Many enjoy a leisurely bicycle ride around town or across country. Others ride to and from work. Serious oficianados spend a week riding across Iowa in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa–RAGBRAI–to be held Sunday, July 20, through Saturday, July 26, 2014. This is a trek of 418 miles that 10,000+ riders will experience, and 10,000 support followers will share.
At the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office, three experienced RAGBRAI riders will again bike across Iowa. Chief Deputy Tim Cain makes his seventh consecutive tour; be began in 2008. “I wouldn’t miss it!” he stated. Likewise, Lisa Bartels makes her seventh trek in a row. Lt. Tim Erickson joins the group for the second time. Steve Cassens of Super Wash, Inc. rides for a third time, and his wife, Lynn, is the all-important support vehicle driver. She works at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center. Together, these five will depart Morrison early on Saturday, July 19, en route to Rock Valley, IA, where the pre-ride party will be held.
Steve Foster, Morrison, and Dave Spangler, Sterling, IL, will ride the RAGBRAI this year, too. It is Foster’s second tour and Spangler’s first.
Some area past participants include Glenn Ackeberg; Marc Adami; Jim Bosma; Bob Brandon; Bob Brands; Judge Bill McNeal; Maxine Wayne; Judge Vicki Wright.
Adami commented that, “pedestrians are the most dangerous” aspect of the tour.
It is the 42nd annual bike tour, billed as the oldest, largest, and longest of its kind. The path across the northern part of Iowa is the second-flattest course and third-shortest route ever. Built in the schedule are two short biking days as breathers, but some entrants grumble about riding only half their usual distance. It is hard to please 10,000 people, regardless of what plans are designed.
Of the seven towns where bikers will stop, the largest, Mason City, will double in population overnight; it has 10,000 residents.
Click here to view an interactive daily map of RAGBRAI from the Rock River in Rock Valley, to Guttenberg on the Mississippi River.
Cyclist Lance Armstrong will rejoin RAGBRAI for a sixth time, riding the first four days.
Armstrong intends to give back to the ride that offered him another chance when no one else would. He will serve as a guest bartender Saturday night, July 19, at a street party in Rock Valley, to raise money for the northwest Iowa town of 3400 rocked by flooding.
Perhaps the team from the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office will enjoy that.