The announcement came last week after months of uncertainty. The organizers of the Iowa’s Ride bike ride took to social media to announce that the ride had been significantly scaled back. So much so, that the event will no longer include Clarion as a night stopover point. Though that is inopportune for Clarion, many are noting that it is an understandable move.
Iowa’s Ride was originally planned to take place for the first time last summer in July. Clarion was slated to be the overnight stop in the middle of the event on the Wednesday night. But like so many things last summer, COVID put a halt to the plans. It was announced that the ride would be postponed but still set to take place in July of 2021.
In the last several months, the ride’s organizers have had to reconsider the event. Planning for camping, food and safety for hundreds or thousands of visitors became difficult as towns that were scheduled to be stops questioned if they could host with COVID still a concern. In many cases, hotels in towns remain closed or areas that were slated as campsites such as school property would not be open to the public. Throughout months of uncertainty, Clarion officials still maintained their willingness to participate in the ride.
However, last week, Clarion’s part in the ride effectively ended as Iowa’s Ride organizers announced a new direction for the event. After citing the above concerns, they explained that the ride would now be a weekend event based out of Eldora held July 16-17. There will be a designated bike ride on the Saturday along with some other planned events. Registration for the event is free.
With the event retooled to take Clarion out of the equation, local officials are disappointed by the loss of a tourism opportunity but understand the change. “We are of course disappointed that Clarion won’t get the chance to be an overnight stop,” said Chamber Director Lydia Schroeder. City Administrator Clint Middleton added that he thinks the change was a good idea. “It will be easier to have some support for the riders in this format. The weeklong was not going to be supported for riders before this change.”
Local business owners will perhaps be the most affected by the change of venue. Ali Disney, who was formerly involved with planning the Clarion stop and is an owner of a business on Main Street in Clarion, said she recognizes why the event was changed. “Honestly, the whole world has changed so much in the last year and thus the event has had to be changed and reorganized,” noted Disney. “It is always a great thing to bring people to Clarion, but I understand the decision.”
Cyclists who were planning to participate in the weeklong Iowa’s Ride have mixed feelings. Jon Ahrendsen of Clarion who was formerly planning to participate said that the event likely ran into problems as it attempted to compete with RAGBRAI and was conceived due to dissatisfaction with the Des Moines Register. “Iowa’s Ride was a nice concept born out of frustration and conflict. It doesn’t seem to be as organized, but it is hard to compete with something that has a 48-year track record,” said Ahrendsen. “I think it’s unfortunate for Clarion the ride will bypass it now.” Ahrendsen adds that he plans to participate in RAGBRAI but is not sure about the revised Iowa’s Ride.
Another avid cyclist, Scott Henle from Iowa Falls, empathizes with towns like Clarion who lost the opportunity to host the event. “I can imagine that the other communities along the Iowa's Ride route are feeling the same disappointment that Clarion is,” said Henle. “Although a forecasted smaller ride, we would still be bringing in visitors who would have been spending time and money in each community.” Henle went on to say that he too understands the organizers decision to scale back and is still looking forward to taking part in the ‘weekender’ event since it’s right in his backyard.
It remains to be seen if Iowa’s Ride sticks around another year and graduates into a full ride across the state in the future. Whatever the case, city officials have remarked that they look forward to participating in future events that showcase Clarion on a larger scale. Schroeder also added that July in Clarion will still have some fun events like Ridiculous Dayz and the truck show.
