#016: RAGBRAI 2025
What is RAGBRAI?
RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is the world’s largest multi-day recreational bike ride, attracting thousands of cyclists each summer. Over seven days, riders travel anywhere 400–500 miles from the Missouri River to the Mississippi, crossing Iowa, enjoying local food, live music, and the fellowship with fellow cyclists. It's a rolling festival that happens to include an endurance challenge, providing an unforgettable way to experience Iowa’s beauty and community spirit.
Day 0 - Saturday, July 19: Guttenberg to Orange City
Our adventure began before we even climbed on the bike. Marc parked the car for the week, and we loaded the bus—duffels and all—for the five-hour trek across Iowa. A gusty rainstorm greeted us, soaking both us and our bags before we even boarded. Luckily, we managed to load up just before the worst of it hit, though “wet” would become a recurring theme for the week.
Midway through the ride, we stopped at a Hy-Vee that had set up a BBQ-style cookout right in the parking lot. It was a welcomed meal that carried us the rest of the way to Orange City, where, thankfully, the weather had cleared. We unloaded, located the bikes, and set up our camp for the first time.
Orange City was the perfect backdrop to start RAGBRAI. Famous for its Dutch heritage, the town was alive with tulip gardens, traditional architecture, and a towering windmill near our campsite.
After enjoying homemade Dutch letter, we enjoyed the Expo's shops and food before settling in the camp for the evening.
Caitlin also met RAGBRAI legend and YouTuber Ryan Van Duzer, whose infectious enthusiasm matched the spirit of the ride. What a fun Day 0!
Day 1 – Sunday, July 20: Orange City → Milford (72.8 miles, 2059 ft elevation)
Route: Orange City → Hartley → Granville → Primghar → Milford
Leaving Orange City, we rode past miles of colorful paper tulips, hand-decorated by local schoolchildren, lined the route and cheered us forward.
Along the way, the locals made the day unforgettable. We stopped for a mid-day snack of fresh-picked corn, boiled by a family hauling ears directly from their field.
A quick roadside stopped provided Caitlin a chance for a cow selfie - however, the baby cow was not impressed 😂!
That evening we enjoyed a homemade pasta bar served by the local Catholic Church and took in the small-town church dinners that makes RAGBRAI so special.
The ride itself stretched about 72 miles, with an optional 12.5-mile gravel segment. It also marked Marc’s first gravel ride of the week.
Day 2 – Monday, July 21: Milford → Estherville (42 miles, 1400 ft elevation)
Route: Milford → Wahpeton → Jackson County Park (MN) → Estherville
The day started bright and early with an incredible surprise—the same Catholic Church that had served a pasta bar the night before opened their doors at 5:00 AM to cook made-to-order omelets for hungry riders. It was the perfect fuel for a shorter but scenic ride ahead.
The mileage may have been lighter at just 42 miles, but the day still brought its own adventure. For the first time, Caitlin joined Marc on the gravel route, tackling the rolling dirt roads together.
We wrapped up the day in Estherville and rested up before the next long stretch.
Day 3 – Tuesday, July 22: Estherville → Forest City (76 miles, 2004 ft elevation)
Route: Estherville → Bancroft → Armstrong → Forest City
Day 3 brought one of the longer stretches of the week, with 74 miles of rolling Iowa roads. We passed through Armstrong and Bancroft, where the gravel option called our names again—again both Caitlin and Marc joined in, making it one of the most memorable rides so far.
Along the way, the highlights came quickly. Caitlin was thrilled to find a much friendlier baby cow (and a few other farm friends), while Marc proved his sense of adventure by cooling off with a dip in a nearby lake after we visited the quirky roadside attraction—the World’s Largest Bullhead.
Lunch was a treat: a local grocery store grilling up steak sandwiches for the hungry crowd. Fueled up, we kept rolling and decided to take on the fun challenge of trying to “earn” the coveted Iowa Beer Tent shirt, which added a playful side quest to the day.
By the time we reached Forest City, the home of Winnebago Industries, the festival was in full swing. The town hosted an interesting exhibit on the company’s history, giving us something unique to explore as we wound down from a long but rewarding day in the saddle.
Day 4 – Wednesday, July 23: Forest City → Iowa Falls (71 miles, 2210 ft elevation)
Route: Forest City → Latimer → Ventura → Iowa Falls
The ride from Forest City to Iowa Falls stretched about 72 miles, with a gravel option once again tempting riders off the pavement. The day was marked by hot, constant headwinds, making the miles feel even longer.
One of the day’s highlights was finally trying a genuine Maid-Rite sandwich, an Iowa classic that hit the spot and gave us a boost to keep rolling.
Later, as the sun and wind wore us down, we found sweet relief at a local splash pad, cooling off and laughing alongside other riders who had the same idea.
By evening, we reached Iowa Falls, a charming river town that proved the riverside campsite to unwind. After setting up camp, we wadded into the chilly Iowa River, washing away the miles and ending the day on a high note.
Day 5 – Thursday, July 24: Iowa Falls → Cedar Falls (55 miles, 1667 ft elevation)
Route: Iowa Falls → Parkersburg → Aplington → Cedar Falls
At just over 50 miles, Day 5 was a shorter ride on paper—but the larger gravel stretch made the day. Both Caitlin and Marc took on the gravel again, adding grit (literally) and beautiful landscapes to the day’s ride.
The food highlights came early, with the legendary Mr. Porkchop handing out his famous thick-cut, perfectly seasoned pork chops. It was the ultimate mid-morning snack!
By evening, we rolled into Cedar Falls, a lively college town on the banks of the Cedar River. We stumbled across a local downtown theater showing a cycling documentary, complete with popcorn, a cushioned seat, and free air conditioning.
After setting up camp along the water and enjoyed a beautiful evening by the river, the perfect way to recharge before heading into the final stretch of the week.
Day 6 – Friday, July 25: Cedar Falls → Oelwein (40 miles, 1333 ft elevation)
Route: Cedar Falls → Dunkerton → Fairbank → Oelwein
After several long rides earlier in the week, Day 6 felt like a gift—just 38 miles with gentle terrain, leaving plenty of time to explore. The route carried us through Dunkerton and Fairbank, with another scenic gravel option that was too good to pass up.
The gravel wound its way through beautiful Amish farmland, offering peaceful views of tidy fields, horse-drawn buggies, and a slower rhythm of life. Both Caitlin and Marc loved the serenity of this stretch, making it one of the most memorable gravel rides of the week.
Of course, no RAGBRAI day would be complete without a few quirky detours. When we spotted a petting zoo, Caitlin made sure we stopped—because if there are animals to meet, she’s not passing them by!
By afternoon, we rolled into Oelwein, a town with deep railroad roots. We capped off the day with a visit to the Oelwein Railroad Museum, exploring the historic exhibits before heading back to camp. With the week nearly complete, it was the perfect low-key day to rest, recharge, and reflect on how far we'd come.
Day 7 – Saturday, July 26: Oelwein → Guttenberg (62 miles, 2530 ft elevation)
Route: Oelwein → Edgewood → Lamont → Dundee → Guttenberg
The final day of RAGBRAI brought plenty of challenge—and plenty of rain. From the moment we set out, the skies opened, drenching riders as we faced a series of hard hill climbs and even harder, faster descents. Coming down the last steep hill into town, the steady rain had every cyclist gripping their disc brakes so tightly you could smell the burning rubber in the air!!
Despite the weather, the excitement of the last miles carried us forward. Rolling into Guttenberg, with the Mississippi River finally in sight, felt both surreal and triumphant. Following tradition, we ended the ride with the ceremonial tire dip in the mighty Mississippi, a simple but powerful ritual that marked the end of 406 miles across Iowa.
Soaked, tired, and smiling ear to ear—we had finished RAGBRAI 2025.
What an amazing week spent doing something we both love! Along the way, we ate copious amounts of pie, stopped to pet every farm animal we could find, and practiced our signature “RUMBLE” and “MEOW MEOW” calls that echoed down the roads of Iowa. We even managed to “earn” our shirt from the Iowa Beer Tent, a playful badge of honor that summed up the spirit of the ride.
Tired legs, full hearts, and countless memories—we can’t wait to do it all over again.
P.S. The Road Home (IFYKY)
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