Twenty years ago, Kathy Murphy started a small club of bicyclists wanting to train for RAGBRAI. Today, it’s grown to nearly 500 people.
“People who are part of different RAGBRAI teams, people who are fresh off a divorce and want to come out and bike again, families, all of that,” said Murphy.
Besides the change in size, their overall goals have evolved as well. Shortly after its creation in 2003, Murphy began asking her fellow club members if they wanted to join in on different volunteer efforts throughout the community. Things like helping with derecho clean up, raising money for groups and individuals has all helped grow their purpose even more.
“Still some of the same people from 20 years ago are coming every week, I think it’s a nice release for people, it’s definitely a very social club, and just that sense of community,” said Murphy.