The Cedar Falls community will get a chance to showcase its hospitality this summer when thousands of bike enthusiasts converge here on July 24, during the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®).
This year’s annual ride, now in its 52 iteration, will kick off on July 19, from Orange City, and the route will take riders to Milford, Estherville, Forest City, Iowa Falls, Cedar Falls, Oelwein and Guttenberg for overnight stops.
The mission of the 2025 ride: 406 miles; 10,487 feet elevation; seven days. City leaders, Cedar Falls Tourism and Cedar Falls Main Street officials celebrated the announcement on Jan. 25 with a commemorative picture of the Cedar Falls RAGBRAI Committee.
This will be the fifth time that RAGBRAI riders will overnight in town.
Cedar Falls has grown significantly since 2015, when it last hosted the popular event overnight.
Plans are in the works for July 24, which will also be an opportunity to share the trails, the downtown commercial district and the attractions and amenities the town offers for the riders.
The committee announced that the entertainment will be in the Downtown District.
As before, Cedar Falls hosts are expected to open their homes and lawns for the riders who, for many, soon become extended family members rather than random strangers. Those interested in hosting should contact the Cedar Falls RAGBRAI committee.
“We are thrilled to welcome cyclists from across Iowa and across the globe to Cedar Falls this summer,” Cedar Falls Mayor Danny Laudick said in a press release. “You don’t have to look very hard to see our community’s history and love for cycling and hosting RAGBRAI this year is a great opportunity for us to show that love. It is also a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase downtown, our beautiful trail network, and everything that makes Cedar Falls an incredible city for outdoor recreation.”
Team Flamingos to ride
Cedar Falls resident Leigh Zeitz, a member of Team Flamingo, said this will be his 19th ride as a member of the team.
This ride is especially meaningful for the retired UNI professor because he plans to ride the whole route after surviving two cases of cancer and seven weeks of radiation. He will be 72 during the ride.
On Saturday evening, Jan. 25, Leigh, aka “Z Bird,” gathered 10 members of the team in his living room so they all could hear the announcement from RAGBRAI officials together. Among the team members was Mike Knapp, a retired educator, who founded Team Flamingo 36 years ago, aka “Big Bird.”
The group cheered when they saw footage of Mike riding in the announcement reel.
“We are all great friends,” Leigh said. “The best part is that it is coming through Cedar Falls. That means I get to sleep in my own bed that night.”