KNOXVILLE, Iowa — The hills and heat made a noticeable impact on Day 4 of RAGBRAI as cyclists embarked from Winterset, traveled through Indianola and ended in Knoxville Wednesday evening.
In Indianola, the meeting town Wednesday, residents lined the streets cheering on cyclists. They offered lemonade and even sprayed bikers with cool water straight out of the hose.
Everyone took the same route to get to the overnight town of Knoxville, but the mental and personal journeys for some of these cyclists differed.
That’s because a few of the RAGBRAI riders have disabilities and choose to ride adaptive bikes.
Adaptive Sports Iowa said they sponsored dozens of bikers this year, and offer 20-30 different adaptive bike options, including hand pedal bicycles.
“My captain helps me around in places like this,” explained Jerry Jackson, who is blind. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to travel around here.”
Jackson rides a tandem bicycle with his friend, who operates the turning and direction of the bike for the two cyclists.
The bond between the two was not the only form of support noticeable along the elevated route Wednesday.
The CARE ambulance, operated by physicians, also continued its path along the route to step into situations in case anything went wrong.
Physicians told Local 5 News that they generally address minor scuffs, cramps, dehydration and heat-related illnesses most often, but have also saved someone in cardiac arrest in a previous year's RAGBRAI.
Bikers head out Thursday morning from Knoxville, and most will end up in Ottumwa Thursday afternoon.