RAGBRAI makes final '09 stop in Burlington

Wed February 04 2009
Posted Feb 4, 2009
4,066

Burlington By WILLIAM SMITH wsmith@thehawkeye.com For the fifth time, but the first in nine years, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will make its final stop in Burlington this summer as it takes riders along a 442-mile route through southern Iowa, with its final overnight stop in Mount Pleasant. "We are thrilled they chose Burlington to be the ending location of the great ride across Iowa," said Beth Nickel, executive director of the Burlington Convention and Visitors Bureau. RAGBRAI, now in its 38th year, is scheduled for July 19 to 25, starting at the Missouri River in Council Bluffs and ending at the Mississippi River in Burlington. Overnight stops are planned in Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton and Mount Pleasant. Nickel estimates the event will bring an additional 20,000 people into Burlington, many of whom will park their cars in town the weekend before the event so they can drive them home when the ride is over. "I think it's going to give our community a lot of exposure. We just added some information to our Web site about food and hotels, and we're working on getting the logo up," Nickel said. The last time the ride stopped in Burlington was in 2000; the first stop was in 1979. The ride also ended in Burlington in 1984 and 1990. Nickel, who was just told of the stop by RAGBRAI officials Thursday, said there is much work to be done. "We're in the early planning stages. It's going to take a lot of volunteers," Nickel said. "Right now we're just getting everything lined up." Part of that preparation will include a new page on the Grow Greater Burlington Web site dedicated entirely to RAGBRAI. RAGBRAI is limited to 8,500 weeklong riders and 1,500 daily riders, who will average 68 miles a day on the sixth shortest ride in its history. But that number will nearly double to 20,000 with support bus drivers, vendors and various hangers-on each day. In Mount Pleasant, the riders will overnight on the grounds of the Old Threshers Reunion. In Burlington, riders can complete their journey with a ride -- or walk -- up Snake Alley before heading to dip their front wheel in the Mississippi River. Entries can exceed the number of riders allowed, but registrations by mail must be postmarked by Feb. 15. Online registrations are due April 1. A weeklong rider fee is $140 and a weeklong non-rider fee is $35. Participants may enter for daily wristbands for $25 per day. For more information, visit www.ragbrai.org. Those wishing to volunteer locally should call the Burlington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at (319) 752-6365.