfy, stretchy shorts.
Chris packed a couple pairs of his favorite running shorts by Lululemon plus a couple of black t-shirts. He keeps it simpler that I do...
Everyone is different, but personally we like ultra thin socks that keep us from getting hot spots on our feet while riding. We each packed three pairs of socks that were a variety of Feetures and Swiftwick socks.
We both have a paid of Birkenstock's Eva sandals in black which are perfect for times like RAGBRAI. Not only are these shoes comfy and exactly the kind of shoe you want to put on after wearing hard cycling shoes all day, but they're waterproof and they're super light weight which is perfect for packing in an already heavy duffle bag.
We thought we'd need a jacket far more often than we did. Yes, it was chilly in the mornings but even then we were moving around so fast that I warmed up quickly and never felt the need to wear a jacket. It's good to have on hand though!
RAGBRAI's routes don't offer a lot by way of tree coverage and shade, so you'll want to be prepared with a good sun shirt or sleeves if you don't intend on reapplying sunscreen every hour or so. Chris snagged these sun sleeves for RAGBRAI 2024 and he really liked them. He hates being lathered up in sunscreen so these were a good way to protect his skin during the long days of riding.
We both recently discovered Knockaround sunglasses which are now must haves for us when working out. These glasses are affordable, super lightweight, polarized, and even have a rubber no-slip grip on the nose for their sport style sunglasses like we have.
When packing for RAGBRAI try to keep your personal hygiene products to a minimum. Not that they're not important (trust me, your friends will be very glad you remembered to pack deodorant), but because too many toiletries can take up a lot of weight in your bag. RAGBRAI is hardly a beauty competition-- you're going to be cycling and sweating day in and day out so just go ahead and surrender to the idea that you're probably not going to look your best during this trip. However, you will emerge with some sick cycling tan lines!
Pro tip: Use reusable toiletries bottles like this set we snagged on Amazon. It'll save you money in the long run and it's less plastic waste to end up in a landfill.
This section is pretty self explanatory, so bring whatever toiletry items are your favorite!
If you're like most folks at RAGBRAI, you're going to need to pack your camping gear. While there are a lot of ways to "do" RAGBRAI, most folks (like ourselves) choose to camp in the main campground and use the RAGBRAI baggage transportation that's included in the weekly rider admission pass. If you're going with a team or cycling group that provides certain amenities, or if you're camping in an RV, you're not going to necessarily need all of this camping gear.
We snagged the Big Agnes Copper Spur Bikepack tent a couple of years ago and have loved it through several weeks of camping already. If you're going to do RAGBRAI self-supported, this tent is perfect for you because it's designed to fit right between your handlebars. Or, if you're like us and you're using the luggage transportation during RAGBRA, it's still nice and small and will take up minimal space and weight in your duffle bag. (Note: Always practice setting up and taking down your tent ahead of time. Also double check you have all the pieces for your tent including stakes and rain cover.)
Iowa gets some gnarly summer storms, so be sure to bring a hammer to drive those tent stakes good and firm into the ground. You don't want your tent flying away when the wind kicks up!
Generally speaking you don't need a very warm sleeping bag for RAGBRAI. We had relatively cool weather for July and I tend to get very cold at night and I slept comfortably in my sleeping bag that was rated for warmer temps. There were even a couple of nights I slept on top of the sleeping bag because it was so warm (which is not normal for me!).
A good sleeping pad makes all the difference when camping! I've had a few different ones over the years and this one by Thermarest that I upgraded to a few years has been game changing. I love that it's far more insulated than any other sleeping pad I've ever had which is perfect for colder nights. It's quick to inflate and it's thick enough that even when I sleep on my side my hip doesn't touch the ground. I always wake up feeling so rested when camping! The only downside to this sleeping pad is that it is kind of noisy when you move around on it. Honestly, I love the sleeping pad so much that the noise doesn't bother me. But, if you're a light sleeper and someone else sharing your tent is using it, it might be a problem.
If you don't already have a camping pillow, go buy one. I'm the kind of person that needs good neck support when sleeping and these little pillows pack small and offer wonderful support.
A good, waterproof laundry bag serves two purposes: 1) keeps your dirty laundry together and in an airtight bag so your entire suitcase doesn't smell like sweat, and 2) it can serves as a washing bag if you don't feel like going to a laundromat. We used waterproof stuff sacks for our dirty laundry then packed biodegradable laundry soap. While we did end up finding laundromats close to camp a couple of times, we knew that if we didn't have laundry nearby we could still wash our clothes with a little detergent and water.
Just like I used reusable bottles for my toiletries, I also packed enough laundry detergent for a couple of loads of laundry in a reusable bottle. Because I didn't know if we would be hand washing our laundry outside or if we'd be using a laundromat, I packed my favorite biodegradable laundry detergent that would be safe to dump on the ground (away from fresh water sources). It never came to that, but to be prepared!
We packed this super small laundry line to hang our clothes on to dry. Honestly, we never used it because there were only two of us and all of our clean, wet laundry easily fit on the roof of our tent to dry. If you plan on doing a lot of laundry though, this is a good one to have handy.
A headlamp is handy when packing and getting ready early in the morning. I actually forgot mine for RAGBRAI (oops) but the ceiling light we packed for our tent (see below) worked well enough for us. If you have a headlamp though, bring it!
We packed one of our Luci lights to use in our tent while camping at RAGBRAI which was perfect! The light charges via solar and one charge lasted us the whole week. It packs small and is bright enough to easily illuminate the entire tent while getting ready in the morning, plus it provided a good bit of light while we were breaking down and packing up our tent in the dark.
Having a quick drying towel for showers and/or swimming is a must! The last thing you want is a wet towel stinking up your entire duffle bag during the day.
We purchased these Loop earplugs before we crossed the border into Mexico to begin our Pan American Highway journey and we're so glad we did! Not only do they come in handy to protect our hearing against the loud engine of our '88 diesel Land Cruiser, but they also help us sleep at night when we're in a less than ideal campsite. RAGBRAI is a lot of fun, but some people prefer to be up later at night partying and attending every concert (there's one every night of RAGBRAI!). However, we enjoy getting to bed early to help our bodies recover before the next day's ride. These Loop earplugs are awesome because they're comfortable to sleep in, they're reusable, and they are adjustable with three different levels of noise blocking. There is no battery so they don't have to be recharged and they're fully waterproof. They might seem pricey for earplugs, but trust me, they're worth it.
While we're all for unplugging and disconnecting while on a fun trip like RAGBRAI, if you're like us, you'll probably want to pack a few electrical items to help you capture the memories of the adventure plus stay connected with friends and family along the way. Here's everything we packed electrical wise for RAGBRAI.
Experienced travelers know you never leave home without a power strip! Plugs can be hard to come by and having a power strip that allows you to charge all of your electrical devices in one outlet will save a lot of time. It's hard to race folks to be the first to grab the electrical outlets at a campsite, but sometimes you can convince someone to unplug their device from the socket and plug your power strip in to allow even more people to charge at one time.
We've been GoPro users for years and love the way it allows us to capture quality action shots without risking ruining our mirrorless Sony camera. Before RAGBRAI we upgraded from a GoPro 8 to a GoPro 11 with the creative bundle and we've been so impressed so far! We shot about 70% of our RAGBRAI vlog on this one little camera because it was just so easy to use and carry.
GoPros are great but the battery life does go quickly. We traveled with a total of three GoPro batteries during RAGBRAI and we recharged all three each night.
I know most people don't want to pack a big, expensive camera for RAGBRAI, but we love capturing cinematic clips and quality photos along the way. The Sony A7sIII with the Sony 24-70 f/2.8 GM II lens is the camera we use daily and carried with us on the trip. However, there are much less expensive options if you don't already have a camera but you're still looking to upgrade and take your Youtube or photography to the next level.
We travel with the DJI Mini Pro 4 drone for those epic shots that capture the scene and landscape of wherever we're traveling. This drone is small enough to carry on a bike and is also below the 250 gram weight limit that a lot of countries base their drone laws around (this is only important to note if you plan to travel outside the USA with your drone).
If earplugs aren't your thing, Airpods work great for blocking out some of the noise while trying to sleep while camping at RAGBRAI. I will say that we never advise biking with headphones in! Your safety and the safety of those around you depends on you being alert and aware to what's going on around you at all times on the road.
We both used our Garmin Fenix 7S watches during RAGBRAI and they worked great! These have been our daily watches for hiking, running, cycling, and more for the last two years. The numerous features this watch makes the price tag worth it (in our opinion). My only complaint about the watch is that the elevation/climbing always seems to be off on this watch, even when I calibrate at the start of the ride. Other than that, this watch is awesome. While cycling I primarily look at the heart rate and distance metrics, but it certainly has a lot of other features.
If you're someone who likes to have your route and ride states easy to see at all times, consider investing in a bike computer. While we didn't pack a bike computer for RAGBRAI, this Garmin Edge option has been on my wishlist for a while now. It is pricey and their are certainly less expensive options on the market, but when I finally invest in a bike computer I want to get the one with all the bells and whistles.
Don't forget to bring your watch and bike computer chargers! Most cycling gadgets (including our Garmin Fenix 7S watches) have very specific charging cables which you're unlikely to find on the road somewhere. Be sure to pack these ahead of time!
Don't forget the iPhone charger (or whatever phone charger you need).
Packing this little accessory for my phone totally upped my phone photography while cycling. A year or two ago I purchased Moment's iPhone filter mount and for RAGBRAI I purchased a Tiffen polarizer for my phone which really upped the quality of the photos and videos taken in phone! The skies were so blue and the light was so bright with lots of reflections and the inexpensive polarizing filter was a great $20 buy!
I always like to travel with an extra battery bank just in case I can't get my hands on an electrical outlet to recharge at night. I even carried this little battery bank on the bike with me durin ght elonger days since I was using my phone as a camera, too, and didn't want the battery to run out.
We don't recommend packing a lot of food and drinks for RAGBRAI since you'll be near Casey's convenience stores and grocery stores every day. Not to mention there are lots of foods to eat in every town along the way which typically are spaced about every 10 miles. However, there were a few things we knew we'd definitely need every day so we went ahead and brought a few things with us.
If you're not familiar with Liquid IV, they're little individual electrolyte packages that you add to a bottle of water. They come in a variety of flavors and types but for RAGBRAI we opted to just bring two different types: the option with the caffeine addition and the sugar free option. Everyone is different with what nutrients they need, but for us, I tend to need less sugar and more of the other components that are in the drink mixes. The caffeine one was nice to have on hand to add to our bottles in the afternoon when we needed a little pick me up, too.
While you can find Liquid IVs online and in many grocery stores and drug stores these days, they're about half the price if you purchase them by the big bag at Costco. Give a small box a try before you commit to the big bag, but if you like them and they seem to meet your nutritional needs while working out, get the big bag at Costco!
I'm the kind of person who needs their morning coffee pick me up (even though I hate to admit I'm addicted to caffeine like that). While coffee is decently easy to find along the RAGBRAI route, there were some mornings that we began our RAGBRAI ride too early to find coffee before we started so we opted to keep a few Celsius packets on us. These are a simple and easy way to get a bit of water in your before you start riding for the day as well as a bit of a caffeine wake up call that you'll definitely need a bit more each morning of RAGBRAI.
While there's a seemingly endless number of food vendors along RAGBRAI, packing Clif Bars with us was a good way to guarantee we had a well balanced power snack at the ready whenever we needed. Clif Bars can be purchased in their full size version, or in a mini version. We packed both options with us.
While RAGBRAI does provide first aid stations periodically, it's important to bring a few supplies of your own to prevent injury and discomfort during the ride.
Note: I'm not a medical professional. Always seek professional medical advice for any and all medical and health related questions.
Summer in Iowa is typically very sunny with little shade along the route. Protect yourself and bring lots of sunscreen! I carried this travel size sunscreen on my bike with me the whole time and reapplied every 10-20 miles.
Trust me, your lips burn, too! In fact, one day I forgot to apply my SPF chapstick and the next day my lips were super swollen and burned (ouch!).
I packed not one, but two containers of bug spray because I thought the mosquitoes would be out of control Surprisingly I didn't get a single bug bite and I never once put on bug spray. Still I'd recommend packing a can or two just in case.
After those long days in the sun, aloe hits the spot. Because aloe typically comes in large bottles, I packed a 3 ounce travel size bottle with enough aloe to get me through the week.
KT Tape is one of those things I wonder if it's more a mental fix (almost like a placebo), but truth is I do think I notice a difference when using it. If you're not familiar with KT Tape, it's a stretch tape used to support muscles, joints, and tendons when exercising and while recovering. I've personally used it many times for runners knee, IT band flare ups, and even a broken ankle. The best part is that KT Tape has all sorts of tutorial videos online to help you tape whatever injury you're trying to treat. I packed one roll of KT Tape for RAGBRAI in case my IT band started giving me trouble, but thankfully it never did.
Chamois Butt'r (or as some people call it, "butt butter") is your best friend when your butt starts to chaff from long hours on the bike seat. Truthfully, I didn't use butt butter the first year or two that I was road cycling, but on one very hot and very humid day in Illinois, my butt needed a little relief. Since then, I don't bike without it. Chamois Butt'r comes in a few different varieties, but I prefer the Eurostyle which has a bit of menthol in it.
Sleep is incredibly important when you're cycling RAGBRAI but sometimes I just can't fall asleep. If you're like me and occasionally need a little help getting a good deep sleep, don't forget an over the counter sleeping aid (always check with your doctor before taking any new medications).
I always have ibuprofen on me for when my knees ache too much or the cramps kick in. One day of gnarly headwinds at RAGBRAI left my lower back pretty tight and I was super glad I had this on me.
Okay, I knew the second I left home I would regret not bringing my foam roller with me and I did. Foam rolling mis my favorite post workout stretch and recovery tool and I should have prioritized it in my luggage better. Yes it takes up a lot of room, but without a doubt I'll be packing it for RAGBRAI 2025.
Having the right bags can make your trip much more organized. RAGBRAI has specific baggage stipulations such as no hard sided luggage or backpacks with frames. We're also going to include what bags we used on our bikes for this ride and what backs and organizers we used as waterproof protection and storage while riding.
We travel back and forth from home in the USA to our truck camper on the Pan American Highway. Before we left we knew we'd need good, durable duffle bags that could make the trip many times over and we landed on the 70 liter Patagonia Black Hole Duffle. We each purchased one and it has been the perfect size to pack a lot of stuff without pushing the 50 pound weight limit that both airlines and RAGBRAI have in place. The duffle isn't technically waterproof, but in our experience it's very water resistant.
We always track with a couple of waterproof stuff sacks and RAGBRAI was no different. We used an airtight, waterproof stuff sack for storing our dirty laundry which can also double as a wash bag in a pinch if we don't want to find a laundromat. We packed an additional waterproof stuff sack for our camera gear just in case we ended up in a storm while on the bike. Chris carried the waterproof stuff sack on the bike with him and the Sony camera so he could quickly protect the camera if a summer storm whipped up.
Never leave for a cycling trip without Ziploc bags! These waterproof baggies are incredibly handy for protecting cellphones when it rains, storing snacks, and keeping random items organized in the duffle bag and on the bike. I always pack a few quart and gallon bags in the suitcase before we leave to have on hand for whatever instance come up.
If you're like us and the tent you're camping in at RAGBRAI is too small to store your duffles in at night if it rains, bring a couple of trash bags big enough to fit your duffle just in case. Our tent's fly was large enough to shield our duffles but if a truly windy and nasty storm came up we were ready with trash bags to protect our bags full of our dry clothes and electrical goods.
Pack an easily collapsible bag that packs small for hauling your toiletries and clean clothes to and from the shower. I used my super tiny reusable grocery bag from IKEA for this, but use whatever you have on hand.
I like to use a small bag under my bike seat to carry my spare tube, CO cartridge, and tire levers. It's not the most convenient bag to just reach in and snag something while riding so I use that bag for carrying the things I need less often.
You lots of different options when considering bags that will go on the front half of your bike. Between the two of us we used three different front of bike bags.
The first was this Chrome handlebar bag that perfectly fit our Sony A7sIIIwith our 24-70 f/2.8 lens on it. I know most people don't bike with large cameras like we do, so just know this is still a great bag even if you don't want to carry a camera. It can easily detach from the bike and be worn as a crossbody bag around town, too.
The second bag we used was a small one that mounts on the top tube of the bike, just behind the handlebars. This one is handy because it has a safe and secure place to keep your phone while riding and allows you to check your phone through the clear cover without having to pull it out all the time. This is especially handy if you're using your phone for directions. The top tube bag also has room for snacks, an Allen wrench, hand sanitizer, and mini sunscreen bottle.
The third bag we used was this little front mounted bag from REI that can also double as a crossbody bag. This is where I stored my wallet, hand sanitizer, snacks, and a few other small items that I needed with me from day to day.
Luggage locks were a last minute add to the Amazon cart when packing for RAGBRAI and I'm so glad I thought to buy them! Not only did it safely keep our luggage locked and secure during the day when they're being transported, but we also used the luggage locks to lock our tent when we would leave it. Honestly, we always felt incredibly safe at RAGBRAI, but it would be too easy for someone to open our tent and rummage through it to take whatever they'd like. A lock could be relatively easy to cut, but our hope was that if someone was looking for an easy grab of items that even a small lock would deter them.
Packing for RAGBRAI can seem overwhelming, but with this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-prepared for an unforgettable adventure. Remember, the key is to balance necessity with comfort, and always prioritize safety. Ready to hit the road? Make sure you have everything checked off on your RAGBRAI packing list. Happy riding, and see you in Iowa!
