Justgobike

Murph and AP were on the road for this episode, getting a first hand, behind the scenes look at the beginning stages of planning for each of the RAGBRAI LIII overnight towns. RAGBRAI director Matt visits each of the communities many times to go over timelines and all that goes into hosting us riders in July. Iowa looks a bit different in February, but the RAGBRAI buzz was high while Murph and AP sat in on meetings in each of the overnight towns. RAGBRAI LIII overnight towns include: Onawa, Harlan, Guthrie Center, Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, Dyersville, and Dubuque. Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/registration/

Did you know the largest single day bike ride in the United States happens in New York City? Andy Gould is on to tell us more about Bike New York, and the Five Boro Bike Tour. May 3, 2026 will be the 48th edition of the Five Boro Bike Tour and over 30,000 riders take to the streets! Bike New York is the nonprofit who puts on this event each year. In addition to the Five Boro Bike Tour, Bike New York hosts other events and provides programs and classes to New Yorkers. https://www.bike.nyc/ Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/registration/

Murph & AP caught up with RAGBRAI Riders at the Iowa Bike Expo in Des Moines during the RAGBRAI Route Announcement Weekend in January, 2026 and asked the important question, Why do you RAGBRAI?? Guests include: Coz and Joe Lindsay, Kate Wiley, Shawna from Big Grove Brewery, Scott Sumpter from Bike Iowa, Derek Stepanek, Ben Gonnerman, and Mike Mott from the Iowa Beer Bus. Iowa City Bike Library episode: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-349-the-iowa-city-bike-library-is-on-a-mission-to-get-more-people-on-bikes Iowa Beer Bus episode: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-357-ragbrai-vendor-highlight-the-iowa-beer-bus Big Grove Brewery: https://biggrove.com/ BikeIowa: https://www.bikeiowa.com/ Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/registration/

This week AP and Murph sit down with ride director Matt Phippen to talk about RAGBRAI LIII and the 2026 route, along with his process on how to get the route from paper to reality. Matt dives into mileage, elevation and a bit about each of the 8 overnight towns on the RAGBRAI route. The overnight towns for RAGBRAI LIII are: Onawa, Harlan, Guthrie Center, Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, Dyersville, and Dubuque. Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/registration/

Murph & AP share their tips and info to get you through the upcoming jam packed weekend! Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/registration/

Have you ever wondered how much the science behind fitness has changed over the years? AP found a book that dates back to 1979 called 'Inside the Cyclist’ and it is the topic of this ParrotTalk. 'Inside the Cyclist’ is a collection of articles from Velo News and features Ed Burke, who answers questions that 1979 athletes wrote in to ask. Murph & AP read some of these questions and provide both Ed’s comments and also their lighthearted thoughts on each topic. Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com.

The QCBC Charter is a RAGBRAI Charter that has been serving riders an elevated RAGBRAI experience since the very first RAGBRAI!! Roger Killion, newly appointed RAGBRAI Charter Coordinator for the QCBC, is on this episode to chat more about both the charter as well as the bicycle club. The Quad Cities Bicycle Club, located on the Iowa/Illinois border, shares the Mississippi River which provides riders with scenic biking opportunities on both sides. The club offers riders of all abilities unique events, weekly club rides, training rides, and of course services to help get riders with logistics when they pedal across the state each July. https://www.qcbc.org/ More info on all RAGBRAI Charters: https://ragbrai.com/charters/ ARGO Episode: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-369-ragbrai-charter-spotlight-jonathan-from-argo Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobike

At just 16 years old, Scott Strance talked his dad into letting him ride his ten speed bicycle across Iowa. It was 1975 and RAGBRAI was only three years old. On this episode, Scott tells us about what it was like back then, and why he decided to come back to Iowa 50 years later to do it again in 2025. He shares his experiences and some important moments that took place while riding. Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/registration/

On this episode meet Suellen who hasn’t let the lifechanging loss of her leg change her outlook on completing challenges. She started cycling shortly after she became an amputee as a way to cross train for both a half and full marathon. While training with Sportable, an organization in Virginia that works with individuals with disabilities, she learned about RAGBRAI, and the Adaptive Sports Iowa Team who helps riders get across Iowa. She has since completed two RAGBRAI’s so far. Her attitude is reflected in her definition of her favorite word: ADAPT. “You can do whatever you want, you just need to figure out how to do it differently.” Adaptive Sports Iowa: https://www.adaptivesportsiowa.org/events-programs/cycling-team/ Sportable: https://sportable.org/ Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/reg

Would you consider yourself a Seasonal Cyclist that hangs up the bike once RAGBRAI is over? Or maybe you are the Commuter Hero that rides to work every day, no matter the weather. People who live in states that experience cold winters can relate to how hard it is to stay motivated as the temps drop! Murph and AP talk about coping mechanisms to help you stay sane, and motivated this winter. The more training you do NOW will help you be ready for RAGBRAI LIII next July! Exploring 2026 Rides and Tours: https://soundcloud.com/justgobike/episode-377-exploring-2026-rides-and-tours RAGBRAI: www.ragbrai.com Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/registration/

RAGBRAI recently announced that Iowa’s Community Bicycle Shops will be the Community Fund beneficiary for RAGBRAI LIII. Murph and AP are on to give you some insight into each of the chosen shops. Funds raised will be directed to 6 Community Bicycle Shops in Iowa: -The Iowa City Bike Library -The Street Collective in Des Moines -Chain Reaction Bike Hub in Cedar Rapids -Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective in Waterloo -We-Cycle in Ames -The Dubuque Bike Co-Op Find out more at: https://ragbrai.com/gives/ RAGBRAI: www.ragbrai.com Just Go Bike: ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! ragbrai.com/registration/

RAGBRAI Ride Director Matt Phippen and BikeIowa’s Scott Sumpter sat down to do a mega deep dive into what's behind the RAGBRAI wristband, breaking down the costs of what it takes to make RAGBRAI happen, and what it takes to get riders safely across the state each year. They also talk in detail about the value associated with your registration. We know the basics that registration covers like the State Patrol Troopers at intersections, and the Care Ambulance medical teams on route but there is so much more! You can find even more details in the BikeIowa article: https://www.bikeiowa.com/Feature/2107/behind-the-wristband-the-true-cost-of-ragbrai RAGBRAI: www.ragbrai.com Just Go Bike: https://ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII is open! https://ragbrai.com/registration/

On this episode Murph and AP explore a few bicycle rides and tours that could be great training rides as you prepare for RAGBRAI 53! Included are the Empire State Trail, the Ohio to Erie Trail, TOMRV, The High Trestle Trail, the Route of the Hiawatha Trail, and the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. Empire State Trail: https://empiretrail.ny.gov/ Ohio to Erie Trail: https://www.ohiotoerietrail.org/ TOMRV: https://qcbc.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=505193&module_id=324415 High Trestle Trail: https://www.inhf.org/what-we-do/protection/high-trestle-trail Route of the Hiawatha Trail: https://www.ridethehiawatha.com/the-trail Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes: https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/state-park/trail-of-the-coeur-dalenes/ Mickelson Trail Episode: https://soundcloud.com/murphology-podcast/episode-74-everything-you-want-to-know-about-the-mickelson-trail Katy Trail Episode: https://soundcloud.com/murphology-podcast/episode-120-murphs-katy-trail-recap GAP Trail Episode: https://soundcloud.com/murphology-

The RAGBRAI Town Halls are back!! RAGBRAI will hold a virtual town hall each month where riders can hear what is going on behind the scenes and also ask questions about RAGBRAI. AP and Murph discuss some of the questions that riders asked during the October Town Hall. Topics include: Charters, RV options, host homes, and Team Air Force. RAGBRAI: www.ragbrai.com Just Go Bike: https://ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII opens November 15!

Murph and AP share some legendary places in Iowa that may or may not be haunted! RAGBRAI: www.ragbrai.com Just Go Bike: https://ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII opens November 15!

Murph sat down with Ride Director Matt Phippen to hear how planning is going for RAGBRAI 53. They discuss the magic of Iowa and the towns that step up to welcome thousands of riders who chose to vacation across the state by bicycle each July. They also hit on some upcoming important dates, including November 15 when registration for RAGBRAI LIII opens, and January 24 when the route gets announced. RAGBRAI: www.ragbrai.com Just Go Bike: https://ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com. Registration for RAGBRAI LIII opens November 15!

Erica and Erin from RAGBRAI are on this episode to give us some updates on registration processes and a few changes for RAGBRAI 53. One big change is bringing back transfers!! Dates to Remember: November 8: New Logo Launch and Open House at RAGBRAI HQ November 15: RAGBRAI 53 Registration Opens!! January 24th: RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party Eastern Iowa Honor Flight: www.eihonorflight.org National Honor Flight: www.honorflight.org RAGBRAI: www.ragbrai.com RAGBRAI Charters: https://ragbrai.com/charters/ Just Go Bike: https://ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com.

Murph & AP recently hosted an event at RAGBRAI HQ that featured bike-minded speakers from around the state of Iowa. This is part 2 of 2 and interviews include: from the Iowa City Bike Library we hear from Audrey and Kate, and then Scott Sumpter is on stage to tell us about his newest ventures with BikeIowa. Be sure to listen to part one for more speaker interviews from our Just Go Bike live show. www.ragbrai.com www.dreamteamdesmoines.org www.icbikelibrary.org www.bikeiowa.com Join the RAGBRAI Zwift Club: https://www.zwift.com/clubs/fced9511-1bac-47b0-9f84-8b40f733e9c8/join Just Go Bike: https://ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com.

Murph & AP recently hosted an event at RAGBRAI HQ that featured bike-minded speakers from around the state of Iowa. This is part 1 of 2 and in this episode we feature Murph & AP, Matt Phippen, RAGBRAI Director, and Scott Matter, Dream Team Executive Director. Be sure to check back for part 2, featuring more great speakers from our Just Go Bike live show. www.ragbrai.com www.dreamteamdesmoines.org www.icbikelibrary.org www.bikeiowa.com www.murphologypodcast.com Join the RAGBRAI Zwift Club: https://www.zwift.com/clubs/fced9511-1bac-47b0-9f84-8b40f733e9c8/join Just Go Bike: https://ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com.

On today’s episode meet Liam from Knoxville, TN. Liam and his friend John had the time of their lives riding their first RAGBRAI in 2025. They decided to ride RAGBRAI as a stepping stone, maybe more of a test tour, to riding their bikes across the US. The guys were not only self-contained, they also rode their bikes from Guttenberg all the way to the start town of Orange City, and then back to Guttenberg! Liam provides us with some great stories of his experience in Iowa. Fat Bear Week website! www.fatbearweek.org Mountains to Coast episode that Murph mentioned: https://soundcloud.com/murphology-podcast/episode-160-exploring-north-carolinas-mountains-to-coast-ride-with-chip-hofler Just Go Bike: https://ragbrai.com/justgobike/ Watch, or listen on our Just Go Bike YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@JustGoBikePodcast Have a topic for a future episode? Message us at justgobikepodcast@gmail.com.