More than 10,000 cyclists will descend on Central’s campus Thursday, July 25as they pass through Pella for RAGBRAI, the Des Moines Register’s Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
Riders will pass along the south side of Central’s campus on University Street before turning north, getting a view of Jordan Hall, the campus bridge and the east side of campus. Pella is the second stop on Day 5 of the ride which begins in Knoxville and closes in Oskaloosa.
Central alumni are encouraged to stop on campus and get their photo taken on the bridge by a member of the college’s alumni office staff. Central’s own Kyle Munson ’94 will be chronicling the ride for the Register, where he is a featured columnist. He’s also promised he’ll proudly wear his Central College cycling jersey that day.
Central will welcome riders to Pella with raft races in the pond, pedi-cab rides around campus and yard games for cyclists to enjoy. The college’s dining services catering staff will be serving pancakes and sausage as well as Central’s famous caramel bars.
Just 24 hours later on Friday, July 26, Central will host the Sea to Sea bicycle tour, sponsored by the Reformed Church in America. Sea to Sea is a nine-week tour across the U.S., starting in Los Angeles and ending in New York City.
Riders seek to raise awareness and money to fight poverty around the world, while also working on service projects throughout the ride as they make their way across the nation. Organizers want to provide people around the world with access to clean water, immunizations and other vital medical services.
The cyclists will have an outdoor worship service on Central’s Peace Mall west of the pond at 7 p.m. Friday evening.
For more information about Sea to Sea http://www.seatosea.org/
