MUSCATINE, Iowa -- The 43rd annual Ragbrai ride kicks off Sunday, July 24, 2016, with thousands of bicyclists riding from border to border. The total length is 420 miles.
The route stays in the southern part of the state and is considered the third shortest route in Ragbrai history. It also by-passes the largest cities in the state.
On Saturday July 30th, 2016 thousands of riders will dip their bike tires in the water to celebrate their 2016 Ragbrai ride victory.
Bag by bag and bike by bike, thousands from all over the country are loading up their gear for next weeks ride.
Some riding as a team.
"Our team name is "finally" because we finally did it. We are finally here from Michigan," says a bike team of 4 women.
One man is riding to honor the the life of a friend.
"My buddy who got me into riding, we always said we were going to do this. Unfortunately he did pass away from stomach cancer. I just feel it's a great honor to do it for him since he couldn't do it," says one Massachusetts man.
Others are riding for a change.
In a time like this we need a lot of peaceful change and we will be biking for a change. Let's start changing the world and making it a better place," says one man from Wisconsin.
Many locals also showing Ragbrai riders how great Muscatine is.
"Having it come here and being part of the planning group to welcome the 15 thousand people who come to my community. It's a lot of fun and i'm excited to do it," says Janet Morrow from the Muscatine chamber.
The excitement grows for thousands of others each peddling towards their own personal journey.
The ride kicks off Sunday July 24, 2016 in Glenwood, Iowa and end in Muscatine, Iowa along the banks of the Mississippi on Saturday, July 30, 2016.