Bicyclists who plan to take off across Iowa and Kansas this summer now know where they'll be spending their nights as host cities for those across-state bicycle rides were announced on Saturday.
The announcement is especially huge for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), because businesses and charities in the small towns stand to make a million or more dollars off the 10,000 cyclists and other visitors who spend the night.
The host cities were revealed at an announcement party in Des Moines Saturday night. The 39th annual RAGBRAI will roll out for 454 miles from July 24-30 on a west to east route through the following host cities:
July 24: Glenwood to Atlantic — 64 miles
July 25: Atlantic to Carroll — 65 miles
July 26: Carroll to Boone — 71 miles
July 27: Boone to Altoona — 56 miles
July 28: Altoona to Grinnell — 58 miles
July 29: Grinnell to Coralville — 75 miles
July 30: Coralville to Davenport — 65 miles
Cities
It's the first time in 29 years that RAGBRAI has visited Davenport. The ride arrives the weekend before the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, named in honor of a jazz cornet player from the old days who grew up in that city.
Those who track such things, say this year's route is the 14th shortest (18 miles shorter than average) and slightly hillier than average. Total climbing is estimated at 21,206 feet. The host Des Moines Register says:
“Combine the mileage and hills, and organizers consider this the 22nd-easiest ride, meaning 17 routes have been tougher.”
Registration is still open for RAGBRAI; spaces are awarded by lottery.
Biking Across Kansas
Meanwhile, Biking Across Kansas (BAK) revealed early Saturday its 474-mile bicycle route for 2011 that heads from Tribune to La Cygne this coming June.
BAK rolls out for eight days from the Colorado to Missouri borders from June 4 -11. The route in western Kansas follows the old TransAmerica Bicycle Route, as I remember camping out or passing through these towns in 1984.
The host cities are:
June 3 (early start) Colorado border to Tribune — 16 miles
June 4 (regular start) Tribune to Scott City — 47 miles
June 5 – Scott City to Ness City — 56 miles
June 6 – Ness City to Hoisington — 67 miles
June 7 – Hoisington to McPherson — 74 miles
June 8 – McPherson to Cottonwood Falls — 64 miles
June 9 – Cottonwood Falls to Burlington — 62 miles
June 10 – Burlington to Garnett — 48 miles
June 11 – Garnett to Missouri border — 40 miles
Smaller than RAGBRAI
Unlike RAGBRAI with a steady stream of 10,000 bicyclists on the roads, BAK limits ridership to 800. That means you can use your oxygen for breathing instead of shouting “on your left” with 10 seconds.
To outsiders, Kansas is known for its reputation of flatness and wind. My week-long experience riding across the state on my TransAmerica bicycle trip many years ago proved that eastern Kansas is anything but flat, and the winds can be erratic.
Organizers who have presented BAK since 1975 try to deal with the wind by offering a west to east ride every year, trying to take advantage of the prevailing winds from the southwest.
Other rides
RAGBRAI and BAK are just two of the amazing cross-state rides celebrated in the midwestern states. Other area states with week-long bicycle rides include North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Oklahoma.
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