2018 was another great year for riding my bicycle and promoting Iowa cycling. Here is to good health and relatively good fitness.
I met new friends and acquaintances, rode new trails, roads, gravel and dirt. Mostly on a fat bike this year.
The rides and races I attended were mostly in Iowa was a few outside of the state. All were amazing experiences
I don't track my miles, but we get plenty of pedaling. In the last few years, I've leaned toward the longer 100-300+ gravel races. Don't know why, but I like the physical, mental and mechanical challenges that comes with each race.
By the numbers
Thanks to our sponsors BIKEIOWA was able to give away $6,853 worth of merchandise to local events and organizations to be used for fund raising, prizes and awareness.
We made 136 site enhancements this year. Major enhancements were the City Finder, City Detail Page, Marketplace, Ability to Edit a Trail, Enhanced search functionality for events, Trails, News and Features, swipe functionality for mobile, better error handling, cloud views, Adding Ride Editors and many other enhancements!
As I look forward to 2019, I think it will look similar last year for the number of events and things I will get involved in. It is a nice mix or riding, racing, advocacy, event promotion and Iowa Cycling promotion.
I realize I cannot be every where at once and cannot attend every event that I want to.
THANKS for all the invites and I look forward to riding with all you in the future! Cheers!
Here are the highlights for each month.
I'm sure we didn't list them all, but every bullet point is a great memory!
JAN
- Iowa Bike Summit
- Iowa Bike Expo
- RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party
- Bingo caller at Captain Roy's
FEB
- GRRtoBRR - Ride to BRR Ride
- BRR Ride
- hi-viz amendment with House Transportation Committee HF513
- Raccoon River Valley Trail Banquet - Featured Speaker
- 2018 DSM Mayor's Ride Planning Committee
MAR
- CIRREM - ice date
- Gravel Camp - Clayton County
- Cumming Iowa Spring Classic
- Des Moines Cycle Club March Meeting - Featured Speaker
- DMOS gathering - Walnut - Regenerative Medicine/Orthobiologics & PT
APR
- Gents Race
- Crushed Rock Classic
- Trans Iowa V14
MAY
- Bike Month Promotions
- Cyclo De Mayo
- Fat Bike Hundy
- Ride of Silence (14th year hosting)
- 170 mile ride to Cedar Rapids via High Trestle Trail, Heart of Iowa Trail, Iowa 330 Trail, Iowa River Trail, Comet Trail and the Old Creamery Nature Trail
JUN
- Ride to Malvern, Race Loess Hills Enduro, Ride Home
- Celebrated National Trails Day
- Did our first Elkhart Time Trial (on a loaded fat bike)
- IMBCS #6 - Summerset Shootout MTB Race
- Follow Your Folly - Cruiser 100 ride! (historic rainfall in Central Iowa)
- Tim O'Connor Memorial Ride
JUL
- Iowa Games - Gravel Race
- RAGBRAI - Expo and Vending
AUG
- Gravel Worlds
- Pedaler's Jamboree
SEP
- Cannonball Cross
- Dirty Wooden Shoe
- Capital City Cross
- Relaycross
- Trek Cup
- Jingle Cross
OCT
- Spotted Horse
- Iowa Trail Summit
- Twisted Cross
- the GRAND
- Des Moines Marathon Course Support
- Spooky Cross
NOV
- Creekside Cross
- Valley Cross
- co-hosted Andrea Cohen - Tour Divide Presentation
- Fat Tuesdays
DEC
- State Cyclocross Championships
- Great Western Trail at-grade crossing meetings
- 2019 DSM Mayor's Ride Planning Committee
- 116 mile pre-Xmas ride on High Trestle Trail, Heart of Iowa Trail, Iowa 330 Trail, Iowa River Trail and the Old Creamery Nature Trail
I wish YOU all a healthy and prosperous 2019.
RIDE SAFE !!