Ride Across Iowa to Support Bikes Not Bombs
Join Bryan Glascock and Aaron Osowiecki by supporting their bike ride across Iowa in the 2023 Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) to benefit Bikes Not Bombs.
What is RAGBRAI?
More than just a bike ride, the (Des Moines) Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) is an epic seven-day rolling festival of bicycles, music, food, camaraderie, and community. Now in its 50th year, RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest, and longest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world. This year’s route starts in Sioux City with a traditional dip of the wheel in the Missouri River before riders head east across the state over the course of seven days. 500 miles and six overnight stops later, the ride ends in Davenport with another traditional dip of the wheel, this time in the Mississippi River. The approximately 12,000 week-long riders are joined by thousands more during the stop in Des Moines to attempt a world record for the largest single day ride, with over 100,000 riders expected in 2023. This year's ride takes place from July 22nd to 29th and is the 50th anniversary. Click here to learn more about RAGBRAI.
What is Bikes Not Bombs?
Bikes Not Bombs (BNB) is a Boston nonprofit that uses bicycles as vehicles for social change to increase economic mobility for Black and other marginalized people in Boston and the Global South. Since our founding in 1984, BNB has collected thousands of donated bikes each year, which we repurpose by shipping bikes, parts and tools to international partners in Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean. We also use these bicycles in our innovative youth development programs, where hundreds of youth each year earn bikes they have learned to refurbish, and then become eligible for a three-year paid Youth Apprenticeship at BNB. Our mission-driven, full service Bike Shop & Training Center sells new and refurbished bicycles.
Who is riding?
Bryan Glascock spent his working life in the field of land use and environmental regulation in Boston under 5 different mayors. Until this year, Bryan was not a frequent bike rider although he did help with Boston's first Bike-to-Work days in the 1980's. "I grew up in northeast Iowa and remember the first RAGBRAI. I thought it was kind of crazy but that some day I would try it. As this is the 50th anniversary of the Iowa ride, now is that time. I thought if I'm doing this, I should use this as a way to promote a worthy cause. Bikes Not Bombs is a perfect fit. Salvaging bikes that might otherwise go to a landfill is in line with my life-long environmental views; training local youth in bike repair and earning a bike builds their STEM skills and self-confidence; and sending bikes, parts and tools to developing countries helps build micro-economies and gives people greater mobility so they won't have to leave their home villages to access jobs. I hope I can help spread the word about the important work of Bikes Not Bombs."
Aaron Osowiecki is a neighbor of Bryan's and a high school physics teacher at the oldest school in America, Boston Latin School, founded in 1635. Aaron is an active bike rider, and Bryan planted the seed for the RAGBRAI ride over the last few years. Aaron just turned 50, so the seed took for the 50th RAGBRAI. Many of Aaron's students have benefitted from Bikes Not Bombs’ programs and Aaron is excited to be able to support Bikes Not Bombs’ efforts to spread the benefits of bicycle transportation with people around the world.
