CORALVILLE, Iowa — Dust off your wheels: training season has begun for Iowa's biggest biking event.
The Iowa Bicycle Coalition announced three rides in the RAGBRAI LI training series on Wednesday: The Pigtails Ride, Bacoon Ride and Big Rove Ride.
The rides will help acclimate riders ahead of RAGBRAI — but that doesn't mean they're for participating adults only. All three rides are family friendly and will feature food, drinks and plenty of fun for anyone attending.
“RAGBRAI will be here before you know it. Weather this spring has given us plenty of opportunities to get out and ride,” said Matt Phippen, RAGBRAI Ride Director. “Support the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and use these events to train. We want the best version of you riding your bike, with us, in July.”
Ticket prices increase on April 1.
Pigtails Ride
- When: Saturday, May 18
- Where: High Trestle Trail
- Registration link
The Pigtails Ride is a one-day, 48-mile ride for women from Ankeny's Prairie Trail through the High Trestle Trail.
Bacoon Ride
- When: Saturday, June 15
- Where: Raccoon River Valley Trail
- Registration link
Hungry for a good workout and some greasy bacon on the side? The Bacoon Ride takes cyclists through the Raccoon River Valley Trail and provides bacon-based snacks along the way.
Big Rove Ride
- When: Saturday, June 29
- Where: Big Grove Brewery Iowa City & Cedar Rapids
- Registration link
Riders can travel 36 miles between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids from one Big Grove Brewery to another — with a stop at a third brewery in Solon — along the Iowa River Corridor Trail.
"We are incredibly proud to host these rides and give cyclists the opportunity to spend their summer training with the bicycling community ... We are honored to work with partners like RAGBRAI to provide quality rides that are fun for the whole family while driving forward positive change,” Iowa Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Luke Hoffman said.
The 2024 RAGBRAI route starts in Glenwood on Saturday, July 20, and ends in Burlington on Saturday, July 27, 2024.
Between those cities, riders will pass through dozens of communities as they trek the 424-mile distance across the southern half of the state.
They'll stay overnight in seven cities along the way.
- Red Oak
- Atlantic
- Winterset
- Knoxville
- Ottumwa
- Mt. Pleasant
- Burlington
Registration for the race will keep rolling through May 15. For more information about registration deadlines for RAGBRAI LI, click here.