The City of Rippey had 50 visitors for lunch on Tuesday, June 6. This is the third time the RAGBRAI Des Moines Register team has visited in person, but this time 40 riders and support staff came to ride the route through Greene County. They will return with many other riders on July 25th.
The Gannett/Register staff have driven the route 6 times, assuring that the route is safest for the potentially 50,000 riders. The route from Carroll to Ames is the 100-mile day, and this year is also the 50th anniversary of the original RAGBRAI. Expectations are that the Guinness World Book of Records will shatter by not only the longest running bike ride (duration in years), but also the most people on a bide ride during the week of July 22-29.
Rippey vendors were given first chance at food service, followed by local area vendors, and ultimately out of town vendors that follow the route. To date, 20 vendors will be providing food. The University of Iowa mobile emergency room will be in town to assist with any illnesses or accidents. Eighty portable toilets, and 10 hand washing stations have been secured and will be placed throughout the town. Mayor Dan has ordered tents as additional sunshade for bikers, and live musical entertainment will be on Main Street.
Meeting place is defined as the halfway point of the day’s ride and gives the shuttles and support R.V.’s a place to connect with their riders. 595 support vehicles may be expected in Rippey around noon time on July 25th. The Iowa Highway Patrol has two support teams for the RAGBRAI effort. One as a precursor to assist in high traffic areas, the second to scoot bikers out of town to enable them to arrive in Ames prior to sunset.
The support vehicles must not cross the bike route, so it is expected they will drive to Rippey on Highway 144 from Perry, having traveled from the previous overnight in Carroll.
The Rippey Community hosted the riders for lunch providing maid rites, potato salad, veggie sticks, water, and pie. RAGBRAI runs on pie, and it was observed that the riders appreciated homemade pie and were able to select between choices, of apple, rhubarb, cherry, and strawberry-rhubarb.
The riders and Rippey workers were very pleased when Matt Phippen, RAGBRAI Coordinator said Rippey was his favorite Meeting Town of all 7.
Volunteers will be needed for serving food by the Methodist Church, the Rippey Lion’s combing efforts with the Fire Department, along with the Baseball Commission. Additional volunteers will be needed for directing traffic, monitoring of the portable toilets for sanitation and supplies, as well as individuals to provide general information.
Clark Fessler, owner of Authentic Brand is donating distinctive purple t shirts that will identify Rippey volunteers.
Stay tuned for additional information about the upcoming RAGBRAI visitors.
