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Temperatures were expected to soar as high as 103 degrees in Kansas. The National Weather Service showed every Midwestern state but North Dakota had heat warnings, including all of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Iowa was far from alone in its sweltering heat Thursday. “This is kind of what we’re used to,” Susan Booher said. The humidity that soaked riders Thursday morning reminded Susan and Brooks Booher of the clinging summer southern heat of their hometown, Bentonville, Arkansas. “That year was really, really bad,” Thies said.įor some riders, the heat had a familiar feel. Unlike Thursday, which had a degree of humidity, Iowa was in a severe drought that year and the heat was blast-furnace dry.

It's become the standard by which many veteran riders judge miserable RAGBRAIs. Aarron Wings, Bob Thies and Craig Gehring were on RAGBRAI in 2012 when the first four days saw temperatures of more than 100 degrees.

But Newton had little activity by noon ― a sign most riders had already pushed past the halfway point.īy mid-afternoon, the campground at Tama-Toledo was swarmed with riders ― a bit bedraggled but relieved to be past the week's biggest challenge. Meeting towns are usually busy at midday.

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“We got out early, we’re hydrating, we didn’t go to Lynyrd Skynyrd last night,” Martin said of the free show at Lauridsen Amphitheater Wednesday in Des Moines' Water Works Park, the RAGBRAI campground. ― they tried to hit every sprinkler available and take frequent breaks in shady spots. In addition to getting an early start ― they'd covered 21 miles to the pass-through town of Mitchellville by 7:10 a.m. Tom Martin and Mike Anich of Milwaukee were part of the crowd. Some had already set out by 4 a.m., and Des Moines police opened the route an hour early at 5 a.m.īy 5:30 a.m., Walnut Street downtown was an eastbound sea of blinking bike lights. 'And don’t be afraid to flip that bike upside down and we’ll come pick you up.” Riders get a head start on the heatĪnother strategy that thousands of riders followed was to get on the road early, before the heat could build to its late afternoon crescendo. 'And just please know your body, get out of the sun, take a rest in the shade and cool down before you start another long stretch,' he said. “My advice for people is just tons and tons and tons of water,' Phippen said. He echoed the recommendation many riders said they already were following. Previously: Roasting RAGBRAI riders sweep through downtown Des Moines for anniversary ride 'We’re past Wednesday, so people can see and feel the finish line now, which is carrying them through.” “Every rider that I have spoken to is in really good spirits,' he added. 1 concern, so with this heat, we are staying aware,” said RAGBRAI ride director Matt Phippen. But as we’ve said, rider safety is our No. From my perspective in Colfax right now, everything is moving well. “We are monitoring the ride and the flow closely. RAGBRAI was responding to rider concerns, with five SAG wagons circulating, two semitractor-trailer 'super SAGs' and up to four school buses. 'When there's a building, like in this little coffee shop, I just sit and enjoy the atmosphere and cool down a little bit, and then move on.' RAGBRAI ready to lend a hand, says ride director I stop when it's necessary and just find shade, relax,' she said. 'I've been drinking tons and tons of water. She said Thursday's heat was 'nothing' compared to Texas - but she was still taking it seriously. 'Very rough, very dirty, very challenging.'Įlisa Aiello of Dallas sat on the arm of a couch in the back of the cafe. Krystal Chambers and Larry Flaherty, an Iowan father-daughter duo, waited in line for the bygone chicken salad - but they were willing to settle for anything after a harrowing ride on a 2-mile section of gravel roads in Colfax. 'Heads up to the people on the other side of us: give ‘em bananas,' she warned. More: RAGBRAI daily preview, Day 6: Tama-Toledo to Coralville She said riders were also 'burning through' bananas ― popularly believed to be a good source of potassium, an important element in keeping body fluids in balance. Owner Gina Adams said she sold her first lunch special - a chicken salad croissant sandwich - at 6:30 Thursday morning. By 11:30, she was sold out. At Uncle Nancy's Coffeehouse and Eatery in the meeting town of Newton, riders streamed in looking for food and refuge from the sun.