The 2024 RAGBRAI Route Inspection Team leaves Glenwood on their way to Red Oak on Day 1 of the RAGBRAI LI route.
Day 1, Sunday, July 21: Glenwood to Red Oak
- Miles: 41.9.
- Feet of climb: 2,435.
- Themes: Tire dip, Mile of Silence.
- Pass-through towns: Silver City and Emerson.
- Meeting town: Henderson.
- Gravel option: 7.6 miles, 638 feet of climb.
- Highlights: Climbing through the scenic Loess Hills of the Missouri River valley, one of the world's most unique landscapes, with lots of long-range views. Those charmed enough by it to consider a return visit will want to check out the Wabash Trace Nature trail passing through the heart Silver City, a 63-mile rail trail from Council Bluffs to the Missouri border. Red Oak, the overnight town, is a former railroad town with a thriving and historic town square and an impressively ornate and ? appropriately ? deep-red-hued county courthouse.
Source - Stats from Philip Joens - Des Moines Register Reporter and 18 time RAGBRAI veteran.
What does the Route Inspection Team do?
- We ride the route on the same time and day of the week that RAGBRAI will ride in July.
- We identify any unsafe traffic patterns like a factory shift ending as we are rolling by, etc..
- We look for any road hazards or conditions that may need improvements before the event. That data is shared with the county engineers.
- We visit with all the towns and give them an idea of when they can expect riders in their towns when RAGBRAI comes through.
- We answer any questions the town committees and their business owners may have.
- We share the experience with registrants.
- We showcase the beautiful route and everything these communities have to offer.