Back in the (RAGBRAI) Saddle Again

Some things are just too good to miss.

The same could be said about bike rides, especially when we’re talking about the biggest such event in the world. Did I mention it happens in the state of Iowa?

This such event is known as RAGBRAI, and I was fortunate to take part for Day-5 of this weeklong ride across the state.  

I had long known of this famous bike ride. It wasn’t until 2021 that I actually got to experience it firsthand, though, by riding Day-1 (recap). Despite the long day (85 miles) and all the hills, it was everything I had imagined. I eagerly returned in 2022 (recap), and rode day-7. I was able to swing riding Days-4,5 and 7 in 2023 (recap). I wasn’t able to get there last year, so I was really excited to return this year.

First off, here's a brief introduction from the RAGBRAI site:  

RAGBRAI, The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state. Heading into its 52nd year, RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world. For those of you who have never ridden, this rolling celebration of Iowa attracts participants from all 50 states and many foreign countries.  It has covered thousands of miles through the years, and hundreds of thousands of riders have hopped in the saddle to pedal part of those miles.

The RAGBRAI route averages 468 miles and is not necessarily flat.  It begins somewhere along Iowa’s western border on the Missouri River and ends along the eastern border on the Mississippi River.  We change the route each year. RAGBRAI is a bicycle ride, not a race.  It started in 1973 as a six-day ride across the state of Iowa by two Des Moines Register columnists who invited a few friends along.  It is held the last full week in July.  RAGBRAI is planned and coordinated by The Des Moines Register.

RAGBRAI officially began on Sunday (July 20th), but my crew and I weren’t riding until Thursday (July 24th). Each day has a fun (optional) theme, and Thursday’s theme was College Jersey Day. 

It took some logistical planning, but my friend Dave and I got to Iowa Falls Wednesday evening, with plans to meet-up with the rest of the crew Thursday morning. Meanwhile, Carrol and Mark hosted us in their RV. 

Before heading to the meet-up…yes, I’m the lone Iowa Hawkeye 

Ready to hit the road

Town #1 - Iowa Falls. As planned, the rest of our crew (Larry, Drew and Molly) made it to the meet-up before 7:00. After a few quick mini tune-ups (tires aired, etc.), we were on the road just before 7:30.

Leaving Iowa Falls…

The early morning 68F temps were a bit chilly. For a quick minute, I regretted not bringing any arm warmers along, but within a few miles all was well. The temps may have been cool, but the air was crazy humid.

Town #2 - Ackley. We pulled into Ackley around 8:45, having ridden about 15 miles at that point. Although we’d all had some breakfast, we were ready for some food. And maybe a potty break, LOL.

   

Bikers, bikers, bikers everywhere…

We hung out in Ackley a good 45 minutes. The lines were really long at most of the food stands, so that took a good chunk of our “layover” time. There had been rain in the forecast, but it was still a no-show, and the cloud cover actually made the humidity bearable. So far, so good!

Town #3 - Aplington. Another 10 miles down the road was Aplington. We pulled into town a little past 10:00. We didn’t hang around long, other than to grab more water. I had two water bottles on my bike. One had flavored water and the other had electrolytes added to it, and I tried to alternate between the two of them each time I took a drink.

Entering Aplington

On the way to the next to pass-through town, Parkersburg, we’d seen the signs for Mr. Porkchop. This is a RAGBRAI staple…the big pink bus (and telltale smoke in the air) is usually planted along the early part of each daily route. We stopped, for maybe 30 minutes, to grab a token porkchop. I also added my name, and a rough replica of the Iowa Hawkeye logo, to the bus.

  

Pic from RAGBRAI 2023

Town #4 - Parkersburg. It was only a few miles further to Parkersburg. We arrived around 11:00, and had ridden just under 30 miles. The total distance for Day-5 was estimated to be around 50 miles, so we were well past the halfway point and well ahead of schedule. Having just eaten, we didn’t need (or want) any food, but another potty stop was in order.

Leaving Parkersburg

Town #5 NewHartford. Somewhere between Parkersburg and New Hartford, Dave and I lost track of Drew, Molly and Larry. While we weren't necessarily all riding in a cluster, we were careful to keep each other within sight…but that system failed us, LOL. Shortly after arriving, Larry showed up, but the other two were still MIA. 

We texted them, and let them know of our location, and knew they’d be arriving eventually. It was a great opportunity for a break anyways. I spotted the painted brick wall, and saw numerous names and messages written on it. I also spotted several markers on the ground nearby. So, I felt obligated to add my name. A few minutes later, I heard a familiar voice, and saw Rachael standing nearby. She and I have been friends for a long time, and we usually bump into each other at races. Yes, another Iowa State cyclist, LOL.

Eventually, Drew and Molly caught up with us. By the time we left New Hartford, we had just under 40 miles showing on my Garmin. It was another 13-ish miles to the final town of the day, Cedar Falls. In other words, we were on the homestretch to the Day-5 finish line!

Town #6 - CedarFalls. Although we had missed all the forecasted rain, and the humid temps had been tolerable amidst the cloud cover, the sun decided to show its face in this final jaunt. Oh, and the gentle tailwind had morphed into a moderate headwind, LOL. It was almost comical, as the route had been relatively flat, but there were a few significant hills awaiting us as well.

These final 13-ish miles were definitely the toughest miles of the day. Dave and I decided to make a short pitstop near the halfway mark and, while doing so, a couple of cyclists crashed alongside each other on the side of the road (right near me). One of the cyclists was a gentleman, in his mid-70’s, and he’d hit his head pretty hard on the pavement. The other (much younger) cyclist and I helped him unclip his shoes from the pedals. Within a few seconds a couple of other cyclists, one was an EMT and the other a paramedic, pulled off the road to offer assistance. Fortunately, the downed cyclist was lucid, though he said his back hurt. It wasn’t long before several other medical professionals had pulled over and were offering their help as well. With a handful of medics (talking in their medical talk with each other), we were assured the situation was well-handled, so we got back on the road. It was pretty scary for a few minutes, though!

We arrived in Cedar Falls around 2:30, feeling quite accomplished! Another staple of RABRAI is pie. There are numerous food stands selling slices of pie in every flavor imaginable. Since I had not yet had any pie, I found a food truck offering mini pies, so I treated myself to a serving of raspberry indulgence.

Yay! Another RAGBRAI ride is done!

Kudos to Larry and Dave on their first RAGBRAI!

My Garmin showed the 51-ish miles had taken us less than four hours to complete. Of course, we had numerous stops along the way, making our total “RAGBRAI experience” near the 7-hour mark. Despite the hills in the final miles, this route was pretty easy (in my opinion). We’d heard numerous stories about the previous days’ routes not being as biking-friendly.

We also got really lucky with the weather. The temps were much cooler, in the early hours, than the previous days’ conditions as well. The cloud cover was a blessing with the warm temps. Also, the wind played nice for us, which is a huge advantage for a long ride such as this. until the final miles. The previous days’ wind wasn’t as kind (rumor has it Momma N dealt the cyclists a headwind, for both Tuesday and Wednesday, with sustained 20-25mph wind speed). Yes, we were quite lucky indeed!

This year’s theme was Take Flight, with some of the registration proceeds going to the Honor Flight Network. I had no regrets in snagging a commemorative jersey.

A few final thoughts:

***Although we were on rural highways, just like in the previous years I’ve ridden, I never once felt in danger. The local peeps know, well in advance, when RAGBRAI comes to town, and they know that the thousands of riders will have the right-of-way...so they know to avoid those roads. Plus, there are ample police officers manning the traffic.

***As mentioned, the RAGBRAI route is different every year. It's a big deal for the towns that get chosen as "overnight" towns, but it also brings a lot of tourism and revenue to the smaller "pass-through" towns as well. 

***This is more of a ride than a race. It's very much a social thing. I had plenty of people to chat with, while on the road, and most were not from Iowa. 

***I've said this before, but I think cycling gear is more fun to admire than running gear. The jerseys are really cool (quite literally) as well as practical. It was interesting seeing the various organizations, charities, colleges, cycling clubs, and racing events featured on the cyclists' backs.

***Unlike runners, cyclists don't seem to have any phobias or superstitions about wearing the event gear the day of the event itself. While I saw many, many RAGBRAI jerseys from years past, I saw even more showcasing the 2025 logo and artwork. Had I not also gotten a University of Iowa jersey, I would have worn the 2025 jersey without reservation.

Anyways, that's my 2025 RAGBRAI story. I have a feeling this will continue to be an annual endeavor for several years to come. I still don't have any interest in riding the entire week; it's a huge commitment physically, emotionally, logistically and financially. I've really grown to love cycling, but am not sure I love it enough to take it to that caliber...but never say never.

Would you ever consider doing such an endeavor as this? Have you ever heard of RAGBRAI? What's the most miles of biking you've ever done in a week? Would you have bought the 2025 jersey, and would you have worn it?

 I'm linking this with Zenaida and Jenn for the TuesdayTopics Linkup. 

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