WINTERSET, Iowa — In about six weeks, tens of thousands of bikers from across the world will travel to Iowa for the third hilliest RAGBRAI ride ever. And as the event approaches, cities and its RAGBRAI committees continue to meet and prepare for an abundance of people over a weeklong stretch.
This year's route begins in Glenwood and ends in Burlington, stopping overnight in Red Oak, Atlantic, Winterset, Knoxville, Ottumwa and Mt. Pleasant.
On Saturday, the Winterset RAGBRAI core committee, made up of seven members, told Local 5 News they have been meeting at least two days a week at this point in the year. The committee anticipates around 15,000-20,000 bikers staying overnight in Winterset on Day 3 of the ride.
"It's very exciting when you live in a town like Winterset that is beautiful when you walk in and just fun to be able to show it off to people," said RAGBRAI Winterset core committee member, Ellen Wade.
The past couple of months has been busy for Winterset RAGBRAI as they are continuing to speak with vendors about preparing for an abundance of people in town, working with residents to share their driveways for extra parking, and also coordinating overnight camping sites with the city's aquatic center and nearby campground.
When bikers coast into Winterset after the hilliest single-day route in RAGBRAI history (4,519 ft. of elevation), vendors will have their displays and tents erected on the northeast corner of the town square. Live musicians and bands will fill the air with tunes on the southeast corner, while the lawn surrounding the Madison County Courthouse in the center of the town square will serve as a place for bikers to finally rest after a long day.
This summer will mark the first time in five years Winterset has been an overnight town along a RABGRAI route, and the third time in the past 30 years. Wade said she and the committee were not expecting Winterset to be an overnight town again so soon, but are ultimately thrilled to host the ride in the central Iowa city they call "home."