World's biggest recreational bike ride begins anew for golden anniversary trek across Iowa

Along the way there is plenty of pie, more than enough beer, and countless spaghetti dinners served in church basements in tiny towns that dot the heartland. There are riders on bikes that cost the equivalent of a down payment on a house, others on hand-me-downs that announce their arrival with every creaking pedal stroke. The riders themselves come from all corners of the globe, including one intrepid group from Australia, and represent just about every U.S. state. “Participating in RAGBRAI is an extraordinary experience. It’s truly a source of...