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Letter to Riders

CUBS 2025 – RAGBRAI’S 52th Anniversary

Dear Teammates,

The CUBS are the Chicago Urban Bicycling Society. We are a volunteer-led community of riders who join together to ride RAGBRAI, enjoy the hospitality of the people of Iowa, and give a little bit back to the state that welcomes the world every July.

RAGBRAI 2024 presented some of the most challenging riding in the past 51 years. In fact, it was the most vertical climbing of any prior year. The distances were less, which made the hills easier. We don’t know the route yet, but CUBS are looking forward to another memorable ride. We were blessed with good weather and a close team of riders who started what will become long term friendships. RAGBRAI LII (52) is scheduled for Sunday July 20 through Saturday, July 26, 2025, and registration for 2025 is open on the RAGBRAI website! There is no lottery for wristbands. If your registration is accepted, you will get a wristband. Once RAGBRAI sells out, you will no longer be able to register, so you should get your registration in early. There is a discount for registering early.

If recent history has taught us anything, we know that no matter what decisions we make now, we may have to change multiple times before the ride kicks off on Sunday, July 20, 2025.

RAGBRAI 2024 was one of the greatest years ever for the CUBS! Great but challenging route, terrific weather, wonderful hosts, and a great group of riders. We had another great mix of housing, including a farm outside of town, a country club, and some great private homes. We look forward to 2025 being even better. The route will be announced in late-January 2025. Read all about our team and see our photos at www.ragbraicubs.org. As the great RAGBRAI sage Carter LeBeau would say, “There are only 247 days to RAGBRAI!”

RAGBRAI LII will be held Saturday, July 19, 2025 through Saturday, July 26, 2025, and registration is now open. Here is what CUBS veterans and rookies need to know to sign up.

2025 SIGN UP PROCEDURE

  • There are two options with CUBS this year. You can join as a full team member, which includes transportation, housing, real bathrooms, showers, food, snacks, a team jersey, etc. Or you can register for the transportation charter option, which includes round-trip transportation from Chicago to the starting town, and from the finish town back to Chicago for you, your bike, and your gear. Charter participants will arrange their own housing/camping facilities. If you sign up as a charter participant, you can upgrade to being a full team member if we have openings.
  • Everyone will pay for their own RAGBRAI registration (wristband) and optional RAGBRAI merchandise when you register with RAGBRAI. All merchandise will be shipped to CUBS and given to you on the bus.
  • You will register with CUBS using our online registration form, and scanning your documents. Payment to CUBS will be by either check or Zelle. We don’t take other electronic payments, credit cards, or money transfers.

NUMBER OF RIDERS

We take registration on a first-come, first-served basis. We can accommodate 53 riders on a typical year.

COSTS

You pay RAGBRAI the cost of your rider’s wristband and any optional RAGBRAI merchandise your order. The cost is $200 (early registration) or $225 (regular registration) for each rider.

We hope to keep the costs to CUBS the down, but we are experiencing the same inflation as the rest of the country, with gas, vehicle rentals, crew wages, etc., all going up in price. CUBS fees for 2025 will be $1050 per person. Transportation only participants will pay $450 per person. We take Zelle or check only. Full team members may pay in 3 installments. Transportation only participants will pay in full when registering. We expect that the 2025 CUBS registration fee will include:

    1. Membership in CUBS
    2. Transportation to and from Iowa
    3. Planning and housing/camping arrangements by CUBS volunteers
    4. The best support crew in Iowa!
    5. 2025 CUBS bike jersey ($100+ value) Sample below - 2025 is still being designed.
    6. 2025 CUBS T-shirt (priceless)
    7. Banquet dinner
    8. Gifts for our host families
    9. Continental breakfast daily
    10. Snacks, pop and beer at the end of the day
    11. Awards at the end of the ride
    12. Much more

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

Registering to ride RAGBRAI with the CUBS happens in three steps. You are not registered to ride with the CUBS until all three steps have been completed.

STEP 1:Register with RAGBRAI and pay your registration fee and any optional merchandise.

  • Go to www.ragbrai.com
  • Click LOGIN. If you already have an account with RAGBRAI, enter your username and password. Otherwise, create an account.
  • Click REGISTER. Be sure to register as a member of a group, not as an individual rider. CUBS (Chicago Urban Bicycling Society) is our group name. When prompted, select “Weeklong rider.”
  • Purchase any optional RAGBRAI merchandise you would like. You will pay for your RAGBRAI registration and optional RAGBRAI merchandise when you register with RAGBRAI. That merchandise will be shipped to CUBS and given to you on the bus.
  • You will be notified approximately May 1 of your wristband number.

STEP 2: Register electronically with CUBS through this link.

STEP 3: Scan your driver’s license, health insurance card, and auto insurance card, (please scan all three in one pdf file) and email all three documents to both Brad beeves@juno.com and to David david@sherikamikow.com . Mail your check, payable to CUBS, to our treasurer, as instructed when you register with CUBS. David Goodman’s address is 1310 N. Ritchie Court, Unit 19A, Chicago, IL 60610. Unfortunately, we can’t take credit cards, debit cards, or electronic payments except Zelle. To use Zelle, you will send the payment to David’s mobile phone: 708-421-6664

  • You will register with CUBS using our online registration form, and scanning your documents. Payment to CUBS will be by check or Zelle. We don’t take other electronic payments, credit cards, or money transfers.

CRITICAL DATES

  • When you register - Initial deposit of $350 to CUBS is due. You are not registered until we have your initial deposit. Transportation only participants will pay in full ($450) at time of registration.
  • CUBS Kickoff Brunch - CUBS has typically held a kickoff brunch and question/answer session in mid-February. We have not yet scheduled that event. We have a team meeting and talk about the ride. That date, place, and time of that event remains TBD.
  • March 15, 2025 - Second Installment due ($350).
  • May 15, 2025 - Final Installment due ($350).
  • June, 2025 - “Meet the CUBS” Pizza Party (Time Date & Place TBA)
  • July 20, 2025 - Leave for RAGBRAI LII from Lincolnwood, IL.

If you have any questions email me at beeves@juno.com . My contact information is: 2108 W. Devon Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659. My phone is 773-761-9900 (office) or 312-919-0700 (cell).

Only 249 days to RAGBRAI L ! Wishing you and yours a very healthy and Happy New Year!.

Wishing you and yours a very joyous holiday season,

Brad Prendergast,
President, CUBS
Bradley E. Prendergast, Attorney at Law
2108 W. Devon Avenue Chicago, IL 60659
Office: (773) 761-9900 FAX: (773) 761-9971 Cell: (312) 919-0700
Email:beeves@juno.com