‘We’ve been planning for heat for a while now’: RAGBRAI preps for hot weather during this year’s ride

With hot temperatures expected in Iowa this weekend, RAGBRAI says they have plans in place to keep cyclists safe.

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‘We’ve been planning for heat for a while now’: RAGBRAI preps for hot weather on ride

ONAWA, Iowa —

RAGBRAI kicks off Saturday, July 18, and 20,000 riders are in for a hot trek across Iowa.

That’s especially the case for Sunday, when temperatures will approach the triple digits.

One of the many tents you’ll find at the Onawa campground is Matt Papirnik’s.

“While you’re doing RAGBRAI, you’re not thinking about anything but the ride and talking to people and enjoying the scenery,” said Papirnik, who came from Chicago.

He and Mark Gemmel can’t wait to make their way through the state of Iowa for the second time. And they say they’re well aware of how hot the RAGBRAI ride can get.

“I’m a little nervous about the heat. And I think we all are, but I remember last time we went on this, every time you come into a town, they have sprinklers going,” Gemmel said.

RAGBRAI ride director Matt Phippen said he’s aware too.

“We’ve been planning for heat for a while now,” Phippen said.

And with temperatures on the way, RAGBRAI has plans set in place.

“Every town will have multiple water stops along the way so riders can find water wherever they go,” Phippen said. “We have four 50-passenger vans with trailers that will cover the route. We also have a system called a super SAG. And that is our semis that carry bikes across the states with the bags. And then we partner with the school districts and bus companies to bring buses to the road. So that’s kind of the worst-case scenario.”

Phippen said RAGBRAI is also urging riders to refill their water bottles at every stop.

Gemmel has this advice for anyone thinking about giving RAGBRAI a try next summer: “Get a bike. And just start riding and see what you think. Ride a few miles a day or something like that, ride a few miles the next week, a few miles the next week and see what you think,” he said.

RAGBRAI runs from July 18-25. It starts in Onawa and ends in Dubuque, Iowa.

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