Five decades after its invention by two Des Moines Register columnists, RAGBRAI is the longest, largest and oldest recreational bicycle touring event in the world.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Fifty years ago, RAGBRAIwas born.
Its two founders had no clue what it would turn into when they had the idea to hit the open road and find stories along their journey.
"In 1973 when two columnists at the Des Moines Register, Donald Kahl and John Karras, got the idea to ride across Iowa on their bikes and figured 'Hey, I'll get the Register to pay for it