Several states have organized bike rides across the state but the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) is one of the most famous and has considerable participation. The number of riders vary from year to year but usually 8,000 to 10,000 register and an equal number of “bandits” or interlopers participate in some parts of the ride. The ride is a week-long stretch from the Missouri River on the west side of the state to the Mississippi on the east side.

We decided this would be a good time to give the event a try albeit for just the last two days of the ride. I read enough beforehand to make me nervous such as: be prepared to ride five abreast along the road; watch out for passing trucks of pigs; beware of pace lines; and hills and heat increase the difficulty of riding about 75 miles a day. So we went, along with friends Al and Brenda. Brenda our “sag” wagon driver was going to come to my rescue because there was no way I would ride the full distance each day. This was the scheduled ride for our first day.

We started out in Sigourney. We knew that some riders started as early as 4 am, generally to avoid crowds and heat. We had good weather – in the 70s – and minimal wind and started around 9am. Ross and Al clearly were riding faster than me and when I saw baby goats along the road, I told them to ride on. There was also a pig bale and baby pigs at this stop.Getting back on the road  could be hectic but no problem here. My next stop was in Harper, 10 miles down the road.I stopped to eat a banana and looked around but had no Ross and Al sighting. Later I found out they had stopped at a “hunting lodge,” aka an old hardware store, to talk with some guys watching the ride there and I was now ahead of them on the road. One of many signs to read along the route.  After another 5 miles, I arrived at Keota and it was busy. There was even a ring for a wrestling match going on someplace in that crowd.Back on the road, I headed for Wellman with another stop along the way where watermelon and cold drinks were available.Always have to be careful getting back on the road. I arrived in Wellman which was my 30 miles for the day and met up with Brenda. Her job was made tougher because we generally had no phone service during the ride. And, since the main road was closed, she had to find a side road or street near the route and hope that we could find her.  Wellman was another busy town and in the distance the street goes uphill and you had to walk your bike through the crowd to continue on with the route.After consulting the Iowa map, Brenda finds more back roads including a dusty gravel road that allows us to meet up with the guys in Riverside.We drop them off in Hills and they finish their 55-mile trip in Iowa City.  No flats, no accidents, and nice weather so a good introduction to the RAGBRAI.