DES MOINES – The RAGBRAI bike ride is coming through North Iowa and making stops in several are towns – including Mason City – it was announced Saturday night in Des Moines at a special route announcement party.
The towns selected for the 418 mile Register’s Great Bike Ride Across Iowa are Rock Valley, Okoboji, Emmetsburg, Forest City, Mason City, Waverly, Independence, and Guttenburg. Selection as an overnight stop is coveted due to the thousands of bicyclists and others who take part in the week-long party. Those thousands of people who pass through communities offer those towns a chance to showcase themselves – and make a pretty penny along the way serving food, drink, lodging and other goods and services.
In Mason City, a town that has only hosted RAGRAI once – in 1985 – the Main Street organization tweeted “We are so excited to share our community with RAGBRAI! We will be looking to our awesome community to assist in making this happen and give everyone an incredible experience!”
In Forest City, Winnebago Industries said in a statement “Exciting news….we’re glad you’re coming!”
Thus year’s RAGBRAI is from July 19 through July 26.
RAGBRAI Director TJ Juskiewcz