Start thinking RAGBRAI

Wed February 04 2009
Posted Feb 4, 2009
6,725

Brian Morelli Iowa City Press-Citizen Cyclists can start thinking about summer. The 2009 Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa has been announced. This year, riders can plan for a scenic, 442-mile foray through southern Iowa and lots and lots of hills. "No matter what, the day the route comes out there is a general excitement," said Ray Bennett, a cycling enthusiast from North Liberty. "When you live in Iowa, any little thing that points to summer, you pay attention to it." Bennett was all ears and his communications channels were buzzing Thursday afternoon following The Des Moines Register's announcement of overnight towns for RAGBRAI XXXVII. This year, RAGBRAI will begin July 18 in Council Bluffs and riders will spend the night in Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton, Ottumwa and Mount Pleasant before finishing July 25 in Burlington. "It's a short route and extremely scenic, so it will be challenging but about as challenging as last year's route," RAGBRAI director T.J. Juskiewicz said. RAGBRAI 2009 will be the sixth shortest but also the 10th hilliest, Juskiewicz said. This year will feature 22,806 feet of climb. The most challenging days appear to be Monday, Red Oak to Greenfield, with 5,096 feet of climb over 73 miles; Tuesday, Greenfield to Indianola, with 77 miles and 4,470 feet of climb; and Thursday, Chariton to Ottumwa, with 77 miles and 3,388 feet of climb. However, the route also includes some "easy" days, such as Mount Pleasant to Burlington on Saturday, which comes in as one of the shortest RAGBRAI days ever at 43 miles. This also will be the first time RAGBRAI has stopped in Indianola, Juskiewicz said. "It's a beautiful ride. People are not going to want to miss it," Juskiewicz said. The seven-day ride, which RAGBRAI claims to be the largest, longest, oldest group bicycle ride in the world, typically starts at the Missouri River and ends at the Mississippi. RAGBRAI accepts 10,000 registered riders a day, but many unregistered cyclists and additional support-crews, venders and others can mean 20,000 people can roll threw town with RAGBRAI. Paper registrations are due Feb. 15, and online registrations are due April 1. Lottery results will be announced May 1. Weeklong registration is $140 for cyclists and $35 for non-cyclists, such as support crews. Daily rider passes cost $35. Mark Wyatt is executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, a bicycle advocacy group. He said he is excited the ride will start off in Council Bluffs, home to the largest pedestrian bridge between two states. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge between Omaha and Council Bluffs, which opened last fall, is the largest interstate pedestrian bridge in the country, Juskiewicz said. "Looks like we have another host of excellent towns," Wyatt said. Steve Rudin, president of the Bicyclists of Iowa City club, said he was a little disappointed the route didn't go a little farther south. Rudin thought it would have been a good way to stimulate the economy in the two southern tiers of the state, he said, plus it is a little hillier and even more scenic. However, he said, he expects participation to be as high as normal, and Rudin already is making his own RAGBRAI plans. "It could be great this year. Who knows?" Rudin said.