Photo from ride video (see below)

from Mark Wyatt, Iowa Bicycle Coalition

As the weather becomes warmer, interest in the BACooN Ride is sizzling. To date over 1,500 riders have signed up. Commemorative stainless steel pint glasses were offered to the first 2,000 riders and only 500 remain. To become a participant, visit www.bacoonride.com and register.

This ride will capture everything riders are looking for. Fun people, 71 miles of flat trails, a looped route, overnight camping in Waukee, IA and the sizzle of bacon specialty foods. The Iowa Bicycle Coalition hears people are hungry for a ride like this.

Riders will receive a t-shirt, bacon wristband, and a passPORK gaining them access to events and free food along the trail. Brooks Reynolds, Chief Bacon Officer from the Iowa Bacon Board and event organizer describes the food offerings as “everything from BLT sliders to Bacon Ice Cream Treats. We like to think of this as the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival that moves.”

The communities of Waukee, Adel, Redfield, Linden, Panora, Yale, Herndon, Jamaica, Perry, Minburn, and Dallas Center are getting ready for the big ride. “These towns understand the impact of bicycling,” says TJ Juskiewicz, director of RAGBRAI. “These communities will leave a good taste in riders mouths. Riders will be coming back all summer because they have so much fun on this ride.”

The Bacoon Ride is supported by the generosity of sponsors, including Des Moines Bacon Company, Pearl Vodka, Raccoon River Trail Association, Iowa Spring, City of Waukee, Voss Distributing LLC, Micky’s Irish Pub Waukee, Iowa Egg Council, and Reynolds & Reynolds Insurance.

Registration is $45 per rider and will increase after May 1 to $55 and June 1 to $60 without merchandise. There will be no day of ride registration. Find more information at www.bacoonride.com.

See the Bike & Bacoon Ride Video here.