Editorial: After 50 years, RAGBRAI remains a special Iowa tradition

Fifty years of anything means you’ve been doing something right. But 50 years of people hopping on bikes and riding across Iowa is a wholly different level of success. Next week, thousands of cyclists will once again trek across the state in the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa – or RAGBRAI. For 50 years, RAGBRAI has combined a love of cycling with a passion for exploring our state. It’s likely a huge reason why the cycling culture in Iowa has grown to the level it has. If you love to get on a bike, feel the wind in your hair and ride for miles, there are not many better places to do that than Iowa.With networks of trails that connect neighborhoods, small and large cities, and everything in between, cycling in Iowa is fun and easy. And over time, these trails have spawned restaurants and bars supporting the cyclists on them. In fact, in the past half-century, cycling has grown exponentially. Take cities like Des Moines; city street redesigns, and upgrades continue to prioritize bike riders. RAGBRAI has also been good for rural Iowa. Every year, cyclists get exposure to parts of the state they may never otherwise see. That’s good for tourism, the economy and the state overall. If you’re planning to ride all or part of RAGBRAI, stay safe. KCCI will be providing extensive live coverage throughout the week, especially as the ride winds through Ames and rolls into Des Moines. We hope you tune in. And to our friends at the Des Moines Register, thanks for continuing to nurture this annual tradition. In addition to being fun, its benefits to our state are immeasurable. Here’s to 50 more years.

For 50 years, RAGBRAI has combined a love of cycling with a passion for exploring our state. It’s likely a huge reason why the cycling culture in Iowa has grown to the level it has. If you love to get on a bike, feel the wind in your hair and ride for miles, there are not many better places to do that than Iowa.

With networks of trails that connect neighborhoods, small and large cities, and everything in between, cycling in Iowa is fun and easy. And over time, these trails have spawned restaurants and bars supporting the cyclists on them. In fact, in the past half-century, cycling has grown exponentially. Take cities like Des Moines; city street redesigns, and upgrades continue to prioritize bike riders.

RAGBRAI has also been good for rural Iowa. Every year, cyclists get exposure to parts of the state they may never otherwise see. That’s good for tourism, the economy and the state overall.

If you’re planning to ride all or part of RAGBRAI, stay safe. KCCI will be providing extensive live coverage throughout the week, especially as the ride winds through Ames and rolls into Des Moines. We hope you tune in. And to our friends at the Des Moines Register, thanks for continuing to nurture this annual tradition. In addition to being fun, its benefits to our state are immeasurable. Here’s to 50 more years.

Editorial: After 50 years, RAGBRAI remains a special Iowa tradition

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