SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa | Over the past decade, the Iowa Great Lakes has become a cycling destination.
Iowa Great Lakes Trail, which runs through the heart of Dickinson County, is also friendly to walkers, runners and inline skaters.
"People can park on the south shore of Big Spirit Lake or on the west side of Big Spirit Lake and bike clear down to Milford," said Blain Andera, executive director of the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce. "Dickinson County Trails is always working on new trails."
What has caused locals to up the mileage on their bicycles and get serious about cycling?
Andera said Bike Ride Around Spirit Lake, an annual event founded in 1993 by a group of local cycling enthusiasts to raise money for the northern extension of the Dickson County Spine Trail, sparked the interest.
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Today, Bike Ride Around Spirit Lake or BRASL is a popular event that features a family-friendly 15-mile ride around Big Spirit Lake, a 25-mile ride that includes a loop along Loon Lake in southern Minnesota, and a challenging 50-mile ride to Jackson, Minnesota, along the scenic Des Moines River.
"When I first started, the 15-mile route around Big Spirit Lake was by far the most popular route of the three that we provide," Andera said. "Now, it's the smallest. Most of the people do the 25- or the 50-mile route. That just shows the change in the last 10 or 12 or 15 years."
This year's BRASL will be held the morning of July 8, beginning in downtown Spirit Lake. Riders participating in the 25-mile and 50-mile routes take off at 7:30 a.m. The 15-Mile BRASL ride begins at 9 a.m.
Andera said the 15-mile route, which is fairly flat, is predominately asphalt trail with small portions of roadway. First-aid stations, rest stops and a support vehicle will be available along the routes.Â
"We have a couple rest areas on that route where we offer watermelon, bananas, cookies and water," Andera said of the 15-mile route. "We've got a lot parents with their kids in tow behind."
The 25-mile route takes riders in a figure eight around the south shore of Loon Like in Minnesota and all the way around Big Spirit Lake. The 50-mile route, which is popular with cyclists training for The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), takes riders from the Iowa Great Lakes up to Jackson, Minnesota, and back.
"It's more of a challenging route -- a lot of hills," Andera said.
He recommends that riders register for BRASL 2017 in advance online at spiritlakecc.com. Registration includes a T-shirt and a certificate for lunch at participating Chamber member restaurants.
Pre-Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12 through June 23 with a cotton T-shirt and $30 for adults and $20 for children under 12 through June 23 with a Dri-Fit T-Shirt. Starting June 24, for an adult that the fee increases to $30 for a cotton T-shirt only. Cyclists can also register the day of the race onsite from 7 to 9 a.m. Parking will be available at the Library and in public parking lots and on side streets.
