News : Vinton-made bike reappeared for 2014 RAGBRAI; to be part of 2015 event

First appearing in Vinton during the 2012 RAGBRAI, this bicycle was on display in Guttenberg in '14.

Keith Elwick poses with the RAGBRAI bike his family donated in 2012; it was part of 2014 event.

Editor's Note: We remember seeing the large bicycle built and donated by the Elwick family to welcome RAGBRAI riders to Vinton in 2012. We are happy to pass on this story from Guttenberg, where friends of the Elwicks helped shared that bike with 2014 riders.

Remember RAGBRAI 2012 stopping in Vinton during their annual bike ride? Remember the ‘BIG BIKE’ created and donated by the Elwick family. They tell me it was kind of a rush job, but it was finished in time to be one of the more memorable sights and a main photo op during the Vinton stop.

The bike showed up at RAGBRAI 2014 at the final destination town of Guttenberg! Here’s how it happened:

I am a volunteer at the Shepherd Gallery and Creativity Center in Guttenberg. The gallery is located in a building adjacent to the B & B the Elwick family owns in a historic block of Guttenberg. Keith Elwick contacted me and said the bike was available for our city to use if we wanted!

I presented the idea to Donna Hinzman, who was a member of the Guttenberg RAGBRAI committee. She saw the picture Keith had given me and was thrilled! She presented the idea to her group and it was a go.

I called John Elwick, who was in charge of the bike’s storage. He laughed and said that “it doesn’t exactly look like the picture at this point, it is kind of in pieces. But, you’re welcome to it!”

Back to Donna who said they had no problem fixing up the bike making it presentable for Guttenberg. They even offered a trailer from Bob Hinzman’s lawn care business. The trailer was needed as a platform and to haul the bike from place to place.

By now it was late June and the Guttenberg folks were anxious to get the bike to start the job of sprucing her up for her debut at the Garnavillo 4th of July parade. John graciously offered to bring the pieces to Guttenberg and the Hinzmans were ready to start the work. The deadline was met and the bike was a big hit in parades both in Garnavillo on the 4th and Guttenberg on the 5th.

The bike was hauled back to Guttenberg to wait for RAGBRAI riders for their final day on July 26. It was parked at the new city South Marina to await the arrival of the first ‘dippers’. The final day is called ‘Dip Day’ when riders dip their tires into the Mississippi River signaling the end of the ride that began the week before at the Missouri River town of Rock Valley, Iowa.

But, this isn’t the end for the BIG BIKE! The committee has decided to pass it along to the ‘Dip town’ for next year’s ride. The route for next year will be announced towards the end of January in 2015. Thank you Keith Elwick family! Keith is truly a friend of Guttenberg!

I hope to bring news of the B & B mentioned above in a future Vinton Today story!