RAGBRAI week is here – 20,000+ bicyclists, support crew and others arriving in Charles City Thursday

By Bob Steenson,bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

After months of preparation, it all comes down to Thursday.

“Our group has put in hundreds of hours to plan our RAGBRAI overnight stay this week,” said Ginger Williams, the Charles City Area Chamber of Commerce marketing and tourism coordinator and “recording secretary” for the RAGBRAI Executive Committee.

“It has been a lot of hard work and a lot of hours, but we’ve also had some fun along the way and look forward to having it all come together,” she said. “I can’t wait to see those first few bikes come down the hill and across Main Street Bridge on Thursday morning!”

The title of recording secretary may be misleading when considering Williams’ responsibilities, which includes being the point of contact for RAGBRAI organizers and helping make sure everything fits together

This is her third time helping organize a community RAGBRAI response, “so have the emails, notes, files and past experience to jump in and assist or add input where needed,” she said.

Eight other volunteers have served as committee chairs, and the Executive Committee has been meeting since February, shortly after Charles City was announced as one of the communities that would host an overnight stop.

They are Cory Mutch, Ryan Venz, Brady Garden, Ann Benning, Lanie Sandvig, Drew Mitchell, Tom Bock and Trudy O’Donnell. Several of them – Mutch, Bock and O’Donnell – have also worked on previous RAGBRAI stops, and Mutch is a veteran RAGBRAI rider as well as community volunteer.

Many others have been involved working on the various committees over the past months, and scores of volunteers will be busy on Thursday making sure everything comes out as planned – or as close as possible when the community’s population swells to three or four times its usual size.

“I want all of our guests to realize what a great city we have,” said O’Donnell, who is also the city clerk and finance officer in addition to serving as treasurer for the RAGBRAI committee and overseeing the budget.

She said she hopes that is accomplished by providing top notch entertainment, as well as people simply lining the streets to welcome riders into town.

“On their way out of town Friday morning, I would love to have all of them saying Charles City was the best overnight stop on the route this year,” O’Donnell said. “It looks like the weather is going to cooperate, so that is always a huge relief.”

Mutch, who worked on publicity and creating maps and signage, said he is excited to give riders the experience that Charles City is known for along the RAGBRAI route.

“We are always a favorite overnight stay,” he said. He said he was also excited for the RAGBRAI debut of Viva Knievel, the headliner band Thursday night.

“Its going to be a great day of entertainment and hospitality in Charles City,” Mutch said, adding that there was a great group of organizers with previous RAGBRAI experience as well as new faces this year helping get everything ready.

Venz said the planning process has been eye-opening.

“It has been wonderful to see RAGBRAI from the inside out,” Venz said. “Looking back from day one to now, it is amazing how the whole process has unfolded to culminate to the big day on Thursday.”

Benning said even though Charles City has hosted RAGBRAI several times previously, it was good to have some new people fill leadership and committee roles.

“As a member of the Executive Committee I’ve fostered new friendships and strengthened relationships I already created in our community. I know I certainly gained a new perspective and a deeper appreciation for Charles City,” Benning said.

“I am looking forward to experiencing the sheer volume of people enjoying our town!” Benning said. “It’s been incredible to see people come together to support the organization of such a massive event.”