RAGBRAI LII July 19 - 26, 2025

RAGBRAI rider dies of Thursday injuries

  • 30 July, 2010
  • Regina Zilbermints

RAGBRAI rider Stephen Briggs died this afternoon from the injuries he suffered in Thursday morning’s collision.

He was 68.

Stephen Briggs (SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER)

Briggs, of Waverly, was riding in a group when he collided with another bike and was thrown off. He was flown to Mercy Medical center – North Iowa in Mason City with a head injury.

He died today at 3:35 p.m.

Briggs was a caring man, his daughter, Karen Moore, said.

“My ringtone, when he calls my phone, is ‘Superman,’” she said. “Because he’s always there for anyone, anytime.”

He loved riding his bike, loved RAGBRAI, and was an experienced rider. He’d ridden the entire RAGBRAI route five times and parts of the route at least five more.

“I had to stop and realize that if he had to go, he went doing something he absolutely loved to do,” Moore said. “One minute he was riding his bike, the next he went to heaven.”

Moore said doctors attempted surgery, but there was too much swelling around his brain.

Briggs was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, in which he clipped the tire of the bicyclist in front of him.

It wasn’t a major collision, Moore said, but was enough to send him off his bike.

The 68-year-old had retired from 40 years in the printing industry.

He was riding with the No Name Bike Club, and several other members were at the hospital today.

He is survived by his wife, three children, and four grandchildren.

Moore was waiting at the hospital for Iowa Donor Network representatives to arrive.

“We hope this tragedy can bring life to someone else,” she said. “That’s what he would have wanted. That’s the kind of person he was.”

* * * * * *

In a separate incident, a RAGBRAI rider was injured Friday when he was struck by a car in Washburn in eastern Iowa.

The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened just before 12:30 p.m. Friday. It says the car was turning left when it collided with the bicycle.

The bicyclist, 49-year-old Mohammed Al-Marima, of Bloomington, Ill., suffered a shoulder injury as well as cuts to his right leg. He was taken to a Waterloo hospital.

The driver of the car, 25-year-old Joshua Dunt, of Raymond, Iowa, was charged with failure to yield on a left turn.

Black Hawk County deputies also responded to five other accidents Thursday and Friday in which RAGBRAI riders suffered minor injuries after losing control of their bikes.

The Associated Press contributed the second part of this report.

48 Comments

  1. Paula

    so sorry … the ride is so much fun, it is wonderful that his last act on earth was something he loved doing … much sympathy to his family …

  2. John & Pam Kilpatrick

    …our prayers and condolences for all of Stephen’s family & friends…he sounds like a great man who touched everyone he came in contact with…what a great legacy….our son Muck is currently finishing his 1st RAGBRAI and was jouined by his brother & sister for the Wed portion…what a great time they and my wife & I had as well just sharing in their moment….blessings to everyone that helped with any of the previous or the current rides…especially to all the 1st responders!

  3. Richard

    My condolances to the family. At least he did go doing something he loved to do and there’s really no better way to go.

  4. TheWiZ

    ANY Father whose Daughter thinks of him as Superman – Has got to be a Great Man. My Sincere Condolences and May GOD Grant You PEACE in your time of Mourning. GOD-BLESS.

  5. Mark Spoo

    Our thoughts are with the family. Thanks for the update.

  6. Kudu2222

    May God grant his family peace during their time of grief. My thoughts and Prayers will be with them.

  7. Barry Obanion

    Its time to end Ragbrai once and for all. It is just too dangerous. Somebody dies almost every year. Its not worth it.

  8. Eric Miller

    My condolances to the friends and family of Stephen Briggs.

    Barry, in a town of 15,000 people… someone dies each week… and many are injured… hopefully not seriously… we could all be killed or injured at any time at home… so no reason to cancel RAGBRAI. It’s impossible to protect us all the time on this planet.

  9. beeker

    Ya Barry. Perhaps we should all turn in our keys and outlaw cars as well. They are way too dangerous.
    Sincere condolences to the Briggs family.

  10. Erich

    God bless. May as well be doing something you love when leaving Earth.

  11. Aimee

    Uncle Steve you will be truly missed by so many!!! We love you!! To our Aunt and Cousins you all are in our Thoughts and Prayers!!! Uncle Steve was such an amazing Person!!!

  12. charles levi

    my wife and i are deeply sad our prayers are with family and friends

  13. Kayla Wolf

    My thoughts and prayers go out to the Briggs family. My mom loves riding with the No Name Team and will truely miss Briggs. I’ve met him a couple times and he was truely a kind man. May God grant you with joy and peace as you remember your loved one in so many wonderful ways.

  14. Kevin Fitzgerald

    May good stories of this Superman bring some comfort during this very difficult time for Mr. Briggs’ family. My condolences to all who knew him. God bless.

  15. Deb

    My sincerest sympathies to the family of Mr. Briggs, aka Superman. May it bring comfort to you knowing he was doing something he loved when he left this life. And as a previous RAGBRAI rider, I have no doubts that he would ever want it to be cancelled! God bless each of you and may his legacy carry on in future RAGBRAI rides.

  16. Brett

    Steve was just in Europa Cycle a week before RAGBRAI getting his bicycles serviced. So sad, my sympathies to his family.

  17. Tim

    Condolences to Steve’s family and friends.

  18. Cathy

    It is very hard losing a loved one. My prayers and thoughts are with Steve’s Family.

  19. Tim Trenkle

    May this good man rest in peace. May others of us in the ride continue to practice sobriety and ethics, manners and concern for each other.

  20. LSH

    I am so very sorry. My deepest condolences to the family.

  21. stink Jenkins

    Deepest regrets.

    I also hope the little 1 pound baby who was induced by his mother on Thursday while riding 70 miles makes it. Poor little guy came out 4 months early.
    Seems to me folks that pregnant women, at least nearing the third trimester should probably skip Ragbrai for a year.
    Poor little guy will probably never get thc chance to ride Ragbrai himself now. I hear the DHS want to interview his mother on monday. Oh well, best of luck friends.

  22. Angie

    I had talked to Steve before he left to go on RAGBRAI. He said he was going on the ride for the entire week. I asked him if he was part of a team and he said yes the “No Name Team”. He proudly proceeded to tell me how the name was acquired and had a special sparkle in his eye when talking about it. I could tell he was really looking forward to RAGBRAI. I told him how impressed I was that he was doing it. I was saddened to hear about his bike accident and prayed hard that he would recover. My heart goes out to his friends and family. What a shock! I will truely miss his cheerful smile and personality as he would come into the Clarksville Post Office to pick up mail and make a point to say hello.

  23. Janet Wallace

    May God’s peace be with you. Steve (aka Superman) was great guy and that makes it even more difficult to understand. We only beleive God needed him more. “Have a good ride Steve.”

  24. Jim Adair

    I’m so sorry to hear about Mr. Briggs’ death. I rode past the accident and saw several riders tending to him. I had hoped for the best…this is truly a tragedy and I will be praying for him and his family. God Bless.

  25. Erin

    I crashed big time 9 months ago and have no regrets because I was also doing something I love to do. Mr. Briggs left this world doing something he loved and now is riding on the Great Bike Ride Across Heaven. Peace to his friends and family.

  26. FarleyBob

    Stink,
    The little baby was 1 pound 9 ounces, he was three months early, and the doctors told the mother that the ride was not the cause, that the baby was coming early no matter what. She rode one day, rested the next and went in to labor that night.

  27. Marta

    My boyfriend and I had a pancake breakfast with Steve and his wife on Tuesday morning at the Wesley fire station. He was so proud that the route would be going through his home town and it was a pleasure to hear him speak about his love for Iowa and RAGBRAI. May he find plenty a road to pedal in heaven.

  28. Bob A

    My deepest sympathies to Mr. Briggs’ family and friends and to his teammates on Team No Name.

  29. Jessica

    I had the pleasure of conversing with Steve on Tuesday before Clear Lake. He was very enjoyable to chat with and my deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.

  30. Dan Cheloha

    Steve was an agent for us for the last year and a half at Insphere Insurance Solutions. He was always positive and always trying to help the client. Steve will be missed.
    Dan Cheloha, Agency Manager
    Insphere Insurance Solutions

  31. Nina

    We saw the helicopter leaving from the scene on Thursday. We knew it was something really bad b/c the helicopter only comes when it’s bad. It was very scary. We were praying for the person in the helicopter. So sad.

  32. Sheila Muirenn

    Want to extend my sympathy to the Briggs family and friends. I’m an avid cyclist and have ridden RAGBRAI.

    Peace,
    Sheila

  33. Rehearsal Spaces

    folks were battling this over at the puntz website. it was beginning to turn out to be a heated topic.

  34. Anne Hilleman

    I knew Steve through his son. He was always so positive and a great guy. My prayers to his family. I am sorry to hear of this accident. I am sure he will be missed.

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  36. Truth

    Should be suing RAGBRAI.

  37. QC Lady

    Why should anyone sue RAGBRAI? We know the risks when we ride. He clipped the tire of the person ahead of him. It happens and is a terrible tragedy. If you can’t take the risk, don’t ride. My deepest sympathies went to the family at the time. I lost a friend in a biking accident. It is very sad and doesn’t need nonsense thrown in.

  38. rick

    Never could understand WHY bike helmets do not cover more of the side of the head instead of just the top(little protection) They only protect the top of the head and who when they fall, falls on top of their head???

  39. rick two

    I’m a thirteen time veteran, and understand the risk – terrible tragedy, but “Truth” who wants to sue, is an example of what threatens RAGBRAI and other similar events – thinking the answer to all that goes wrong is to sue. Shame on him (or her). And may Mr. Briggs enjoy tailwinds and downhills wherever he is.

  40. bre

    Thoughts and PRayers to the Brigg’s Family. Please people do not bring sueing into this. How silly would that be? It isn’t the answer for everything.

    Prayers be with you at your time of lose.

  41. Teresa

    So sorry for the loss of Mr Briggs…my prayers and condolence go to his family, friends and team members for the loss. I hosted 27 riders last night in Glenwwood….I pray for their safety, as well as all the riders! Accident’s happen, very unfortunate and tragic, but as someone above posted, they all know the hazards of the experience! God Bless Ragbrai 2011 riders! Have a great time and stay safe!

  42. Lauren

    So sad for this family! I lost my Grandpa several years ago to an ATV accident when he was only 69. He too died doing something he really enjoyed and we are thankful for that at least. Unfortunately, though he was always a cautious man, he was not wearing a helmet that day and we often wonder if we would still have him around if only he had been wearing one. A person can die with or without a helmet but the chances of survival are much greater when you wear one. In this case, a helmet was not enough, but hopefully this family has one less “if only….” to think about.

  43. Christy williams

    sorry for the loss of someone special, close and dear to your heart. my prayer and thought are with you and the family

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