Thousands of cyclists streamed Friday into their last overnight stop of Mount Pleasant as they neared the end of their 434-mile trek across the state in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa — the hilliest route in the event’s 51-year history.
The southern route this year bypassed the Corridor, bringing cyclists instead through the closest meetup town of Fairfield and the overnight stop of Mount Pleasant. The ride, which got underway Sunday in Glenwood and ends today in Burlington, included an optional 15.5-mile century loop — which made for a 100-mile day — on Friday near Wayland.
Riders began their next-to-the-last day in Ottumwa, and stopped briefly in Eldon before coming to Fairfield to grab lunch, dance to live music and rest their legs before hitting the road again and traveling to Brighton, Wayland, Trenton and eventually Mount Pleasant.
Holly Frary of Mount Pleasant was on her maiden voyage of RAGBRAI. She had been training since February, and logged 1,200 miles in five months to get in shape.