RAGBRAI rolls through WC

Fort Dodge hosted the riders Monday night for an overnight stay, before they headed east for the next overnight destination — Iowa Falls. Along the way, the riders made stops in Duncombe, Webster City, Blairsburg, Williams and Alden.

The route through Webster City brought riders into town via James Street to Grove Street and then to Second Street, due to the street construction.

The first riders began to arrive in Webster City between 6:30 and 7 a.m., many of them looking for a cold drink, a tasty breakfast and perhaps a bathroom break. They found all of those things in downtown Webster City.

The hospitality committee spruced up areas of the community, put up welcome signs and Burma Shave-style signs on old Highway 20 and along James Street. Welcoming and waving to the bicyclists Tuesday morning were members of the Rotary Club.

The Chamber of Commerce was set up in a tent outside of its office. The booth was selling Webster City RAGBRAI shirts, with proceeds going to benefit the Kent Harfst Memorial.

“From speaking with volunteers at the information booth through the exit committee on the east side of town, we’re getting good reviews about the welcome (the riders) received,” said Mark Dohms, chairman of the hospitality committee. He said the riders seemed to appreciate the centrally located entertainment, beer garden and food vendors.

A flat-bed trailer was set up at the corner of Des Moines and Second Street to serve as a stage for several local musicians who entertained the crowd throughout the morning. Performers included Tucker Judkins Trio, Ismael Gomez, Shannon Swon, FourFront, Leo Lovesong, Clint Riedel and Humble Beginnings.

At one point, a spontaneous dance party broke out on the street in front of the stage, with riders moving and grooving to recorded music between the live acts.

Hungry riders were able to find everything from breakfast bowls to ice cream, dill pickles to pork burgers, smoothies to pizza at the vendors located on Des Moines Street and Second Street.

“We’re hearing a lot of comments like ‘nice town,’ ‘very friendly,’ ‘very clean,’” he said. “I think the bicyclists are happy and think it’s been well organized.”