Statewide Iowa — “Iowa’s Ride”, the new bicycle ride across Iowa, organized by a group of former RAGBRAI staff members, has opted to change the date, and direction, of this summer’s inaugural event.
In a social media post, ride organizers say they have heard from many cycling teams who were concerned that with the competing border-to-border rides scheduled for the same week, it was dividing long-standing cycling teams. Organizers of Iowa’s Ride say in their social media post that this type of situation was never their intent, nor is it good for anyone who just wants to ride their bike.
Saying they “want to do the right thing” for riders in Iowa, organizers of Iowa’s Ride decided to change the dates and directions for their 2020 ride. As a result, organizers say Iowa’s Ride will begin Sunday, July 12th and end on Saturday, July 18th, the week BEFORE the RAGBRAI ride. In addition, Iowa’s Ride will start on the eastern edge of Iowa in a Mississippi River town and travel west, ending seven days later in Western Iowa.
Their social media post goes on to apologize to those who have scheduled around the original week and will be disappointed by the group’s decision. They say they’ll refund 100% of those entry fees if they request since they no longer wish to do the ride.
