RAGBRAI 2026 already was challenging, starting with two days of nearly 100-degree heat and thousands of feet of elevation gain as it ascended from the Missouri River valley.
Even the cooler Day 3 on Tuesday, July 21, was a challenge on the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, with a stiff headwind pushing back on the riders during the second half.
But an even bigger challenge lay ahead on Day 5, Thursday, July 23, for a self-selected few.
Near the end of Thursday's 87.1 miles ― already the longest of the week ― lay the annual Karras Century Loop, an optional chance to turn the day into a more than 100-mile trek. And for those seeking the ultimate feat, the ride organizers had mapped out a second, add-on loop that would bring the day's total for anyone completing it to 160 miles ― roughly 250 kilometers in honor of America's 250th birthday year.
By the time those who accepted the challenge arrived in the overnight town of Independence, they had ridden the longest one-day route in RAGBRAI's 53-year history.
#challenge #annual #already #longest
Even the cooler Day 3 on Tuesday, July 21, was a challenge on the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, with a stiff headwind pushing back on the riders during the second half.
But an even bigger challenge lay ahead on Day 5, Thursday, July 23, for a self-selected few.
Near the end of Thursday's 87.1 miles ― already the longest of the week ― lay the annual Karras Century Loop, an optional chance to turn the day into a more than 100-mile trek. And for those seeking the ultimate feat, the ride organizers had mapped out a second, add-on loop that would bring the day's total for anyone completing it to 160 miles ― roughly 250 kilometers in honor of America's 250th birthday year.
By the time those who accepted the challenge arrived in the overnight town of Independence, they had ridden the longest one-day route in RAGBRAI's 53-year history.
#challenge #annual #already #longest
3 months ago
