From a tour of Jack Trice Stadium to several live music offerings, Ames is ready for RAGBRAI
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A ride through Jack Trice Stadium and across the new pedestrian bridge awaits thousands of RAGBRAI cyclists Tuesday in Ames.
The town is an overnight stop for the 50th anniversary of the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
Day 3 of the ride will take riders from Carroll to Ames, an 86.1-mile ride with 1,564 feet of climb.
The route passes through Glidden, Jefferson, Rippey and Luther before arriving in Ames.
The optional Karras Loop between Rippey and Luther allows RABGRAI’ers to make Tuesday a Century Loop Day, with the potential to rack up more than 100 miles.
What is the RAGBRAI route in Ames?
The RAGBRAI route has riders entering Ames on South Dakota Avenue, heading north. Cyclists will turn right on Mortensen Road and head east to Beach Avenue. A left turn onto Beach will take riders north toward Jack Trice Stadium, where cyclists pedal through the football stadium concourse, exiting across the East Gateway Pedestrian Bridge.
There, near the new tailgating lots, riders will be greeted by a welcome rally along with an information center and a variety of food vendors.
The information booth is a great place to purchase beer garden tickets, which are required to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Story County Public Health will also be on hand to provide free sunscreen.
Live Hydration Spa of Ames will offer advanced restoration hydration with showers also available from Thunder Showers and Brancel Charters showers, which will be housed in the welcome area.
The Jack Trice loop and welcome rally ends at 6 p.m., though the information area remains open until 8 p.m.
After departing Jack Trice, riders will make their way to the different campgrounds scattered throughout town. The entertainment district, highlighted by Hairball's evening performance, is located downtown.
What are the beer tent hours for RAGBRAI in Ames?
The Ames beer tents will open at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday and close at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the area information booths.
What roads will be closed in Ames and Story County?
The Story County Emergency Management Agency recommends vehicle traffic seek alternative routes in Ames and Slater early next week.
From 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, northbound traffic on 510th will be detoured east at 280th Street (County Road E57 at the Kelley corner), directing drivers through Kelley to Highway 69 to head north.
“This is for the safety of the riders crossing 510th Street from 270th Street northbound into Ames," Emergency Management said in a release.
The westbound Highway 30 offramp to South Dakota Avenue will be closed to accommodate bicycle traffic as well.
South Dakota Avenue will be closed at Mortensen Avenue when cyclists arrive and depart. Possible alternatives may include Lincolnway to Duff Avenue or westbound to the Napier exit to go eastbound to Interstate 35.
Story County Emergency Management suggests avoiding 510th Avenue (County Road R38) and Highway 210, as cyclists will likely take up both lanes of 510th Avenue as they head for Slater Wednesday morning.
Cars that attempt to cross from the westbound side of 510th will have significant wait times, Story County Emergency Management said in a news release.
Motorists are encouraged to use Highway 69 rather than 510th during RAGBRAI's two-day stay.
On Wednesday, riders will begin rolling out of Ames at 6 a.m., traveling on 510th south to Slater.
Northbound traffic lanes will be open to local traffic only, with traffic detoured at 280th Street through Kelley to Highway 69.
“Due to the large number of cyclists, the southbound lanes will be impassable and crossing 510th Avenue will be extremely difficult and hazardous to cyclists," local Emergency Management said in its release. "Additionally, both the westbound and eastbound off ramps from Highway 30 to South Dakota will be closed until noon,”
In Slater, the Iowa Department of Transportation will close Highway 210 just west of 510th Avenue. RAGBRAI will depart the Slater area by noon on Wednesday, and 510th and Highway 210 will be passable by then.
Highway 17 in Boone County is also a path for RAGBRAI riders when they leave Madrid on Wednesday and the route is not recommended for travel to Des Moines.
RAGBRAI Camping in Ames
Several campgrounds will dot the Ames landscape Tuesday night. The main campground is located at Brookside Park, while additional overflow campgrounds will be stationed at the Ames Middle School, Stuart Smith Park East along 4th Street and across from Jack Trice, North River Valley Park and at Ag Leader. Assigned charter campgrounds will be located at the Haunted Forest location, Towers rec fields, Towers south fields, the ISU Research park, ISU Field behind Lied Rec Center and Stuart Smith Park West.
Where can support vehicles park?
Parking for registered RAGBRAI support vehicles are located in lots G2, G4, and G8 south of Jack Trice Stadium. Short-term and mid-term parking for riders starting or ending their ride in Ames will be located at North Grand Mall. For Wednesday day riders, park in lot B1 and C1 north of Hilton and Scheman.
Where can riders go for a shower?
Showers are located in lot G10, Brookside Park (main campground), Towers North (Pork Belly) – $8 for shower; $1 for towel, Lied Rec Center – $10 (includes towel), State Gym – $10 (includes towel), Brancel Charters (Haunted Forest Campground) – $8 for shower; $2 for towel, and Furman Aquatic Center.
Ames plans to offer plenty of live music entertainment
The RAGBRAI concert series for Ames features two stages in downtown Ames. The Main Stage will be located on Main Street near Douglas Avenue, and the First National Bank Stage will be at Burnett Avenue and Main Street.
Danny Grause — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Main Stage
Great Caesar’s Goat — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., First National Bank Stage
Stranger Than Fiction — 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Main Stage
Foxpin — 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., First National Bank Stage
Burnin’ Sensations — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Main Stage
Buckmiller/Schwager Band — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., First National Bank Stage
Hairball — 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Main Stage
The Cherrypickers — 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., First National Bank Stage
Additional Entertainment
Cornbred BBQ in downtown Ames will host live music from 7-10 p.m. alongside their usual BBQ offerings. Ames string band Alleygrass will headline the outside patio set.
Alluvial Brewing on the north side of town will also offer live music, with R&B and funk band One Less Guest taking the stage at 7 p.m. Stick Fingers Food Truck will be stationed outside the brewery as well from 4-9 p.m.
Damon Dotson will perform from 3-6 p.m. in the Daytime Diner parking lot, located off of Dotson Drive near Lincoln Way. Daytime Diner will serve up specialty drinks and in addition to food and games.
How to get to and from downtown activities
A free shuttle service to and from downtown Ames will be offered throughout the day, with three routes (Cardinal, silver and Gold) available for riders. Passengers will be picked up and dropped off on the south side of the community center adjacent to the city hall. The gold route will travel east and west on Lincoln Way, with stops near Hilton Coliseum and the Tower Rec Fields. The silver route will stop near the ISU research park and at city hall. The cardinal route will traverse much of S. Grand Avenue and the area surrounding Jack Trice Stadium, with a pair of stops on both the north and south of the grass tailgating lots near S. 4th Street and S. 16th Street.
How can you volunteer to help with RAGBRAI in Ames?
Discover Ames needs volunteers to help make the overnight RAGBRAI stop a success. With various positions available, whether you’re looking to volunteer for a few hours, a full day or an evening, you can find something that suits your schedule. Volunteers must be at least 18 for certain positions; children under 15 are welcome to volunteer with an adult. Registration can be done at discoverames.com.
How can you host a rider or group of riders?
Do you have yard space for a tent or RV? Do you have an extra bed or even floor space? Discover Ames has a place on its website to find riders who are a good fit for you to host. Residents can filter through teams based on group types and accommodations available to connect with a rider or team. “Hosting a rider not only gives registered RAGBRAI riders a great space to sleep, but gives you the opportunity to create memories and connections that last for a lifetime,” Discover Ames stated. Find the link at discoverames.com/listing.
Do you want to join ride from Ames to Des Moines?
For those wanting to hop on the Day 4 route from Ames to Des Moines, a day pass can be purchased at any RAGBRAI information booth.
Wednesday's route will begin at University Avenue and Mortensen Road.
Discover Ames recommends day riders be dropped off in the Ames Sam’s Club parking lot at 305 Airport Road. The bike trail is easily accessed on the north side of Airport Road. Riders can follow the trail west to University Boulevard, then north to Mortensen.
Where to find food vendors during Ames RAGBRAI
Several food vendors will be located along Main Street, where majority of the RAGBRAI festivities will be.
Main Street food vendors
BBQ, burgers, sandwiches
Amos Deans Catering
Americana Concessions
Montana Mike’s Steakhouse
Market Grill
Macubana
Mucky Duck Pub (also fish & chips)
Pizza
Pizza Hut
Brick & Ember Pizza
Chad’s Pizza
Mexican
Hungry Boys
Carlos Quesadillas
Chinese & sushi
Pacific Rim Noodles
Hy Chi
Mediterranean, Greek
Karam’s Grill
Renear
Global fusion
Bearded Jackal Street Food
Ice Cream, sweet treats
Whip Delight
E & E Confections
The Cookie Dough’tique
Huey’s Mini Donuts (also slushies)
Coffee
Caribbean Coffee
Unimpaired Dry Bar (also energy drinks)
Welcome Rally vendors
These will be located on the east side of the pedestrian bridge and further south to provide food and drink to arriving cyclists as well as those camping in the nearby grass lots.
American, BBQ
Wahlburger’s
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Big Foots BBQ
Double M Concessions
Mexican
Es Tas
Pizza
Bernatello’s Pizza
Sweet Treats
Kona Ice
Brookside vendors
A few vendors will be near the main tent campground at Brookside Park. These vendors include:
Piece & Freedom Bakery
Brightside Food Truck
Papa John’s Pizza
Ames Fitness camping area vendors
South of Jack Trice, this assigned/charter campground will have limited select vendors, including Thirsty Pig.
Ronna Faaborg is a reporter for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: RAGBRAI stops in Ames Tuesday. Here's what you need to know.
