The Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, commonly known as RAGBRAI, starts in Sioux City this year.
“We are really stoked about the opportunity.”
President of Sioux City Cyclists Ron Begnoche, who along with members of his crew of cycling enthusiasts, joined organizers as they announced an important milestone at the Sioux City Art Center on St. Patrick’s Day.
“As you all know, this is the 50th anniversary of RAGBRAI. So, we chose to unveil the logo and at this location because the ride started just a few steps away from here.”
That is RAGBRAI Publicity Chair Anne Westra, who leads one of a dozen committees preparing for bunches of bicyclists.
“It draws people from across the country and even around the globe. This year, we expect numbers to be even larger with 17,000 registered riders today, and that number continues to grow. So, as we prepare for this big event, we'd like to share the Sioux City logo and theme for 2023.”
And, the slogan for Sioux City that will appear on t-shirts, signs, posters, and more? You Never Forget Your First Ride.
“To me as a RAGBRAI rider for many years, it was easy to go back to what's what do you remember, you always remember the first time you ride. And since we were the first host of the ride, we thought that was appropriate.
That’s Thomas Ritchie, who helped come up with the concept, visualized by graphic designer Jeff Gordon, who came up with Sioux City’s last logo in 2015.
“And basically, I tried to take a color palette from 50 years ago, what it might have looked like if it was a logo back in 1973.”
This will be the eighth time Sioux City hosted RAGBRAI, and officials say creating an unforgettable experience, will take many volunteers.
“It takes a village it truly does. And we appreciate the passion not only by the riders behind me but all of the community that is coming together to make this a really special 50th anniversary in Sioux City.”
RAGBRAI takes off from Sioux City on July 23rd and goes through overnight towns of Storm Lake, Carroll, Ames, Des Moines, Tama-Toledo, and Coralville, before ending in Davenport.
News release from the City of Sioux City:
Sioux City RAGBRAI Logo and Slogan Revealed
The official logo for Sioux City’s 50th anniversary of hosting the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) on July 21-22 was unveiled today in a city news conference. It will be featured on t-shirts, signage, posters, emails, broadcast and print media, and www.ragbraisiouxcity.com.
The logo image and slogan were selected by local residents on the RAGBRAI publicity committee, based on the history of the event which first started from Sioux City in August 1973. Sioux City graphic designer Jeff Gordon chose colors and symbols to convey the history of the 1970s.
Volunteers serving on more than a dozen other committees are working on the event and meeting regularly. More volunteers will be recruited later this spring when specific needs are defined.
Carroll, Ames, Des Moines, Tama-Toledo and Coralville
and More than 17,000 riders have registered to date and most of the metro's hotels are booked.
Chris Larsen Park and Riverside Park will serve as campgrounds for registered cyclists. Cook Park will be the location for unregistered riders.
The Tyson Events Center and Long Lines Family Rec Center parking lot will host the entertainment and bike expo area.
“Sioux City is excited for the 50th anniversary of RAGBRAI,” said Sioux City RAGBRAI Chair Matt Salvatore. “RAGBRAI can showcase Sioux City like no other event and create a powerful economic impact. Cyclists and their support teams from across the country and around the globe will flood Sioux City on Friday and Saturday to eat in our restaurants, stay in our hotels, shop, buy gas, and more.”
Sioux City has served as the starting point of RAGBRAI eight times (1973, 1978, 1988,
1993, 2001, 2010, 2015, 2023) in 50 years. Cyclists will leave Sioux City on Sunday, July 23 to stay overnight in Storm Lake, and end in Davenport on July 29.
RAGBRAI began when John Karras and Donald Kaul, two Des Moines Register reporters decided to bike across Iowa and invited others to join them. The initial count of 114 riders exploded over subsequent years making RAGBRAI a major summer event across the state of Iowa.
Find the latest information about RAGBRAI in Sioux City at www.ragbraisiouxcity.com and on social media at Facebook @siouxcityragbrai, Twitter @scragbrai, and Instagram @siouxcityragbrai.