RAGBRAI politics: Bruce Braley to ride Friday

Even in the quietest year of Iowa’s political quadrennium, it’s probably unavoidable that RAGBRAI riders are going to end up rubbing handlebars with candidates looking for votes. Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley – who’s looking for a promotion to the U.S. Senate next...

Riders get sneak peek at butter cow

RAGBRAI riders got a sneak peek Wednesday of butter sculptures that will be unveiled next month during the Iowa State Fair. Some of the cyclists who peddled through the fairgrounds in Des Moines stopped at the Agriculture Building to watch artist Sarah Pratt work her...

Waterworks park a ghost town

Thousands of riders camped here last night, but by 11 a.m., Des Moines Waterworks Park was a ghost town. Only one tent was still pitched, with a couple of bikes strewn on the grass in front of it. All was still; there were no signs that its occupants would be waking...

Hill draws concern but no issues arise

Authorities in Des Moines were so worried about a steep downhill on the route just past the Iowa State Fairgrounds they stationed two ambulances at the bottom. But as the last groups of riders sped down the hill paramedics said they had seen no accidents thus far...