Thousands ride into Salem for RAGBRAI XLVII

SALEM - Residents of Salem, a town of 387, saw thousands of visitors in their yards, on the streets and surrounding the town square as participants in RAGBRAI XLVII began pouring into town the morning of Friday, July 26.

Greeting people as they rode into town were Jackie and Wayne Fullenkamp, of West Des Moines. The pair had never volunteered or ridden RAGBRAI before, but decided to volunteer to see what it was all about. Jackie said it was 'quite impressive” that a town the size of Salem was able to handle so many visitors.

Among those who rode into town were the Legion team, made up of Bob Buzzell, of Davenport, his brother Tom Buzzell, of East Peoria, Ill., and sister Tracy Keibler, of Minneapolis, Minn. Bob said the first time he rode in was RAGBRAI III and he has been hooked ever since.

In 1973, when Bob was a junior in high school he was shot in the leg and nearly lost the appendage. For rehab, he began cycling, which turned into a passion that led him to work in a bike shop. Two years after his accident, he decided he was going to complete the whole route and talked his sister, Tracy, into going with him.

'I was 13 and he said, ‘Let's go,' and I was like, ‘Mom won't let me do that,'” Keibler recalled with a laugh.

They went anyway and it's been a family tradition for over 40 years. During RAGBRAI V, Bob's brother, Tom, first rode at age 11 and was accompanied by mom and dad. Every year since they had a chance to ride, they did, Tom said.

'It's the largest, oldest, organized bike ride in the world,” he said, of why he comes back repeatedly.

'RAGBRAI III made history as being the largest. There were 3,600 people,” Bob recalled.

'I heard estimates for Tuesday this week were over 30,000,” Tom added.

After a break, the family decided to get back to riding one last time and in 2011, Bob and his dad, Lee, age 87, rode together on a tandem bike.

'Rumor has it they've been the oldest tandem couple on a bike. 142 years old,” Tom said.

After their dad passed away in January 2014, they purchased custom jerseys and formed a team, the Legion, in honor of their dad.

While some people rode in memory of loved ones, others rode just to say they did it. Ron and Denise Bush, of Suffolk, Va., flew to Iowa to ride their first RAGBRAI together. Originally from Iowa, the couple first met at Iowa State University. After getting married, having kids and moving to Virginia, they decided to finally cross one thing off their bucket list and come back for the ride.

'To us, there's no other way to do it,” Ron said of riding together.

Riding with family was a theme for many riders, including Steve Lindberg, of Spokane, Wash. His ninth year riding, Lindberg said his ride began as a dare when a cousin challenged him to complete the ride with him. He took the challenge and has been riding ever since.

For Lindberg, RAGBRAI is 'almost like a mini family reunion,” he said, because it allows him the chance to connect with family, friends and have a great time while doing it.