March 27, 2022
Dear Friends,

It's always an exciting moment in March, the reveal of seven route maps published by RAGBRAI, showing the full detail--- pass-through towns, elevation, and mileage of each day's ride! Here, you'll find Sunday's route map, the full-week map, and a link to RAGBRAI's blog about your week in the corn, released just today!
Check out the blog at RAGBRAI.com:


Throughout the coming week, please watch RAGBRAI on FB for features of each day's map and ride.

Do you have the FREE PORK BELLY MOBILE APP? Remember--the convenient tabs on our App put all things PORK at your fingertips, including the Rider Route Maps!

Click the images above and below to download the PDFs!
*** Read all the way through this update, folks, for Wednesday Options for shortening your 105-mile day,
your RAGBRAI Registration Deadline, and
a special note for e-bike riders with PBV! ***
Overnight Towns and Miles
of RAGBRAI 2022
 
For your convenience, here is the adjusted mileage for each day. These mileage numbers have been updated since we last published this info on Feb 6.
  • Gather on Friday or Saturday, 7/22-7/23, in Sergeant Bluff
  • 53.2 miles to Ida Grove on Day 1, Sunday, 7/24
  • 71.2 miles to Pocahontas on Day 2, Monday, 7/25
  • 56.4 miles to Emmetsburg on Day 3, Tuesday, 7/26 (Half-Hoggers can jump out on Tuesday, 7/26, or jump in to ride the last four days.)
  • 105 miles to Mason City on Day 4, Wednesday, 7/27 (PBV will offer a second Half-Hog Exit shuttle later on Wednesday)
  • 49.9 miles to Charles City on Day 5, Thursday, 7/28
  • 63 miles to West Union on Day 6, Friday, 7/29
  • 65.4 miles into Lansing on Day 7, our last Saturday, 7/30!
ABOUT
DAY 4
and
DAY 7

Most of the mileages for this year's RAGBRAI are right around the 50s, and most, if not all, RAGBRAI riders are well-prepared for fifty-something-mile days! Monday is 71 miles, still well within the normal range of a RAGBRAI day.

The two days that we will address in this update are your 105-mile Wednesday on Day 4 and the last day, Saturday, now at 65 miles.

Let's begin with Wednesday.
The CENTURY TRADITION
on RAGBRAI
As most of you know, Wednesday of RAGBRAI 2022 is a century day. You won't see a shorter route with the usual optional century loop. Rather, it is a full 105-mile day without a shorter option. How appropriate that RAGBRAI has dedicated this day to its founder, the late John Karras, who passed away late last year, and who established the tradition of an optional century ride during RAGBRAI.
THINKING through
WEDNESDAY OPTIONS

Charters are not allowed to venture out onto the rider route or into the pass-through towns; however, for many years, PBV has run a SAG coach (strictly on the vehicle route) from overnight town to overnight town, departing from camp at 7:00 a.m.

For several reasons, Pork Belly Ventures has asked our RAGBRAI officials to make an exception on this one day, Wednesday, and allow us to send our vehicles, coaches and bike trailers, into a pass-through town in order to shorten the 105-mile day for our riders. Here is our rationale for making this special request:

  • Riders have expressed concern that they will not be prepared to ride the entire 105-mile day on Wednesday.
  • Over the years, we have noted that when our riders push themselves beyond their ability, it can affect their enjoyment of subsequent days. We want you to enjoy every day!
  • And the Wednesday overnight town of Mason City is filled with art and history that we want all of our riders to experience, regardless of their speed or ability!

Now, don't feel obliged to shorten your Wednesday ride, friends! Notice, please, that our first option below is to amp up your training and be prepared to ride the century under your own steam in honor of John Karras. What a sense of accomplishment you'll feel upon your arrival in Mason City!
WHO MAY USE THESE OPTIONS

Please note that the options for shortening your ride on Wednesday are only available to those who are using our Weeklong Support or our Partial-Week Support.
FIVE OPTIONS for WEDNESDAY

Here are five options available to you, some of which are selectable on your RAGBRAI registration form at pkbelly.com. These options are capped, and we expect some or all of them to sell out. Given the way this season is going, they may sell out quickly!

1.  
DEVOTE YOURSELF TO TRAINING
and ride the full century
in honor of RAGBRAI Founder John Karras. 

Be responsible for knowing your ability and staying steady on the bike throughout your Wednesday century. Plan to complete your day by 6:30 p.m. so you can enjoy any meals, showers, entertainment and amenities you’re entitled to as a Porker! 


[Bear in mind... Pork Belly Ventures usually serves dinner from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Showers are normally open until 8:00 p.m. Please know that we may extend slightly on Wednesday in Mason City, but not significantly.]
By the way, here is a link to RAGBRAI's training blog:
2. 
PBV
JUMP-AHEAD SHUTTLE
for $30,
capacity of 56 riders. 

At 9:00 a.m., we will transport you and your bike from our campsite in Emmetsburg to Britt, the approximate half-way point of Wednesday’s century, so that you can cycle the second half of the day from Britt into beautiful Mason City. At about 10:00 a.m., you'll begin your 50ish-mile ride.

Remember that even though you will take the shuttle from Emmetsburg at 9:00 a.m., your bags must be on the baggage trailers by 7:00 a.m. as usual. In Emmetsburg, you'll find picnic shelters on site and a Casey's convenience store, a cafe, and a Dairy Queen within walking distance of our camp.
3.
PBV
EARLY-FINISH SHUTTLES
for $30,
capacity of 56 riders per shuttle,
or a total of 112.

Ride out from Emmetsburg in the morning to a specific location in Britt, the approximate half-way point of Wednesday’s century. Our Britt location is a few blocks off the rider route. It is next door to a Casey's convenience store, and it will be pinpointed on our Wednesday PBV map. 

At about 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., PBV will operate shuttles from the Britt location, taking you home to our campsite in Mason City. This option reduces your cycling day to around 50 miles, so that you will have more time to enjoy the beautiful and historic overnight town of Mason City.
4.
The NORMAL
PBV SAG
for $30,
capacity of 56 riders per trip, or 112 total 

YOU'LL TAKE A REST DAY IN HISTORIC MASON CITY ON WEDNESDAY.

Using this option means that you will load up your bike on a semi-trailer and ride our weeklong luxury motor coach, departing Emmetsburg at 7:00 am, all the way to Mason City. 

Our normal sag departs at 7:00 a.m. If we have the demand, we are prepared to run this same coach a second time, departing from Emmetsburg at 10:30 or 11:00 a.m.

Remember that even though you select the second trip at 10:30 from Emmetsburg, your bike should be loaded in Emmetsburg the night before, and your bags must be on the baggage trailers by 7:00 a.m. as usual. In Emmetsburg, you'll find picnic shelters on site and a Casey's convenience store, a cafe, and a Dairy Queen within walking distance of our camp.

Today is a great day for a massage in camp and a stroll around the beautiful town square of Mason City, Iowa!

Given the 100-mile distance,
it is not sensible to run the sag bug a third time.
See next option, please.
5.
And finally,
RAGBRAI’S FREE SAG! 

Ride out of Emmetsburg onto the route, and cycle as far as you can. When you reach your limit, you may use RAGBRAI’s FREE SAG for all registered riders. This option has many advantages:

  • No cost for registered RAGBRAI riders.
  • No need to reserve it in advance.
  • You can play it by ear: stop and catch it, or keep pedaling!
  • RAGBRAI is highly likely to engage additional vehicles to expand its capacity for helping riders on this day.

Things to bear in mind:
 
  • The RAGBRAI Sag will carry you from the route to the main campground in Mason City. When you are reunited with your bicycle, you will need to make your own way to the campground of Pork Belly Ventures.
  • There is no scheduled departure or arrival time for the RAGBRAI Sag. It operates continuously.
  • We think it is wise to consider the number of RAGBRAI riders who may be contemplating this solution on this day.

How to Reserve The
Wednesday Options of PBV

Simply login at pkbelly.com and review the new options available for shortening your day on Wednesday. Again, we believe that the options will sell out quickly, so reserving sooner is probably better that waiting.
"Come-and-Get-Me"
Is Not An Option.

Calling or texting for a lift is not an option on any day of RAGBRAI, friends. As you think about your Wednesday, remember that no charter can run a taxi service to pick up riders, willy nilly. In offering the options listed above, we are stretching the limits of our own capacity and that of our crew. Choose among the options above, please, but don't plan to call and order a lift. It's just not a thing.
LAST DAY,
MILEAGE CHANGE,
SHUTTLE DEPARTURE TIMES

The length of the last day of RAGBRAI has changed, due to new information from the DOT. Rather than 53 miles which RAGBRAI published earlier and which we published in Update #2, the last day of RAGBRAI will be 65 miles. It is not flat.
Your Last Day of RAGBRAI, Saturday, July 30

At the end of RAGBRAI in Lansing, many of you will be picked up by friends or family, and others will have parked a car in Lansing. This part of today's update is for those who will be catching one of four Pork Belly Ventures airport shuttles at the end of RAGBRAI.

When You Reach Our Staging Area in Lansing...

Here's how things work for our riders as they complete RAGBRAI 2022, rolling into our staging area on the last day of RAGBRAI:

  • Come in from the road and immediately see your bike loaded onto the truck or trailer that accompanies your airport shuttle. We will have maps, signs, and crew to direct you!

  • Or, upon arrival in camp, claim your bike-shipping label and hand off your bicycle for shipping.

  • Locate your baggage, get a shower, grab something to eat from the food vendor in our area. If you need directions, ask a crew member!

  • Then, come to our front desk to sign up for the next departure of your airport shuttle.

  • Riders who are concerned about making their shuttle should come straight to our front desk upon arrival in our staging area. We can provide assistance with your chores.
NOTE: Your questions about the last day of RAGBRAI will be answered in the June Letter of Pork Belly Ventures, which includes comprehensive explanations of how things work before, during, and after the ride.
Shuttles Depart between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

At the end of RAGBRAI, coaches depart as they fill, with the exception of our Des Moines shuttle. (All Des Moines coaches depart at about 3:00 p.m.) Pork Belly Ventures shuttles will depart between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., and, because of the longer cycling day, more of our coaches are likely to depart later within this window.

For complete info about our shuttles, please click here to see our Update #2, with mileage and departure-time corrections:


For details, please use the link above. For your convenience, here is abbreviated information on each shuttle:
  • To Quad Cities International Airport, shuttle departure times are unchanged. PBV will have two (probably three) coaches departing from Lansing at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., with drop-off at the airport entrance. 3-hour trip.

  • To Des Moines International Airport, shuttle departure times are unchanged. PBV will have three coaches departing from Lansing at about 3:00 p.m. with drop-off at a Des Moines airport hotel. 4-hour trip.

  • To Omaha International Airport, shuttle departure times are unchanged. PBV will have four or five coaches departing from Lansing as they fill between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., drop-off at two side-by-side Omaha airport hotels. 6-hour trip.

  • **LaCross Regional Airport, shuttle departure time has changed. PBV will have one departure from Lansing at 1:00 p.m., drop off at the airport entrance. 45-minute trip. (Please see further explanation below.)

All travel times are approximate
and depend on the traffic out of Lansing
on a two-lane highway.
LaCrosse Shuttle Accommodation--
Please Read Carefully and Respond
Before we were aware of the 65-mile last day, we established our only departure time for the LaCrosse Regional Airport as noon. That time has now changed to 1:00 p.m., given the longer cycling day. We will have one coach traveling about 45 minutes to that airport, along with a bike truck. We have communicated this change to all of the riders signed up for the LaCrosse shuttle, and it was welcome information to most of those riders. They liked having an extra hour to complete their miles. So again, the official departure time for the LaCrosse Shuttle is now 1:00 p.m.

For the handful of people who are already signed up for this shuttle, and who must depart Lansing for the LaCrosse Airport by noon, you're grandfathered in! We'll provide you a way to depart at noon. But we ask you to respond to tammy@pkbelly.com with the following information, please.

  • Names of riders who need to go at noon
  • Number of bikes to be transported at noon
Sorry to ask you to respond a second time, friends, but we are managing a lot of details with this RAGBRAI, and we appreciate you helping us out.
4 FINAL REMINDERS
Have You Registered for RAGBRAI?
The deadline for purchasing the weeklong ride entry at RAGBRAI.com is April 1. (You can purchase day passes until June 1, but check RAGBRAI.com for any increases in price.)
Will You Charge An E-Bike with PBV?
Login, please, and tick the box for those who are planning to charge an e-bike in camp with Pork Belly Ventures. As of this season, the website is keeping the list of e-bike chargers for us. If you'll be charging an e-bike, make sure your name is on our list.
Payment of Balances Due with PBV
May 15 is the date by which you'll need to pay balances. We are only reminding you of this because so many folks are asking. No hurry... You have plenty of time.
PBV Cancellation Policy and Refund Deadline
We make an effort several times during our season to draw your attention to our cancellation policy. It's easy to find on our homepage at pkbelly.com. If you cancel before June 15th, you'll get a 90% refund on the services you've reserved. The 10% deposit is not refundable. More at the website!
That's it for this update, but we will be on your screens again soon with more information about bike shipping to and from Iowa, and about Lansing's plans for long-term parking, and more!

Until then, all our best,

Tammy and Pete
Pork Belly Ventures LLC 
Tammy: 808-375-8921 c, tammy@pkbelly.com
Pete: 402-681-2613 c, pete@pkbelly.com
 www.pkbelly.com