A world-record ride? RAGBRAI leaders want Ames to Des Moines to be biggest

RECORD PARTY. RIGHT NOW IT’S SO COLD, ONLY THE MOST HARDCORE RIDERS ARE HITTING THE TRAILS. BUT THOUSANDS ARE PLANNING THEIR TRIP THROUGH RAGBRAI, ESPECIALLY WITH THE STOP RIGHT HERE IN DES MOINES. COULD IT BE A WORLD RECORD? WE’RE GOING TO TRY TO ATTACK OUR GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS. YOU KNOW, I WENT ON RECORD SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING RAGBRAI. RIDE DIRECTOR MATT PHIPPEN ESTIMATES 100,000 RIDERS COULD MAKE THE DAY FOR TREK FROM AMES TO DES MOINES, 50 MILES, TIRED OF TIRE SHATTER RING, THE CURRENT BICYCLE PARADE WORLD RECORD. 48,615. I HAVEN’T MISSED A DAY IN 852 DAYS. ONE OF THEM WILL BE JERRY DUBOIS. WE’RE TIGHTENING UP THE HEADSET OWNER OF THIS BIKE SHOP IN VALLEY JUNCTION. WE’LL TAKE A GROUP UP AND IT’LL BE A BLAST. 50 MILES IS SIGNIFICANT, TOO. I MEAN, IT’S NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT. YEAH, IT’LL BE. IT’LL BE WONDERFUL. GOOD FOR BUSINESS, TOO. WHERE DO YOU PUT THAT MANY PEOPLE? THAT’S ALL KIND OF UP IN THE AIR. RIGHT NOW, WE’RE KIND OF LOOKING AT THE WATERWORKS PARK AREA. WE JUST NEED A BIG FOOTPRINT. RAGBRAI LEADERS HAVE ALREADY SCOPED OUT WATERWORKS WHERE RIDERS STAYED IN 2013. AS FOR AROUND, IF I HAD TO GUESS, I WOULD GUESS HIGHWAY 69 IS. THAT’D BE A GREAT ROUTE, WOULDN’T IT? THAT IS ALSO STILL IN THE WORKS. WHAT ISN’T, THOUGH? THE BUSINESS BOOST THIS BIKE RIDE WILL BRING. THIS CITY IS EXPECTING ABOUT A $12 MILLION BUMP. SO THAT’S THAT’S HUGE. SO IT’S LODGING, IT’S GOING TO RESTAURANTS. IT’S SHOPPING IN THE EAST VILLAGE. UNTIL THEN, THE PREPARATION SESSION IS UNDERWAY BEFORE THE GREAT BIKE RIGHT ACROSS IOWA CAN COME RIGHT THROUGH ITS CAPITAL CITY. GOOD TO GO IN. DES MOINES, JAMES STRATT

Could it be a world record? The 50th anniversary ride is expected to be RAGBRAI's biggest, but one particular day with a planned route of Ames to Des Moines could be the largest bicycle parade ever. The current record is 48,615 set in Italy on July 11, 2000. RAGBRAI ride director Matt Phippen estimates 100,000 could ride the 50-mile route from Ames to Des Moines. "I went on record saying, 'you know, there's gonna be a lot of people coming,'" Phippen said. "I feel like if we have any weather like we had last year, with tailwinds and 70 degrees, everybody will come to ride. We saw so many families that just punched in last year and did short distances. I think the roads will be flooded that day. We're looking at, you know, bigger roads with the DOT, but it's going to be an epic day."An exact route is still being discussed, along with a place to put thousands of people camping. RAGBRAI has already visited Water Works Park, where riders camped the last time the ride came through Des Moines. Though, no announcement for 2023 has been made. "We just need a big footprint," Phippen said. Des Moines Council Person at-Large Carl Voss says the city estimates a $12 million impact."That's huge, that's lodging; it's going to restaurants and shopping in the East Village," Voss said, pointing out the impact of the ride for businesses across Des Moines. Voss rode the first RAGBRAI route from Ames to Des Moines, working for the Des Moines Register in 1973. He's already registered for 2023."There will be a lot of challenges there to weave people through the city," Voss said, adding that some riders will be in Des Moines as early as 10 a.m. wanting to explore."I think you're going to see a lot of bikes on the road this year," Phippen added.This year's ride will take place from July 22 to July 29. Watch: RAGBRAI route 2023

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Could it be a world record?

The 50th anniversary ride is expected to be RAGBRAI's biggest, but one particular day with a planned route of Ames to Des Moines could be the largest bicycle parade ever. The current record is 48,615 . RAGBRAI ride director Matt Phippen estimates 100,000 could ride the 50-mile route from Ames to Des Moines.

"I went on record saying, 'you know, there's gonna be a lot of people coming,'" Phippen said. "I feel like if we have any weather like we had last year, with tailwinds and 70 degrees, everybody will come to ride. We saw so many families that just punched in last year and did short distances. I think the roads will be flooded that day. We're looking at, you know, bigger roads with the DOT, but it's going to be an epic day."

An exact route is still being discussed, along with a place to put thousands of people camping. RAGBRAI has already visited Water Works Park, where riders camped the last time the ride came through Des Moines. Though, no announcement for 2023 has been made.

"We just need a big footprint," Phippen said.

Des Moines Council Person at-Large Carl Voss says the city estimates a $12 million impact.

"That's huge, that's lodging; it's going to restaurants and shopping in the East Village," Voss said, pointing out the impact of the ride for businesses across Des Moines.

Voss rode the first RAGBRAI route from Ames to Des Moines, working for the Des Moines Register in 1973. He's already registered for 2023.

"There will be a lot of challenges there to weave people through the city," Voss said, adding that some riders will be in Des Moines as early as 10 a.m. wanting to explore.

"I think you're going to see a lot of bikes on the road this year," Phippen added.

will take place from July 22 to July 29.

Watch: RAGBRAI route 2023

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