About 40 teens from Des Moines will pedal to Jefferson Saturday and spend the night camping at the Raccoon River Valley Trail trailhead campground, right next to the Greene County Fair.
The teens are members of the RAGBRAI Dream Team, completing the final training ride before riding from Sioux City to Davenport on the 2015 RAGBRAI. Members of the team are suggested by a variety of adults who work with at-risk teens; most of the team members are economically challenged. Early in the year Dream Team members are issued bicycles, bike gear, and all necessary camping equipment. They’re coached by about 30 experienced cycling mentors. Dream Team members who compete RAGBRAI get to keep the equipment.
The Dream Team will roll into Jefferson between 3 and 6 pm Saturday. They’ll check out the exhibits and livestock at the Greene County Fair. Some will pedal to the courthouse square for a ride to the top of the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. They’ll camp for he night and ride back to Des Moines on Sunday.
For a Chuck Offenburger story about the Dream Team, visit the Raccoon River Valley Trail website.
