RAGBRAI-The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa

By: Joann Van Vliet

(for even more details about RAGBRAI or Sea To Sea, 

visit the church office, or chat with Joann)

RAGBRAI was the last week of July and I rode with fellow Sea to Sea alumni Len and Carrie Kooy (Canada), Henry and Nancy DeJager (From CA), Wayne Hingston (Canada), as well as many other RAGBRAI Family and Friends. It is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state, heading into its 44rd year; RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world. The people of Iowa truly make RAGBRAI the special event that it is by opening up their towns and communities to participants. 

Daily Updates:

Sunday, July 24  Glenwood to Shenandoah 

This is our first day of riding and I was feeling pretty excited and ready, the ride was going to be one of shortest “miles” wise and so that makes it even a little more positive!  Along the way, we went through towns of Malvern, Tabor, Randolph and Imogene.  The roads were in pretty good shape (it seemed as they just sent a “Sweeper” in front of us). 

The day’s ride is just under 50 miles and 2,614 feet of climb.  Most of big climbs are traveling between Glenwood and Tabor, but there were good climbs throughout.  The nice part about these hills was that you could get pretty good momentum to help you up the next one. 

The ride was packed with rural scenery, tons of corn and soybeans have been planted that we constantly had a “green” and lush view.

Unfortunately we had a rider struck by a pickup truck driver near Glenwood, Wayne Ezell (72)…it was truly a serious and solemn time for all of us!  Also James Foley, 67, is recovering in the hospital after a drunk driver hit his tent with his pickup truck and dragged it several feet with him sleeping inside at a Shenandoah residence. 

Monday, July 25  Shenandoah to Creston

Today’s ride was the longest of the week with over 75 miles of scenic riding with about 4,000 feet of climb.  The towns include Essex, Bethesda, Villisca, Nodaway and Prescott.

The day was full of hills; the roads vary from brand new concrete roadways to older roads that were patched to make the route as safe and smooth as possible.  Unfortunately, my knee started acting up and by the end of the long day I was definitely feeling the struggle of not being as “prepared” as I should have been. A little ice and ibuprofen would be needed in my future!   

*The last 1/3 of the day was a tough grind. The hills are too far apart to carry momentum from one hill to the next. Lowest gear and find your happy place.

As we passed people cheering us on said just two more hills. Even the signs on the road said two more hills. I think it's an Iowa inside joke. It was 20 more hills.

So my knee has been achy but holding up. Today was the biggest test. The last 30 km Joanne and I would scream down the hills and then putter up the other side trying to keep our knees from giving out. After rolling out our legs and icing our knees, we headed to bed and see what tomorrow brings.

Tuesday, July 26  Creston to Leon

It was nice this ride to be a shorter day allowing me to recover from some longer hilly days and give my knee a little respite and relief.  The ride checked in at 58 miles of beautiful southern Iowa with about 3,300 feet of climb.  There were four towns to get off the bike throughout the day and well-spaced out as well including Diagonal (We found the SeatoSea truck in the parking lot of the "United Presbyterian Baptist Church”. The truck is working great in that it opens the door to let people know about this great cause). Then off to Mount Ayr (a favorite town), Kellerton and Decatur City.

The day is full of hills, but no monsters that scared and stressed me too much (mainly my knee).  The roads were a mix of concrete and asphalt roadways that were in pretty good shape, which again is such a Blessing and added to smooth riding and NO flat tires! Today’s hills were what I would call “the long haul,” there were lots of nice downhills and long sustained, gradual climbs. Here are a bunch of tractors for the farmers, a common picture sharing their Iowa work and pride.

Clifton Kahler, 60, of Florida passed away Tuesday following a heart attack he suffered while riding along Highway 2

Wednesday, July 27  Leon to Centerville

It was another fun day riding through beautiful southern Iowa, leaving Leon and heading out to Garden Grove, Humeston (I was walking into the town of Humeston.

Also, Jeff one of the SeatoSea riders arranged a breakfast in that town where his “In-Laws” and Family were, then on to Cambria, Millerton, New York, Bethlehem, Confidence, Walnut City, then to Mystic and Centerville. We had 65.1 miles of riding, and only 2,708 feet of climb on rolling hills.

The road quality was overall very good. The most challenging hill came just as we curved around Rathbun Lake into Mystic, it was brutal and one I would rather not have to experience again! ! 

Thursday, July 28  Centerville to Ottumwa

Thursday’s route from Centerville to Ottumwa travels 50.7 miles with just 1,999 feet of climb.  After a few miles, we came to the Rathbun Dam and it was a breathtaking ride. The Dam is not open to cyclists, this was the first time they let bikers ride across .  

The small towns we went through today, all with populations less than 1,000 residents on the ride to Ottumwa.  The early part of the day consists of mostly flat, scenic terrain as you ride from Centerville through Rathbun and Moravia (coming into town we saw the SeatoSea truck placed perfectly at the end of the main street where many People would stop and love to hear about our Cause.  

The hills begin on the way towards Unionville with a big climb that I used all of my gears.  The route through Blakesburg remains scenic and hilly before flattening out as we roll towards Ottumwa.  We could tell the roads were in great shape and so thankful for all the extensive work to get them ready.  

Friday, July 29  Ottumwa to Washington

Today we enjoyed another big day of 68.5 miles that includes 2,541 feet of climb as a bit longer than the day before, but a bit flatter… well that’s what they claimed anyway.  The ride out of Ottumwa challenged us mostly with some steep climbs through the city before it flattens on the rural stretches.  We went through Hedrick and Hayesville in the morning then Sigourney.  The larger hills were done by the time we got to Sigourney and then the town of West Chester before ending up in Washington for our last night.

Saturday, July 30  Washington to Muscatine

The final day’s ride encompasses 49.7 miles with just 1,314 feet of climb.  It was by far the easiest day of the week and I really needed an easy day on the bike.  It felt like the Tour de France’s ride into Paris, an easy spin after the climbing of the past several days (well, at least from what I have seen on TV of the race that is).  We went through many towns along the Mississippi River on our way to Muscatine including Columbus Junction (this town had some of the steepest hills. I didn't think you could pack that many climbs in such a small area, 

crossed the Iowa River just before Fredonia,

then Letts and a final stop at Ardon Creek Vineyard & Winery! It was an amazing feeling coming into Muscatine and ALL the Iowa people there to welcome and share in the enjoyment and feeling of this accomplishment!  

A few Websites I would like to share, this one is from “Sea to Sea – Cycling to End Poverty” and the second is a cyclist on RAGBRAI, Ryan Van Duzer who made this video as he participated – really good! 

Once again, I am SO thankful to be home and after a week of riding with little incidences or injuries!  I’d like to thank everyone who supported me financially and also all the prayers that got me through this incredible ride and opportunity!  A special thanks to Len Kooy (http://lenkooy.blogspot.com), who injured his knee just weeks before the ride rode with me everyday and both he and Carrie encouraged me each day as I struggled with my knee and the many many (just two more) hills!  Also Terry Barnes, who was the Sea to Sea Representative and organized this “memorable” ride for 2016 and will be involved in the 2017 Sea to Sea Bike Tour across Canada.  (D7 MeLenCarrieTerry)