Tent or Hotel

Date: Mar 5, 2007

Tent or Hotel

Date: Mar 5, 2007

To each their own, but I have been doing tours like this for almost 20 years, and I feel not spending the night in the tent city forces one to miss the true feeling of being with the group. Stayed at private housing last year on RAGBRAI and felt I was missing out on something. About the only real problem that I have in camp, are those that get up at 04:30 and have no problem waking up everyone around them. Come camp with the Pok-A-Dots, we are on vacation and that means sleeping later then on a workday.

Date: Mar 5, 2007

Tents:
Pros: on campus, visiting with other riders/campers, no need to travel elsewhere, easy access to mealplan, I've not used Bubba but many love his service
Cons: I like to rest after riding w/o fooling with a tent, loud mouth drinkers coming in at 1:30 am and stumbling around noisely, zippers at 4:30 am as the ol' men get up to relieve excess hydration, that streetlight that came on after you'd set up, locals who think it's fun to toot their horn all night long, putting up wet gear before you ride.

Motels:
Pros: nice bed, private toilet, shower, AC or heat, color TV, privacy, you've stayed in motels before so you know the drill, restaurants nearby.
Cons: $$$, miss a lotta the ride camaradiere and friendships, may have to ride from camp to motel and back and it could be a few miles.

Gym camping:
Pros: no fricking tent to mess with, dry, visiting with others, usually can find lights and a good place to read or a TV.
Cons: noiser, bathroom door usually bangs from constant use, the gym light that stays on all night is directly over your head, drafts if you are near a door, space gets gone quickly if you ride slow.

Pick the one that's best for you, I like motels or gym camping, and admire those who ride all day and then camp out. I like riding, and I like tent camping, but for me it's one or the other!

Jack

Date: Mar 5, 2007

The earlier comments are right on.

Personally, I think the camaraderie of the campground really adds alot. Yeah, you lose a few of the creature comforts, but you gain so much in meeting and telling lies with other bikers. Makes for a complete biking experience. I did CNC in the fall and the camp ground is pretty tame and quiet - Not like Ragbrai where camping can mean party central!

As far as gym camping, it certainly comes in handy in the case of a middle of the night thunderstorm or rainy morning. Thought I wouldn't like it, but it's really not as intrusive as you would think - just imagine sleeping with hundreds of your closest friends. Think of it as being in a refugee camp without the crisis, OR sort of like a giant summer-camp cabin for adults!

Date: Mar 11, 2007

Tent is the way to go. Just be sure to have very good bed roll/thermarest. The tent comraderie is really what the bike ride is all about after getting off the saddle. You'll meet tons of great people this way. If you are on a budget, just get a small tent, good sleeping bag and bed roll and you're in business. VERY important->Carry small plastic bags to cover your seat/handlebars, the nightly dew will leave you with a wet bike nearly every morning, it's no big deal though. Also...I love Bubba's service. We brought our tent the first year we did it, and got bothered by having to roll up a wet tent every morning. Last year(2nd year) we did Bubba's and it's awesome. A tent and mattress set up for you every afternoon before you arrive at the next destination, plus unlimited drinks and snacks. We enjoyed the tent camping so much, it took a night or two to adjust back to sleeping inside. Good luck and have fun!

Date: Mar 21, 2007

All good comments.

One option not mentioned so far, you might want to try a mix, to get a feel for it all. Camping brings more memories (and war stories!), but sometimes it's awfully nice to have your own space and shower at the end of the day!

Last year (my first CNC) I spent a couple nights camping, a couple in a hotel, and a couple in my own bed! (Yep, my own bed...there were a couple of stops within commuting distance. Hardest part was arranging rides back and forth!)

Just be sure to bring your patience and sense of humor and you will have a ball!

Date: Mar 25, 2007

I'm still contemplating this ride...what exactly is Bubba's service? Does Bubba breakdown and set up your tent during the week? Also, what's the average ride (mileage) per day? Thanks for the info.

Date: Mar 25, 2007

Judie,

Bubba, for a fee, will provide and set up/ take down each day a tent just for you. I hear he also will take fglks to town, etc...

About 65, but your mileage may vary...Jack

Date: Apr 21, 2007

I am not sure how it works. I'd like to camp, but I know what a drag it is in the rain. If you are a camper and it is raining, can you opt for the gym that night, or is the gym something you have to commit to from the beginning? You are either a hoteler, a camper or a gymnast?

Date: May 13, 2007

If you are a camper and it is raining, can you opt for the gym that night, or is the gym something you have to commit to from the beginning?

You can opt for the gym at any point, assuming there's room. That happened quite a bit the last few nights of CNC 2005, and the indoor space disappeared quickly. Of course, if you look around, you can still find some good outdoor spots, even in the rain, and then you get to add "camped every night, despite the tropical storm" to your war stories.

http://mikedthornhill.crazyguyonabike.com/