C.R. well-received

By T.J. Juskiewicz

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I would like to extend a sincere thanks to the good people of Cedar Rapids for helping make RAGBRAI a huge success this summer. You opened up your community and your hearts to welcome more than 20,000 riders and guests from around the world.

I visited Cedar Rapids every other week for the past six months to work with the local organizing committees that were formed as they prepared to host the oldest, longest and largest bicycle touring event in the world. My hat is off to those who stepped up to the challenge to showcase Cedar Rapids, including the hundreds of volunteers, residents and business owners who greeted RAGBRAIers with that world-famous Iowa hospitality.

I know people are quick to equate success with economic impact. There is no doubt in my mind that RAGBRAI brought a tremendous boost to a community that has not had the opportunity to host large international events like

RAGBRAI since the devastating flood. Seeing the lines outside of the downtown eating establishments on the evening of July 26 and lines snaking around the buildings of the bakeries in the Czech Village the next morning has an impact.

Our traveling staff stayed two nights at two separate hotels that were both sold out for months. Considering fewer than

5 percent of the RAGBRAI riders are from Cedar Rapids, there was an influx of out-of-town spending in the area that has not been seen for some time.

The real success of RAGBRAI will be measured by your visitors' opinion of Cedar Rapids and the exposure that the community garnered. The week started with a front-page article in the Wall Street Journal that highlighted RAGBRAI (July 20, “Movable Feast: This Cycling Tour Has Bikers on a Culinary Crusade”) and then continued to dominate the news for the rest of the week.

As I talked to riders that evening in Cedar Rapids, it was nice to hear the accolades for the community. People remarked about the vibrant and clean downtown and loved the setting for

RAGBRAI's 40th Celebration on the downtown bridges and May's Island. Riders enjoyed the shady campgrounds and recreation facilities in Ellis Park and Cherry Hill Park after a long day's ride and blistering heat.

“We especially want to thank you for our beautiful campsite location at Cherry Hill Park, right next to your wonderful aquatic center. Thursday's gorgeous ride with cool tail winds, plus that wonderful water park, had everybody in a good mood in Cedar Rapids!” Tammy Pavich of Council Bluffs told me. She also pointed out the great hospitality of Cedar Hills Community Church, which hosted a wedding of RAGBRAIers from her team. “We just loved their hayrack shuttle ride and the ladies sold out of pie by the slice in our camp!”

“Awesome gathering!” said Chris Brewer from Team LIVESTRONG from Austin, Texas. A large group of his team enjoyed the downtown event and Counting Crows concert with 15,000 guests. That evening we recognized one of Cedar Rapids' own, Rick Paulos, and the seven others who have participated in every RAGBRAI.

A group of early morning riders from nearby Coralville that had never visited the Czech Village or New Bohemia District praised the Friday morning experience and vowed to return. Lonnie Zingula from the CoeBRAI team in Cedar Rapids summed it up best: “I've witnessed the transformative effect RAGBRAI can have on a community and I was proud to share my hometown with cyclists from all over the world!”

Thank you Cedar Rapids for sharing your community!

T.J. Juskiewicz of Des Moines is RAGBRAI director. Comments: tj@ragbrai.org