BIKEIOWA Note: This is old news, but was still an interesting read...

Three hundred thirty-five miles to traverse Iowa.

That's nothing in a vehicle, but try it on a bicycle. And churn through all those miles in 24 hours.

That's the quest about 30 people will embrace beginning at 4 a.m. Saturday in Sioux City. They have then 24 hours by early Sunday morning to reach Dubuque, to officially complete RAID, or the Ride Across Iowa in a Day event.

Riding more than 400 miles over seven days on the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride across Iowa, or RAGBRAI, is comparably a cakewalk.

This year is seventh time avid cyclists will attempt the trans-Iowa trek. The routes cover a north section from Sioux City to Dubuque some years, and Council Bluffs to Muscatine for a southerly option in other years.

Darren Johnson, of Ames, is organizing RAID 2017, and will ride himself for the sixth time. Johnson has made the full distance once, last year, so he's learned participants can readily tell if the completion can be achieved as the day unfolds, based on what time checkpoints are reached.

Eighteen bicyclists finished the ride in 2016. The fastest can reach the Mississippi River in 15 hours, with a 22 mph average across the state.

"That is really cooking, for 335 miles," Johnson said.

Factoring in stops, a rider will have to average 14 mph for all 24 hours to reach Dubuque in time. But Johnson really doesn't recommend stopping. Some RAID participants will ingest foods and gels while riding.

"You just have to keep going...You have to have your nutrition dialed in. It is basically an eating contest," Johnson said.