Grab your helmets and pump up your bike tires because Iowa City Area Sports Commission’s premiere one-day cycling event, granGABLE is just around the corner!

If you’re part of the biking community in Johnson County, chances are you might already be counting down the days until you can hit the trails with your fellow bikers. Or if you aren’t up on all things biking, you might be thinking, “What the heck is granGABLE?” 

The short answer is it’s a fun-filled day of biking that winds you through the scenic trails and byways of  Johnson County. Riders of various skill levels come together and can choose to bike a 100-mile, 50-mile, or 25-mile route. 

This blog will give you all the details you need to understand the history behind the event, information on how and when to register, and some bonus training tips. So get it into gear and power through all of this great information. We hope to see you on the trail on May 4th!

The Story Behind granGABLE 

The name granGABLE hints at who this event is named for: Iowa Wrestling Legend Dan Gable. But what does biking have to do with wrestling? 

Think Iowa City President Josh Schamberger, the brainchild behind this annual event which started in 2013, let us in on the inspiration and connection. Dan Gable is widely considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He’s known not only for the incredible records he held as a wrestler, or for winning an Olympic Gold Medal, but also for the way he taught others to dive deep within themselves to find a will to win. That’s what inspired the world to know his name and understand his greatness. 

Gable wrestled at Iowa State and then coached for the University of Iowa, which is why he’s beloved throughout the state. Today, he resides in Iowa City. For all these reasons, Think Iowa City wanted to honor him with an annual event. 

Like wrestling, biking requires participants to push themselves beyond their comfort zone to accomplish the feat of crossing that finish line. Both sports combine good health, exercise, and a commitment to excellence. Honoring Gable with a community biking event allows a broader range of people to participate and extends his legacy beyond the wrestling community. 

So where did the event name come from? The name was inspired by combining the Italian term, “gran fondo”, which means a large organized bike ride, with Dan Gable’s name to become… granGABLE. 

How to Participate in the 2024 granGABLE Ride

To sign up for the 2024 ride, all you have to do is register on the granGABLE site by April 29th. Before signing up, you’ll want to decide if you want to ride the Gold 100-mile fondo, the Silver 50-mile ride, or the Bronze 25-mile ride. Every year the route differs slightly. All the routes for 2024 have been announced on the granGABLE site, but are subject to change if needed. 

Once you decide how many miles you want to bike, select your preferred registration package. All three routes have a “Service Pass”  option including goodies like a finisher medal, a koozie, and a hot dog and beer at the finish. If you select the Gold or Silver route you have the option to choose the “Championship” package that has all the same goodies as the “Service Pass” but will also include a 2024 jersey. Take it from us, once you see the jerseys on other bikers, you’re going to want one! 

All routes will start at 7 am on Saturday, May 4th at Field  Day Brewing in North Liberty. At the end of the ride, all routes will circle back to Field Day Brewing for an after-ride gathering, which, of course, calls for some celebratory drinks and food. 

Train for granGABLE 

Once you’ve registered, you might want to warm up your wheels on some local trails. Our Bike Iowa City page can help inspire you to do just that. Bike Iowa City is a website to help bike enthusiasts plan their next biking adventure and connect with other bikers in the area. The website has numerous paved routes and mountain bike trails, so no matter what kind of biking adventure you’re seeking, you’ll be able to find an exciting and worthwhile path to enjoy. 

If you’re looking to prep for the Bronze granGABLE route, one of our favorite biking adventures is the Octagonal Barn Loop. This easy-going, 25-mile loop will take you by the 1883 Secrest Octagonal Barn (hence the name of the adventure). This unique barn is a sight to be seen and is on the National Register of Historic Places. You’ll pedal past the barn which is part of a private farmstead about halfway through the route. On this adventure, you will cycle through a one-mile stretch of B road. It is minimally maintained but is otherwise easy to navigate if there’s no mud. If rain was recently in the forecast, you might find it easier to walk your bicycle, so choose your riding day wisely.  

Other similarly distanced routes include: Tiffin Time which takes you on the Clear Creek trail and makes a stop at the delicious Jon’s Ice Cream, Pancakes Anyone? is the perfect route for everyone who isn’t a fan of hills (but don’t let the name fool you, sadly it doesn’t lead to any pancakes), To the Bridge! takes riders on a scenic adventure to see the historic Sutliff Bridge, and Turn Here! is the perfect route for everyone who loves a challenge. It will take riders across the Coralville Dam Spillway and the Devonian Fossil Gorge.

 For a little longer trek to help you prep for the Silver granGABLE route, we recommend the “Let’s Go Look at the River” path. Similarly to the 2024 Silver route, this 47-mile path passes through the towns of Solon and Ely. This particular route begins and ends in downtown Solon, which is the perfect spot to hang out for a quick bite before or after the ride. Some favorites are Big Grove Solon and Buff’s Game Day. As we mentioned before, this zig-zagging route will take you northward passing through the town of Ely, where you can opt to visit Cedar River at Palisades-Kepler State Park. On the way back, you’ll be climbing back out of the river valley to retrace the spur portion of the route and circle back to end in Solon. Other similar routes that bikers love are: Getting Away From it All which takes bikers outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, the Trains and a Tree route which will take you to see the Lone Elm tree, and Buggy Traffic Jam will take you through Amish country. 

For the extreme riders who want to tackle the Gold granGABLE route, a great trail to pump you up for the big day is The Gritty. This 105-mile adventure combines the somewhat flat southeast quadrant of Johnson County with the hills in the western portion by following the path of the once-popular race, the Gritty Brevet, which is no longer held. On this trail, you’ll see the Johnson County Fairgrounds, the home of Star Trek’s Captain, James T. Kirk in Riverside, and horse-drawn buggies as you pedal past Amish farmlands. Make sure to bring plenty of water to keep you hydrated throughout the excitement of the trip. If you’re looking for something a little different, other popular options for gravel adventurers include the Iowa City Gravel Metric Century and Iowa City Gravel Imperial Century, both of which will take you through a variety of towns and sights throughout your quest. 

Looking for Easier Routes or Local Bike Shops?

If you aren’t training for granGABLE and you’re just looking for a fun leisurely trail for a bike ride, Bike Iowa City has those too. Eastside Townie is a 10-mile trail that will combine local downtown streets and bike paths for a relaxed ride. Tour de Donuts, infuses sweet treats and sweet views by weaving riders throughout Iowa City and Coralville to explore some of the best bakeries and donut shops. The Lakes and Fields adventure is a 10-mile path that takes riders through Terry Trueblood Recreation Area and soccer park. This is the perfect path for nature lovers and bird watchers. 

Bike Iowa City also helps get the word out about group rides hosted by local bike shops and clubs in the biking community. Bookmark the Bike Iowa City Event Calendar and you can learn more about joining upcoming group rides. From exploring secret bike passages to testing your limits on mountain biking paths, you can find an organized ride for all your relaxed and adventurous biking moods. It’s also a great place to meet new friends and share biking tips. 

If all our bike talk has you realizing that you need to upgrade your bike, we have just the list of local bike shops that can help here. From Scheels to Sugar Bottom Bikes, you’ll be able to find all the shops and experts you need to make your next bike ride more enjoyable. Iowa City is also home to a surprising number of bike clubs and other cycling-related organizations, many of which will be at granGABLE. Some groups are specialized for specific interests, some are focused on racing, some like the social aspect of biking, and others work on cycling-related advocacy. To learn more about the different groups and ways you can join, we’ve compiled them all in a list here. 

Sign up for granGABLE Today! 

Take a minute and sign up for the 2024 granGABLE event. Registration for the May 4 event closes on April 29th. 

If you pause on the trail to take a quick selfie or to capture the scenic views, make sure to use the hashtags, #thinkiowacity and #bikeiowacity so we can see them. We might even ask you if we can share your photos with our followers on social media to spread the word about granGABLE and the amazing biking trails throughout Johnson County.