Logo belongs to the Iowa Bicycle Coalition

A huge annual biking event happening in June is making an adjustment on the Raccoon River Valley Trail, along the route that passes through Adel.

According to Iowa Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Luke Hoffman, the 11th BACooN Ride is taking place on June 14th through Dallas County, including passing by the City of Adel. Hoffman explains the ride will still travel through Adel, but there will be a one and a half mile detour from the trail to turn right onto Highway 6, then to Prospect Avenue, where riders will make a left to rejoin the trail heading east. The change in the route was due to a bridge that caught fire on May 12th. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office arrested three teenagers who were responsible for starting an uncontrollable fire near the east bridge, which damaged that section of the trail. 

Hoffman commended the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, Adel Police and Fire Departments, the City of Adel, Iowa Department of Transportation, and the Dallas County Conservation for their swift actions. He illustrates the theme for this year’s event is the “Riders of Hogwarts” and that there will be bacon snacks at the 12 stops during the ride. Hoffman acknowledges that the BACooN Ride is the largest single day event in the state of Iowa with approximately 1,500 to 2,500 participants each year, and he loves the joy it brings.

“People really look forward to this ride. I’ve seen people who own every single t-shirt from every single year of the ride. People really get into it, and especially the folks who are from the town, seeing all these riders come through, and the vibrancy that (it) brings, the economic vitality, and then the fun community spirit.”

Hoffman describes that the Bicycle Coalition gives a portion of the proceeds to Dallas County Conservation each year, which will be doubled this year following the fire incident. The other cities the BACooN Ride will go through include Perry, Minburn, Dallas Center, Redfield, Dawson, Jamaica, Herndon, Yale, Pandora, Linden, and Waukee. Hoffman adds that registration is open now through the day of on June 14th, and the link to sign up is available by clicking here.