RAGBRAI 2015

RAGBRAI

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Here they come Cedar Falls July

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Your guide to the SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2015

CF stop

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Sunday, July 19, 2015

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Here they come!

Cedar Falls gears up with fun for RAGBRAI riders and local residents

MELODY PARKER melody.parker@wcfcourier.com‌

Bicyclists won’t be the only ones crowding into Cedar Falls for RAGBRAI festivities on Wednesday.

Organizers expect plenty of local residents to find their way to the west side of the UNI-Dome for musical entertainment and food vendors.

About 20,000 riders are expected to roll into Cedar Falls from County Road C57 to Union Road for their halfway stop on the 43rd Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, which culminates at the Mississippi River in Davenport. Residents will be arriving from throughout the Cedar Valley — on bikes or in vehicles — to join in the excitement, says Steve Carignan, Cedar Falls RAGBRAI co-chair.

“It’s another festival for people to attend and a chance to interact with lots of different people.

There will be live music under the stars, a large crowd, food and celebration. It’s like a moving party, which is kind of neat because we double the size of the city for one night,” Carignan says.

It’s the fourth time the city has hosted RAGBRAI riders. Riders are expected to roll into town from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“One of the changes that has happened over the years, or what we found out in 2007, most of the people at the concert are city folks or from around here, and they look at it as another big night out.

“What’s also interesting is that so many personal connections are made, either by riders themselves, between riders and the people who let them camp in their front yard, that kind of thing, and those relationships have deep roots. It’s almost a reunion-type experience every year,” he explains.

Local residents can settle in and enjoy a wide range of music beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the UNI site. Festivities are free for registered RAGBRAI riders and

Hearst sculpture garden at the Hearst Center for the Arts.

COURIER FILE PHOTOS

across the street in the parking lot at 6406 University Ave., where Qdoba Mexican Grill was located.

SingleSpeed on the Parkade will have a RAGBRAI celebration with a collaboration beer. It’s a joint effort between SingleSpeed, Back Pocket in Coralville, Big Grove in Solon and Lion Bridge in Cedar Rapids, because all are on or near the RAGBRAI route.

In addition, Tom Snyders, the Bicycling Comedian, will be performing a comedy event at the The Cedar Falls parkade. free to the public wearing 2015 Cedar Falls RAGBRAI t-shirts, available at www.cedarfallsragbrai.org. Cost is $5 for others.

The beer garden opens at noon.

The downtown Parkade will be busy with locals and riders interested in window or real shopping and restaurant dining. Emily Yaddof, Community Main Street events and promotions coordinator, says a welcome tent set up at Fourth and Main streets.

“We’ll be handing out information packets on downtown Cedar Falls, and coupons and special deals from businesses and restaurants,” she says.

A shuttle bus will be running two routes: from the McLeod Center to the Parkade; and a second route College Square that includes a stop at College Hill on its return to McLeod. The College Square drop-off /pick-up will be in the Younkers parking lot and

Oster Regent Theatre, 103 Main St. Snyders presents a familyfriendly show. He doesn’t own a car and rides his bike to gigs with more than 100 pounds of stuff in his panniers.

He started in Las Vegas in 1987, and has traveled 150,000 miles as of April 2013. The story goes that his car engine blew up on the way to a gig, and Synders rode his bike the rest of the way.

He was last in Cedar Falls in 1998. Shows are at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. July 22.

A RAGBRAI party is planned at Octopus College Hill, 2205 College St., with Spinning Room DJs playing vinyl records.

Local residents also may want to watch some of the competition at the 139th annual Iowa Trap Shoot at the Cedar Falls Gun Club, 6138 W. Cedar Wapsi Road. More than 1000 competitors from 15 states will compete.

Start time is 8 a.m. through July 25.

The Ice House Museum will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. at 121 Center St., and the Hearst Center for the Arts, 304 W. Severely Blvd., will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The outdoor sculpture garden also will be open to visitors.

Riders will leave town on Hudson Road. Some will be routed along College Street to University onto Hudson Road. The right lanes of the roads will be devoted to bike traffic, said Capt. Mike Hayes of the Cedar Falls Police Department.

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Live, local and a little loud Music set for Cedar Falls RAGBRAI stop

Music South of McLeod Center: Free 12:30 p.m. Karla Ruth 1:45 p.m. Joe and Vicki Price 3:15 p.m. Dylan Sires and Neighbors

JOHN MOLSEED john.molseed@wcfcourier.com‌

CEDAR FALLS — RAGBRAI riders and local revelers can catch music for all ages on two stages in Cedar Falls.

Every year, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa has a different route and theme. However each time the route has taken riders through Cedar Falls there has been one constant.

“We have played every Cedar Falls RAGBRAI stop ever,” said Bob Dorr of Bob Dorr and the Blue Band. “We’re the only band on the planet that can make that claim.”

The Blue Band is opening entertainment at 5 p.m. on the main stage in the west parking lot of the UNI-Dome for the July 22 overnight stop in Cedar Falls.

The headline act, Hairball, a 1980s hair metal tribute band, will headline the evening entertainment at 9:30 p.m. Hairball puts on a costumed multimedia event with costumes, lights and effects as a homage to classic arena rock acts such as Van Halen, Journey, KISS, Motley Crue, Aerosmith and other acts. New Black 7 and the Devon Worley band round out the rest of the main stage entertainment.

Registered riders and participants get into the show at no cost as does anyone wearing the official Cedar Falls RAGBRAI t-shirt.

Entertainment begins at on the south side of the McLeod Center at 12:30 p.m. with Waterloo singer/songwriter Karla Ruth.

“To be part of such a celebration is always fun,” Ruth said, adding the opportunity is an

Submitted photo

Hairball

Submitted Photo

Karla Ruth

to include local musicians,” Vanderwall said. “We have all this talent in the Cedar Valley and all these people coming to

Dylan Sires honor.

“We’re on the bill with a lot of talented groups,” she said.

This is the first time Ruth will be part of official entertainment for a RAGBRAI crowd. For Ruth and other local performers, it’s a chance to get their music in front of people from all over the country.

“I’d love for them to take some Karla Ruth music home with them.”

Ruth will be joined by Deb Niermann on vocals and man-

John Molseed/Courier Staff Writer

dolin. They will be followed by Decorah blues roots duo Joe and Vicki Price. Cedar Valley rock band Dylan Sires and Neighbors will close out entertainment on that stage.

The main stage entertainment features more of a party-crowd lineup, said Rick Vanderwall, RAGBRAI Cedar Falls entertainment co-chair. The two stages are close together so locals and riders won’t have trouble finding the music, he said.

“My point of view was

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UNI-Dome west parking lot: Free for registered RAGBRAI riders and anyone wearing the 2015 Cedar Falls RAGBRAI t-shirt; $5 for all others 5 p.m. Bob Dorr and the Blue Band 6:30 p.m. The Devon Worley Band 8 p.m. The New Black 7 9:30 p.m. Hairball

the Cedar Valley who may or may not know the talent we have.”

Dylan Sires and Neighbors have been gaining a following and toured internationally last year.

“They’re really hot right now,” Vanderwall said. “They seem to be on the rise.”

Hairball will appeal to people who are out to have a good time while RAGBRAI is in town, he added.

“It’s music that the 35- to 45-year-old crowd knows,” he said.

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Groups to feed masses pork, pie and more DENNIS MAGEE dennis.magee@wcfcourier.com‌

HUDSON — Up to 20,000 wallets — sorry, make that cyclists — will roll across the state during RAGBRAI XLIII. So no surprise, many civic groups, churches, schools and vendors will do their best to not only serve the festive horde, but also generate a few dollars for their favorite causes. “I think we were thinking like $3,000 is what we were looking at,� Sheila Wetherell said.

She is part of a coalition involving her own church, Community Church of Hudson, and two others, Hudson United Methodist and St. Timothy Lutheran.

Since Hudson is the so-called “breakfast town� after RAGBRAI’s overnight in Cedar Falls, the faithful will sell pancakes, sausages, cinnamon rolls. “And pie, pie, pie — how could i forget pie? We hear they like pie, and we know they do because last time they came through they ate a lot of pie,�

Wetherell said.

They will have about 100 available, according to Wetherell.

As with similar efforts that materialize each year along the route, the churches won’t benefit directly. Proceeds will go to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Love In the Name of Christ and House of Hope.

Wetherell is also serving on Hudson’s RAGBRAI organizing committee. For her, plenty of reasons exist to get involved beyond fundraising. “First of all, we did it before when RAGBRAI came through.

Second of all, it’s a great way for the churches to come together, and third, it’s a great way to meet people ... and we have a lot of fun,� Wetherell said.

According to Wetherell, other groups in Hudson, such as the music boosters at the high school and the AMVETS, will also try to cash in buy selling breakfast food.

Dan Ervin of Maryland chowed down on biscuits and gravy with chicken during RAGBRAI in 2014 in Sumner. Groups and organizations again this year will try to cash in by offering the cyclists food, drink and souvenirs.

DENNIS MAGEE / Courier

Matt Katcher, left, Bill Dolan and his wife, Joyce, prepared pork ribs in July 2014 in Marble Rock, preparing the treats for RAGBRAI riders.

“It’s awesome that you get that many people in town. I won’t say it’s a once in a lifetime — because this is the second time for us,� Wetherell said.

Riders will leave Cedar Falls on July 23 using West 27th Street to Hudson Road. The bikers, some no doubt breaking out early, will go south then to the city limits for a quick pedal to Hudson covering just 8.2 miles.

In 2010, when the cyclists last passed through, Hudson’s theme played off its high school mascot, a pirate. The town will follow suit again in 2015. “Last time, we were the last town before the host city, which

was Waterloo. This time, we’re the first town after the host city, which is Cedar Falls. So we’ll be up with the roosters,� Wetherell said.

She expects volunteers will fire up grills and griddles early, perhaps by 4 a.m. to be ready by 6 a.m. “We’ll have to decide if we want to even sleep,â€? she said.

Other towns and groups will rise to the fundraising challenge to support their projects. In Radcliffe, for instance, some of the revenue generated by RAGBRAI visitors on July 21 will help update the American Legion Hall, according to the ride’s website. Other cash will aid restoration of the fire department’s 1941 fire truck.

Radcliffe is on the Karras Loop, an optional 43-mile course available on that day’s ride.

In Ackley, officially 24 vendors will be selling food and merchandise. Of those, 20 are charitable organizations, according to Joan Frazier, a cochair of the community’s RAGBRAI committee. “The majority are nonprofit,

local organizations, churches, service organizations, schools,�

Frazier said.

Cyclists in Ackley can also help Boy Scout Liam Stubbe, 16, a candidate for the Eagle rank. His project was part of the Freedom Rock Tour, the concept of artist Ray “Bubba� Sorensen.

Sorensen’s goal is to paint a unique patriotic design on a 60-ton boulder in each of

Iowa’s 99 counties. He has completed 29.

Stubbe helped establish the Hardin County Freedom Rock, finding a boulder, selecting a suitable location and landscaping the site. “That’s all done now,� the teen’s father, Jeff, said.

Stubbe, though, is looking ahead. He’ll ask RAGBRAI riders to make a donation and then write a veteran’s or a loved one’s name on one of the 2-inch stones in the landscaping.

The money will help maintain the Hardin County Freedom Rock, according to Jeff Stubbe.

According to Frazier, members of the AGWSR’s afterprom committee will sell snacks, trail mix and fruit in Ackley. Even in a crowd of colorful characters, the students should stand out. “They’re going to be wearing prom dresses from the ‘80s,�

Frazier said.

The goal is “to help prevent this travesty from happening again,� she added.

The community’s theme for RAGBRAI is Bacon Hot in Ackley, and candied bacon, bacon dipped in chocolate and “bacon bomb� pie will be available. “We’re pretty excited,� Frazier said.

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Sunday, July 19, 2015

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Volunteers make the difference DENNIS MAGEE dennis.magee@wcfcourier.com‌

CEDAR FALLS — The official RAGBRAI website maintains a countdown, clicking away each second until the 43rd version hits the road.

Steve Carignan is co-chairman with Mary Taylor of the planning committee in Cedar Falls. They are among those racing to beat the clock.

Perhaps as many as 20,000 cyclists will pedal into town Wednesday accompanied by support vehicles, vendors and more.

Like the other overnight towns, the Cedar Falls community will be responsible for the fun, food, lodging and safety for the entire horde.

Adding to the challenge: Organizers only get about six months to prepare.

“The one thing tough thing about this is it’s a very short time span. You can’t do anything until it’s announced,” Carignan said.

For Carignan, an important first step is assembling a team.

“For a big undertaking like this, that’s huge — getting everyone together” he said.

“I think it’s working out fine because we’ve got the right people,” Carignan added.

RAGBRAI lasted stayed overnight in Cedar Falls seven years ago. Carignan was a co-chair at that time, too.

But with little institutional memory in place, Carignan said the planning committee for RAGBRAI XLIII started nearly from scratch.

Even so, planners could draw to some degree on what happened during the previous invasion.

“We spent an awful lot of time last time trying to do more. We had a lot of new initiatives. Some of them were really great,” Carignan said.

This go-round, organizers are streamlining to some extent.

“It’s really what not to do,” Carignan said. “We are trying some new things but we’re building on that success. We do have some new things in the hopper.”

Taylor said what’s left is execu-

COURIER FILE PHOTOS

Deputy Travis Bartz got out early in July 2014 to check on an intersection in rural Floyd County. He swept away loose gravel near the junction of county roads B45 and T26 east of Rockford to help RAGBRAI riders.

all the decorations together, coming up with new ideas ... The riders see so much during the week, we want to be different and stand out,” Wyatt said.

Pulling that off — and every other related issue — requires help.

“There’s always a lot of volunteers, a lot of man-hours. There’s a lot of, ‘All hands on deck,’ ahead of time,” Wyatt said.

through town after Cedar Falls.

Kate Wyatt is a member of the City Council and coordinator of the Hudson RAGBRAI planning committee.

With a few days left to organize, Wyatt was optimistic about the prep work remaining.

“We’re going to be ready. It’s going to be fantastic. RAGBRAI is always a fun, fun time,” she said.

Since RAGBRAI is a long-running tradition, Wyatt said originality was one of her goals.

“The biggest challenge is getting

See VOLUNTEERS, page 8

Ride Hard!!

Connie Schuster and other women at the First United Methodist Church in Rockford started cooking in 2014 ahead of RAGBRAI riders. tion.

“We need about 550 volunteers to put six months worth of plans into action, and our volunteer chairs, Phyllis Carter and Lynn Carter, have done a great job recruiting and placing them. Most of Cedar Falls knows one or the other of them, so they’re pretty hard to turn down,” Taylor said.

“Plus, this is our fourth time hosting, so lots of people have been involved before and know it’s a fun thing to be part of,” Taylor added.

Hudson will be the first pass-

She hopes riders and Hudson’s citizens take advantage of what RAGBRAI offers.

“To the residents, I’m going to say my biggest tip is to come join the fun. You meet people not only from all over the state but all over the world,” she said.

And each, according to Wyatt, is eager to get to know Hudson.

“They want to enjoy our smalltown hospitality,” she added.

Wyatt offered advice to the cyclists, too.

“Enjoy each town as you come up on it. They’ll welcome you with open arms.”

In La Porte City, Sarah Craft is helping organize the town’s RAGBRAI response.

“There is a lot of expense, time and planning that goes into preparing for RAGBRAI — even as a pass-through town,” she said.

“Thankfully we have a great committee of volunteers who have dedicated a lot of time to getting organized.”

Nourishment — and enough of it — was one of Craft’s concerns.

“We struggled a bit with finding food vendors, and with 15,000 hungry bikers headed our way we were a wee bit concerned.

But we had churches and a couple of others step forward to help,” Craft said.

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Recent amputee undefeated by accident, plans to ride EMILY EPPENS emily.eppens@wcfcourier.com

TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff

Steve Husome hopes to ride RAGBRAI for two days.

CEDAR FALLS — When Steve Husome jumped onto his Harley motorcycle to make a trip to an Eagles concert with some friends, he had no idea it was a day that would change his life.

Husome was driving on Iowa Highway 175, about a half mile from Morrison, on Sept. 6, 2014, when he attempted to pass a semi tractor pulling a grain trailer. At the same time, the semi turned left into a farm drive, not realizing Husome was passing. Husome collided with the semi at 50 miles per hour and was trapped underneath.

“When you hear that your brother has been in a semi accident along with an airlift rescue, it never a good thing.

My first thought was no, we can’t go through this again,” said Sarah Langel, Husome’s sister, referring to her other brother’s fatal car accident in 1990.

The aftermath of the collision resulted in Husome’s right leg being amputated and severe damage to his left leg. It was severely dislocated, three out of four ligaments torn. His helmet had saved his life.

After surgery and a lot of healing and

“I never let it deter my attitude. ... This was just a little road block, just a little bump in the road to get back to what I wanted to do.”

just a little bump in the road to get back to what I wanted to do.”

The new goal was riding two days of RAGBRAI. He had ridden in it before from 1990 to 1998, sometimes the full ride and sometimes just a few days.

This time, on day one he will ride from Eldora to Cedar Falls, and on day two he will ride from Cedar Falls to Hiawatha.

Steve Husome Obviously, he recruited his therapists rehabilitation and therapy, Husome to ride with him. received a prosthetic leg in January.

“Steve is one of the most positive “My prosthetic leg is my strong leg,” people I’ve ever had the privilege to Husome said. “My other one is still work with,” said Julie Nichols, a New Aldaya therapist who will be accomhealing.”

In 2012, Husome made it a goal to get panying Husome in RAGBRAI. “It’ll back in shape and lead a more healthy be fun and really exciting. I think we’re lifestyle. Prior to the accident he had afraid he’s going to get out in front of us lost 50 pounds, running his first 10K all.” just 10 days before his life-altering said that Husome is doing Stay connectedNichols with everything event. that’s remarkably uniquely local.well in his recovery. He has He told two therapists that when been biking 15 to 18 miles every other he made a recovery, he expected them day, and it was only the beginning of • ONLINE • TABLET to run a 5K with him. However, PRINT after• MOBILE June when he got on a real bike again. surgery on his left leg, the doctor “I am happy to be alive. How blessed said Husome should never run again. and fortunate I am — I’ve had lots of Instead, he was told to bike and swim support from friends, family and the community,” Husome said. “I don’t all he wanted.

“I never let it deter my attitude. I was feel like I’m any different. Losing a leg going to get healthy again,” Husome is a small thing in comparison to losing said. “This was just a little road block, your life. I have a lot to be thankful for.”

Shuttle buses, parking lots available TIM JAMISON tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS — Looking to join the Cedar Valley RAGBRAI party but don’t have a bike?

The Cedar Falls RAGBRAI committee has set aside a few parking areas within walking distance of the camping and entertainment grounds near the UNI-Dome while arranging shuttle bus service from other Cedar Falls locations.

While the estimated 20,000 or more riders and their support teams will have designated parking areas, organizers expect a good crowd of locals will show up to meet friends or family making

the ride or to check out the bands and other festivities.

Mike Zwanziger, director of the University of Northern Iowa physical plant, said three oncampus parking areas will be available after 5 p.m. July 22, the nearest being half of the north UNI-Dome lot at Hudson Road and West 22nd Street.

The Multimodal Transportation Center lot at Campus and West 23rd streets is also available after 5 p.m. along with a lot near Gilchrist Hall, on UNI’s central campus.

Visitors wanting avoid the traffic or long walks to the RAGBRAI site — or hoping to reach the grounds before the public

lots open — could choose to use the low-cost shuttle service using Cedar Falls school buses.

One shuttle route will go between College Square Mall, in the parking lot near the east end, and the McLeod Center. It starts at 10 a.m. and runs until midnight.

Another shuttle will run from downtown, through College Hill to the McLeod Center, starting at 10 a.m. and running until 2 p.m.

Stops will be at Fourth and Main streets downtown and at 22nd and College streets.

Visitors wearing a Cedar Falls RAGBRAI t-shirt can ride the bus for free. Otherwise, the cost is $2 per ride.

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Sunday, July 19, 2015

VOLUNTEERS From page 6 The La Porte City committee also called food vendors throughout the state and locked down some additional resources, according to Craft.

RAGBRAI, though, requires more than meals. “ ... In reality you need added public safety, garbage and recycling management through the entire event, bathrooms for 15,000, route planning, signage, entertainment, tents and seating, setting up, cleaning up ... ,” Craft added.

In the end, she believes the effort will be rewarded.

“This is an opportunity to showcase our town to people throughout Iowa, across the country and even some folks from the other side of the world,” Craft said.

RABGRAI

“It is a lot of work, but we know it will be a lot of fun. Plus we hope the groups who are serving food will make some good cash for themselves,” she added.

Sheriff Tony Thompson also has a few issues to address when RAGBRAI rolls through Black Hawk County. Deputies are working closely with RAGBRAI committees, Iowa State Patrol and Cedar Falls Police, and Thompson characterized coordination efforts as outstanding.

“We have quite a demand for staffing for this couple of days, but nothing extraordinary or unusual compared to previous experiences,” Thompson added.

The county engineer’s office will likely place additional signs to help guide cyclists and motorists, but Thompson suggests those not involved or interested in RAGBRAI to steer clear.

“For the residents in the areas of the route, I would advise them to avoid as

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To volunteer If you'd like to help out with the RAGBRAI visit to Cedar Falls, go to cedarfallsragbrai. org and click on volunteer to sign up. Your help is needed, so join the fun!

best as possible. As we all know, that is a ‘sea of humanity’ for several hours, particularly in the morning that they leave Cedar Falls,” he said.

Thompson also asked cyclists to respect private property and follow riding rules. “ ... And always be mindful that in cases of emergency, we need to have the utmost cooperation of the riders to allow us to render aid quickly and efficiently,” he added.

“The last time through we experienced a few minor injuries and accidents, and

www.wcfcourier.com being able to get to the scene quickly is important ... ,” Thompson added.

Thompson outlined goals for the RAGBRAI experience.

“We expect things to move smoothly, pray for good weather and hope the participants thoroughly enjoy the Black Hawk County portion of this year’s ride,” he said.

Carignan also hopes riders and residents take advantage of a free or low-cost event like none other in the world.

“It’s a great time to get out and just have a great time under the stars,” he said.

For those less interested, Carignan predicts those 24 hours could pass quietly.

“You should be able to go about your day as if RAGBRAI wasn’t even here — or you can take advantage of the opportunities,” he said.

“I think we’re going to shine,” Carignan added.

“Whether you are on two wheels or four, the Cedar Vally is a great place to be.”

Check out downtown Waterloo and downtown Cedar Falls. *Come Visit Here e Again*

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