The 2024 RAGBRAI Route Inspection Team leaves Red Oak on their way to Atlantic on Day 2 of the RAGBRAI LI route.
Day 2, Monday, July 22: Red Oak to Atlantic
- Miles: 40.7.
- Feet of climb: 1,702.
- Themes: Hometown Pride Jersey Day.
- Pass-through towns: Elliott and Lewis.
- Meeting town: Griswold.
- Gravel option: 3.7 miles, 250 feet of climb.
- Highlights: This will likely be the least-challenging ride of the week, but still scenic. Cold Springs Park just south of Lewis offers a chance to cool off at a lakeside beach. Up the road in Lewis itself, gravel riders can check out the Nishnabotna Ferry House and, across the river, the Hitchcock House, an Underground Railroad stop, both painstakingly preserved by local history buffs, Atlantic, the overnight town, is the home of a major Coca Cola bottling plant. Expect plenty of the worlds's favorite beverage.
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.