Iowa in June
04-25-13, 08:22 AM
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Iowa in June
My plan is to ride Iowa in June. Not sure if I will be doing a loop or just day rides from a campsite. I'd like to get my picture at The Field of Dreams, so that is a definite, but the rest is open. I have 6/15 - 6/23 scheduled. Any recommendations as far as must see, must do?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
04-25-13, 10:04 AM
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Up, down and around the Mississippi River Valley........Yellow River State Forest, Effigy Mounds, Pikes Peak SP, Guttenburg, Elkader, McGregor all come to mind
04-25-13, 11:01 AM
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All of it and be forewarned...IT AIN'T FLAT!!!
I haven't really toured in Iowa but have done a fair bit of riding in the Iowa City area, lots to see and do no matter where you are.
Aaron
I haven't really toured in Iowa but have done a fair bit of riding in the Iowa City area, lots to see and do no matter where you are.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
04-25-13, 12:35 PM
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The Field of Dreams is pretty neat. We were there early in the morning, and were the only people around. That made it especially nice as we had the place to ourselves and could roam all over the area.
We were riding US highway 20 through Iowa and took this short side trip. I'm not sure I'd call Hwy 20 fun, but it was certainly challenging with narrow or no shoulders on the road and a lot of small rolling hills that made it hard for trucks to pass . Neither Nebraska or Iowa are flat!
This is the sign at the field. I'd post some pictures, but you will just have to ride there to see it and take your own
Have fun it was worth it.
We were riding US highway 20 through Iowa and took this short side trip. I'm not sure I'd call Hwy 20 fun, but it was certainly challenging with narrow or no shoulders on the road and a lot of small rolling hills that made it hard for trucks to pass . Neither Nebraska or Iowa are flat!
This is the sign at the field. I'd post some pictures, but you will just have to ride there to see it and take your own
Have fun it was worth it.
04-25-13, 03:05 PM
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I cycled the Northern Tier route through there in late June last year and it was HOT! Very hilly too. Ditto Elkader--nice town. The Effigy Mounds, too. The roads aren't the greatest, but they're OK. The blackbirds were a little bothersome--dive-bombing little suckers.
04-25-13, 03:39 PM
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Trick to riding across Iowa is getting a IDOT Bicycling map ( Free ) and using the county roads most are very nice riding. Few years ago i rode Ragbrai self - supported and the last day was Dyerville to DebuQue, i stayed at a friends in Dyersville and rode north from there to Guttenburg then up the Miss. River Trail to Macgregor to my nieces house. It is a very nice ride along the river. Like people said, it is not flat, the climb leaving Guttenburg is steaper than mose mountain passes here in Colorado. There are 3 good climbs between Guttenburg and Macgregor. Traffic is very light. Pikes Peak S.P. is a nice place to camp. Weather will be mid 80's in June, the humidity is the tuff part. You get into July it is not fun riding if you can't handle humidity.
I rode Ragbrai last year and rode 2 days to the ride the the 7 days of the ride and the days all had a heat index between 105 and 115. There were alot of people unprepared for that heat. The SAGs were packed everyday. One advantage of going self-supported is finding a shade tree and napping in the heat of the day and riding in the evening the rest of the way.
That Northeast part of Iowa has the best scenery IMO. Hope this helps.
Marc
I rode Ragbrai last year and rode 2 days to the ride the the 7 days of the ride and the days all had a heat index between 105 and 115. There were alot of people unprepared for that heat. The SAGs were packed everyday. One advantage of going self-supported is finding a shade tree and napping in the heat of the day and riding in the evening the rest of the way.
That Northeast part of Iowa has the best scenery IMO. Hope this helps.
Marc
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