Written by TODD ERZEN and MICHAEL MORAIN Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first. With Sioux Center, the starting point of the 40th RAGBRAI, actually being 12 miles away from the nearest tributary of the Missouri River, what are riders to do about the traditional dip-the-tire-in-the-water-before-traipsing-across-Iowa thing? Ardith Lein, one of Sioux [...]
Thousands of riders were treated to a patriotic experience Friday in Brooklyn, the day’s first pass-through town. Riders found themselves walking through town instead of riding, in order to take in an enormous American flag suspended above the route– cast against a vivid blue sky. Traffic slowed to a plodding pace as riders took their [...]
Gina Pfarr of Sioux Falls, S.D., left, Mark Giffen of Springfield, Mo., and Tisa Overman of Milwaukee, Wis., revel in a music and laser light show with other fun-seekers on Main Street in Grinnell, Iowa, Thursday night, July 28, 2011 during the fifth night of RAGBRAI XXXIX. Thousands packed the downtown streets, taking in entertainment [...]
When you spot a pair of big-wheel bicycles on RAGBRAI gliding by at 10 miles per hour, please don’t ask their riders, “How’s the weather up there?” This year isn’t the first time that Rick Stumpff or Blaise Faber has ridden RAGBRAI, and they’ve heard it all. Their back story bears repeating, since so many [...]
The throng of bikers that rolled into Elk Horn for RAGBRAI’s second day were greeted with the big Danish windmill, a tank, delicious crepes, a long line for breakfast at the fire station, competing DJs blaring Main Street tunes — an the most popular attraction of all: three mermaids raising money for the local municipal [...]
On one hand, the first day of my first RAGBRAI as a bicyclist as well as journalist made me feel like a complete outsider. I rolled up behind one conversation on my way north out of Griswold and couldn’t help but eavesdrop: The guy was talking about how he and his brother aim to ride [...]
I caught up with rider and Team Numb Nutz member Keith Shaver of St. Louis, Mo., in Lewis, Ia — the last pass-through town on the first day of RAGBRAI 2011. I asked him about his day as he was collapsed in the schoolyard lawn near the world’s biggest bicycle. And yes, he explained his [...]
RAGBRAI is excited to announce the inaugural RAGBRAI College Spirit Day. RAGBRAI in collaboration with the universities of Drake, Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa will encourage all riders, alumni and fans to celebrate and show their college spirit on Friday, July 29 from Grinnell to Coralville.
Don't wait another minute to order the gifts for those special people on your holiday gift list! Orders will be accepted until December 20 for holiday delivery.
Remember “Uncle” Louis Hammer, the 90-year-old farmer who pedaled a stationary bike and cheered on RAGBRAI riders as they rode past his farm near Pocahontas? Of course you do. The guy’s a legend. Well, two of his new fans, riders Greta Songe and John Martinek, are making a short animated film about him. (Songe, by [...]
Sunday, March 11, 2012
27 Comments