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Dear Friends,
We hope we're not tiring you out with frequent May updates, but here we are again with some Good News!
Pork Belly Ventures WILL offer Early-Finish Shuttles on Tuesday and on that last Saturday of RAGBRAI! We still have some planning to do, but scroll for a bit more info!
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But first, we're following up on last night...
The PBV
Town Hall Meeting
on Vimeo and YouTube!
The Town Hall Meeting of PBV was attended by the max number of 100 interested Porkers! Such good questions! Thanks to each of you for joining us. Along with our friends and crew members, Dave Kennedy and Wes Helms, we responded with answers for about an hour and half, and we owe it all to our lovely, camera-shy technology pro, Becca Castle Laughlin, who ran the show!
Got 85 minutes to spare? Grab a cold one, and....
CLICK HERE to WATCH on VIMEO!
CLICK HERE to WATCH on YOUTUBE!
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It's A Plan:
Early-Finish Shuttles,
Tuesday, 7/22, and Saturday, the Last Day of RAGBRAI
Thanks to those who called, wrote emails, and replied to our survey. We see significant demand on Tuesday, and perhaps a greater demand on Saturday.
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So we've got some work to do. We need to price the coaches and talk with our friends at RAGBRAI, but we hope to make it possible for you to sign up for the Early-Finish Shuttles of your choice by Monday night or sometime Tuesday of next week.
Here's a bit of re-tread from our last update for those who may be considering these Early-Finish Options...
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- Our crew will be set up to load bikes at a pre-determined location in a town about halfway through your cycling day on Tuesday and on Saturday, the last day.
- Prior to RAGBRAI, we will publish maps of our Early-Finish Shuttle location/s.
- A motor coach will arrive 30 minutes prior to the published departure time.
- Some riders have written to say that they plan to take these options as "insurance," and use them or not use them, depending on how they feel on that day. This is always the case for some riders, who hope to make it, but want that Plan B.
- This service, an Early-Finish Shuttle, like all other services, is subject to our cancellation and refund policy. Therefore, after RAGBRAI begins, we will not make refunds if you change your mind about using your Early-Finish Shuttle.
Regarding Tuesday, 7/22:
- Mileage on Tuesday is 74 miles with 1308 feet of climb. The shuttle would cut this milage approximately in half.
- A Tuesday departure time would be about 1:00 PM, with a target arrival in Forest City about 2:00 PM, barring traffic.
- Those who take this option would be transferred by our shuttle directly to our next campsite.
- In the Forest City campsite on Tuesday, shuttle passengers may claim bikes and enjoy the rest of the day.
- We estimate the cost of the Early-Finish Shuttles at $50 to $60 per person, including the transport of a bike, similar to last year, but we're still researching some expenses.
Regarding Saturday, 7/26:
- Mileage on Saturday is 61 miles with 2341 feet of climb. We are not sure which pass-through town will be our pick-up point, but the shuttle would eliminate the last 25 or more hilly miles.
- A Saturday departure time would be about 10:45 AM, with a target arrival in Guttenberg by about 11:40 AM, barring traffic.
- Those who take this option would be transferred by our shuttle directly to our Guttenberg staging area.
- In the Guttenberg staging area on Saturday, shuttle passengers may claim bikes and perhaps dip their tires. It is only a flat two-mile distance on a residential street to the dip site for those who wish to participate in the tire-dipping tradition at the banks of the Mississippi.
- The Saturday Early-Finish Shuttle would help any riders who are concerned about arriving in Guttenberg, loading bikes, getting a shower, getting something to eat, and boarding their coach on time.
- On Saturday, our Quad Cities shuttle departs at 2:30 PM.
- On Saturday, the smaller early Quad Cities shuttle departs at 1:00 PM.
- On Saturday, the Omaha shuttle (all coaches) departs at 3:00 PM.
- On Saturday, the Des Moines shuttle (all coaches) departs at 3:15 PM.
- We estimate the cost of the Early-Finish Shuttles at $50 to $60 per person, including the transport of a bike, similar to last year, but we're still researching some expenses.
More to come.
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Updates Coming Soon
- Opportunities to Sign up for Early-Finish Shuttles
- How to Order the NEW PBV Jersey, and Maybe Other Merchandise
- Menus of Our Optional Dinners, and How to Order in Advance
- The June Letter--Your PBV Travel Guidebook
- In July, the Rosters of All Pre-RAGBRAI Shuttles (Omaha folks, have you completed your Detail Form?)
- And More!
If you missed anything recent, find our 2025 archive of updates on the Pork Belly Mobile App or on our Home Page under UPDATES at pkbelly.com.
And follow us on Facebook, another great source of PBV Info and Entertainment.
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Our May Team Meeting was yesterday, 4:30 to 6:30. We are gradually working through a lot of logistics and detail. Planning is all for us! We know that on some days we may have to pivot to Plan B, but thinking through a solid Plan A is essential to our work.
RIGHT: We got too busy to snap a photo last night,
so here's a different occasion.
We're ever-so-grateful to these members of our team who are sharing the load and running some part/s of the operation: Becca, Kay, Bella, Grace, Rob, Kim, Karen, Mick, George, Dave, and Wes. During RAGBRAI, we'll have even more leaders and crew chiefs who carry out their parts cheerfully and dependably. We are lucky to be working this group of smart and capable people.
More next week, friends. We hope your Happy Weekend includes some saddle time! Good grief, two months and counting!
Until next time, our best wishes...
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Pork Belly Ventures LLC
Tammy: 808-375-8921 c, tammy@pkbelly.com
Pete: 402-681-2613 c, pete@pkbelly.com
www.pkbelly.com
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