New Coe cycling apparel: order deadline May 20

Creative Director Christina Kroemer has done it again with her winning design of 2014 cycling apparel for Team CoeBRAI and Kohawk cyclists everywhere.

With the Kohawk logo silhouetted on a gold background, Coe cyclists will stand out in the growing bike-friendly crowd. In its 10^th consecutive year of participation in the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), Team CoeBRAI will model the 2014 apparel July 20-26 from Rock Valley to Guttenberg. We’ll be flying Coe crimson especially proudly on College Jersey Day July 24 from Mason City to Waverly, home of rival Wartburg College.

In addition to long-sleeve, short-sleeve and sleeveless versions of the jersey, we have added wind jackets to the Coe cycling apparel line. We are again offering Coe biking shorts and bib shorts featuring the school’s Charlie Kohawk logo. While the jersey design changes each year, the shorts are intended to stand the test of time.

Orders are now being taken for jerseys ($60 for short sleeve and sleeveless, $75 for long sleeve), jackets for $75, and shorts for $70 ($75 for bibs). Order forms are available here and on the right column of this page. All orders must be received by May 20 and will be shipped by mid-July. Apparel will be distributed to CoeBRAI participants on departure for RAGBRAI.

A word about refunds

As payments continue to roll in, I thought I should clarify our cancellation policy. We’ve maintained a no-refund policy for the $225 deposit, but that doesn’t seem fair when we are overbooked. Because of this, we will provide a full refund (minus the cost of any merchandise you may have ordered) to the first three riders who have to cancel. After three cancellations, we will revert to our normal policy of refunding $100 to anyone who has to back out before July 1. No refunds for cancellations in July.

If there are no cancellations, that’s perfectly fine. We’ll make it work. But the reality of the situation is that we have 35 registered riders and seats for transporting 32 (at the most). Anything over that and we have to make special arrangements. Anything under 32 just means a more comfortable drive to the start and home after the finish.

Dues and don'ts

As previously reported, the cost of participation with Team CoeBRAI is $450, which includes the RAGBRAI registration fee. We ask that half ($225) be paid on March 1 with the remainder ($225) by July 1. If you ordered a RAGBRAI jersey or other merchandise, please include that cost in your initial payment.

No money should be sent to RAGBRAI. Checks made out to Coe College should be sent to Lonnie Zingula at Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Now that I have an email group set up, I should be able to communicate more easily. However, if you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to check our Twitter account, Facebook page, and/or coebrai.blogspot.com/ before sending me an email. Chances are good your question has been asked and answered before.

As far as hosts, we're in pretty good shape with places locked down or solid leads in Emmetsberg, Forest City, Mason City, Waverly and Independence. Pickings are slim in Rock Valley and Okoboji, so if you have any leads, please point them my way.