If you can’t devote a full week of your life to riding a bicycle across
Iowa on RAGBRAI, you can get a taste of the long-distance biking
festival — and more than a taste of bacon — during a new event this
summer. Mark Wyatt, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition,
says the Bacoon Ride will be a one-day, 72-mile excursion starting and
ending in the central Iowa town of Waukee.
“We’re going to try to take advantage of every town along the Raccoon
River Valley Trail,” Wyatt says. “There will be event specials and
special things for registered riders along the way.” The ride is
scheduled for June 28th. Along the oval-shaped trail, riders will go
through the towns of: Waukee, Ortonville, Adel, Redfield, Linden,
Panora, Yale, Herndon, Jamaica, Dawson, Perry, Minburn and Dallas
Center.
Much like the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, Wyatt
says each community along the Bacoon Ride will be rewarding cyclists
with treats, except instead of pie, this event will all be
bacon-oriented. “We’re starting the morning with bacon-flavored
donuts,” Wyatt says, “and there should be everything from a hog roast
and bacon cheeseburgers and all kinds of different food opportunities
along the way.” Since you’ll be pedalling 72 miles in addition to
woofing down lots of bacon snacks, he jokes that it should be a “calorie
neutral” event.
Proceeds from the ride will benefit the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, RAGBRAI’s Dream Team and other Iowa charities. Learn more at: bacoonride.com