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| Helmets, water bottles, and backpacks are standard gear for registered riders. |
The architecture and beautiful skies provided some great backdrops for the group and landscape images below. As the thousands of bicyclists pedaled into Mason City for the fourth day of this year's largest, longest, and oldest cycling event, I spent a couple hours in the thick of it snapping some shots and getting a firsthand look at the organized chaos that is
The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
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| The local brew pub was packed by 2:30 p.m. |
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| Jerseys sport clever team names like this one - "Team Cuisine - Eating Up The Miles" |
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| Bear-ly able to contain the excitement! |
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| Petals and Pedals |
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One rider takin' a break among the wheels.
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| Bikes and more bikes! |
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| A sea of cycles! |
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| Following the bike path arrows to food vendors, first aid, entertainment, and much more! |
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| Central Park was a great place to stop and relax after the day's 38.5 mile ride. |
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| "Oh My Pie!!!" was the Bethlehem Lutheran Church food stop with...what else? PIE! |
People come from all over the world to participate every year. This is the 42nd year of this July touring event, and there are amazing human interest stories just waiting to become part of its history. While I didn't capture any photos of a unique event that took place today, I read all about the wedding of two riders from Team Waldo in Clear Lake.
I actually rode five blocks of the route today, so can now officially say I have ridden in RAGBRAI. :)
