E-Bike Group Rides!
It breaks my heart that so many aren’t aware of local rail trails and MUP’s. They aren’t aware of the opportunities along the way and all they could be doing on their e-bike. Many have expressed that they just don’t feel welcome riding their e-bikes on local club rides and are a bit fearful of exploring on their own (I know everyone is trying, it just isn’t working).
My friend Rafael has offered to help me organize some group rides! Would you be interested? There would be some restrictions. You need to understand, these are not sponsored or led by Ruby’s or any other organization. You would be just tagging along for a ride. Ride at your own risk. These rides would be aimed at reaching all e-bikes, so they will be relatively short and slow. I am thinking no more than 15mph and 25 miles or less round trip. Helmets are recommended, but not required (BEWARE: often someone falls on a group ride and they may take you out).
I’d like to start with a loop of The MRT and GRT between The Gov’t bridge and I-74. For some, this might be a bit slow, taking time to point out attractions (museums, firework & concert venues, breweries, Farmer’s Markets, restaurants etc that can be reached more easily on your e-bike/trike than in a car). If this is well attended, we might want a more normal ride on nearby trails like Duck Creek in Davenport and the paved Hennepin in Milan.
There’s are many others nesr by, like Muscatine’s Deep Lakes or their 420 Ride. Clinton’s Riverfront Trail is just plain awesome and so hilly it is best enjoyed on an e-bike. Of course, there is the rather rugged Hennepin Canal which now connects with The GRT. My favorite is The Cedar River Trail between Solon and Cedar Rapids. If tou’d like something more rural, there are The Ke-Wash between Keota and Washington, The Rock Island Lines Trail not far from Geneseo and The Copper Ceek Trail near Maquoketa (never fail to see a lot of deer).
I almost forgot The Heritage Trail. It is in Dubuque. We could start at Dimensional downtown and ride to Textile and The Field of Dreams in Dyersville!
These are just some of the nearby trails. There are also incredible organized rides that aren’t out of the question, if there is enough interest. I am thinking of The Baccoon Ride on The Raccoon River Trail (yummm…bacon), The Hillbilly Ride (Bluegrass) and my favorite The Pedaler’s Jamboree on The Katy Trail across Northern Missouri.
How about it? Is there enough interest or should I just keep it between myself and a few close customers?