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LeClaire still needs volunteers for RAGBRAI

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By Mary Louise Speer | Wednesday, July 16, 2008 |

LeCLAIRE, Iowa — RAGBRAI 2008 begins to cross Iowa in a few days, but most LeClaire residents can’t imagine what it will feel like to watch thousands of bicyclists ride into town July 26.

Volunteers combed through last-minute details for welcoming riders at the end of the trek during a town hall meeting Wednesday night at the LeClaire Fire Station.

“I’ve never done anything like this in my life. When I was asked, I thought, well, it wouldn’t be so hard,” said Heather Witters, who is in charge of the volunteers.

The LeClaire RAGBRAI committee is still looking for about 100 residents to help in a variety of areas, she said. The primary needs are help with ticket sales, public safety, entertainment, parking and the “dip site,” the banks of the Mississippi River that mark the end of the ride. Witters hopes people will line the route along LeClaire’s Wisconsin Street and welcome riders as they pedal into town.

“Are you excited?” Pam Ellis, co-chairman of the executive committee, said to those in attendance Wednesday night. “We’re very appreciative that we have people like you to volunteer because we’re going to need about 400 volunteers.”

Individuals at the meeting represented a variety of civic organizations and churches, schools, businesses, and area law enforcement and emergency services. The event kicks off Friday as long-term parking riders arrive in town to enjoy the official Spokes and Ropes kickoff party at Pebble Creek Golf Course in LeClaire.

Motorcoaches will take them to Missouri Valley, Iowa, on Saturday, and the 471-mile ride gets under way Sunday morning.

When cyclists arrive in LeClaire the following weekend, the town will welcome them with a closing ceremony, plenty of entertainment and food.

The ceremony will feature a salute to the military.

For more information about volunteering, go to: leclaireragbrai.com/volunteer.php or call Witters at (563) 289-4167.

Contact the city desk at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.

What’s ahead

Friday: Riders usng long-term parking arrive in LeClaire. Volunteers and residents are invited to attend the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, or RAGBRAI, Kick-Off Celebration at Pebble Creek Golf Course in LeClaire.

Sunday: LeClaire RAGBRAI volunteer meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the LeClaire Fire Station, 15th and Jones, with information on expectations for volunteers.

July 23: The last town hall meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the LeClaire Fire Station, with information on what happens when riders enter LeClaire on July 26.

July 25: Volunteers will begin setting up in LeClaire. The riverfront levee will close and drivers will not be allowed to park along Wisconsin Street and U.S. 67 from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday.

July 26: RAGBRAI arrives in LeClaire beginning at 6 a.m., with most riders arriving between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Closing ceremonies are at 1 p.m.