It’s almost time for RAGBRAI.
The 49th annual Register’s Great Iowa Bike Ride begins July 24 in Sergeant Bluff on the Missouri River and arrives in Lansing on the Mississippi River seven days later.
Some 17,000 participants are expected for the world’s largest annual cycling tour, with more joining for shorter segments. Here’s a day-by-day look at what to expect.
Day 0, July 23: Sergeant Bluff
Theme: Get some bluff in your tires
Reflexes: As cyclists gather on Saturday for the Sunday morning kickoff, more than 80 exhibitors will offer bike-related merchandise from noon to 9 pm at the RAGBRAI XLIX Bike Expo in downtown Sergeant Buff. Up to 25,000 bicyclists and others are expected in this city of 5,015 people south of Sioux City.
Entertainment: Placid Quake (rock cover band) from noon to 2 pm; Smokin’ Clams (rock) 2:30-4:30 pm; Wrecked Becky (eclectic band of covers) from 5 to 7:30 pm; Above the Decks (pop punk) 8-11 pm
Parking lot: Short-term parking throughout the city. For more information, visit Sergeant Bluff RAGBRAI on Facebook.
Camping: Sergeant Bluff Recreation Complex, Topaz Drive
Tire dip: For those who want the authenticity of starting the trip with a tire swim on the Missouri River, it’s about a 6-mile drive from downtown Sergeant Bluff to Weedland Access, a boat ramp on the river. But local ride organizers plan to bring tubs of river water to town for those who prefer to avoid the extra miles.
Plus:From the RAGBRAI 2022 route to its history, here’s everything you need to know about the annual ride
Day 1, July 24: Sergeant Bluff to Ida Grove
Miles: 53.2
Climbing feet: 2,545
Topics: Mile of Silence, in honor of deceased cyclists; 75th Anniversary of the US Air Force; Knights of the Round Wheel at Ida Grove.
Passage towns: Bronson, Battle Creek
meeting city:Anthon, home of the late Charles Osborne, who held the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous bout of hiccups, lasting 68 years.
Reflexes: Pedaling up the surprisingly steep Loess Hills as the ride leaves the Missouri River Valley; at night, the castle-themed architecture of Ida Grove. Byron Godbersen, founder of Ida Grove’s Midwest Industries, liked castles and made sure that castle-like features, such as gates and towers, were incorporated into building designs throughout the 2050 city, including the floor plan of his business.
Entertainment at Ida Grove: Neil Anders and the Brothers Merritt (songwriters) 2-4:30 pm; Damon Dotson (singer/songwriter) 5-7:30 pm; Not Quite Brothers (rock cover band) 8-11 pm
Camping:OABCIG High School, 900 John Montgomery Drive, Ida Grove
You can find downloadable GPX files for the RAGBRAI 2022 routes on the RAGBRAI website.
Plus:New to RAGBRAI? Here’s everything newbies need to know before traveling Iowa
Day 2, July 25: Ida Grove to Pocahontas
Miles: 71.2
Climbing feet: 1,694
Topics: PeopleForBikes Day, College T-Shirt Day
Passage towns:Galva, Schaller, Nemaha, Fonda
meeting city: Newell
Reflexes: The town of Schaller, the self-proclaimed Popcorn Capital of the World, will hand out bags of the local product. Pocahontas, a first-time overnighter with a population of 1,589 and RAGBRAI’s catchphrase, “You’re Gonna Love Pocahontas,” is the smallest town on this year’s route. The route begins to flatten out here as it winds through the rolling, corn-covered plains of northwestern Iowa.
Entertainment at Pocahontas: The Polkatoons (Czech polka and waltzes plus some unexpected covers) 2-5 pm; Jim Bollard aka DJ Jimmy Kim (party pro), 5-8pm; Pop Rocks (arena-style rock and pop covers with lots of costumed mime) 8-11 pm
Camping: Elbert Park soccer fields, northeast of the Pocahontas County Courthouse in Pocahontas.
You can find downloadable GPX files for the RAGBRAI 2022 routes on the RAGBRAI website.
Day 3, July 26: Pocahontas to Emmetsburg
Miles: 56.4
Climbing feet: 1,699
Topics: Gravel Day, Dream Team 25th Anniversary Day
Passage towns:Havelock, Rolfe
meeting city: west bend
Reflexes: The Redemption Grotto Shrine in West Bend, an extensive collection of nine hand-built grottoes, the life’s work of the late Father Paul Matthias Dobberstein; Emmetsburg’s 973-acre Five Island Lake, a natural lake perfect for cooling off, as well as the Wild Rose Casino & Resort and the city’s well-represented Irish heritage; the optional 48-mile gravel day ride. With a little elevation change, this is potentially the easiest ride of the week, depending on temperature and wind direction and speed, a good thing considering Day 4 is the Day of the Century.
Entertainment in Emmetsburg: One Layne Band (local classic country performers) 2:45-4:45 pm; Birdchild (Top 40 covers) 5:15-8:15 pm; Pork Tornadoes (RAGBRAI’s favorite eclectic cover band) 8:45-11 pm Around Town: Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band
Camping: Palo Alto County Fairgrounds, 2010 Madison St., Emmetsburg
You can find downloadable GPX files for the RAGBRAI 2022 routes on the RAGBRAI website.
Day 4, July 27: Emmetsburg to Mason City
Miles: 105
Climbing feet: 1,699
Topics: Century Day, John Karras Day and RAGBRAI Jersey Day
Passage towns: Rodman, Whittemore, Algona, Wesley, Klemme
meeting city: Britt
Reflexes: The 105-mile route of the century, returning after 37 years as part of the main course in tribute to the late RAGBRAI co-founder, John Karras. Are you ready for the challenge? (Extra SAG cars will be running for those who don’t); Britt’s National Vagabond Museum; renowned music poster in Mason City, the largest city on route 2022, with its Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, the heritage of “The Music Man” (the musical’s composer, Meredith Willson, was a native and Mason City is the river town in “Ya Got Trouble”, and the Fat Hill and Mason City microbreweries.
Entertainment in Mason City (three stages): Jesse Calvert (rock and country covers) from 2 to 5 pm; 13 on Seven (90s rock and grunge covers) from 3 to 6 pm; Danny Grause (country, blues, funk and rock) 3-4:30 pm; Brad Morgan (country) 4:30-6:30 pm; Don Felder (former Eagles guitarist) 6:30-8 pm; Sugar Ray (Chart-topping ’90s pop-rock band) 8:30-11 pm
Camping: East Park, 802 Third Street; Camp Riverside/MacNider Park, 901 Birch Drive; Parkers Woods Camp, North Jackson Avenue; High School Camp (families), 1700 Fourth St. E.; Major RV Campgrounds, North Iowa Event Center, 3700 Fourth St. SW
You can find downloadable GPX files for the RAGBRAI 2022 routes on the RAGBRAI website.
Plus:RAGBRAI names new director, drawing on a long-time participant in the ride and the Iowa cycling community
Day 5, July 28: Mason City to Charles City
Miles: 47.9
Climbing feet: 1,260
Theme: Charlie Harper Day, Crazy Socks Day
City of passage:Rockford
meeting city: marble rock
Reflexes: Fossil hunting and weird landscapes at the Floyd County Fossil & Prairie Center, Rockford; take a dip in Rockford’s Shell Rock River and Marble Rock’s promenade shower; Downtown Charles City’s whitewater course on the Cedar River and Tellurian Brewing. It is also the birthplace of suffragette leader Carrie Lane Chapman Catt.
Entertainment: Brad & Kate (eclectic acoustics) 1-2:30 pm; Blame Not the Bard (Irish) 2:30-4pm; Levi Smith & The Bad Landings with guest June West (rock) 4:30-6 pm; Wheelhouse (Americana and bluegrass) 6:30-8:30 pm; Viva Knievel (funk, soul and contemporary hits) 9-11 pm
Camping: Lions Field Park, 20 Lions Drive; Kate McLeod Park, Clark and North Illinois streets; Wildwood Ball Fields, Third and South Iowa Streets; Kmart Parking Lot, 1405 S. Grand Ave.; Merten J Klaus Park, Leland Avenue; Southwest College Avenue Lot, College Avenue; university grounds, Jung Avenue and Clark Street; middle/high school grounds, 1 Comet Ave.; Sportsman’s Park and VFW, 1505 N. Grand Ave.
You can find downloadable GPX files for the RAGBRAI 2022 routes on the RAGBRAI website.
Day 6, July 29: Charles City to West Union
Miles: 63
Climbing feet: 2,025
Theme: Iowa State Patrol Appreciation Day
Passage towns: Ionia, New Hampton, Waucoma, Hawk’s Eye
meeting city: attorney
Reflexes: Hunting for Painted Rocks in Waucoma; Looney Toons theme and Starlite Ballroom in Lawler.
Entertainment at West Union: Beau Timmerman (country-style covers) from 10 a.m. to noon; The Swing Crew (eclectic acoustic versions) from noon to 2 pm; Bar Flyz (rock covers) from 2 to 4 pm; Steven Schroeder (country) 4-5 pm; Rolling Thunder (AC/DC tribute) 5:30-7:30 pm; Arch Allies (classic rock tribute band) 8-11 pm
Camping: Sites scattered throughout West Union.
You can find downloadable GPX files for the RAGBRAI 2022 routes on the RAGBRAI website.
Day 7, June 30: West Union to Lansing
Miles: 65.4
Climbing feet: 2,966
Theme: Tire Dive in the Mississippi
Passage towns: Elgin, Gunder, Waukon
meeting city:Postville
Reflexes: West Union bills itself as the “Gateway to the Drift-Free Area,” with scenic trails and trout streams. In fact, just beyond town on the final leg, riders will encounter the region’s rugged karst topography, with the most elevation gain on any day of the trip, though heading into the Mississippi River Valley. Passage town Gunder is famous for Gunder Roadhouse’s Giant Gunder Burgers. Meeting town Postville is among Iowa’s most diverse cities, a kosher meatpacking hub with a workforce from several continents and a large contingent of Orthodox rabbis. Lansing is a resort town that will use its charm to try and keep the crowds around for a few extra hours for tire dips, a final party and, for the truly resilient, the chance to pedal up steep Mount Hosmer for a spectacular show. . view.
Tire dip: Access to the river is on North Front Street at Main Street.
Entertainment in Lansing: Buffalo Express (bluegrass) 9:30am-12:30pm; Squirrel’s Tail (bluegrass) 12:30pm-3:30pm
Camping: For those who wish to stay just one more night, Lansing camping reservations are available here.
You can find downloadable GPX files for the RAGBRAI 2022 routes on the RAGBRAI website.