RAGBRAI 2024: Check out our best photos and stories from this year's ride here

The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, better known as RAGBRAI, is in high gear. This year's ride across southern Iowa has taken cyclists across the state, from the film-famous Bridges of Madison County to the tornado-stricken town of Greenfield. As this year's 51st edition of the renowned ride treks on, here's a look at the best of what we've seen and heard on this year's RAGBRAI. Ride on, Iowa!

More: What does RAGBRAI stand for?

RAGBRAI Day 1

Riders began arriving in RAGBRAI's kickoff city of Glenwood on July 19 and rolled out through the fog on Sunday morning. Glenwood hosted an expo for riders on Saturday. You can see photos from the festivities below:

More stories from RAGBRAI Days 0 and 1:

• Riders getting caught doing nice things on RAGBRAI run the risk of getting “ducked” — because Elizabeth Sugar Boese, and her 300 rubber ducks, is on the lookout .
• Gene Hassman’s grandkids wanted to set up a lemonade stand for the cyclists on last year's historic 50th anniversary ride. But he had a bigger idea in mind .

RAGBRAI Day 2

Despite Day 2 being among the most remote days of the ride, stories galore emerged from the throng of riders pedaling from Red Oak to Atlantic.

More stories from RAGBRAI Day 2:

• Dozens of RAGBRAI riders took a detour on Day 2 to visit one of the only surviving Underground Railroad stations in Iowa.
• Learn about a rider with scleroderma who is riding RAGBRAI with the help of oxygen tanks to help raise awareness for the disease that has changed her life.
• Fans of the classic movies "National Lampoon's Vacation" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" found themselves in a Griswold family haven in the aptly named Griswold, Iowa, the meeting town on RAGBRAI Day 2 .

RAGBRAI Day 3

The beauty of Madison County — another Hollywood favorite — didn't come without its consequences. Winterset is home to rolling hills and steep terraces — and a mile-long climb. But it's worth it. Just ask the riders!

More stories from RAGBRAI Day 3

• Did you know that Day 3 was the hilliest day of RAGBRAI ? The riders certainly figured it out.
• You haven't really been to the middle of nowhere until you've been to... the Middle of Nowhere .
• Who among us hasn't had the urge to throw a skillet with abando n and no consequences?
• After Greenfield was hit by a devastating and deadly EF4 tornado, the town remained on the RAGBRAI route. By Tuesday afternoon, riders had donated more than $10,000 in cash , according to Matt Phippen, RAGBRAI ride director.

RAGBRAI Day 4

Day 4 of RAGBRAI was full of character, and not even the kind you see in movies. From margaritas to cinematic views, there was no shortage of good times to be had.

More stories from RAGBRAI Day 4

• The Bridges of Madison County were off the regular RAGBRAI route Wednesday, but riders found them anyway .
• Residents of Milo, Iowa turned their small town into "Milo-Ritaville." It's always RAGBRAI Day 4 somewhere, right?
• Can you ride your bike backwards? Or, really, can you ride it backwards for as long as this man can ?

RAGBRAI Day 5

RAGBRAI Day 5 brought riders from Knoxville to Ottumwa, with plenty of sights and sounds to be found along the way.

More stories from RAGBRAI Day 5

• A 12-foot-high by 16-foot-wide mural guided riders to some delicious cycling themed cookies like "energy trail mix," "pedal power pineapple" and "revved-up velvet."
• In meeting town Albia, riders could visit the Welcome Home Soldier Monument , a s afe place for veterans to feel welcome and honored for their service .

RAGBRAI Day 6

RAGBRAI Day 6 took riders from Ottumwa to Mount Pleasant on the longest day of the ride — nearly 85 miles. Some could go even longer by taking the John Karras Century Loop , making it 100 miles.

More stories from RAGBRAI Day 6

• For the first time, the route went near the house that inspired Grant Wood's "American Gothic." Riders could see the house and take selfies there .
• Can you shoot like Caitlan Clark? Riders tried their hand at shooting from the logo , her signature move, in Wayland.
• We know you've had Iowa sweet corn, but have you had it cooked by an antique steam engine ? Some riders did in Mount Pleasant.

RAGBRAI Day 7

The final day is underway. Check back for more stories from Day 7 as riders trek 46.5 miles from Mount Pleasant to Burlington.

A slice of Iowa living

Pie might not be the first dessert to come to mind when you think about Iowa, but it was present in abundance on RAGBRAI 2024 and has a long history with the ride.

One RAGBRAI rider is well on his way to compiling enough recipes to fill an entire cookbook — aptly named "RAGPIE." And one Amish family is serving up fried pies for every day of RAGBRAI .

Ruff riding

Some might say RAGBRAI's gone to the dogs — and we couldn't be happier about it. Four-legged friends have long been a fun staple of RAGBRAI, but some of this year's canines have captured the imaginations of riders and Iowans alike.

• Meet Miss Molly, a 13-year-old blind dog raising money for cancer research with her humans Carla Meinberg and Barry Jackson. She gives new meaning to "Livestrong."
• Mickey is a 3-year-old dog experiencing RAGBRAI on the back of his human John Chemycz. This very good boy from Texas has mastered the art of being the best paw-ssible passenger.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: RAGBRAI 2024: Check out our best photos and stories from this year's ride here