Pedaling With Purpose

August 1, 2025

By Gretchen Westdal Centers

If you’ve lived in Iowa for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard about RAGBRAI^®. The legendary event, lesser known as Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, took place in July and celebrated its 52nd year. It holds the title of the oldest, largest, and longest bicycle touring event in the world, bringing in thousands of riders from around the globe. RAGBRAI is a one-of-a-kind ride that celebrates riders of all ages and abilities.

It is in this special community — one that celebrates the joy and thrill of cycling — where Adaptive Sports of Iowa’s cycling team gets the opportunity to ride with other bike enthusiasts. Adaptive Sports Iowa (ASI) is a program of the Iowa Sports Foundation. It works to live out its mission statement to “provide statewide leadership in the planning, promotion, education and organization of sports and recreation opportunities for Iowans with physical disabilities.”

The ASI adaptive team, which was first formed in 2011 with 24 riders, supports cyclists with physical or visual disabilities. Since then, it has grown to 70 riders, 36 of whom have some form of disability. The growth is a testament to the organization’s focus on inclusivity and community.

“If one of our riders is out there on the route and sees a kid who happens to be in a wheelchair, or they meet someone along the route who has a disability, our teammates chat with them or give them a branded hat to remind them we’re here,” explains Hannah Bowman, director of Adaptive Sports Iowa. “We also have a great relationship with RAGBRAI. If someone approaches them about riding and they have a physical disability, RAGBRAI will immediately tell them about our group.”

 

Removing Barriers and Building Inclusivity

Through a team of volunteers, staff, sponsors and incredible riders, the ASI cycling team participates in the approximately 400-mile-long ride each year. Bowman and her team coordinate the logistics. “We provide everything,” Bowman notes. “That includes transportation, logistics, indoor accommodations, support staff and even a dedicated SAG (support and gear) vehicle, which is crucial given how specialized many of our bikes are.”

The riders are responsible for bringing their equipment, tailored to their specific needs. Adaptive equipment includes upright bikes, tandems for visually impaired riders, hand cycles, recumbent bikes and other custom-built bicycles. A bike mechanic and nurse travel with the team throughout the week, ensuring riders have what they need to ride safely and comfortably.
 
Because RAGBRAI’s route changes annually, Bowman must ensure that all overnight accommodations are ADA accessible. “We don’t just take people’s word for it,” Bowman explains. “I go visit every overnight site myself.”
 
One year, a school they had planned to use as an overnight rest stop had no accessible bathrooms or showers, so alternative accommodations were quickly found that would allow the team to easily access what they needed at the end of a long day. “Accessibility isn’t always top of mind for people,” Bowman graciously states. “That’s not their fault — but it is our responsibility to plan around.”
 
The team has a close partnership with RAGBRAI, whose staff are integral in connecting ASI with resources and riders. If someone reaches out to RAGBRAI about accessibility, they are often directed to ASI. Additionally, during planning meetings for the next event, ASI is often given priority for places to stay for overnight stops due to their unique and critical needs.

Riding Together, Growing Together

Over the years, the number of riders has grown, but one thing that has remained the same is their commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion and support. About one-third of the team is new each year, with returning members welcoming newcomers like family. It’s a diverse group of athletes. Throughout the years, riders have ranged in age from 11 to 97. There have been people who’ve come from other countries just to ride with this team. People’s abilities are all different. However, everyone is there for one purpose: to enjoy the ride and connect.
 
“Our first team meeting is huge. We introduce ourselves, and while you might not remember all 70 names right away, it creates that moment of belonging,” Bowman says. “By midweek, everyone’s found their rhythm and someone they connect with.”
 
She recalls a moment from a past ride, when two young boys — one a volunteer’s child, the other an adaptive rider with a degenerative eye disease — became fast friends. They rode the entire route side by side, forming a steadfast bond. “They’d nap next to each other in the afternoon,” Bowman laughs. “It was just the sweetest thing.”
 
Throughout the days-long event, there is so much to celebrate. Each day brings a new opportunity, a new challenge for the team to experience. The physicality of riding day in and day out creates a strong bond amongst the team where everyone applauds one another. As Bowman put it, “they are like a big, crazy family,”
 
Another cherished tradition is celebrating first-time century riders. “We always have folks try the 100-mile day,” she says. “It’s incredible to see them come back glowing with pride. A lot of them never imagined doing that. But they did it.”

 

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This event takes a lot of effort and organization from both ASI and its sponsors. With support from their primary sponsor, the Iowa Farm Bureau, ASI can cover the full cost of participation for all riders including transportation, equipment support and lodging. Riders are only responsible for meals and souvenirs. 

“The Iowa Farm Bureau is proud to support the hard work and accomplishments of Adaptive Sports Iowa,” says Dana Ardary, senior marketing manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau. “These riders are battling the weather, impressive distances and the physical challenges to achieve their dreams. It’s inspiring and important. There’s a similar grit and determination that’s shared with Iowa farmers, along with the mutual values of hard work, commitment and perseverance.”
 
Ardary explains that it’s a natural sponsorship for the Iowa Farm Bureau to support ASI because not only are the riders traveling through Iowa’s rich farmland, which highlights the strong agricultural presence in the state, but the Iowa Farm Bureau is also committed to supporting health, wellness and rural community development.
 
“The riders’ jerseys have the hashtag ASI Farmstrong on them because we felt that these athletes truly represent the values we share, and they are proof that anything is possible if you don’t let life get in the way,” Ardary proudly explains.
 
Additional sponsorship comes from Fareway, and in-kind donors help support the immense logistics and gear required to make the experience safe and inclusive. Much like the team of riders, there’s a collective dedication from all those involved.

Down The Road

Even as the team hits capacity, Bowman has a vision for how ASI can continue to grow. She hopes to reach more adaptive riders from across Iowa and the country, funneling additional interest into ASI’s other programs, including wheelchair basketball, sled hockey and wheelchair tennis.
 
“The biggest challenge is outreach,” she says. “Often, once someone finishes physical therapy or rehab, there’s no clear path for them to find us. So being out in the community, visible on RAGBRAI, really matters.”
 
Asked what she’d tell someone hesitant to join due to physical ability or nerves, Bowman doesn’t hesitate. “Everybody starts somewhere,” she says. “It’s OK to feel unsure. But everyone here gets it. Everyone’s been there. And the community is what changes people’s lives.”
 
That community, built one mile or milestone at a time, is what keeps Bowman coming back year after year. “It’s so much more than just biking,” she says. “It’s about belonging, about pride, about doing something you didn’t think you could. And we get to witness that every single day.”