RAGBRAI turns 50 in Iowa, expects 70K riders Wednesday

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RAGBRAI turns 50 in Iowa, expects 70K riders Wednesday Chicago Tribune

The destination for cyclists at the 50th anniversary RAGBRAI lies 500 miles east of their Sioux City start in Davenport, where those braving the daunting Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will finally dip their front tires into the Mississippi River to mark their journey’s end.

For many, that journey began Sunday, when 20,000 weeklong riders ceremoniously bobbed their back wheels in the Missouri River and pedaled away.

For Will Laverman, 23, the dunk of his army-green mountain bike’s thick wheel marked the start of a long-awaited post-college vacation with two friends.

“I’ve never had a ride quite like this before,” he said.

Nearby, Derek Leonard, 38, began his ride alongside his family. His 6-year-old was strapped into a tandem bike seat behind him. His 8-year-old rode alongside him. His wife, afoot, carried a baby.

Leonard is also riding with his father for the 13th time.

“It’s in your backyard, but you get to see things that you don’t see every year,” he said.

Leonard’s kids rode in stints for the first time last year, he said. He’s looking forward to seeing how far they go this year...

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