Indianola announces latest RAGBRAI® developments
Indianola, Iowa — May 7, 2009

As the Indianola RAGBRAI (The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) committee continues with plans for July 21—Indianola’s official overnight hosting of RAGBRAI 2009—subcommittees are busy lining up volunteers, hosting town meetings, distributing information, reviewing food vendor applications and adding more entertainment options.  

“Our community has really come together, working non-stop, to ensure that riders will enjoy their visit to our town,” said Amy Duncan, publicity chair for Indianola RAGBRAI. “We’ve covered a lot of ground, but there is still work to be done. Fortunately, we’re meeting the challenge head-on; this is going to be a fantastic event for Indianola, riders and guests,” added Duncan.  

Theme
Once “Sweet Home Indianola” was established as the official theme, Erin Stille Larsen from EDJE Technologies of Indianola went to work and designed a logo that encompasses three local prides: Simpson College, the Des Moines Metro Opera and the National Balloon Classic. Bids for T-shirts are currently being reviewed, and shirts will be available for purchase by May 21.

Town Meetings
Indianola RAGBRAI is committed to keeping the community up-to-date and informed. The next Town Meeting is Thursday, May 21, 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. In addition, interested people may attend the main organizing committee meetings held every other Tuesday at a variety of locations around town. For more information, contact Amy Duncan at akduncan@me.com.

Vendor Meeting
A vendor meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19 from 5-7 p.m. (location TBA). Vendor applications, due June 1, are available on the website at www.indianolaragbrai.com.

Campsites
Buxton Park, situated adjacent to Simpson College and just a few blocks from the town square, is the main campsite for RAGBRAI riders. RV parking/camping will be located at Indianola High School. Information regarding transportation and additional campsites will be announced via town meetings and website updates.

Volunteer training
Volunteer training dates are Tuesday, July 14 at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 18 at 10 a.m. (location TBA). Volunteers only need to attend one meeting.

More bands to join the entertainment
Caitlin Nicol-Thomas and the Sonny Humbucker Band have local ties to Indianola, and both will join the entertainment scene for Indianola RAGBRAI. Caitlin Nicol-Thomas is an original singer/songwriter/violinist with a fresh writing style rooted in the values of the Midwest. Her alternative, folksy blues sound is accented by her refreshing vocal style that is both strong and achingly vulnerable. The Sonny Humbucker Band, which includes three Simpson College faculty members, plays a variety of music, such as “British Invasion”, alternative, country, blues, classic rock and modern rock.

• 4:00pm - 5:45pm Sonny Humbucker Band
• 6:00pm - 6:45pm Cailtin Nichol Thomas Band
• 6:45pm - 7:10pm Opening Ceremony/Flyover
• 7:10pm - 8:00pm Cailtin Nichol Thomas Band
• 8:00pm - 8:25pm Miller Lite DJ
• 8:25pm - 8:30pm Introduce Johnny Holm Band
• 8:30pm - Midnite Johnny Holm Band

About RAGBRAI and Indianola
On July 21, 2009, Indianola will host an overnight stay for the 37th annual RAGBRAI event. RAGBRAI is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state and is the longest, largest and oldest touring bicycle ride in the world. Among the many interesting people RAGBRAI attracted during the first ride back in 1973 was Clarence Pickard of Indianola. This 83-year-old gentleman, who hadn't ridden a bicycle much in the years before, showed up for that first ride with a used ladies' Schwinn. He rode all the way to Davenport, which included a typical Iowa summer day of 100-degree-plus temperatures from Des Moines to Williamsburg, all told a 110- mile trek. Pickard's attire for the ride was a long-sleeved shirt, trousers, woolen long underwear and a silver pith helmet. Articles from Des Moines Register columnists, Kaul and Karras, about Pickard and other points of interest along the way, were responsible for the growth of the ride.

Mr. Pickard passed away in the winter of 1982. Although he had only ridden in one complete RAGBRAI the first year of the ride and just one day the following year, he became a legend. The 1983 event, RAGBRAI XI, was named the “Clarence Pickard Memorial Ride” in his memory, and the commemorative patch the Register designed that year was similar to the shape of the helmet he wore. Indianola's Pickard Park is named after this famous rider.

RAGBRAI is number seven on a list of 50 Best American Adventures by National Geographic magazine.  

Indianola Route, Headline Band Announced, Simpson to be Main Campground 
Indianola, Iowa — April 2, 2009

The Indianola RAGBRAI (The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) committee announces the finalization of the riders’ route through Indianola on July 21st as an official overnight town of RAGBRAI 2009.

According to RAGBRAI public safety committee chairman, Rob Hawkins, many factors are considered by local law enforcement agencies who make the final decision. “Safety and traffic flow are the two primary concerns of a RAGBRAI route,” said Hawkins who is also an Indianola police officer. “Iowa Highway 92 and U.S. Highway 65/69 have entirely too much traffic during the eight hours riders will be entering Indianola to even be considered as possible routes,” he said.

“We’re very pleased we can showcase a lot of the great new developments in our growing community on the west side of town such as our newest school, Wilder Elementary, as riders head in for the evening,” said Jill Johnson, executive committee member for Indianola RAGBRAI.

• The route
  Although minor changes may still be made, the proposed Indianola RAGBRAI route will have riders heading south on R63 Highway, turning east on Inwood Street to 110th Avenue to West Euclid Avenue to North G Street. They will continue south on North G Street to West Ashland Avenue. They then will turn east on Ashland and follow Ashland to the Indianola High School.
  
• The campsite
  Buxton Park, situated adjacent to Simpson College and just a few blocks from the town square, is the main campsite for RAGBRAI riders. The beautiful city-owned park features a gazebo, large flower gardens and dozens of trees. It is bordered by Buxton, Girard, and C streets. Simpson’s 75-acre campus is both south and west of the park and will have much of its space available for camping, including large athletic practice fields.
  
  “The community is off to a great start in its planning for RAGBRAI, and I’m pleased the college can play a part in that planning,” said John Fuller, Simpson’s representative for RAGBRAI and executive committee member.
  
• Headliner Johnny Holm
  The Indianola RAGBRAI committee also announced the selection of the Johnny Holm Band as the headline entertainment for the July 21 evening festivities. This high energy, Minneapolis-based six-person rock band will play on Indianola’s town square from 8:30 p.m. – midnight.

Indianola to host an overnight stay for RAGBRAI XXXVll

On July 21st Indianola will host an overnight stay for the 37th annual RAGBRAI event. This has been a long time coming as one of the most famous RAGBRAI riders is Indianola's own Clarence Pickard. The first great six-day bicycle ride across Iowa was held in 1973. Among the many interesting people the ride attracted was Clarence Pickard of Indianola. This 83-year-old gentleman, who hadn't ridden a bicycle much in the years before, showed up for that first ride with a used ladies' Schwinn. He rode all the way to Davenport, which included a 100 degree plus day from Des Moines to Williamsburg, a 110- mile trek. Pickard's attire for the ride was a long-sleeved shirt, trousers, woolen long underwear and a silver pith helmet. Articles from Des Moines Register columnist's, Kaul and Karras, about Pickard and other points of interest along the way were responsible for the growth of the ride. Mr. Pickard passed away in the winter of 1982. Although he had only ridden in one complete RAGBRAI the first year of the ride and on just one day the following year, he had become a legend. The 1983 event, RAGBRAI XI, was named the “Clarence Pickard Memorial Ride” in his memory, and the commemorative patch the Register designed that year was similar to the shape of the helmet he wore. Indianola's Pickard Park is named after this legendary rider.