Join Team CoeBRAI on RAGBRAI XXXVIII®

Ride with the official Coe College team on the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), scheduled for July 25-31, 2010. Students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends are all welcome to join Team CoeBRAI. If you are interested, please contact Lonnie Zingula at lzingula@coe.edu or (319) 399-8613.

Entry Fees
Fees for Team CoeBRAI have been set at $400 (a $25 increase over 2009). Of this, $200 is due March 1 along with a completed (online) entry form and signed waiver. The remaining $200 will be due July 1.

The fee includes the official $140 RAGBRAI entry fee, a Team CoeBRAI jersey and license plate, bus transportation to and from Cedar Rapids and the starting/ending towns, gear transportation, some meals, and snack and non-alcoholic beverages at each overnight stop.
While we understand that life happens, we must insist on a no-refund policy for cancellations after July 1. Additionally, we will follow this refund schedule: 75% on or before May 1, 50% on or before June 1 and 25% on or before July 1.

Additionally, participants should plan to spend $20-$30 per day on food and beverages, bike repairs, showers, etc.

Captain’s note about the cost increase: In 2009, we introduced a “tip jar,” which was set out at host locations that went above and beyond by also providing dinner. Due to varying results of this effort, we decided to factor host-provided meals up front and include it in the entry fee beginning in 2010. While it is unlikely that we will completely offset their costs, we can now offer hosts who agree to provide dinner with some level of remuneration for their generosity. While there are no guarantees, we hope this will make it more likely that hosts will be willing to take on the added burden of feeding Team CoeBRAI. Undoubtedly, there will still be evenings when riders are on their own for dinner.

The Route
RAGBRAI begins somewhere near Iowa's western border and ends along the eastern border at the Mississippi River. The route changes each year. Overnight towns will be announced in late January in The Des Moines Register and on www.ragbrai.org. Again in 2010, we will seek hosts from among the Coe community at each of the overnight towns.

Registration
Theoretically, RAGBRAI is limited to 8,500 week-long riders and 1,500 daily riders. Entries will exceed the number of riders allowed, so a random computer lottery takes place after all of the entries are entered in the computer. Lottery results are available online on May 1.

In actuality, RAGBRAI participation will swell to 15,000+ riders on any given day. Many people participate, either a day or two or all week, without registering. It is the policy of Team CoeBRAI to participate only as official RAGBRAI registrants. Participants who are part of an organized team have a far better chance of selection than individuals. Members of team CoeBRAI have received RAGBRAI credentials for five years running.

While we will make separate arrangements for some of the things provided by RAGBRAI registration, our entry fees contribute to many more benefits that you may never need, but without which the ride would not be possible. Included are sag wagon service for break downs, both physical and mechanical and especially mental; emergency medical service; route markings and daily maps; wristband discounts; free issues of The Des Moines Register in each of the host communities; 11 bicycle shops on the route to service your bike; an entry into the free bike drawing for riders and other prizes for support vehicle drivers; access to long-term parking; bicycle shipping stations; and free lost and found mailing service. Apparently, the registration fee doesn’t pay for the awesome service provided along the route by the Iowa Highway Patrol, but that vital service would disappear if it became a disorganized ride dominated by unregistered bikers. The Register claims its fee also pays for “great Iowa hospitality,” but that’s free of charge.

WAIVERS OF LIABILITY: Neither Coe College nor the Coe RAGBRAI® Organizing Committee (aka Team CoeBRAI) accept any liability for your personal health or safety. You waive all claims against anyone associated with RAGBRAI®, including Coe College and the Coe RAGBRAI® Organizing Committee (aka Team CoeBRAI), when you sign the official RAGBRAI® AGREEMENT, WAIVER & RELEASE OF LIABILITY. Read it before you sign it! Riding in motor vehicles, riding bicycles, being out in the weather, eating food prepared by strangers, etc., all entail a degree of risk. You assume that risk.