RAGBRAI® completes successful final day through Allamakee County ...


Standard photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.

Standard photo by Standard Assistant Editor Joe Moses.

Standard photo by Julie Berg-Raymond.

Allamakee County greeted 18,000 bicyclists and also welcomed support crews and other visitors that pushed population estimates to nearly 25,000 people for the final day of RAGBRAI® XLIX Saturday, July 30, as the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) came to a close for its 49th year. As depicted in the surrounding photos, bicyclists celebrated completion of this year’s RAGBRAI journey with the traditional dipping of their front tire in the Mississippi River in Lansing and some also raised their bicycles over their heads in triumphant celebration of their accomplishment (evident in the photos above and below taken by Julie Berg-Raymond).

“From all accounts, the day was a momentous and jubilant success,” shared Lansing RAGBRAI Chair Ian Zahren. “Riders from all across the world, and many veteran cyclists to RAGBRAI, lauded Lansing for their thoughtful organization and kindness, stating that this was the best RAGBRAI they had ridden and Lansing in particular the most accommodating and organized of any of the towns. Many people gave hundreds of hours to assist and aid our organization on the day and for the months leading up to it. It takes a village. Thank you, Lansing for making this event possible and for opening up your community, homes and hearts to the tens of thousands of people from all over the world who arrived in our little town.”

In order to make it to that final tire-dip destination, riders first ventured from West Union to the meet-up town of Postville and then the pass-through town of Waukon (as depicted in the photo at center by Standard Assistant Editor Joe Moses). Waukon City Clerk Sarah Snitker said that “it all seemed to go well,” in regard to Waukon’s involvement as a pass-through community Saturday. “We got some great feedback from the riders, and it seemed like they spread themselves out really well among the vendors, businesses and other organizations along the route through Waukon.”

Additional photos from Saturday’s RAGBRAI venture through Allamakee County can be found in a four-page pull-out section on Pages 13-16 inside the August 3, 2022 edition of The Standard. All of the photos inside this week’s edition, and many more, can be viewed or purchased through the Photo Galleries link on the homepage of The Standard’s website.