Riders young and old enjoy Charles City Bike Ride

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

An estimated 27 bicyclists gathered in the First Security Bank parking lot in Charles City on Saturday morning and took off from there for the annual Charles City Bike Ride.

The journey rolled over the scenic back roads of Floyd and Chickasaw counties. The destination was up to each of them.

They could bike to Nashua and back for a 26-mile ride, through Nashua to Ionia and back for a 34-mile ride, or they could trek through Ionia and all the way to New Hampton and back, for a 52-mile ride.

Each biker travelled at his or her own pace. Riders came from as far as Rochester to participate, and the age range of the bikers participating spanned 55 years, from 22 to 77.

Leah Swartzrock was taking one of the shorter routes on Saturday, rather than trek the 50+ miles. Though she was younger than other riders, she said she hasn’t had the chance to get into bicycling shape yet this year.

“This is actually one of my first rides of the summer, so I’m struggling a little bit more than some of the rest of them,” she said at one of the ride’s stops in Ionia, where bikers were treated to cookies and Gatorade. “It’s been a great morning. I’m glad to get back on the bike.”

Swartzrock, from Charles City, said this was the first year she’s done the Charles City ride, although she has ridden in RAGBRAI and elsewhere.

“My dad is a really big biker. He’s done RAGBRAI every year, and he kind of recruited us kids,” she said. “He always encourages us to keep riding.”

Swartzrock was riding Saturday with her brother, Ben.

Rider Bob Krueger said he’s been participating in the Charles City ride for quite some time.

“It started back the mid-80s, and I think I’ve ridden in most of them, probably,” he said. Krueger said riders get together with friends on a weekend, and there’s usually a ride somewhere in Iowa every weekend, until RAGBRAI happens.

“Every ride, you meet people,” he said. “Sometimes you meet people you haven’t seen for a year.”

Krueger, who said he has participated in RAGBRAI at least 20 times, planned on taking the 52-mile route to New Hampton and back, and raved about the weather Saturday, which he said was perfect for biking.

“It doesn’t get any better than today,” Krueger said.

A portion of the money raised by the Charles City Bike Ride will be donated to the Charley Western Trail.