A special thank you to all those who have participated in our “I Remember Rippey” series. Your remembrances have allowed readers to share in our town’s history, activities, sports, school, church and daily life covering 150 years. We will continue collecting your stories through April 30. Phyllis McElheney Lepke is serving as our volunteer coordinator and stories may be sent to her at Rippey150@gmail.com.
There are many more wonderful articles to enjoy if you click on this link to reach the Rippey Library website: https://www.rippey.lib.ia.us . Then from the home page, click on Rippey History/Genealogy and you’ll be taken to a wealth of articles and news clippings, many provided by Rippey historian Jean Borgeson. Jean is a tireless researcher and great story teller, so you can continue to read about Rippey into the future.
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2020 Bike Ride To Rippey by Mary Dorris Weaver
Rippey welcomed the 43rd BRR (Bike Ride to Rippey) event on Saturday February 1, 2020. Always weather dependent, the ride has seen as many as 2,000 riders dressed in winter biking garb or outlandish crazy costumes.
Started in 1976 by Jim Walstrom and Dennis Hurley of Perry to escape their winter cabin fever, BRR remains the first ride of the year, being held the first Saturday of February. The ride was developed as a method to beat the winter blahs and to refute the attitude that nothing happens in Iowa during the winter. The first year, 10 riders ventured out from Perry to Rippey, Iowa, a round trip of 24 miles. The BRR ride has morphed into a major fund raising event for the Perry Chamber and several organizations in Rippey.
For 2020 Rippey brought out the Welcome Mat for these hardy souls by offering beverages, including adult beverages, roast beef sundaes, a baked potato bar, and tempting sweets to replenish the calories burned on that northwest 12 mile trip. Non-biker gawkers were also welcomed to partake in the food and observe the frivolity.
The Thirsty Pig, under contract with the Friends of Rippey, sold beer, shots, and soft drinks on the Main Street of the town. Profits were shared and added to the Rippey Sesquicentennial fund.
The Rippey United Methodist Church provided their traditional baked potato bar with a plethora of topping–broccoli, cheese, butter, sour cream, and chili. Pies and bars were served along with hot chocolate, coffee, and water to provide energy and as a warm up for the return trip to Perry.
The Rippey Lion’s Club served their usual Roast Beef Sundaes at the Community Center. For those who question this Rippey delight, it is ROBUST. It begins with mashed potatoes, a tender slice of roast beef that is then smothered with beef gravy, all served in a bowl topped with a cherry tomato. This is a must for first time riders. The Lions also had chili and bars, along with water, coffee, and hot chocolate.
BRR is a big fund raiser for the Lion’s Club, as they use the dollars to provide Christmas gifts, contribute to Camp Hertko, and aid with numerous other Rippey community activities.
The photo opportunity sponsored by the Friends of Rippey as a fundraiser for the Sesquicentennial…. “I froze my _ss on the BRR ride” was popular for Facebook posts. (See photo below.) Donations were added for the upcoming community celebration.
All riders were encouraged to leave Rippey by 4:00 P.M. on the paved county road E57 and south to P54 at Berkley to State Highway 144 Diagonal back to Perry.
Fourteen portable toilets courtesy of the City of Rippey were positioned around the town for the guests.
2020. East of Rippey. Going by the barn quilts on the property of Doris Stewart.