The Des Moines Register’s Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa is the “oldest, largest, and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world.” It is a peaceful army of around 15,000 bikers, support vehicles, medical teams, bicycle shops, food vendors and Highway Patrol police that every year moves across Iowa from the Missouri to the Mississippi River, with overnights in seven communities. The average daily ride over the 48 RAGBRAI’S was 67 miles.

On Saturday, July 31, my partner Rebecca and Wheel Thing teammates Colleen and Scott completed their 454 mile from Le Mars to Clinton by dipping their bikes in the Mississippi River and in a final triumphant act thrusting their two wheel rides into the air.

Rebecca had trained for Ragbrai by riding 631 miles from April to July mostly in increments of 12 miles around Decorah, Iowa’s Trout Run Bike Trail. More than the number of miles, Decorah’s trail offers many steep switchbacks that are perfect for building up lung, leg, and heart endurance. She had ridden her first full RAGBRAI in 2019 and knew she needed to be better prepared this year.

On the way back to Decorah from Clinton in our four wheel vehicle, I asked Rebecca to sum up her 2021 RAGBRAI experience.

“I owned it,” said Rebecca. “I’m 70 years old and I rode across Iowa.”

Not all journeys need end in Ithaca.