by Anastasia Tuckness

Next week, thousands of bicycles will roll through Ames as part of the historic 50^th RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa—“Register” meaning the newspaper The Des Moines Register). RAGBRAI had a humble beginning—two Register reporters wanted to try biking across the state and thought it would be great if the Register picked up the tab! Now it is internationally renowned as the best weeklong bicycle tour (except perhaps the Tour de France). Iowa is uniquely suited for distance biking due to its extensive network of secondary paved roads that were built as farm to market roads. Closely spaced towns and county seats ensure that RAGBRAI has plenty of great places to stop, making the ride more accessible for beginners.

RAGBRAI’s history is full of amusing, heartwarming, and unbelievable stories. “RAGBRAI” by Greg Borzo (available as an e-book through Ames Public Library) chronicles this history, sharing many background facts as well as a few characters, like 83-year-old Clarence Pickard who rode the first RAGBRAI. Many newspaper readers followed his journey and figured if he could do it, so could they!

The book, full of full-color illustrations, also covers interesting stats, unique vocabulary like “kybo” and “sag,” and the controversies and mysteries surrounding the event (Who’s responsible for road defects that cause falls and even deaths? How can you gain weight while cycling for hours each day? How much of a party is RAGBRAI, really?).  Taking it back to its roots, John Karras, one of those original reporters and co-founder of RAGBRAI, wrote an earlier history called “RAGBRAI: Everyone Pronounces It Wrong” (available as a book at the Ames Public Library).

To get even more up close and personal with RAGBRAI riders, we thoroughly enjoyed the documentary “A Million Spokes.” This well-made, entertaining DVD showcases RAGBRAI’s fun, friendship, poignancy, and also a few very adult activities. Footage of day cycling and night partying from the 2009 year, as well as many interviews, give breadth and depth to this snapshot. From the beginning Missouri River tire dip to the closing tire dip in the Mississippi River, you ride along and meet such iconic figures as Mr. Pork Chop, Bananaman, and Suzy (the dog lady), as well as seeing a deep dive on several riders facing particular challenges (grieving a girlfriend’s death, inexperience cycling, and a 21^st birthday celebration gone bad are a few examples).  For even more, this fall, watch for “Shift”, a new documentary on RAGBRAI!