Matt Phippen, ride director, route updates for RAGBRAI XLIX

My year has just flown by and I can’t believe our ride across this beautiful state is going to happen very shortly.  There are a couple of sayings that couldn’t be more accurate in my first year as the Ride Director for RAGBRAI.  “Time flies when you are having fun” and “If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”  Eighteen trips across the state, countless miles on my truck, hotel room keys found in the washing machine, and committee members who have become family. This is the most hours I’ve put into a job but it is not work. I am playing bikes and I love everything about it. I am so excited to share RAGBRAI XLIX with you but in order for this year to truly be successful it has to be safe.  Out of the 462 miles, there are three concerns we need to discuss.

Day 2 – HIGHWAY 20 BETWEEN IDA GROVE AND GALVA

On Day 2, there is a small stretch between Ida Grove and Galva where we will cross HWY 20. We have spent a lot of time working with the Iowa State Patrol and the DOT on this intersection.  This is our plan to safely get riders across HWY 20 and control traffic.

Cyclists will be directed by the Iowa State Patrol to go directly across the highway into the west bound lane. West bound traffic will be closed to a one lane road that will have a stop light to control vehicle traffic. The State Patrol will operate the stop light, alternating between vehicles and bicycles until the route is closed or no more bicycles. There will be a strong visual presence between the State Patrol and electronic message boards from the DOT. The message boards will be placed a week prior to the ride alerting drivers of the bike traffic for Monday, July 25. It is important that you listen and follow the directions of the State Patrol to ensure your safety and the safety of others. A huge thank you to the State Patrol and the DOT for thinking of through every option and coming up with this plan to ensure safe and efficient passage across HWY 20 for the riders and vehicles on route this day.

Day 4: BRIDGE OUT BETWEEN WESLEY AND HUTCHINS

((Construction site will be cleaned and only barricades will be present. Riders will walk their bikes down and the dirt road to meet back up with the paved route before riding Britt. Picture taken on 7/12/2022. )

There is a bridge out between Wesley and Hutchins that won’t be complete until after the ride.  The team that is working on this bridge has made a hard packed dirt road on the outside of the bridge that they have been using to get their machines back and forth.  The new dirt road will be the best option to get riders across and keep them off of Highway 18 (the only alternative).  This is my ask to all riders, get off your bike 20 feet prior to the bridge.  The county will have barricades set-up the will funnel riders across the dirt road and back onto the bicycle route.  Riders will then walk around the outside of the bridge and make their way to the other side.  This shouldn’t take much time and will be a much safer and faster option then riding on HWY 18 or adding miles to the century day. In the event of major rain that day, the county will lay down gravel to cover the wet ground.

Day 4: CENTURY DAY SUPPORT PLAN 

Riding a century is a major accomplishment for any cyclist.  Riding a century to pay homage to John Karras makes it even more impactful.  The century route this year, was designed in a way to give riders attainable mileage and elevation between towns.

If you are into goal setting, “chunking” is a term we use a lot.  Today’s route has been chunked. If you chunk the route and make it to every community you will complete a century #4Karras and receive a Century Day Pass. The bonus is that Mason City is throwing you an awesome party that night.  Your ride experience that day is up to you but with the mileage being longer, you need to be smart.  You should have trained so you are ready to attack it.  The communities along day fours route are ready for you and are excited to be there to support your milestone.  The route opens at 6:00 am and will close an hour later at 7:00 pm.  Before leaving town make sure your water bottles are full and you have whatever you need in your jersey pockets to help energize and get you into that next community.  Always remember your “why”.  We are riding this century for John and this ride called RAGBRAI that he helped create for all of us.  We will have extra SAG on route.  If you get to a point you are unable to finish, turn your bike upside down and a SAG will be there to help.  At 86.7 miles you will be rewarded with you century patch and a fuel station sponsored by Soy Connection. It’s just one last stretch after that and your century is complete.

I can’t wait to meet as many of you as possible on this year’s route. With a little communication, planning, and cooperation from everyone this route should be everything you’ve come to expect from this great Iowa tradition. It is bittersweet thinking that this journey is almost over and we will say goodbye to RAGBRAI 49 and start the process all over again for 50. But until then, keep training and we will see you in 10 days!

Matt Phippen, ride director RAGBRAI

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