Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa 2006 Announced

The Des Moines Register's 34th Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa ( RAGBRAI ) isn't until July, but January is when the route is announced, and registration hits full stride.

Days, hours, minutes and seconds can't tick down quickly enough for some local bicyclists as the starting date for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa looms.

Regularly announced in January, finding out the route for the seven-day trip from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River is like a holiday to some riders.

"This is a post-Christmas gift, seeing what the route is going to be. I wait for it like a little kid," Steve Poggenpohl said.

Scheduled July 23 to July 29, Coralville is slated as the final overnight town -- the location where about 10,000 cyclists plus support teams will camp.

444  miles? WOW!

Full Story:

IOWA CITY PRESS-CITIZEN ( 1/30 ): RAGBRAI excites local bicycling enthusiasts by Brian Morelli.

DEADLINE -- April 1: Register for the RAGBRAI lottery here.

History of the previous rides.