Who’s ready to ride?

Cyclists have a way of leaving a positive impact on Iowa communities, which is why the organizers of an upcoming, Newton-based bicycle ride are convinced the event will not only bring an economic boost but will also introduce more people to the great amenities and attractions the city has to offer.

Joe Urias, owner of Mojo Cycling and organizer of the Jasper County Pub Pedal, also hopes the ride on April 22 generates enough buzz to persuade local leaders to give more thought into connecting Newton’s trail system and take proactive measures to attract more cyclists to town.

“It think it’s already gathering enough momentum that it’s starting to turn heads,” Urias said. “I know it’s turning heads in the community and I just honestly believe we’re just a few steps away from gaining enough notoriety to actually make a difference in the community. What’s that going to mean? I don’t know.”

Dan Nieland, owner of Nostalgia Wine & Spirits and an organizer of the Jasper County Pub Pedal, said the bar-focused ride was organized last-minute last year but managed to attract about 40 or so cyclists. Even more impressive was that about two-thirds of the riders were from out of town.

“Cedar Rapids, Ankeny, Ames, Des Moines — I mean, it was pretty cool,” Nieland said. “They saw a lot of places they didn’t even know we had, like the Izaak Walton League, Legacy Plaza, The Thunderdome. They sure as heck didn’t know about here at Nostalgia. We’d only been here, at that point, about six months.”

Most of the people who have indicated on Facebook that they plan to attend the ride were repeat riders. Nieland said a cyclist had reached out to organizers in February asking if they planned on holding another ride, which takes cyclists to five different destinations after meeting at Nostalgia and Mojo Cycling.

The first destination is The Alta House, then riders will make their way to Izaak Walton League, then Legacy Plaza which hosts both Gezellig Brewing Co. and Murph & Mary’s Pub, then The Thunderdome and then back at Nostalgia for food, live music and community.

Economic impact is obviously a huge benefit to the businesses participating. Nieland said if there are 100 cyclists in the ride that spend $10 at each destination, that’s a total of $5,000 worth of revenue. Of course, it could be much more than that by the end of the day. Plus, the data supports the benefits.

According to the Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling in Iowa study conducted by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition and the University of Northern Iowa Sustainable Tourism and Environment Program, recreational cyclists generate more than $364 million a year to the state, or about $1 million per day.

Obviously, Urias hopes cyclists enjoy the event, but he does wish others will see the good that can come from a local bike ride. With RAGBRAI coming up and the weather becoming more enjoyable, Urias believes riders are ready to get out and participate in these types of events.

At the shop, Urias has already seen an uptick in customers, too.

“People had so much fun at the bike ride last year that I think word-of-mouth is going to spread,” he said. “My hopes and dreams is that they take away a better appreciation of Newton, Iowa. If they take a better appreciation of Newton, Iowa, back to their hometowns, all that stuff leads into us getting the things we want.”

Pre-registration is not required, but it gets cyclists into a drawing for one of two gift certificates. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. April 22 at Mojo Cycling, 104 N. Second Ave. E., in downtown Newton. Cyclists will depart at noon. Remember to wear a helmet!