Area towns eager for RAGBRAI's visit

The Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) will make three stops in Adair County next Tuesday, July 23, on the hilliest and most lengthy day on the route.

Fontanelle, Greenfield and Orient are ready as ever to welcome thousands of visitors to town.

While it is a short window that riders will be here, traveling from overnight stops at Atlantic and Winterset, much work has gone on in Adair County to prepare.

Greenfield is a midday stop where riders will be able to meet up with support vehicles.

Riders will approach town from the west, loop off Highway 92 via SW 2nd to S 1st Street and back north to the square, where much of the action will take place. Riders will pedal east on Iowa Street to SE 4th Street, go south to SE Noble Street and out of town toward Orient on Highway 25. Displays showing what areas affected by the tornado were like before it struck are being planned, as is a memorial honoring the lives lost in the storm.

Support vehicles will travel into Greenfield from the north via Highway 25, be stationed at the Adair County Fairgrounds and exit town via East Iowa Street Extension and Orange Avenue.

“I think this will be fun. I know a lot of people think it’s crazy, but it will be good to see a lot of people, get a lot of exposure that day and enjoy the town,” said Greenfield RAGBRAI committee chairperson Gina School. “We’ve been asking what we want the riders to do and the answer is that we want them to come enjoy the things we do have, which are beautiful historic buildings and friendly people. When RAGBRAI planning started, the hope was to get exposure for the town, in general. Now we have the added tornado layer.”

Greenfield’s RAGBRAI theme is “Greenfield Strong: Rising After the Storm.”

Some places of business have planned to close for the day because of RAGBRAI. The Adair County Courthouse will be operating but not open to the public. Greenfield City Hall will be closed. The Greenfield City Council meeting originally planned for Tuesday will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 25.

Before arriving in Greenfield, cyclists will be able to enjoy Fontanelle, where organizers have several photo opportunities available, as well as food trucks and the band Hillbilly Air Show, which will play in the park. Pie will be available at the Fontanelle Community Building, which will be set up as a cooling center.

According to Fontanelle RAGBRAI committee chairperson Chance Stutzman, the group wants cyclists to remember the town as one that is friendly and have a “wheelie” good time, as their RAGBRAI theme suggests.

After coming to Greenfield, cyclists will travel to Orient and exit Adair County via 310th Street. According to Orient Mayor Matthew Swanson, the band “Run With It” will be playing live in uptown Orient during the event. Food trucks will be available. A whole host of people have stepped up to make RAGBRAI’s visit to Orient possible. The town’s theme is “Not Just Another Small Town.”

All told, this year’s RAGBRAI passes through 43 communities. The route is roughly 434 miles and has 18,375 feet of climb. That makes it the eighth-shortest and hilliest route on record. The ride anticipates over 20,000 registered riders with participants from all 50 states and over 17 international locations. Registration closed May 15 for the ride, though some ride unregistered.

RAGBRAI’s route through the county includes both state and county highways. It travels Highway 92 from west of Bridgewater to Greenfield, then Highway 25 to Orient, and 310th Street from Orient to the Madison County line.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater stressed attention to detail for drivers Tuesday, if they have to share the road with the riders.

“I would encourage anyone who can to avoid driving on or intersecting with the RAGBRAI route, if possible. If you do find yourself on the route or intersecting with the route, expect delays,” Vandewater said. “If you are traveling [the route], strictly avoid any distractions and remain vigilant when operating around bikers. There is almost no margin of error when it comes to bike traffic versus a motor vehicle. Any type of collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle could prove fatal, with mere inches possibly making the difference.”