f you succeeded in grinding out the last two long, hilly days, Day 5 is a chance to slow down a little and enjoy the southern Iowa scenery. The mileage is just over 60 and the elevation gain is a mere 2,500 feet, 80% less than the epic Day 3 climb.
Here’s what’s ahead.
Thursday’s RAGBRAI route
Knoxville to Ottumwa.
What to know
Thursday’s route and some of Friday’s skirt parts of Iowa known for their concentrations of Amish population. Keep an eye out for Old-Order families out in their horse-drawn buggies, and perhaps some of the pedal-less scooter bikes favored by some communities. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter some Amish pie.
Attica, the first stop, is a town of just 130, but it plans plenty of breakfast choices for the riders.