Forvak

Hi, I my dad dragged me out to RAGBRAI two years ago. Had to drag me away at the end. Last summer I wasn't able to do anything as large scale. This summer (July-August) I'm hoping to drag him to a bike trip. I really am looking for something similar to RAGBRAI with the large number of people and the entire event feel of it. I really enjoyed the conversations that I had with riders along the way. Im thinking ~500 miles. Looking for ~60-100 mi a day for 7-14 days. LOTS of people.
I've been searching around but haven't found anything close. Anyone know of any?

outashape

I've been on many week long bicycle tours. There is no ride that compares to RAGBRAI. RAGBRAI has many new riders. It is a difficult course with the wind, heat and hills. Many state rides have between 400-3000 riders. The average age of the riders is around 50-60. Each ride has something different to explore. For instance, Bike Florida has low mileage and very little hills--great for snowbirds who have only been on the trainer or short rides in the cold. The mileage is around 40-60 miles per day, and you can sit out several days because they loop from a city. TRIRI in Indiania is known for their great State hotels and food. Bike Virginia and Cycle North Carolina can be either hilly or flat and both offer nightly entertainment. One way to judge a ride is to see if they display elevation. Usually hard core roadies will go on rides with high mileage 70-100 miles per day with high elevation 15,000 - 30,000 feet gain for the week. Check out this website: https://www.nbtda.com/

velo2000

I've ridden the Bicycle Tour of Colorado the last two summers and loved it both times. Definitely check it out: https://www.bicycletourcolorado.com/

Camel

Check out the Camino de Santiago, aka the Way of Saint James. Its a classic Catholic Pilgrimage (?sp), however most of the folks do it just for fun.

Historicly it's a walking/trekking trip, but now tons of folks do it by bike. I started my current tour by cycling it. Made my own route from Paris, then followed a standard route from the Pyrannies.

Excellent food, folks from all over the world...highly recommended. I'd do it again

~Cheers from Kathmandu!~

outashape

I have to agree with Velo2000, Colorado is beautiful. I cycled on Pedal to the Peaks a couple of years. Ride the Rockies, Tour of Colorado and Pedal the Peaks all do the same routes on different years usually a couple of weeks apart. I enjoyed the desert on GABA (Greater Arizonia Bicycle Adventure) after starting at the Grand Canyon and cycling down to Mexico. Texas Hell Week is especially nice if you have a non-cycling partner as you do loops out of Fredericksburg each day with mileage from 30-200 miles per day. GOBA in Ohio has low mileage as does PALM in Michigan and is family oriented. Another fun and beautiful ride is Shoreline West put on by the League of Michigan Bicyclists. You take your swim suit with you and stop and swim at least once per day in Lake Michigan. It is all white, sand and waves like the ocean without the salt. There are tons of lighthouses, dunebuggy riding and tubing down crystal clear rivers. You pass through touristy towns, old towns, magnificant mansions in Harbor Springs, yuppie towns and wilderness areas, but again, on most rides the cities tolerate the cyclists, on RAGBRAI, you are appreciated and your dollars wanted. You feel like a champion as you enter a town and all the town folk not working at food stands, cheer you on.

valygrl

California Aids Ride - it's a fundraiser, and a rolling party. I think it usually has like 2000+ riders.
https://www.aidslifecycle.org/

mike_khad1

Check out Cycle Oregon. I did it for the first time this year and it was the most fun I've had on a bicycle - ever. www.cycleoregon.com

savage24

Check out GRABAAWR in Wisconsin:
https://www.grabaawr.com/Grabaawr/index.html

Peaks

While there are not thousands of people, but rather several hundred, I'd suggest checking out the Bon Ton Routlet in the Finger Lakes of NYS, or Erie Canal ride in NYS.

Critterpace

There's also Biking Across Kansas (www.bak.org).

GTcommuter

And of course a Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG). It got me into biking when I was a little kid and I'm still doing it decades later. It's a great ride, especially if you can catch one of the routes through N. Georgia.

OBXBIKR

Of course, everyone has his/her favorites. My suggestion is that you shop around at https://www.nbtda.com/ and choose the tour that appeals to you. One warning, if you start doing this stuff, you may never be able to stop.