TOUR OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY

JUNE 12-13 2010

TOMRV is the Tour of the Mississippi River Valley, a Midwest cycling tradition now in its 33nd year. Every year 1,500 bicycling enthusiasts come to ride the TOMRV tour. They enjoy a challenging ride on scenic roads, through Midwest farmland, and along the Mississippi River

THE RIDE

We leave on Saturday June 12, 2010 from Bettendorf, Iowa (106 miles) or from Preston, Iowa (69 miles) and travel to Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. The next day we return using a different route to Bettendorf (90 miles) or to Preston (46 miles). The route is varied and scenic, using lightly traveled paved roads. There are many views of the Mississippi River as we ride along it, over it on bridges, and through it on causeways. The route is hilly near Dubuque, with 6,000 feet of climbing on Saturday and 4,000 feet on Sunday

You will have top-notch support services on the tour. The Quad Cities Bicycle Club provides many rest stops on the way with free food and refreshments. Additional food is sold along the route by civic and church organizations. Upon arriving at Clarke, the legendary TOMRV banquet is waiting for you. Clarke College and neighboring Loras College open their dormitories for our overnight stay.

This is TOMRV, a tradition of good riding, good scenery, challenging hills, good food, and an overall good time. So if this is for you, then plan to ride with us this year.

ON THE RIDE

♦ TOMRV provides emergency bicycle repair on the route and at Clarke College.

♦ There is a free secure bike lock-up area at Clarke College with an overnight guard.

♦ Massage tables are available at Clarke on Saturday afternoon for a separate charge.

♦ After your Saturday ride, relax at the Clarke Beer Garden. Enjoy the music of the band Catch 3.

♦ There will be a drawing for three $500 gift certificates redeemable at your local bicycle shop.

♦ A breakfast buffet is available on Sunday morning at Clarke for a separate charge.

♦ Showers are available at Preston and at Bettendorf at the end of the ride.

CHECK-IN AND START

TOMRV starts on Saturday morning, most riders leaving between 6AM and 8AM from Scott, or between 7:30AM and 9AM from Preston. Check-in before the ride at
♦ Scott Community College from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday evening (Recommended), or
♦ Two Good Park in Preston on Saturday morning from 7:30AM to 9AM, the Preston start, or
♦ Scott Community College from 6AM to 8AM at Scott, the ride start

At check-in you will receive
♦ A wristband entitling you to food at TOMRV sag stops, and admission to the banquet.
♦ A packet with queue sheets and other ride information.
♦ A luggage tag to allow your bag on our trucks for delivery to Clarke on Saturday and back on Sunday.
♦ A TOMRV T-shirt designed for this year's ride.

REGISTRATION

The registration fee gets you on the ride and includes the Saturday night banquet, food at our sag stops, and the ride T-shirt. Food is also purchased on the route in towns or from community food stops. The ride is held rain or shine. Registration fees are refundable before May 30 if you register online. Riders under age 18 require parent or guardian signature and must be accompanied by an adult.

Accommodations for Saturday night are listed on the registration form. Choose one of these unless you have your own overnight arrangements. Since we fill up all the dorms at Clarke, we have contracted with nearby Loras for additional rooms. Rooms are assigned to Clarke first, then Loras. A free shuttle runs between Clarke and Loras. A single room has a single bed for one person and a double room has two single beds. Clarke suites have six adjoining single rooms and Loras suites have four adjoining single rooms. Clarke suites are only available through mail-in reservation. The room or suite is assigned to the person requesting it on the registration form. Showers and towels are available for all, including campers. Linens are included with all Clarke and Loras rooms.

For accommodations on Friday evening there are many motels available in the Bettendorf area, and there is tent camping space available at Scott Community College.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about TOMRV that are not answered here, then check Some commonly asked questions.

You can also email the TOMRV Coordinator Doug Truesdell or theTOMRV Registrar Katherine Weeks.