Pork Belly Update-Our 2026 Season!

But - we are going to jump in here first with some announcements about RAGBRAI service availability! Our Tent Service for the week is currently SOLD OUT - but we will have a waiting list. If you would like to get on the waiting list for this, please email kay@pkbelly.com with your request. Cancellations do happen, so the earlier you get on the list the better your chances of getting a rental tent for RAGBRAI. Our Weeklong Support is still available, so if you're planning on setting up your own tent (like more than half of our riders do), there's still plenty of room at the moment. All Shuttles are currently available and active on our registration site.

While RAGBRAI is where we got our start, and certainly our biggest event of the year, we keep members of the Pork Crew busy with other events from April thru October! We'd love to have you join us on one of these other events that we support.

Join runners from all-over Nebraska and beyond as we kick off running season in West Omaha with a 10-mile race on a beautiful course from Walnut Grove Park to Lake Zorinsky and back. Pork Belly's role in this first event of the year is pretty minimal - just show up and brew the coffee!

The 50k and 100k Lazy Horse Gravel Grind are back for their final year in 2026.  These non-competitive bicycle gravel tours feature some of the most scenic and challenging routes available in southeast Nebraska.

The routes take you through several towns allowing for breaks and to grab some light snacks. Their focus is to provide both experienced riders and those folks wanting to give gravel a try a safe, fun day. Because we are a tour, there is no pressure of a timed event, and we encourage you to get off your bike and explore the proud heritage of our pass-through communities.  

Pork Belly provides the 11-person individually stalled shower trailer so all participants can get cleaned up before claiming their first beverage on the house at Lazy Horse's brewpub. Please note: This event is sold out, but you can get on the waitlist.

UNBOUND Gravel was founded in 2006, and grew to be known as the "Dirty Kanza" at a time when gravel grinding was just beginning to pique the interest of the endurance cycling community. Cyclists come from around the globe to transcend upon these roads and tackle the hilly, tire-shredding, sun-baked gravel that the Flint Hills are infamous for.

Once only offering the 200 mile distance, they now offer a total of five distances: 25, 50, 100, 200, and 350 miles. As UNBOUND has grown, so has Pork Belly's services for the event. We currently offer a Comfort Package (showers, charging, and coffee), plus rental tents and even PHAT Rooms! If you're participating, you can register for Pork Belly services here: www.pkbelly.com/Event/info/unbound2026

Please note: the lottery for this event closed in November, but registration is still open for Juniors and Kids Crit.

Big BRAG is an exciting event that offers an unforgettable cycling experience. Cyclists embark on a week-long journey, averaging about 55 miles per day, with a rest day in the middle. Changing each year, routes are designed to offer stunning views of Georgia's picturesque countryside and take riders through some of the most welcoming and hospitable towns in the state.

To make the journey more comfortable, BRAG provides SAG (Support And Gear) support and well-stocked rest stops every 12-18 miles. These rest stops offer a chance for riders to refuel with their favorite snacks and drinks, engage in fun activities, and take in the breathtaking views.

In addition to the cycling itself, BRAG offers a variety of activities for riders to enjoy. After the day's ride, riders can unwind at the BRAG Bar and enjoy their favorite drinks. There are also activities such as bike trivia, one-legged bike races, educational classes, yoga, massages, and more to keep riders entertained and engaged. To make the experience even more memorable, BRAG features evening events in the towns where riders stay. These events include concerts, DJs, and festivals, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for all participants.

This year, Pork Belly is taking our PHAT Rooms on the road, with rentals for BRAG available here: www.pkbelly.com/Event/info/BigBRAG2026

For more than 40 years, the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) has delivered unforgettable cycling adventures, blending the thrill of epic rides with the warm embrace of small-town hospitality. Pedal through Nebraska’s breathtaking rolling plains and discover a side of the state you’ve never seen before.

More than just a ride, BRAN is a community-driven, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission: funding scholarships for high school students to pursue higher education at Nebraska trade schools, colleges, universities, and beyond.

Pork Belly provides bike transport at the beginning of the ride, daily luggage transport, a charging trailer, showers, and e-bike charging for all BRAN participants. In addition, you can sign up for our tent services and PHAT Room rentals here: www.pkbelly.com/Event/info/BRAN2026

Big BAM (Bike Across Missouri) on the Katy is a fully supported ride. You will explore Missouri in a way like never before. The ride takes you through pastoral farmland, meadows full of wildflowers, majestic forests, and explores charming small towns. Can't make it in June, or also want to experience the Katy Trail in the fall? There's an October version also!

Pork Belly provides showers, tent services, PHAT Rooms, and even our Massage Therapists join in for this ride! Register for tent service and PHAT Rooms through Big BAM's registration site. Use discount code "PORKBELLY" to receive $35 off each registration!

2026 will be the 10th and final year for the Solstice Gravel Grinder, a premier grassroots Nebraska gravel grinder that starts and ends in Beatrice, NE on June 20th. This ride will again journey through some of the most beautiful back roads and gravel and traveling north and east of Beatrice this year. The terrain mixes steep hills, rollers, and minimum maintenance roads. The Solstice 100 (The Hundy) is the original distance, and the field will be limited to 150 riders. There will also be a couple of shorter routes, the Solar Fiddy (66+ miles), the Kindler (38+ miles), the Hundy Team Relay and the Single Speed Hundy Team Relay. The relays are co-ed events in which you are required to have at least one female rider on your team. There is a Juniors Category in the Kindler and Fiddy distances for youth 18 and under, at a reduced price; and Men’s and Women’s E-bike categories in the 38+ mile Kindler division. Less than 100 spots remain for the final year of the Solstice Gravel Grinder...claim your spot today and guarantee yourself one of Pork Belly's awesome showers!

RAGBRAI: where it all started...

This could be a lengthy section, but we'll keep it short.

As mentioned in previous emails, all future communications strictly about RAGBRAI LIII with Pork Belly will be sent to our "RAGBRAI 2026" list. If you have registered with us, you will automatically be placed on this list, and we will update the list before sending each email. If you have not yet registered with us, but still want to continue to receive all of the information about RAGBRAI 2026, please sign up for the list using this RAGBRAI 2026 form.

• Weeklong Service: We are a little more than 2/3 sold out. You've still got some time, but it is possible that we could sell out.

• Rental Tent Service: Currently sold out!!! If you want one, you can get on a waitlist, and there's a chance something may open up. please email kay@pkbelly.com to put your name on the waitlist! Note: if you have reserved a tent on a registration with no payment we will have to start removing those as we fill up. So, if you want it, you need to pay the deposit to secure it.

• PHAT Rooms: We have a long waiting list. If you're serious about wanting a room at some point in the future, you can complete the form linked here and get on the waitlist.

• Rental Bikes: When you add your services, you'll have the option to add a rental bike if you need one. Availability varies, so please reach out to Pete if you have any questions.

• Shuttles: Information about these is now online and included in the PDF above! Don't forget your group name, if traveling with other folks!

Started by the Wabash Trace in 2017, the Rooster Tail Ride is a mobile music festival made possible with the support of towns and businesses along the way. This ride is 35 miles each way, beginning in Mineola on Saturday morning (or Friday night, if you care to join in the pre-party & camping!) with live music stops in Silver City, at the Silver Creek Bridge, Malvern, Strahan, Imogene, and then reaching Shenandoah for the grand finale and overnight. Sunday you get up & do it all in reverse (Sunday music in Malvern and Silver City only)! Pork Belly is providing showers in Shenandoah - and possibly PHAT Rooms depending on the demand. We're always excited about helping out on this beauty of a trail in our own backyard!

The 2026 Rooster Tail Ride is a tribute to Brian Seago and a celebration of many of the things that he loved - bikes, music, friends, and fun. In his memory, we ask that you invite your friends, make new ones along the way, and enjoy the ride.

The goals of BAM are to introduce the beauty of the varied landscapes of the state of Minnesota via a 4-day supported bicycle tour since 2006. BAM is now part of supporting the important work that the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN), a 501c3 non-profit.

BAM traverses the bucolic countryside on carefully curated routes designed to maximize scenery and explore the hidden gems of the area on this fully supported tour. Pork Belly brings along our showers, charging trailer, coffee, and also provides rental tents and PHAT Rooms for those interested in a more comfortable trip! 

Big BAM (Bike Across Missouri) Route-66 is a fully supported ride commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the "Mother Road". Ride Historic Route-66 Paved Backroads along meandering trout streams and beaver ponds and past relics of yesteryear. Pork Belly will provide showers, charging, and for a more pampered ride you can add on our tent service or PHAT Room rentals. Use discount code "PORKBELLY" to receive $35 off each registration!

The goal for the Pony Express 120 Gravel Dash is to provide the Gravel Grinder community with a challenging ride and an opportunity to explore some of the history of the great mid-west. Modeled after other great gravel rides/races in this area, this event is for the self-sufficient minded cyclist who enjoys being pushed to their limits. At times this is a remote area but with enough towns along the way to resupply with support crew locations. Experience the rich history of North Eastern Kansas by riding 120, 65 or 35 miles of gravel through the same territory and small towns as the Pony Express riders did over 160 years ago.

Pork Belly will have showers waiting for you at the finish line!

Big BAM (Bike Across Missouri) on the Katy is a fully supported ride. You will explore Missouri in a way like never before. The ride takes you through pastoral farmland, meadows full of wildflowers, majestic forests, and explores charming small towns along the beautiful Katy Trail.

Pork Belly provides showers, tent services, PHAT Rooms, and even our Massage Therapists join in for this ride! Register for tent service and PHAT Rooms through Big BAM's registration site. Use discount code "PORKBELLY" to receive $35 off each registration!

The largest day-long relay in the nation, the Market to Market® Relay Nebraska presented by Union Bank & Trust takes teams from the Omaha Metro to Downtown Lincoln. Over the course of 75ish miles, teams take on running stages, each stage varying in distance from 3 to 5 miles.

The course follows trails, paved streets and gravel back roads through a diverse and scenic slice of Nebraska. Combine the running with outrageous costumes, memorable van rides, and a lively finish line and it all adds up to 1 unforgettable day.

Space is limited and the relay sells out every year.

We've got some great new Pork Merchandise coming your way this year! New tote bags, ball caps, t-shirts, and of course PBV jerseys! Inspired by the rolling hills of Iowa, endless cornfields, and the joy of cycling, this jersey is great for hammering the headwinds as well as cruising into town for a cold beer or lemonade. Pull one on and remind yourself that every mile is better when it's corn fed! Available in men's and women's sport cuts. Think about sizing up as they run a little small. We hope to see our Porkers embracing Corn Fed Miles on the saddle this summer!

The Pork Belly Essentials tote is made for those who know what a cycling event with PBV demands. From corn and watermelon to butt butter, a cold beverage, and the ever-important roll of toilet paper, every illustrated detail celebrates the wonderfully practical chaos of long ride days and overnight stops. This tote is perfect as a shower bag or hauling your water bottles back to your tent at the end of the night. We can't wait to see everyone around camp with their PBV essentials totes! Also, provides great use when hauling groceries and goodies back home. Who doesn't love a sustainable substitute? Thoughtful and funny, this tote says you've done this before and came prepared for all things PBV.

The Midwest Summer with PBV t-shirt captures everything we love about a long day of cycling--the visions of corn stalks, sunny side roads, and of course that ice cold beer and crisp watermelon during stops when the heat peaks. Printed on a comfortable green t-shirt with soft artwork, this shirt is perfect for expressing all of what you love about the small towns of the midwest in the summer. 

The Corn Fed Miles edition ball cap feels perfectly worn in with its sage green wash and all around embroidery. The ball cap is finished with the classic Pork Belly Pig on the back and includes an adjustable strap. The "Corn Fed Miles" stitching on the back gives a knowing nod to cyclists who earn every mile the Iowa way! 

We will have information about how to order these soon!

We'll be in touch when we have more news to share, friends! Remember, all RAGBRAI-specific info will be shared through our RAGBRAI 2026 list - so if you want that information be sure you are either registered with us or signed up for the list here. If you're on the General Interest list, you won't be seeing as many emails from us as in years past. As always, let us know if you have any questions or just want to say hello!

Cheers, from all of us here at Pork Belly Ventures!