It's an insanity.

It's called the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

♪♪ It combines the best elements of biking in Iowa.

You can hardly beat that.

♪♪ The Missouri River water that we guaranteed you would be here is over by the light pole on the other side of the sheriff's car.

For the bikers, I'll tell you what I've told you in previous years, take no prisoners.

♪♪ It was an accident.

We didn't really start this.

It just happened.

No, we discovered it, we discovered it.

It was out there waiting to happen and we're archaeologists of the future.

It was an accident.

Well, we were biking together long before the first across Iowa ride.

In fact, that's one of the ways it started.

We had this daydream to bike across Iowa and we were going to bike across Iowa and invited a few close friends.

Here we are with a few close friends biking across Iowa.

(harmonica playing) (harmonica playing) I read about it in Sports Illustrated last year and then a friend of mine from Avoca saw the local newspaper and talked about the bike ride coming through Avoca.

So, we said, well let's go.

I follow this every year in the paper, I cut all the clippings out and send them to my son who lives out in California.

I think it's lovely.

I'm enjoying it very much.

♪♪ I'm having more fun this year than I've ever had before.

♪♪ This year I have the feeling that for the first time really that we're doing this thing right.

Before in previous years, there was this tremendous apprehension, tremendous apprehension and this year that's not around.

I don't feel that at all.

I'm relaxed about the ride.

I'm relaxed about the organization.

♪♪ There's no good way to explain the success of it.

The chemistry is exactly right.

We welcome you to Jefferson, Iowa.

Jefferson is a very community-minded town for the simple reason is they're proud of their community and they like to show it off.

Oh, they love to show it off to strangers.

It's an adventure.

It's an adventure for people who lack adventure in their lives.

We love it!

♪♪ ♪ Iowa valley, I am coming home to you.

♪ That's one of the incredible things about the ride, I would guess that 60% to 80% of these people have never ridden more than 20 miles at one time.

And they think somehow by magic their legs are going to get strong and they're going to ride 430 without hurting.

It's very strange.

They hurt, but they make it.

I like when they complain to me.

I always tell them this and it irritates them, especially the kids.

I always tell them, you have to remember that out of adversity comes strength and character.

(laughter) And when they complain to me, I tell them no one invited you.

(laughter) If you don't like it, go away.

You can't plan a bicycle ride and say boy, if the suns shines and it doesn't rain and there's no wind, I'm going to have a good time.

You say, man, I'm going to have a good time no matter what happens.

And that's what this is about.

♪ Iowa valley, I am coming home to you.

♪ ♪ Iowa valley -- The rear end's a little sore, but that's to be expected.

It's the first time I've ever done anything like this.

It's a little hard work for seven days and it's a little let down at this point.

I enjoy having done it more than I enjoy doing it, as a matter of fact.

When it's over I say, oh that was a good thing, I'm glad I did it.

You haven't had a chance to get in shape this year, that's all.

(crowd cheering) ♪ Iowa valley, I am on my way home.

♪