The Old Guy Bicycle Blog

RAGBRAI: A Legendary Ride Across Iowa Every Cyclist Should Experience RAGBRAI (The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is more than just a ride—it's a rite of passage for cyclists around the world. Held every summer, this seven-day adventure takes riders across the state of Iowa, from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River , and offers an unforgettable experience rich with community, challenge, and camaraderie. 📅 This Year's Ride: July 22–29 The 2024 RAGBRAI route, shown in the image below, winds through a series of small towns and rural communities, offering cyclists a chance to immerse themselves in the heart and hospitality of Iowa . Alt text for route image: Map showing the 2024 RAGBRAI route across Iowa from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, with marked overnight towns. 🚴 Who Rides RAGBRAI? Each year, 10,000 to 20,000 cyclists take part, coming from all corners of the globe. Riders range from seasoned touring cyclists to fir...

In 2016, while touring by bicycle from Lubbock, Texas to Pensacola, Florida, I had the pleasure of riding one of the most enjoyable car-free stretches of my entire journey: The Tammany Trace in Louisiana. It’s not often that you get to pedal for miles without worrying about traffic, and this 31-mile trail—running from Covington to Slidell on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain—was just what I needed. I even stopped at a bayou where a game warden told me that a massive alligator was known to hang out along the bank behind me. Sadly, I didn’t see him—but the anticipation made that rest stop unforgettable. 🚲 Trail Overview The Tammany Trace is a rail-trail that follows a former railroad corridor built in the late 1800s. Converted into a paved, multi-use path in the 1990s, it now welcomes cyclists, runners, walkers, and nature lovers from all over the country. What makes the Trace truly special is its combination of nature, history, and small-town Southern charm . The trail me...