Pedal Chichaqua Valley Trail rolls through Jasper County June 10

When a 6-mile extension of the Chichaqua Valley Trail was completed for Summer 2016, it finally connected riders from Baxter, Mingo and Ira in Jasper County to the greater Des Moines metro trail network.

The approximately 28-mile trail now crosses the Gay Lea Wilson Trail and extends from East 29th Street in Des Moines to the Caboose trail head in Baxter. Fast forward to Summer 2017, and a 57-mile bike ride will celebrate that connection which is still discovered by more local cyclists every day.

The June 10 Pedal the Chichaqua Valley Trail will include what the nonprofit group Friends of the Chichaqua Valley Trail calls “less traveled roads,” but will beg and end on the paved Chichaqua Valley Trail. Communities included on the route are Bondurant, Altoona, Mitchellville, Mingo, Ira, Valeria and Baxter. Bike riders

can choose their own speed and distance.

“We’ve come a long way and have all the communities on board,” Friends president Jeff Cook said. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed for good attendance.”

The day begins with registrations from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at 110 First St. SE in Bondurant. Registration is $20. Riders can sign up in person or online at pedalcvt.wufoo.com/forms/pedal-cvt. Riders and runners who pre-register by Friday will get an event T-shirt.

A light breakfast and Bloody Mary bar will open at 7 a.m. at Founders Irish Pub. The 5k run/walk begins at 8 a.m. at the corner of First Street and Main Street in downtown Bondurant. There will be a $25 gift card to Sports Page restaurant in Ankeny for the male and female winners of the race.

The 57-mile bike ride begins at 9:30 a.m. at the same street corner. Food, drinks and treats will be available at multiple stops along the route. Bikes will stop at The Brewhouse No. 25 in Altoona, Team 36 bar in Mitchellville. Pie and ice cream will be served by Friends volunteers at the Mingo Community Center. Riders will stop to stretch their legs in Ira. The final break before turning around for the trek back to Bondurant is Cadillac Jack’s in Baxter.

At 3 p.m., street games begin and will be going throughout the day at Reclaimed Rails Brewing Company in Bondurant. From 4 to 6:30 p.m. the music of Pale Blue Erf will flow at Reclaimed Rails, and the rock band Cold Filtered will cap off the night from 6:45 to 10 p.m. at Founders Irish Pub.

Riders will also have a chance to win $50 gift certificates to several bike shops that service Chichaqua Valley Trail riders, including Newton’s Mojo Cycling, Rasmussen Bike Shop in Altoona, Bike Country and Kyle’s Bike — both in Ankeny — and Bike World in Des Moines.

Cook said both Polk and Jasper County Conservation departments have been very active in supporting the CVT since its groundbreaking. In the last four years, the Friends group has raised more than $23,000 for trail maintenance and upkeep.

Based on past participation, the Friends president expects an average of 200 riders and 40 run/walkers at the June 10 event, and 100 percent of the ride and 5k proceeds will go back into the trail.

That commitment from county leaders was demonstrated in the aftermath of recent severe thunderstorms in central Iowa.

Downed trees and limbs from a strong line of thunderstorms May 17 blocked portions of the CVT in Jasper County. But county conservation personnel were out the next day removing the debris, and planners say there will be no problem biking all the way through on the June 10 ride.

“There are no issues,” Cook said. “The day after it happened, (Jasper County Conservation Director) Carrie (Van Zante)’s crews were our on the trail and spent all day cleaning up.”

Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall
@jaspercountytribune.com