Sightseeing on two wheels

Tue August 19 2008
Posted Aug 19, 2008
5,340

By NICHOLAS BERGIN nbergin@thehawkeye.com KEOSAUQUA, IA Bicyclists take in Van Buren County during annual ride. For those unused to traveling miles up and down Iowa's rolling hills perched upon a bicycle seat, aching muscles and rear-ends follow a long day's ride. At the 22nd annual Bike Van Buren, Karmen Lair of Galesburg, Ill., learned this fact firsthand after pedaling 71.4 miles Saturday. "The hills really kicked my butt," Lair said. "I'm buying padded bike shorts for the next ride. I believe I'm the only person out here without them." But that didn't stop the Palmer College of Chiropractic student from getting up Sunday and peddling another 38.7 miles after a night spent camping in Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. "(The ache) It's nothing a little ice wont fix. I might look funny sitting on ice, but whatever works," Lair said Sunday as she had air added to her bike tires by Chris Bonar of Bickel's Cycling and Fitness, which provided basic bike tuning for riders. The two-day trek was organized by the Villages of Van Buren. It is one of four events organized by the group annually. Lair attended the bike ride with her friend, Cheryl Morris of Davenport, a bike Van Buren veteran. Both ladies visited the county in the past for Canoe Van Buren, a two-day canoe trip down the Des Moines River, which was canceled this year because of flooding. Both the canoeing and biking events take participants on a scenic trip with stops in the county's historic villages. The events are structured and include support staff to provide first aid and assistance. "I like the little towns you go through. The people are really friendly. They are a good group of Midwestern people," Morris said, explaining why she returns every year for the events. Attendance for the ride was down slightly this year, about 220 people cycling each day. Last year about 230 showed up each day. At its peak a decade ago, the event attracted as many 500 cyclists. Event organizer, Stacey Glandon, executive director for the Villages of Van Buren, said the declining turnout is likely due to high gas prices and increased competition from other events. With the exception of a handful of bikers from places like St. Louis, the majority of riders came from within 70 miles, Glandon said. To keep things interesting for riders, organizers this year introduced a "Fun Poker Ride," into the route. Upon registration, each participant received a scorecard. Then at each designated hospitality stop, riders drew a card from a deck. The rider with the best poker hand each day won $100 cash. Other prizes also were awarded, including items from Bickel's and Trek Bicycle Corp. "It encourages the bikers to go to all the hospitality stops, and we like that," Glandon said of the poker run. Organizers designated stops in each of the 11 villages participating in the ride. Each stop also often featured drinks and homemade food. Saturday, the last stop on the poker run was at the Keosauqua Fire Station where the volunteer fire department was holding its annual hog roast fundraiser. The department usually holds the fundraiser on Father's Day weekend. However, the event was postponed this year because of flooding, said firefighter Nick Copeland. A tally of how much money the event raised was not available Sunday, but Copeland said the firefighters did well and served between 250 and 300 people. Before heading out to pump their pedals, many cyclists stopped by the Lions Club annual pancake breakfast. The funds from the breakfast support a wide variety of charitable organizations and causes. Bikers Duran and Tracy Richenberger of Washington, Iowa, said the pancakes were delicious Sunday morning. While the Richenbergers missed the Saturday ride, they were eager to get on the road at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. It was the couple's fourth time touring the roads of Van Buren on bikes. Tracy said she is drawn to the event because it's much smaller and less crowded than RAGBRAI, which the couple has completed about seven times. To prepare for the ride, Tracy said she rode 50 miles of the hilliest roads in Washington County last weekend. Duran, however, said he hasn't biked much this year because he started a new job with Hopf Home Furnishings Inc. of Kalona. Still, he claimed to have no fear of Van Buren's hills. "I don't think I'm totally out of shape," Duran said. 'I'm used to these hills down here. So I think I'll be OK."