Over 1,300 people descended on Perry Saturday morning to take part in the 41st annual Bike Ride to Rippey, or BRR Ride.

Hotel Pattee once again served as the hub for the unofficial kick off to the 2018 bicycle season. The day started at around 7:30 a.m., as the Perry Lions Club hosted their yearly breakfast fundraiser. At 10 a.m., outgoing Hotel Pattee owner Jay Hartz officially kicked off the ride, likely for the last time. Most of the riders then took off down 2nd Street to commence their 20-mile round-trip trek from Perry to Rippey and back.

While this year’s BRR Ride was the last for Hartz, it was the first for new Hotel Pattee owner Tom Maxwell. He told Raccoon Valley Radio he was very impressed with the whole event, and he’s excited to continue the hotel’s involvement in the yearly ride. Maxwell added, he does have an interest in doing the ride, but didn’t feel this was the year for him to do it. “I am not riding today, because I thought it would be kind of an auspicious beginning if the new owner wrecked on his way up to Rippey! So I thought I better not do it today, but I’ve asked Lee (Coons) to get me a bike ready for next year. So I’m going to try to do it next year.”

The multitude of riders included many people from around Central Iowa, as well as some from as far away as Georgia. Dallas County Supervisor Mark Hanson even took part, this being his sixth time doing so. With the temperature in the upper 30’s at the time the ride started, peaking in the mid-40’s, and just a drizzle of rain, most agreed the weather was ideal. Hanson, however, actually preferred the challenge of the snowier years. “It’s not a blizzard. You know, I rode in the blizzard a few years ago, and that was always fun. But you know now, dry highway, a little wind, big deal you know?”

Be sure to listen to Wednesday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program to hear from several of the riders and organizers of the event.