RAGBRAI XXXVII Tribute

It is time once again for the Des Moines "Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa". This marks the 37th year and my 6th. This year's bike ride takes a southern route and begins in Council Bluffs and ends in Burlington. This will be my first go at a southern route. I hear they are usually very hilly (especially southwest Iowa).

The other overnight towns are: Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton, Ottumwa and Mt. Pleasant. The total miles will be around 445 and the feet of climbing around 23,000. The amount of climbing puts it in the Top 10 for the history of RAGBRAI, while the last day also makes it in the top 10 for the least amount of climbing and easiest day.

In addition, RAGBRAI adds a number of first time towns to the family: Williamson, Macksburg, East Peru, Truro, Oakley, Honey Creek Resort, Hedrick, Martinsburg, Pekin, Pleasant Plain, Germanville, Geode State Park, and Indianola as our overnight host on Day 3!

I will be going with the Muscatine Cycling Club again this year. We have two large buses with about 50 locals and 50 out of towners going this year. We leave at 7am tomorrow and usually we stop for breakfast in West Des Moines at the Cracker Barrel, which should put us in Council Bluffs around 2pm. Sunday morning the ride begins.

And this year, if all goes as planned my wife, Patti will be joining me for the last day with our tandem. How she gets down to Mt. Pleasant is still being worked out, but my sister lives in Burlington and my mother is also coming up from Missouri to be there for the last day as the peleton makes it's way through the streets of Burlington.

I am fresh back from my Colorado ride and should be in good shape for this year's RAGBRAI. Also joining me from my Colorado ride are: Jim Bixler, Dave Humiston and Steve Geering. Jim and Dave will be accompanying the Muscatine club, while Steve will be with the Quad Cities club. And Dave Benson, Steve's friend in Colorado where we stayed the last night is also coming on RAGBRAI. He will be with a group out of Oskaloosa called BrewHaHa. Dave said to look for their big green bus.

The weather is looking great for this year's ride with temps in the 70's and 80's during the day and 50's and 60's at night. There isn't much rain chances at this time, but as we know this can change. Here it is at 3pm on Friday before RAGBRAI starts and it is only 66 degrees. I think Iowa had a long winter, extended spring, 3 weeks of summer and now we are into fall already. I guess we shouldn't complain-I would much rather ride in mild weather like this than the heat we have experienced on previous RAGBRAI's. Council Bluff's here we come-----and Burlington--you are not far behind.

Day 1 is from Council Bluffs to Red Oak. The route takes us through Mineola, Henderson, and Emerson. The day starts with about 10 miles of flat running along the Loess Hills. After this warm up, the route turns east and starts hopping hills to Red Oak. All total, the day clocks in around 54 miles and a little over 3700 feet of climb.

Day 2 is from Red Oak to Greenfield. The route takes us through Stanton, Villisca, Nodaway, Dickeville, Corning, Prescott, Williamson, and Fontanelle. This day will get your attention as I'm showing almost 73 miles of riding and over 5000 feet of climb. Fortunately, there are plenty of through towns during the day and they're spaced about every 10 miles.

Day 3 is from Greenfield to Indianola. This will be our first time overnighting in Indianola! The route takes us through Orient, Macksburg, East Peru, Truro, St. Charles, St. Marys, Martensdale, and Prole. This day will also get your attention as I'm showing almost 78 miles of riding and over 4400 feet of climb. Like Day 2, the through towns are nicely spaced.

Day 4 is a a short ride to Chariton passing through Ackworth, Sandyville, Milo, Lacona, and Oakley. It will be only 45 miles of riding and ~2100 feet of climb.

Day 5 is from Chariton to Ottumwa and we return to some long miles. The route takes us through Millerton, Bethlehem, Confidence, Iconium, Honey Creek Resort, moravia, Unionville, and Blakesburg. We'll do about 77 miles and almost 3400 feet of climb.

Day 6 is from Ottumwa to Mt. Pleasant. The route takes us through Hedrick, Martinsburg, Pekin, Packwood, Pleasant Plain, Brighton, Germanville, and Lockridge. This will be the longest day at almost 78 miles and the climb is relaxed a bit to a little over 3000 feet.

Day 7 is from Mt. Pleasant to Burlington and takes us through New London, Lowell and Geode State Park. As I mentioned in above - easy day at 44 miles and 1175 feet of climb.