Thousands of cyclists are arriving in Ames on Tuesday on the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI).

Get to know them here.

Name: Kim Bauer

Age: 39

From: Cedar Falls, Iowa

First RAGBRAI: 1991

Number of times you have participated: 22

Amount of the route you are riding: 4 days

Why you participate in RAGBRAI: “We have been doing it forever and I love it. It has become a tradition.”

What RAGBRAI means to you: “It means tradition to me.”

Who you ride with: She is a part of Team Killer Bees, which consists of friends.

 Name: Sarah Hagen

Age: 37

From: Manly, Iowa

First RAGBRAI: 2002

Number of times you have participated: Nine

Amount of the route you are riding: One day (today)

Why you participate in RAGBRAI: “I do it for the friends on the team who I don’t see rest of the year.”

What RAGBRAI means to you: “It’s a whole lot of fun, and it means having fun with friends.”

Who you ride with: She is a part of Team Killer Bees, which consists of friends.

Name: Barbara Carter

Age: 70

From: Donahue, iowa

First RAGBRAI: 1982

Number of times you have participated: 25

Amount of the route you are riding: She is cycling during five days of the route.

Why you participate in RAGBRAI: “I love to bike, it’s summer camp for big kids.”

What RAGBRAI means to you: To her it means summertime, exercise and fun

Who you ride with: She rides with family members.

Name: Vicky Gardner

Age: 63

From: Des Moines

First RAGBRAI: 2003

Number of times you have participated: 16

Amount of the route you are riding: Three days

Why you participate in RAGBRAI: “The biking community is different than any other community you can be a part of, plus you get exercise.”

What RAGBRAI means to you: To her, RAGBRAI means summertime and fun.

Who you ride with: She rides with Team Checker, which consists of friends.  

 Name: Tom Gettings

Age: 58

From: Des Moines

First RAGBRAI: 2007

Number of times you have participated: Five

Amount of the route you are riding: Three days

Why you participate in RAGBRAI: “It is all about the parties and bands that play.”

What RAGBRAI means to you: “It means I get to have fun and get into those great wide open spaces that are away from the grind.”

Who you ride with: He rides with Team Checker, which consists of friends.