MTR 2024: Happy Trails To You

Our entire 24-day Tornado Alley adventure was designed to end up in central Iowa for Labor Day weekend, where we attended our fifth Midwest Tandem Rally (MTR). Our first was over 20 years ago, in 2003. We were on the triplet in Dayton, Ohio and there were 500 tandems participating! 

The waaaay back machine: At the ride start in 2003 with 11-year-old Elliott and the Canadian contingent!

This year there were around 230 bikes. That’s still a formidable number of tandems, but times have certainly changed.

First ride, group start from the hotel.

Ankeny, a northern Des Moines suburb, was the host city for four days of cycling, eating and fun (normal tandem rally stuff). We got to reconnect with old friends and make new friends with the incredibly friendly hosts from Iowa and plentiful participants from the Midwest!

We have been riding with Paul and Jody for over twenty years.

The first ride featured ice cream churned with a 1926 1.5 HP John Deere motor. 

This homemade treat was fresh, rich and delicious, and no toppings were required.

The second ride featured the Des Moines farmers’ market, sunflowers and GTR jerseys.

Amazing market – blocks long in all directions.

A field of flowers along the path.
With Walt, Kathy, Judy and Ed at the lunch stop. We saw a few other GTR jerseys later in the ride.

The third ride featured the high trestle bridge (13 stories up) over the Des Moines River, a rare visit with L. Michelle and Jeff (we usually ride on the same roads – but never “with” them) and a post-ride brewery visit.

It was fantastic to catch up with Jeff and L. Michelle.
Approaching the high trestle bridge. Jeff and L. Michelle are right in front of us
Thanks to L. Michelle for the pic that shows us on the approach!
This work of art lights up at night. There was an evening ride we didn’t do. Still very cool.
Thanks to Amy for this pic of our riding crew for much of the weekend!
Post ride libations at a local brewery located just off the path.
With Walt, Kathy, Hank and Roxanne at the Firetrucker mural.

The fourth and final ride featured a very chilly start (54 degrees) and donuts (with sprinkles)!

Scenes from the trails along the way.
Donuts with sprinkles…it doesn’t get much better than this!

The scenery didn’t change much as the same out and back trails were used for much of the riding. There were a few attempts at mass starts and we also heard of a few accidents between tandems because of overcrowded trails (and probably lack of communication between riders). 

Lunch was served in parks on the Saturday and Sunday rides. The vendor who did the lunches was terrific and many were raving about the food, especially the giant cookies! Kudos to the food committee.

Those sprinkles were on top and baked into the cookies!

On this trip we did some fun non-riding sightseeing that I’ll share with you in my next post!

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