ONABIKE XIX, Onawa’s 20th annual Great Bike Ride through the Loess Hills, is slated for Saturday, August 25th. ONABIKE is billed as NW Iowa’s largest 1-day bike ride. The event draws nearly 400 registered riders, ranging from first time riders and youngsters to racers and teams from all over the Midwest.
ONABIKE has served as an introduction to the sport for countless riders who have started with the shorter ride and enjoyed the exercise and Ragbrai-like atmosphere, graduating on to become accomplished riders.
Registration starts at 8:00 A.M. at the Onawa Public Library with the ride officially starting at 9:00 A.M. with a police escort through town.
There are two routes to choose from: a 29-mile ride that is basically flat, and leaves Onawa and travels south along the base of the Loess Hills before returning to town. The 63-mile route heads east from Turin to Soldier, Moorhead, Pisgah, Little Sioux, Blencoe, and back to Onawa. There will be approximately 9 miles of hilly roads to ride up (and down) on the long route.
Both routes are supported with a sag vehicle and refreshments are available at each town as well as one additional stop on the shorter ride.
Registration is $20 for the ride, the limited-edition T-shirt, and a meal at Suds N Jugs provided by the Onawa Chamber of Commerce at the end of the ride. Registration forms are available at the Onawa Chamber of Commerce, 707 Iowa Ave, Onawa, IA 51040, by calling 712-423-1801, or online at onabike@onawa.com or http://www.onawachamber.com. The registration fee of $25 will be charged to those registering after August 8, 2012.
Plan now to attend for a day you’ll remember all year long.
