300+ MILES | 34 HOURS | 2 WHEELS
THE HISTORY OF TI
2004
THE CONCEPTION
TransIowa grew out of a discussion between Jeff Kerkove and Mark Stevenson (Guitar Ted) during a slow day at Europa Ski and Cycle, musing on what it would take to ride across Iowa in a day. On a mountain bike. On gravel.
2004
THE BEGINNING
Within three weeks after posting the ride, TransIowa was underway with a planned field limit of 50 riders and an entry fee of $20. It only took a day and a half to fill out the first field of 50 riders in online registration.
2007
TURN OF EVENTS
This was the first year the route was a loop and entry was free. TI remained that way for the rest of its existence. Zach Dundas rode along with Mark to witness and write about TransIowa in his book, The Renegade Sportsman.
2009
ON THE MOVE
TIV5 was the first TransIowa not run in the northern part of the state. It moved from Decorah to Williamsburg. In 2010 it moved to Grinnell and stayed there for years to come.
2012
"300 MILES OF GRAVEL"
Jeff Frings released a movie made about TIV7 in May of 2012. This film won a Chicago Regional Area Emmy for Outstanding Sports Programming - One Time Special.
2019
THE END
Everything has to have an end at some point. There was a “Greatest Hits” approach for the course to mark the end of a legacy of gravel riding in Iowa. The gravel family lives on.
Header image by Jason Boucher of Paul Errington (TIV9)
History background image by Steve Fuller (TIV7)