Nearly 10,000 people from across the area, country, and world are ready for RAGBRAI.
The 43rd Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa begins Sunday, July 19th, 2015 in Sioux City. Cyclists will dip their back tires in the Missouri River before starting their nearly 500-mile trek across the state.
More than 30 charter buses then loaded everyone up and took off for Sioux City.
Mike Stone, from Bella Vista, Arkansas is taking his first RAGBRAI this year. He came to Iowa with other members of the Bella Vista Bike Club.
"I've never been to Iowa but once before," he said. "I've traveled all over the world but never to Iowa of all places, but we saw a lot of the corn yesterday so that's not what excites me as much as just seeing all the people."
"I hear you're going to meet a lot of crazy weird people like myself," Stone laughed. "We're really looking forward to that - just mixing in."
On Saturday, July 25th, 2015, cyclists will complete their journey in Davenport by dipping their front tires into the Mississippi River on Credit Island.