Register's Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI)

It was summer 1973. 

John Karras
Photo credits: ragbrai.com

John Karras, an avid bicyclist and writer/copy editor for The Des Moines Register suggested that his colleague and fellow cycling enthusiast Don Kaul ride his bike across Iowa and write about the experience in the Register’s “Over the Coffee” column. After a little coaxing, Kaul convinced Karras to accompany him for the journey, and, in a matter of a few weeks, nearly 300 more Iowan cyclists also signed on for the ride. At the time, no one imagined  the ambitious bike ride across their home state would become the longest, largest and oldest bicycle touring event in the world.

My First RAGBRAI Experience 

Fast-forward to July 23, 2013. Here I was, a total RAGBRAI rookie, oozing with nerves and excitement about the seven days and 435 miles that lay ahead. Good thing I was recruited by a very seasoned group of riders (some with more than 20 RAGBRAIs under their belts) who could show me the way. 

Chris & I about to head out for Day 1 of RAGBRAI 2013.

Our group, the Pahaffey Riders, consisted of about 15 cyclists, most of whom were relatives of my now husband. We were fortunate to have an RV where we could stow all of our camping materials and personal belongings while we rode all day. After meeting back up with the RV at the next overnight town, we would pitch our tent, shower (usually in a high school locker room, though hog trailors and car washes are also standard options), eat a carb-heavy dinner and socialize with the gang before heading off to bed.

Each day, I grew more and more mesmerized by Iowa’s beautiful scenery, rolling hills and quaint little towns that greeted us with open arms. The route varies each year, but the halfway and overnight towns are generally thrilled to host “the party.” With more than 20,000 cyclists biking through towns of 1,000 residents or fewer, a single day of RAGBRAI generates more revenue in food sales and lodging than in all of the remaining days of the year combined. 

RAGBRAI riders set up their tents on a baseball field in Rock Valley July 19, 2014.
Photo credits: Zachary Boyden-Holmes/ Juice

The People Watching  

Like any major event, RAGBRAI is a true spectacle. Countless times throughout the day, you’ll pass by the most unimaginable sights: recumbent bikes that depict bananas and space shuttles, unicyclists, families riding single-file on a hex (six-seated) tandem bicycle, and there’s typically at least one really crazy person who will run the whole thing. And heck, there's even a fair chance you'll bump tires with Lance Armstrong.

Lance Armstrong personally thanking Mr. Pork Chop
(Paul Bernhard) for all of his work on RAGBRAI
over the years.

The Food 

I can’t talk about RAGBRAI without mentioning the conglomerate of exuberant foods. Between the hearty breakfast wraps from Farm Boys, made-to-order flapjacks from Chris Cakes, ice cream made on location by the cream-churning elves at Beekman’s, and the ghastly large serving of “the other white meat” from Mr. Porkchop, riders have no trouble re-energizing throughout the day.   

The Anticipation of RAGBRAI XLIII 

Less than two weeks away, I am eagerly awaiting for RAGBRAI XLIII to begin! This year,
the route starts on July 19 in Sioux City and ends in Davenport on July 25. The average daily distance is 69 miles, and the gain in elevation for each day ranges from 1,308 to 3,941 feet. For a little extra challenge, my husband and I will also complete the Century Loop, known since 2001 as the Karras Loop. This optional route extension, offered typically on the highest-mileage day, tacks on the appropriate amount of distance for the route to equal an even 100 miles. Riders who complete the loop receive a special patch of honor.

Me completing my tire dip in the Missouri River, a tradition
for RAGBRAI riders who make it through to the end.

All that said, RAGBRAI is a casual, self-paced, family-friendly event. You do not have to be a semi-pro cyclist to participate. In fact, many riders opt to bike two or three days versus all seven, and some ride half days to shave off some mileage. The point is, it’s a ride; not a race. Sure, the biking is the focal point, but the people you meet, places you visit and memories you make along the way are the true essence of what makes RAGBRAI, well RAGBRAI.

Cheers!