RAGBRAI or RAGPIE?

RAGBRAI is an acronym for Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. It is a non-competitive bicycle ride across Iowa that draws recreational riders from across the United States and overseas.They ride from a community on Iowa's western border to a community on Iowa's eastern border, stopping in towns across the state. RAGBRAI is limited to 8,500 week-long riders and 1,500 day riders.

The length of the route averages 472 miles Eight "host communities" are selected each year; one each for the beginning and end points, while the other six are overnight stops. The distance between host communities is on average sixty-eight miles. At the beginning of the ride, participants traditionally dip the rear wheel of their bikes in either the Missouri River or the Big Sioux River (depending on the starting point of the ride). At the end, the riders dip the front wheels in the Mississippi River.

RAGBRAI began in 1972 when Des Moines Register feature writers John Karras and Donald Kaul decided to go on a bicycle ride across Iowa. Both men were avid cyclists. Kaul would write articles about what he experienced during this ride.

The newspaper's management approved of the plan. Don Benson, a public relations director at the Register, was assigned to coordinate the event. The writers invited the public to accompany them.

The ride was planned to start on August 26 in Sioux City and end in Davenport on August 31. The Register informed readers of the event, and the planned route. The ride was informally referred to as "The Great Six-Day Bicycle Ride".

Some 300 cyclists began the ride in Sioux City; 114 of them rode the entire route. 

After the ride was over, Kaul and Karras wrote numerous articles that captured the imaginations of many readers. Among those who completed the 1973 ride was 83-year-old Clarence Pickard of Indianola. He rode a used ladies Schwinn and wore a long-sleeved shirt, trousers, woolen long underwear and a silver pith helmet. The newspaper received many calls and letters from people who wanted to go on the ride but were unable to for various reasons. Because of this public response/demand a second ride was scheduled for August 4–10 (1974), before the Iowa State Fair.

The annual ride has continued to grow in popularity. This year each host community has their own FB page which you can check out by searching RAGBRAI or go to RAGBRAI.com.

Now that you know a bit of the background, I will admit that I had ulterior motives when I joined Jay's team.  One word....PIE.  I love pie. I am not sure that I have one absolute favorite but I cannot think of a pie that I wouldn't like (scratch non-fruit varieties). Cherry, apple, key lime, coconut cream and lemon meringue come to mind right now, but trust me, I am not too picky.

I have been promised pie....every day!  Apparently RAGBRAI routes are teeming with pie and so I plan to motivate myself based on that knowledge.  Here is a bit of what I discovered in my search for the truth.

"Yes, there will be pie. And live music, and water slides and heady beverages. But the 39th Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa — July 24-30 — will also offer the particular flavors of this year’s route towns."

DAY 1: July 24 An assortment of pies will compete for the best-in-town prize. Among the contenders are: apple, peach, cherry, rhubarb, strawberry rhubarb and rhubarb custard.  but the real star might just be — you guessed it — the pies, this time at the Farmer’s Kitchen. Chef Charlene Johnson’s Sour Cream Raisin and Chocolate Peanut Butter Explosion pies have both won national honors. 

DAY 2: July 25  Chow down on Danish crepes or abelskivers, a tasty little pancake-popover hybrid. 

DAY 3: July 26  Bulk up on pancakes, then check out the Karras Loop.  It’ll take nearly all of Lidderdale’s 186 residents to serve breakfast croissants and fruit at the fire station, not too far from a display of tractors and a few farm animals. Legendary pancake showman Chris Cakes plans to make an appearance in Lanesboro, but he’ll have some competition: A new bar called the Real McCoy plans to serve sausages skewered on a stick, dipped in pancake batter and deep-fried. 

DAY 4: July 27  Homemade ice cream will melt your heart.  Wednesday is farmers market day in Slater, so riders will be able to see what vendors have to offer, said local ride chairwoman Jennifer Davies. Corn Crib Catering will be selling its highly regarded pie and cookies.

DAY 5: July 28 Anyone who can’t get enough Iowa pie is going to love Colfax. The five churches here will be joining forces to host a sort of pie-a-palooza in the air-conditioned gym at Howard Street Christian Church, which is right on the RAGBRAI route. In addition to pie, the church group will also offer another Iowa specialty — cinnamon rolls. 

 DAY 6: July 29 A whopping 11 nonprofit groups have teamed up to provide everything from armadillo eggs to monkey bread.  They’re looking to fund a new fire station, and in return for your 2 bucks to stop fires you land that first piece of daily pie.

 DAY 7 and FINISH: July 30  most know of the famous Wilton Candy Kitchen and its homemade ice cream that will be available.

So, OK. Admittedly it is not ALL pie but almost every day there is talk of pie. Unbelievable.  470 some miles is nothing when there are women lining the streets of Iowa waiting to feed me my favorite dessert.  I can't wait.