On July 22, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will begin its 35th annual trek – one of cycling, bonding and last but not least, partying.

For those still unfamiliar with RAGBRAI, it is a seven-day bicycle ride across the state of Iowa. This year, the ride begins at Rock Rapids on July 22, and ends at the Mississippi River in Bellevue on July 28.

Even those not “in” the cycling clique partake in the event because it’s a come-one, come-all event.

Bryan Moritz, junior in dietetics, is the racing coordinator for the ISU Cycling Club. Moritz participated in 2005 and said he enjoys the carefree atmosphere of the event.

“It’s just relaxed. People have music and coolers on their bike and stuff,” Moritz said. “It’s a good time. You can ride any speed you want, and there’s so many people involved that you can look up on a horizon and just see a huge swarm of people.”

That swarm is a mix of people from out of state, serious bikers and some who are just messing around. Everyone, however, tries to have a good time.

“Some people leave early in the morning when the sun comes up, but then there are others who just leave whenever,” Moritz said. “I just like riding with people from out of state. They love RAGBRAI. I was in Colorado doing a bike ride, and when I told people I was from Iowa, they were like ‘Oh man, Iowa . that’s RAGBRAI.'”

Kimberly Topp, senior in graphic design and president of the ISU Cycling Club, is from Illinois and has never participated, but said she has her reasons.

“It’s a great community builder for bicyclers, or even anyone remotely interested,” Topp said. “It’s a lot of inexperienced riders though, so I have sort of shied away from it since I found out what it was – I don’t want to get injured.”

The ISU Cycling Club will not have a team in this year’s event, but participation for next year’s event may be in the works.

“There have been a few years in the past when the cycling club has gotten a bus and done RAGBRAI,” Topp said. “This year was a restructuring year though, but it’s definitely in the works for next year.”

The club will be missing out on what the experienced Moritz said will be the biggest party of the ride on the last night of the ride.

“The last night of RAGBRAI is always the biggest party,” Moritz said. “Most of the people are out there just having a good time. When I did it, it was all for fun.”

Just because the last night is the rowdiest, doesn’t mean the rest of the trip is tame by any stretch of the imagination.

“It’s a giant party on two wheels,” Moritz said. “Each town will have a route; they’ll set up tons of food and have music and other entertainment. Each day, you’ll go through like 10 towns, and then there’s the towns that you stay the night in, and they all have big parties.”

For everything RAGBRAI is, Topp says it’s great for the state of Iowa.

“I think it’s really good for Iowa to have something that’s open for everyone,” Topp said.

“Other out-of-state races I’ve been to don’t have that, so, good for RAGBRAI.”