Things to do
7 Bike Events in Johnson County This Summer
As we hit the halfway point of Bike Month in Johnson County and the weather continues to warm up, it’s time to look forward to some of the biking events being held this summer across the area. There are hundreds of bike events available with something happening almost every day until the end of September, so stay up to date with the full list of events on bikeiowacity.com to join in on the summer fun!
Week of May 13 – Bike to Work Week
Over the past week, Johnson County has celebrated Bike to Work Week, held annually leading up to National Bike to Work Day, which is held the third Friday in May. Cyclists from all over Johnson County were treated to breakfast at several locations throughout the week, encouraging residents to try out an alternative mode of transportation. Did you miss this week’s celebrations? Check out our recap reel and be sure to follow @Bike Iowa City across social media and sign up for their newsletter to keep up today with all the events happening in #bikeiowacity.
May 18 10am-3:00om – Sugar Cubed Marathon 2024
This Saturday, ICORR is hosting a race through the Sugar Bottom Trail, featuring cash prizes for winners and allowing riders to experience everything the trail has to offer – 12 miles of classic Iowa singletrack, 1400’ elevation gain – three times: Sugar, Cubed. For more details on awards and routes, check out their website.
May 18 8:30am-4:00pm – Big Grove Path to Brighter Days Run & Bike
This Saturday, Big Grove Brewery staff members and the Eastern Iowa community are running from Big Grove Brewery & Taproom in Iowa City to Big Grove Brewpub in Solon. After that, the group will be biking from Big Grove Brewpub in Solon to Big Grove Brewery & Taproom in Cedar Rapids. Participants may choose which portions they wish to participate in — be it the run from Iowa City to Solon, the bike ride from Solon to Cedar Rapids, or the entire run + bike event. This event aims to raise funds and awareness for mental health advocacy. Register for free on their website today!
June 1 1:00pm-June 2 1:00pm – Bike Library WTF Bikepacking Tour
The Iowa City Bike Library is partnering with Bur Oak Land Trust to host a free women/tans/femme (WTF) overnight bikepacking trip! Riders can expect about 12 miles of gravel riding or a 14-mile self-supported paved route to get to the campsite with water, drinks, a short hike, and a campfire! For more details on gear and routes, check out the Bike Library’s event page.
June 22 – Blackstone Bikes & Brews
Blackstone is celebrating its 9th annual Bikes & Brews ride that takes a casual route through North Liberty and local favorite spots! Enter to win raffle prizes at every stop and a bike giveaway at the end of the route! While registration hasn’t opened yet, keep an eye on the event page for more details.
June 29 – Big Rove
More details to come for the return of Big Rove in 2024, but this year will feature a dual start: choose to start at either Big Grove Brewery in Cedar Rapids or Iowa City with a shared midpoint at Big Grove in Solon!
August 10 6:30am – Courage Ride
This year is the 20th anniversary of the Courage Ride, a charity bike ride for sarcoma cancer. The event offers multiple routes varying in length from 18.5 miles up to 105 miles. All proceeds from the ride will be donated to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Iowa Health Care. For more details about the event, check out their website www.courageride.org
Recurring Weekly Events
While these are just a few of the bike events happening across Johnson County, there are group rides and more that happen every week and do not require any registration to join!
From 6:30pm – 8:30pm every Monday night this summer, World of Bikes is hosting a no-drop 20-30 mile gravel ride! The loop will vary weekly but it will always start at World of Bikes and end at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City. No better way to start the week than with a healthy group ride!
Bike Iowa City invites beginners and experts alike to a casual social ride at Sugar Bottom mountain bike trails every Tuesday night at 6pm.
The Bicyclists of Iowa City set out every Wednesday night at 6pm to new routes and locations every week across town. Be sure to check their event calendar for the weekly meeting spot!
Bike Iowa City gathers an informal group that departs every Thursday at 5:45pm from Riverfront Crossings Park in a ride recommended for fast-paced riders who are comfortable finding their own way home if dropped!
The Iowa City Bike Library encourages riders of all skill levels to join their weekly no-drop group rides on Friday nights at 6pm! The first few rides of the summer will be on pavement and only ten miles with different routes every week to enjoy.
