Trail Events
Monthly thru September, starting May 5, 2012
Cyclists Of Greene hosting “Full Moon Rides” again
One of the most popular traditions on the Raccoon River Valley Trail, dating back to the trail’s start in 1989, are “Full Moon Rides.” Those are being offered again this warm-weather season by the Cyclists Of Greene bicycle club in Jefferson. On the optimal night of the full moons between early May and late September, cyclists gather at the designated time at the Jefferson Depot. Then they ride eight miles on the RRVT to Cooper in twilight. The rides are timed so that the return trip to Jefferson is in darkness under the full moon. Helmets and bicycle lights are required. The rides are free, and so are the goodies that COG members provide afterward at the Jefferson Depot, although you should take a turn in helping with treats if you become a regular. Here are the dates set for the Full Moon Rides, with the departure times for bike ride each of the evenings: May 5, Saturday, 7:15 p.m.; June 3, Sunday, 7:15 p.m.; July 3, Tuesday, 8 p.m.; August 4, Saturday, 8:30 p.m.; September 1, Saturday, 7 p.m.; September 29, Saturday, 6 p.m. If you have questions about the rides, you can call Jefferson Mayor Craig Berry, who is also president of the COG club, at (515) 370-1468; club member Chuck Offenburger at (515) 386-5488, or check the Cyclists Of Greene page on Facebook.
May 26, 2012
First “Iowa Bicycle Festival” is set in Jefferson
The Cyclists Of Greene bike club and the community of Jefferson are inviting riders of all abilities and interests to participate in the first-ever “Iowa Bicycle Festival” to be held around the courthouse square in Jefferson on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 26. It’s “A Celebration of the Bicycle and Those Who Ride Them,” with fun events happening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s a juried art show of bicycle art, a parade, a display of unusual bicycles and RAGBRAI team buses, there is a program of six seminars on varied bicycling-related topics, a bicycle apparel fashion show, vendors, competitions, escorted bicycle tours of the community and much, much more. For more information and frequent updates, click here.
June 9 and 10, 2012
4th annual “Tour the Raccoon” ride uses whole trail
The Des Moines Cycle Club and the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association are partnering again to coordinate the 4th annual “Tour the Raccoon” ride. Participants will ride Saturday from the Des Moines area to Jefferson, using the full length of the RRVT. The overnight stay will be in Jefferson during the 33rd annual Bell Tower Festival, with camping available at the RRVT Trailhead Campground, as well as options at local bed and breakfast operations and hotels. More details are available in the RRVT News on this Internet site, as well as at www.dmcycleclub.com, and online registration will be available on the Cycle Club’s website after May 1.
July 7, 2012
RRVT Association annual membership picnic, Redfield
The Raccoon River Valley Trail Association hosts a trailside picnic for all its members — they eat free — at the historic Redfield Depot on Saturday, July 7. Serving will be from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., with members of the RRVT Association board of directors doing the cooking and clean-up. Other trail users and the public are invited to join in the picnic fun, too, but they’ll have to pay $5 apiece. Watch this Internet site for more information as the date of the event nears.
July 14, 2012
“Tour d’ Greene” on part of trail from Jefferson
The Cyclists Of Greene bicycle club in Jefferson will host the third annual “Tour d’ Greene” ride on this Saturday that is a week before the start of RAGBRAI. The idea for the ride in Greene County is to host a ride which cyclists can use for final training before heading off to pedal across Iowa. The route is a loop of about 20 miles that will use the north end of the Raccoon River Valley Trail for part of its distance. Cyclists will also encounter some of Greene County’s hills during the ride — and don’t doubt that there are some! The ride will start and finish at the Jefferson Depot, where there will also be food and snacks. Registration fees and starting times will be set soon, so return here for updates. For additional details, y ou can call COG President Craig Berry at (515) 370-1468 and watch the Cyclists Of Greene page on Facebook.
July 22-28, 2012
RAGBRAI XL rolls across northern Iowa
The 40th edition of the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa starts in Sioux Center, rolls through northwest Iowa, then east central Iowa enroute to a finish in Clinton. For all the details, click here.
