July 24, 2012 RAGBRAI Comes to Marshalltown

Started in 1973, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa is a non-competitive recreational bicycle ride across the state. Traditionally, the ride starts with the rear wheels of the bike in the Missouri or Big Sioux River on Iowa’s western border and ends on the eastern border with the front wheels in the Mississippi River. The route changes each year and averages 475 miles. Eight "host communities" are selected each year; the start community, 6 overnight stops and the ending community. Each day’s ride averages 65-70 miles. This year’s route totaled 471 miles.

Limited to 8,500 week-long riders and 1,500 day riders, unregistered riders can double that number. This year they came to Marshalltown from all over the United States and from every Continent.

Traveling just ahead or following the riders are the team support vans, buses, RVs, and trailers. Teams add a non-cycling aspect to the event.

Many bikers travel with teams, readily identifiable by their matching jerseys, hats, etc. Over the years, some teams have gained a well-deserved reputation for hard partying and hearty drinking; however most are a little more serious about the trek across the state. Teams often customize old school buses and vans which serve as transportation to the starting point , serve as ‘club house,’ supply and parts room and many times sleeping areas, then provide the ride home aft er the end of the ride. Most can be identified by their paint jobs, team logos and the bike platform and rack on top and back. Many also carry large plastic barrels full of water. During the day the water warms and at the end of the ride a hose is attached and it magically becomes a shower!

Probably the most visible was Team Cow. The bikes are painted in a black and white “Holstein cow” motif and the rider’s jerseys and riding shorts sport the same design.

Bicycle clubs and for-profit companies provide support for riders. For a fee, “Charters” transport riders to and from the ride, secure camping areas, pitch tents, provide some bicycle repair services, and offer additional evening activities. Porkbelly Charters promises, “Live like a pig on RAGBRAI!” Probably the “classiest” group was Team Gourmet. Partially sponsored by Heineken’s, they had their own chef traveling as part of their support team and a full gourmet meal was prepared and served each evening.

With temperatures reaching triple digits and heat index close to 110 degrees, many in town made sure the scorching hot temperatures didn't get the best of riders as they had hooked up their garden hoses and sprayed and misted the riders as they rode into town. One rider commented to the local newspaper, "That was the best introduction coming into a town that we've had. There were 50 people squirting us with water. That was awesome."

Along with welcome signs in many languages, and crowds of city folk setting in lawn chairs along the route cheering them on, on one corner several people had formed a band and played patriotic tunes as the riders came down Main Street into town.

Once in town, volunteers were on the corners handing out directions to camping areas, food, recreation activities, etc. Nearly every street corner had homemade signs directing the various biking groups and clubs to their meeting areas. Designated camping areas were Riverview Park, Anson City Park and the Central Iowa Fairgrounds. Riverview Park hosted thousands of riders as tents popped up all over, including the dog park. I certainly hope the city had their pooper scoopers out there early!

Setting on a street corner in the middle of town was a 7 ft tall metal “red Solo cup.” The Logo of the Marshalltown RAGBRAI committee, it was actually a sprayer with a continual misting of cooling water.

From Indiana, Randy Frey and his daughter Abigail wanted to do something as father and daughter and chose to ride RAGBRAI. Mrs. Frey came along as the “support team.” Frey and his wife are both cancer survivors and ride with the group, Spokes for Life, all cancer survivors.

The youngest riders, Carson and Clayton Drummond, 9 and 12, from Sanford, FL rode with their 11-year-old cousin Christian Diack, from Daytona, FL. Miles of hills and heat didn't scare 3. These kids took off an headed to the front of the pack and stayed right there. "The heat didn't bother us; we're Floridians," Christian said. "Everyone's really nice here, it just smells different," Carson said. Welcome to Iowa, Carson!!

The Rainout! Severe thunderstorms hit just around 8:45 p.m. The weather halted most of the live entertainment on the courthouse lawn. As wind, rain and lightening arrived, riders who were camping out were sent to shelters at their campsites or shuttled by bus to other shelters in town including The Salvation Army and local churches. The only reported damage to any campsites was at the fairgrounds.

No injuries were reported because of the storm. The Medical Center reported 20 heat-related illnesses related to RAGBRAI and about 10 others with various injuries.

Nearly 75 % of the riders were on their way by 8:30AM, Thursday, and headed through Garwin and several other small town before the next overnight stop in Cedar Rapids.

Why would people subject themselves to sleeping on the ground with no air conditioning during a heat wave, major physical exertion pedaling long days and up hills – then call it a vacation? For the thrill of it all! As on rider from Mesa, AZ put it, “You can either have adventures or you can have regrets!”

A rider from Houston TX said he could handle the heat and the humidity, but in Iowa, “there is a third H. HILLS!”

As the riders pass thru the various towns along the route, residents provide a wide variety of pastries, baked goods and local foods. Home-baked fruit pies have become nearly synonymous with RAGBRAI. One rider was overheard commenting, “These grandmas can make the best pie!”

Team Canada consisted of 4 riders from Manitoba, Newfoundland and Ontario. One commented: ‘You can train for the mileage and the hills, but you can’t train for the humidity and the wind.”