Harlan RAGBRAI FAQs
Volunteers
Do I get to choose where I volunteer? |
| Yes, your preferences will be considered. |
Do I have to volunteer for the whole day? |
| No, you just let us know what hours you are available. |
Do I get a shirt? |
| Yes, you will get a free shirt! |
Vendors
When are the applications due? |
| May 15, 2026 |
How do I turn in my application? |
| Mail in with your fee payment. |
Are the fees due before or after I am accepted as a vendor? |
| Yes. |
Do I need to be licensed with the state? |
| Yes. |
Housing
When will housing placements begin? |
| Housing requests will be addressed May 1, 2026. |
What does it mean if I am not placed right away? |
| Do not worry! Many hosts will not commit until after July 1. Be patient! |
Hosts
How many people do I have to house? |
| That is up to you. You can host anywhere from 1-15 or more. |
Do I have to let them inside? |
| No. Your level of interaction with your guests is completely on your terms. |
Will I get paid? |
| No, but riders often find ways to show their gratitude. |
What risks are involved for me? |
| Answer |
Should I host unregistered riders? |
| No, you should not host unregistered riders. You would be taking on significant risks associated with unregistered riders. If something goes wrong, you could be held liable. |
What do I do if something goes wrong? |
| RAGBRAI is here to help. |
Riders
What if I do not find a housing match? |
| Housing is a privilege, not a right. We have plenty of space in our campground area if you cannot find housing, but know that we will do our best to accomodate you. Thank you. |
Do I have to pay the administrative fee? |
| Yes. |
Do I have to pay my hosts? |
| No, you are not required to pay the hosts. |
Route
When will the full route be revealed? |
| April 1, 2026 |
What are the in and out routes? |
|
The incoming bike route will be Old 59 (Linden Rd) to Cyclone Ave. The outgoing bike route will be 7th St to Hwy 44. More details to come. |
Residents
What streets will be closed off? |
| The square will be closed starting 3:00 pm on Saturday and will re-open for Monday morning. |
When can I expect to start seeing bikers? |
| It is possible to start seeing cyclists starting at 6:00 am, but the majority will arrive around 11:00 am. |
How long will bikers be here on Monday, July 20? |
| Answer |
Will the riders be going past my house? |
| Answer |
Community Events
Will there be community events leading up to RAGBRAI? |
| Yes! So far there is Trivia Night, 2 T-Shirt Days, and a Cleanup day. |
When is T-Shirt Day? |
| Friday, June 5, 2026 and Friday, July 10, 2026 |
Are there incentives to wear my t-shirt? |
|
Yes! If you make a post wearing your gear, we will share it on our Facebook and/or Instagram pages. To patrons wearing their shirts, Milk & Honey is offering a 10% discount on your order, Harlan Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits is offering a 10% discount, 88 Fusion is offering a 15% discount on your entire order, and Harlan Theatre is offering child admission pricing! |
When is Trivia Night? |
| Friday, May 29, 2026 at 7:00 pm |
When is the e-bike raffle? |
| The conclusion of the raffle is TBD, but it will be close to the RAGBRAI event. |
How can I display the Harlan RAGBRAI banner in my business? |
| Please fill out the Google Form: |
Merchandise
Is there more than t-shirts? |
| Yes! There are stickers, koozies (tall and regular), multiple hats, cooling towels, bandannas, and tanks! |
Where and when can I buy a shirt or other merchandise? |
| There is an online store, and there will be t-shirts and koozies for purchase on July 19, 2026. The online store closes June 7th: https://harlanragbrai.itemorder.com/shop/home/ |
Will there be a pre-sale and post-sale? |
| Both! Our second presale store is live now and closes June 7th. T-shirts and koozies will be available for purchase on July 19, but there will be limited stock. |
Where can I ship my order to? |
| If you order online, you can choose your shipping location—have your order shipped to your address or to CiShirts in Harlan where you can arrange pickup. |
Safety
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