Hopefully this is the correct place in the forum for this.
Has anyone done RAGBRAI (The Register's Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) with a hammock? I'm thinking of doing it this coming summer, and don't know if there are any issues with lack of trees.
Thoughts?
"How's it hanging?"
-Anonymous
I cannot talk to RAGBRI, but have done DALMAC several times and I never found consistent places I could hang.
We mostly were in school open fields and little to no trees.
It would be much better but tenting it was the way I had to go.
Things to remember: it rains in Iowa so you'll get soaked sleeping in a hammock and the mosquitoes will eat you alive all night. Actually, these are answers to the same question posted on the RAGBRAI website forum by those that have no clue as to what hammock camping is about yet won't let that stop them from answering.
Some riders posting there reported success in finding trees.
https://ragbrai.com/forums/topic/hammock-or-tent/
I've been thinking about doing this ride sometime in my life.
Wayne
Good thing all those people were there to keep us informed that it rains and there are bugs, since no one has camped in a hammock before. This seems like one of those times where the rule about opening your mouth to remove all doubt is key.Originally Posted by Muddy Creek
On the other hand, if people take all of the trees as bike stands and won't move them you might have a problem. And a tarp with doors might be good, riding clothes might be a touch harder to change while in your hammock than hiking clothes.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
I haven't done RAGBRAi, but it has stopped or gone through my town plenty of times and I have a handful of friends and acquaintances who do it, so my comment comes from that place: after a long hard HOT day I could think of nothing better than a hammock (and a beer)...BUT finding a suitable spot too hang in a reasonable amount of time could be a challenge. Considering most stops are peoples front yards, softball fields, etc.
having never rode but think of lots of open fields, school property, town squares / parks ect..... I don't think that you could count on finding trees to hang from every night your best bet will most likely be portable stand. Are you riding on your own or part of a team? I would imagine that unless you are part of a team with their own chase vehicle that the allowable luggage limit may negate taking a stand.
~cinnamon
I have rented out my tear drop trailer to the riders who couldn't find trees... or other equipment failures.... (chase van caught fire)
i do not remember the question, however i believe beer is the answer
I've rode sections of it for the past few years using a hammock and haven't had any problems finding places to hang. (pic in my avatar is RAGBRAI - Cedar Falls with UNIdome in background). If riding with a large team you might need to move away from the group to find a spot to set up but that isn't always bad.
Okay.. the Ragbrai allows you 1 bag weighing 50lbs that they transport from stop to stop. I would do both .... Pack both your hammock, bugnet, tarp, sleep system, and a small tent and pad if you need go to ground. Your TQ will work in a tent.... I do it all the time.
By the way doing the Rag has always been a dream of mine... Have fun!
I don't understand the post below regarding bugs and rain if you have the right gear it shouldn't be an issue.
Link to the page with the baggage information
https://ragbrai.com/about/general-information/
Last edited by Milwaukee Dan; 12-02-2017 at 10:21.
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
* Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I included a link in that post to a RAGBRAI forum where the question was asked about using a hammock. Bugs and rain were some of the answers given in response by those obviously unfamiliar with the idea of camping hammocks.
Wayne
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