Originally Posted by
board430
We were also there last year. I did RAGBRAI with my wife. She is not an avid cyclist but had RAGBRAI on her bucket list. Cycling is more my thing and I've done a few bikepacking trips. I didn't want her having to carry any gear in 2023, so we used Central Iowa Charters to transport our gear and we camped with the group. This year another cyclist friend and I are doing the whole ride unsupported. I'm curious though, do I need to be planning out each stop logistically to be sure we have somewhere to set up our tents and sleep? Or is the beauty of being self-supported that you can basically camp anywhere?
I live here in Iowa but my buddy is coming from California. I'll be pretty embarrassed if he gets here and my failure to plan results in us struggling to find places to overnight or worse, if we set up tents and get ourselves in trouble with the local authorities hahahaha.
You won't be alone finding places to camp overnight. There will be signs posted if people don't want cyclists to camp out. Obviously stay out of private properties, businesses, cemeteries, etc...... You can always camp out at the main campground and deal with the crowds, noise, traffic, etc..... I normally use a local charter to get to the start town and back but recently heard that they're shutting down the bus this year due to lack of participation so I'll have to find my own way to the start town and back. Thinking about riding out to Glenwood from Des Moines, do the entire week across Iowa and then ride back from Burlington - full 100% self-support and I'll carry my own gear.