If you're of the opinion that nothing good comes easy, this is the RAGBRAI 2024 day for you: 82 miles and 4,519 — yes, 4,519 — feet of climb. RAGBRAI comfortingly reassures us that it's a rolling sort of ride, with plenty of opportunities to coast the first part of the uphills on the momentum of the previous drop.
But if this isn't the kind of terrain and distance riders are accustomed to covering, they might want to consider joining the substantial throngs making an early morning departure to beat the heat and allow plenty of time to get to the overnight town of Winterset.
Here's what's ahead.
Tuesday's RAGBRAI route
Atlantic to Winterset.
What to know
It's a long route with a lot of towns — seven between Atlantic and Winterset — to pause in along the way. A few highlights:
- Cumberland's town tap has a selfie-worthy name: Middle of Nowhere. Whether it's open or not — the hours are a bit irregular — the town is planning a big party.
- Massena has a strong sense of history, with preserved structures from bygone days contrasting with the towering turbines of a vast electricity-generating wind farm stretching along the RAGBRAI route.
- Greenfield is the day's highlight — and a perfect opportunity for RAGBRAIers to give back. It's serving as the meeting town despite the fact that on May 21 it was hit by an EF4 tornado that destroyed hundreds of its homes and left four people dead (plus a fifth outside nearby Corning). The picturesque downtown of the Adair County seat was left comparatively untouched, and survivors of the twister's fury will be there to share their stories with riders. In addition, a part of the route, carefully swept clean of nails, glass and other debris, will pass through the zone of devastation so visitors can see for themselves what nature hath wrought. Riders can show their appreciation by dropping whatever cash they can spare in one of the donation bins to help with the ongoing rebuilding effort.
- It's not exactly on the route, but ardent gravel riders who can spare the time might want to seek out the Wallace farm just northeast of Orient. It was the birthplace of Henry A. Wallace, who helped bring hybrid corn seed into wide use, then served as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's agriculture secretary and third-term vice president. Take a stroll through the vegetable gardens and enjoy the gorgeous prairie.
- Macksburg is the home of the National Skillet Throw and — of course — it's going to let riders try their hand at the ancient art, according to its Facebook page. Add in some local fried pies, and it's a stop not to be missed.
- Winterset sits on the outer edge of metro Des Moines. Getting there will be a bit arduous, with a final climb up the long slope of Clark Tower Road. But the town square is brimming with attractions, including a museum devoted to native son John Wayne. And it's also the setting of the novel and film "The Bridges of Madison County." More on that when we preview Day 4.
Weather
Tuesday is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 84, according to the National Weather Service. West/southwest winds around 6 mph. There's a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Entertainment
Not Quite Brothers, headed up by very much twin brothers Sam and Ike Johnson, have become an Iowa favorite with their hard-edged classic rock covers. If you still have the energy left, they'll charge you up as they headline on the Winterset stage at 8:30 p.m.
Looking forward to...
...The chance to say, "I did a legendary RAGBRAI day and I survived." Or at least to sag with honor.
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