Most Iowans are familiar with the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, commonly known as RAGBRAI. The bike ride was in the news in October when its entire staff resigned due to the Des Moines Register’s handling of the Carson King situation. Not only did all the organizers decide to part with RAGBRAI, they also decided to start their own bike ride called Iowa’s Ride. The inaugural Iowa’s Ride will take place July 12-18. And last week, Clarion was named as an overnight stop for the ride.
The town becoming a stop for the bike ride developed rather quickly. Craig Grebner, manager at Brothers Market in Clarion who is leading up the local effort, explained that he previously had helped apply for Clarion to be a stop for RAGBRAI. (Clarion was a RAGBRAI overnight stop in the past in 1983 and 1993.) However, when TJ Juskiewicz, former organizer of RAGBRAI parted way with the ride to start his own, he took the applications with him. Grebner says it took a while to get ahold of anyone, but when he did, he learned that Clarion was seriously being considered as a stop for the first year of Iowa’s Ride. Then, last week, it became official. Clarion was announced as the stop for the night of Wednesday, July 15.
As a stop along the ride route, Clarion will offer many amenities and opportunities for riders. A camping area is planned near the high school, and riders will be able to use the school for showering. Grebner added that they will likely bring in a shower truck as well.
While everything is still in the planning stages, Grebner thinks the downtown area will also be hotbed of activity for riders and visitors on the night of the ride. He explained that the thought is to block off part of Main Street so businesses can offer food and beverages and also entertainment. He predicts there will be two or three bands in town at different locations throughout the evening as well. There will also be lots of opportunities for local churches and organizations to participate by offering food and services.
While Iowa’s Ride is a bike ride across the state like RAGBRAI, the organizers of the new event say that the plan is for it to be smaller. They plan to cap the event at 5,000 riders and are embracing more small towns like Clarion. Grebner says with support vehicles, unregistered riders, and visitors, they will be planning 10,000 people coming through town. Ride organizers have also pledged to donate proceeds from the event back to the host communities.
Grebner emphasizes that the ride offers great opportunities for Clarion. He explains that it will be an economic boost for everyone who chooses to get involved. “What other event could bring in this much traffic all at once,” he points out. He adds, “Anybody and everybody can get involved.” He states that clubs, churches, service organizations and everyone interested could benefit from the stop. Grebner says the goal is to keep the event as local as possible, and his hope is to maximize local efforts before letting outside businesses get involved.
Right now, the event is still in the development stages with much more to be decided. Grebner affirms, “As we continue to plan, we will need community support and volunteers.” He adds that groups or organizations interested in being involved can stop by Brothers Market to speak to him. Grebner says his goal is for “people to wrap their arms around the event and embrace it.”
Stay tuned to the Monitor over the next several months for continued news on all Iowa’s Ride developments.
