RAGBRAI® informational meeting at Fairgrounds

Cresco - Are you excited that RAGBRAI® (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) is coming to Cresco on Thursday, July 27? Are you worried? Are you intrigued?

Well learn all about it at a special informational meeting on Wednesday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Featherlite Center on Howard County Fairgrounds.

There are about 18 committees that have been formed, and many of the chairmen of those committees attended a RAGBRAI® meeting in Des Moines last week. 

They learned RAGBRAI® is not the big bad wolf. In fact, all the towns and the resounding majority of the people who have hosted the riders in the past have had positive experiences.

Over the past 45 years, the ride has been tweaked, and each year the sponsors try to solve problems that arose the prior year.

Non-profit organizations and businesses alike stand to make some additional income during the overnight stay. Send some representatives to the meeting to learn more about having a booth.

Housing

Many homeowners in Cresco have probably already been asked about having a group stay overnight in their house or lawn. RAGBRAI® is asking not to commit until the registration opens on May 1. 

If property owners have already agreed to host a group, don’t worry. That is fine, but keep in mind each group should be registered with the housing committee in May in case there is an emergency during the ride.

Volunteers

One of the biggest worries for anyone in charge of an event is whether there will be enough volunteers.

Why not save some of the chairmen the headache of searching for helpers and sign up during the meeting on March 15? They will certainly appreciate it.

If you are a person who is pretty flexible, just give your name to the Cresco Area Chamber of Commerce. Staff can fix you up with something of interest to you.

Most of all, the RAGBRAI® experience should be fun. As several of the representatives from last year’s towns said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff!”