RAGBRAI heads to Independence

INDEPENDENCE - Residents of this Buchanan County community, the last overnight stop on the 2014 RAGBRAI, are preparing for a quadrupling of the city's population when an estimated 15,000 cyclists - plus their support personnel - pedal into town on Friday.

Mayor Bonita Davis said more than 400 volunteers have been working for weeks to prepare the city and its 5,967 residents for its throng of guests.

'We are all a little nervous and excited, but we are glad they are coming. It's a chance to make a good impression on people from all over the world,” said Davis, who, as with many of her fellow residents, will be hosting as many as 20 riders in her home, with the possibility of overflow onto her lawn.

'We've got it covered from beginning to end,” with volunteers lined up to greet the riders on their way into town and to bid them farewell when they leave Saturday, en route to their journey's end in Guttenberg, Davis said.

Accommodating all the guests is a huge undertaking, according to Michelle McBride, director of the Independence Area Chamber of Commerce and a leader of the Indee RAGBRAI Executive Committee.

With riders joining the caravan as it nears its end, McBride said the ride's population typically peaks at the last overnight stop.

Riders will spend the night in private homes, on lawns and at seven designated campgrounds equipped with portable restrooms and showers, she said.

Just short of 190 portable restrooms will be scattered around the town, McBride said.

Riverwalk Parks - just a short walk up the Wapsipinicon River from downtown - will be the hub of activity, said Mike McGill, who heads the hospitality and publicity subcommittees.

Boogie Wonderland, a Minneapolis band, will headline the entertainment at the park on Friday evening.

McGill said committee members will communicate via two-way radio as a precaution in case the anticipated high volume of cellphone traffic disrupts service.

The beverage garden at the park alone has close to 350 volunteers working different shifts, McGill said.

Proceeds from beverage sales will be used provide grants to not-for-profit community organizations, McBride said.

Plenty of glow-in-the-dark souvenirs, along with brightly colored commemorative T-shirts, will highlight the event's theme, Glowing on the River, McGill said.

Metal signs with the Glowing on the River logo and old bicycles freshly painted in vivid purple, orange and neon green will decorate the route into and out of town while underscoring the 'glow” theme.

McGill said experience gained seven years ago when Independence hosted a RAGBRAI overnight stop has come in handy this year.

'Probably 50 percent of our committee members were involved in 2007,” he said.

'Everything is coming together and falling into place, but we can always use more volunteers,” said Executive Committee member Bill Versluis.

Volunteers can call the chamber at (319) 334-7178 to get an assignment.