86.1 miles, 1564 ft of climb

Iowa Map - Carroll to Ames routeIowa map closeup with Carroll to Ames route

Me looking down with tents around and the rising sun behind my head.
Packing up at Carroll High School. On past long hall trips the camp stuff would go on the bike. It didn’t take to long to enjoy having the car.
A couple on a tandem bike riding past two late 19th century one story storefronts
Glidden (pop 1151) There were a lot more tandems than I expected.
An atypical truly updated building
Me in an action selfie with another bike rider to my right and a tree lined street.
So excited by the sight of trees, an action shot was a must. Rare photographic evidence of me giving the official RAGBRAI jersey a go. The theme day asked people to wear this year’s so I played along. Broiling like a sausage I couldn’t wait to take it off at the lunch break.
Jefferson (pop 4182) Town Square, south side
Jefferson Town Square, north side
Many cyclists riding past a Classical Revival cout house and a Mid-century Modern clock tower.
Greene County courthouse and the Mahany Tower (1966)
A tour bike leaned against a fantiastical themed mural with a boy on a hill with arms outstretched.
“Imagination Alley” detail by Kelsey Wilson
Me giving a double thumbs up with vehicles and a grain elevator behind.
Rippey (pop 220). This man is happy to have changed his shirt!
Me with a grain elevator behind that straddles the road.
Leaving Rippey. The red flag is a support vehicle for one of the many “teams” that ride the event.
Cyclists on a state highway with clean metal grain elevators to the left.
Luther (pop 152). When checking the population on Wikipedia it said that 58 townsfolk signed a petition to discontinue the town in 2014, but it didn’t take.
A string of cyclists on a state road with cornfields and a blue slightly cloudy sky.
Last rest stop before the push to Ames. Here I commiserated about the head wind with a fellow rider.
Ames arrival. Inside Jack Trice Stadium at Iowa State University
Me with many cyclists walking their bikes through a grass patch inside Jack Trice football stadium.
For my 20 years in Chicago I’ve wanted to scoot over here to see my University of Oklahoma play. With OU’s 2024 move to the SEC they will no longer play each other. You had ten chances, Casteel! Cue the sad trombone…

Day 1 – Sioux City to Storm Lake (72.2 miles, 3592 ft of climb)

Day 2 – Storm Lake to Carroll (57.3 miles, 1778 ft of climb)

Day 4 – Ames to Des Moines (54.5 miles, 1242 ft of climb)

Day 5 – Des Moines to Tama-Toledo (88.9 miles, 4218 ft of climb)

Day 6 – Tama-Toledo to Coralville (80.6 miles, 2881 ft of climb)

Day 7 – Coralville to Davenport (71.2 miles, 1892 ft of climb)

Contact CBA for custom guided rides through Chicago’s neighborhoods and for gift certificates for the cyclists in your life. Also, have a look at The Map, where you can plan your own ride, run, or walk around Chicago.

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