Meet three couples who found that RAGBRAI was the road to love Norah Judson Des Moines Register Jul 24, 2026 1 hr ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Most people don't strap on their bike helmet and start pedaling with the intention of finding true love. Then again, most people don't do RAGBRAI.kAm%96 a_ae 65:E:@? @7 #pvq#px 9625D @? s2J c[ (65?6D52J[ yF=J aa[ E@ >66E:?8 E@H? }6G252[ H96C6 3C:52= D9@A $@>6E9:?8 q=F6 H:== 92G6 2 {2D '682D\DEJ=6 H655:?8 492A6= 7@C 2?J C:56CD H2?E:?8 E@ >2<6 @C C6?6H E96:C G@HD]k^AmkAmw6C6 2C6 E96 E2=6D @7 D@>6 @7 E9@D6 H9@VG6 7@F?5 =2DE:?8 =@G6 @? E96 #68:DE6CVD p??F2= vC62E q:4J4=6 #:56 p4C@DD x@H2]k^Am Mike and Kim Albers got married on RAGBRAI in 1989. Mike Albers via USA Today Network k9am(655:?8 @? H966=Dk^9am kAmxEVD ?@E E92E z:> p=36CD H2D 6IA64E:?8 E@ 7:?5 E96 =@G6 @7 96C =:76 H96? D96 8@E @77 E96 3FD 2E #pvq#px] $@>6 @7 E96 H@>6? 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D96 >6E |:<6 p=36CD :? `hgg[ D96 H2D?VE 6IA64E:?8 :E E@ 8@ 2?JH96C6] %96 7:CDE E9:?8 E96J 3@?565 @G6Cn q6:?8 >6DDJ 62E6CD]k^AmkAm“(6 H6?E E@ 62E D@>6A=246 2?5 H6 925 7@@5 @? @FC 4=@E96D[” |:<6 D2:5 H:E9 2 49F4<=6] “(6’C6 3@E9 ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E96D6 DA@ED @7 DA2896EE: @77 @FC 4=@E96D]”k^Am kAmp D:==J >@>6?E[ A6C92AD[ 3FE :E D6CG65 :ED AFCA@D6] %96 A2:C 9:E :E @77 2?5 3682? 52E:?8 2D D@@? 2D 6249 @7 E96> 8@E 9@>6 7C@> E96 C:56]k^Am kAmz66A:?8 FA E96 3:<:?8 E96>6[ E96 ?6H 4@FA=6’D 7:CDE 52E6 H2D E96 y@?6D r@F?EJ u2:C 3:<6 C:56] %92E <:4<65 @77 2 J62C 7F== @7 4J4=:?8] %96C6 >FDE 92G6 366? >28:4 @? E96 C@25 3642FD6 E96 A2:C H6C6 6?82865 3J $6AE6>36C `hgg]k^Am kAm$@>6 A6@A=6 DA6?5 2 =@?8 E:>6 A=2??:?8 E96:C A6C764E H655:?8] q6EH66? A:4<:?8 2 G6?F6[ 49@@D:?8 2 42E6C6C 2?5 7:?5:?8 E96 A6C764E 5C6DD[ :E H@F=5 36 2 >:C24=6 :7 2 3C:56\ 2?5 8C@@>\E@\36 4@F=5 7:?5 E96 E:>6 E@ EC2:? 7@C #pvq#px]k^Am kAmqFE |:<6 2?5 z:> E@@< E96 C@25 =6DD EC2G6=65] k^AmkAm“%96 C62D@? 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E96 A2C< 3J E96 36== E@H6C[ 2?5 q6==6GF6 D2:5[ ‘~9[ H6’5 =@G6 E@ 92G6 J@F] (6 92G6 2 82= E92E >2<6D 42<6D 2?5 H6 92G6 2 ?:46 82K63@ 3J E96 C:G6C] *@F 4@F=5 86E >2CC:65 E96C6[’” z:> D2:5] “qFE E96? v6C2=5 qC:?< 7C@> pE=2?E:4… HC@E6 >6 324< E9:D 9F86 =6EE6C 2?5 D2:5[ ‘(6 H@F=5 =@G6 E@ 5@ J@FC H655:?8[ H6’== 5@ E96 7=@H6CD[ E96 9@E6=[ E96 5:??6C[ E96 9@CD6 2?5 3F88J…’”k^Am kAmp?5 @? 2?5 @? 96 H6?E[ @776C:?8 FA 2? @C82?:DE[ 2 D:?86C[ 2 H9:E6 42CA6E 2?5 2 AC@76DD:@?2= A9@E@8C2A96C[k^Am kAm“(6 H6C6?’E =@@<:?8 7@C E92E <:?5 @7 9JA6[” z:> D2:5]k^Am kAmp== E96J C62==J ?66565 H2D 2 EFI65@ D9:CE 2?5 2 3@H E:6 7@C E96 8C@@> 2?5 2 G6:= 7@C 96C[ D96 D2:5] k^AmkAm%92E J62C[ E96J C@56 :?E@ pE=2?E:4 @? D6A2C2E6 3:<6D 2?5 C@==65 @FE @? 2 E2?56> 4J4=6] }@E 24EF2==J[ @7 4@FCD6[ 3FE E92EVD H92E E96:C H655:?8 42<6 — 2 8:2?E D966E 42<6 7C@> wJ\'66 — 56A:4E65]k^AmkAm%96 492>A28?6 H2D 7=@H:?8[ E96 A6@A=6 H6C6 3FKK:?8 2?5 E96 8:7ED H6C6 A@FC:?8 :?] u@C 2 76H H66<D 7@==@H:?8 E96 C:56[ E96 ?6H=JH65D H6C6 86EE:?8 A9@E@D :? E96 >2:=] $@>6@?6 925 6G6? C64@C565 E96 H9@=6 46C6>@?J 2?5 D6?E E96> 2 G:56@E2A6]k^Am kAm“%96 DA@?E2?6:EJ @7 6G6CJE9:?8 >256 :E C62==J AC@323=J >@C6 DA64:2= E92? 2== E96 A=2??:?8 :? E96 H@C=5[” |:<6 D2:5]k^Am Ron and Kelley Peel in Perry on Day 3 of RAGBRAI 2026, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. They met on RAGBRAI 41 years ago. Norah Judison, Des Moines Register k9amu2>:=J >2EE6CDk^9am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmz6==6J !66= 7:CDE C@56 #pvq#px c` J62CD 28@[ H96? D96 H2D :? 4@==686[ 2?5 2D D@ >2?J #pvq#px EC25:E:@?D DE2CE[ E96 C:56 H2D 2 72>:=J 2772:C] |F49 @7 H92E D96 C6>6>36CD 7C@> 96C 7:CDE C:56 2>@F?ED E@ 62E:?8 >62=D :? 49FC49 32D6>6?ED 2?5 E96 6J6\D42CC:?8 D:89E @7 96C 525’D 4J4=:?8 2EE:C6 @7 4FE@77D 2?5 EF36 D@4<D]k^Am kAm(96? !66= H6?E E@ 8C25 D49@@= 2E x@H2 $E2E6[ 96C 525 H2D 23=6 E@ 4@?G:?46 96C >@>[ H9@ 925 ?6G6C C:556? 2 3:<6 367@C6[ E@ ;@:? :? @? E96 7F?] %96 ?6IE J62C[ !66= 368865 96C AC@76DD@CD 7@C E:>6 @77 E@ ;@:? 96C A2C6?ED @? E96 C:56]k^Am kAm%92E H2D E96 DF>>6C D96 >6E 96C 9FD32?5[ #@?]k^AmkAm~?6 @7 96C 525’D 7C:6?5D 925 4@>6 7C@> |:49:82? E@ 5@ E96 C:56[ 2?5 96 925 4@?G:?465 #@? E@ 5@ :E H:E9 9:>]k^AmkAm“w6 D2:5[ ‘%9:D :D >J 7C:6?5[ #@?[’ 2?5 x E9@F89E[ ‘w6’D E@@ J@F?8 7@C J@F[ 96’D ?@E J@FC 7C:6?5[’” !66= D2:5] “%96 ?6IE 52J… >J >@> D2:5 E@ 96C 7C:6?5[ ‘x 36E J@F E92E’D H9@ z6==6J >2CC:6D]’”k^Am kAm$96 H2D C:89E]k^AmkAm%96J >2:?E2:?65 2 =@?8\5:DE2?46 C6=2E:@?D9:A 367@C6 86EE:?8 >2CC:65 E96 7@==@H:?8 J62C]k^Am kAm“(6 ;FDE <?6H C:89E 2H2J[” z6==6J D2:5] “xE H2D?’E =:<6 x 2=H2JD 925 2 3@J7C:6?5 @C E92E H2D C62==J :>A@CE2?E E@ >6[ 3FE x H2D =:<6[ ‘w>>[ E9:D :D 2 8@@5 7:E]’”k^AmkAmx? E96 J62CD D:?46 E96J E:65 E96 <?@E[ E96 !66=D 92G6 5@?6 #pvq#px ?F>6C@FD E:>6D] %96:C D@?[ z2>6C@?[ :?:E:2==J DE2CE65 C:5:?8 #pvq#px D@ 96 4@F=5 5@ :E H:E9 9:D 8C2?5A2C6?ED] %96?[ 96 H2D 56A=@J65 E@ $JC:2] %96 @?=J E9:?8 96 H2?E65 E@ 5@ H96? 96 42>6 324<[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 9:D >@>[ H2D 5@ #pvq#px 282:?] z2>6C@? ?@H 42CC:6D @? E96 EC25:E:@? H:E9 9:D H:76[ $2>]k^Am Jason Haney and Kerry Martens , seen on Day 3 of RAGBRAI 2026, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, met on RAGBRAI in 2018. Norah Judison, Des Moines Register k9amq:CE952J 7@C E96 3@@<Dk^9amkAm%96 7:CDE E:>6 z6CCJ |2CE6?D 5:5 #pvq#px[ D96 H2D @? E96 4FDA @7 EFC?:?8 a`] $96 46=63C2E65 96C >:=6DE@?6 3:CE952J @? E96 C:56 H:E9 2 3:CE952J 42<6 :? E96 324< @7 2 &\w2F=[ DFCC@F?565 3J 72>:=J H9:=6 E96 C2:? A@FC65 5@H? @FED:56]k^Am kAm%96 6IA6C:6?46 H2D D@ >6>@C23=6 E92E D96 <6AE 4@>:?8 324< 7@C >@C6] {:EE=6 5:5 D96 <?@H E92E D@>6E9:?8 D@ E@F89 H@F=5 364@>6 @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 962=:?8 6IA6C:6?46D @7 96C =:76]k^Am kAm%96 J62C a_`g H2D 2 C@F89 @?6 7@C z6CCJ[ H9@ H2D E96? DEF5J:?8 7@C 2 32496=@C’D 568C66 :? 2=E6C?2E:G6 >65:4:?6 2?5 H6==?6DD] qJ E96 E:>6 DAC:?8 3C62< C@==65 2C@F?5[ D96 564:565 :E H2D E:>6 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 7@C 96CD6=7] p 4@?G6CD2E:@? 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D2:5] “$@ x H2:E65 F?E:= E96 ?6IE ?:89E 2?5 2D<65 96C @FE]”k^Am kAm%96 C6DE :D 9:DE@CJ]k^Amk9amv6E >2CC:65 :? {2D '682D ]]] D@CE @7k^9am kAm%96C6VD ?@ 62DJ H2J E@ <?@H 9@H >2?J H655:?8D[ =6E 2=@?6 6?8286>6?ED @C 7:CDE >66E:?8D[ 92G6 @44FCC65 @? #pvq#px] {@?8E:>6 #pvq#px DE2776C 2?5 C:56 A@542DE6C p?5C62 !2CC@EE[ 2D<65 :7 D96 <?6H @7 2?J @77:4:2= C68:DECJ @7 #pvq#px ?FAE:2=D[ C6A=:65 G:2 6>2:=[ Q~9[ >2?[ x 5@?VE <?@H] p {~%]Qk^Am kAm!2CC@EE 25565 E92E 96C @H? A2C6?ED >6E @? #pvq#px :? E96 `hf_D]k^AmkAmyFDE :? 42D6 E96 =@G6 :? E96 2:C @? E9:D J62CVD C:56 :D A2CE:4F=2C=J DEC@?8[ $@>6E9:?8 q=F6 :? }6G252 H:== @776C :ED 492A6= E@ C:56CD]k^Am This report was syndicated from USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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