News

Upcoming Event: Pedalers Jamboree

Posted by ---

The Chichaqua Valley Trail in Central Iowa will be the site of the fourth annual bicycle-music festival called “Pedaler’s Jamboree Iowa.” It is named and will be patterned after a jamboree that has become a major tourism event the past nine years on the KATY Trail in central Missouri.

“What differentiates us from other rides is the fact that we are a music festival first and a ride second,” says Jamboree Instigator and Creator Mike Denehy. “At Pedaler’s Jamboree, you know that you are going to get some of the best regional and national acts, as well as a few local favorites, coupled with top-of-the-line stage and sound production.” Denehy, an Iowa City native, had grown up riding RAGBRAI on a yearly basis with his father before creating the Missouri rendition of the Jamboree. Other details include:

● On Saturday, August 25th, registered riders will be encouraged to leave Baxter on the Chichaqua Valley Trail by eleven in the morning. From there they will proceed down the trail for that day’s ride to Bondurant. Starting at 9:30 am in Ira bands will play for three to four hours in the towns along the trail, with food and drink vendors in all communities.

● On Saturday night, August 25th, camping will be at Lake Petocka in Bondurant. Saturday night’s music will feature bands playing on a major stage. As with every performance at the festival, top of line sound, staging, and production will be provided.

● The ride on Sunday, August 26th, will leave Bondurant between seven and nine in the morning for the return to Baxter, with bands playing in towns along the way.

● Registration is now open. Participants can register at www.pedalersjamboreeiowa.com

Pedaler’s Jamboree Iowa has announced their full music line up for the weekend:
Seratones​ -​ The Crane Wives​ -​ A Ferocious Jungle Cat​ -​ Brother Trucker​ -​ The Kay Brothers​ -​ The Underhill Family Orchestra​ -​ King of the Tramps​ -​ Ducharme-Jones Band​ -​ Molly Gene​ -​ Courtney Krause -​ Burney Sisters​ – Aaron Earl Short

You can find more information here – ​https://www.pedalersjamboreeiowa.com/line-up/​.

The Pedaler’s Jamboree bicycle/music festival is a unique and fun event that offers people of all ages and athletic abilities the opportunity to hear live music throughout a weekend bicycle tour along a care-free nature trail. The event was created in 2009 as a social ride on the Katy Trail from Columbia, Missouri to Boonville, Missouri. The event has grown from 400 riders the first year to over 2,500 riders in 2015. The growth and positive response of the Pedaler’s Jamboree has been so successful that the organizers created a second version of the event in Iowa on the Raccoon River Valley Trail for Labor Day Weekend 2015. In 2016 the Iowa event visited the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. The Chichaqua Valley Trail hosted in 2017 and again in 2018.

Past Event: Iowa Bike Expo

Posted by ---

January 22, 2018-

Come visit us at booth #316 at the Iowa Bike Expo on January 27, 2018.
Check out our new logo, new jersey styles, new trail brochure, CVT print by Bozz Prints, and upcoming rides.

Thank you to our booth sponsors: Founders Irish PubReclaimed Rails Brewing CompanyBoxcar BBQBrick Street Market and CafeCadillac Jack’sCasey’s General StoreThe Brewhouse No. 25, and Team 36 Bar & Grill.

Work at Mingo City Park

Posted by ---

  

We’ve been doing a lot of work at the Mingo City Park! Come and see our new playground! Thanks to all who made it possible in one way or another: Jasper Community Foundation, Mingo Development Corporation, Mingo Men’s Club, Halfhill Insurance, The IMT Group, Mingo Products, Inc., Adult & Teen Challenge of the Midlands, Liberty Ready Mix, LCI Buildings / LCI Distributing, Mingo Hometown Pride, Jasper County conservation, Casey’s General Store, and Subway.

Past Event: Colors of Fall Ride on October 21st.

Posted by ---

A huge thank you to all that stopped at the Mingo shelter for the Colors of Fall ride. We had between 70-80 riders and had donations of $362. Thanks for your continued support of the Chichaqua Valley Trail!

Flyer in PDF: ColorsOfFallRide2017

Fall Color Ride Was A Blast!

Posted by ---

Fall Color Ride Was A Blast!

We had a beautiful fall Saturday (October 22, 2016) for the Friends of CVT Fall Color Ride. Thanks to everyone who rode to Mingo City Park and helped make this a successful event! We hosted an estimated 70 people and received $309 in donations. Thank You! Thanks to our grill masters Deena White and Lori Cook. Thanks to PJ’s Deli (Newton) for the chips. Thanks to Karl Peters for the brats and homemade ice cream. Thanks to Jeff Cook and Lori Cook for the hot dogs, water, lemonade and soda. It was a great day on CVT!

FriendsofCVT4FallColorsRide2016 FriendsofCVT3FallColorsRide2016 FriendsofCVT2FallColorsRide2016 FriendsofCVT1FallColorsRide2016

Colors Of Fall Ride 2016

Posted by ---

Colors Of Fall Ride 2016

Celebrate the Colors of Fall on the Chichaqua Valley Trail.

Ride from any direction to meet at Mingo City Park.

Lunch served from 11:30-1:30. Hot Dogs, chips and plenty of fun.
Free will donation. Hosted by Friends of CVT.

Choose your own route & distance and meet at the Mingo City Park for lunch.

Download Flyer

Great Outdoors Rolling Adventure!

Posted by ---

Great Outdoors Rolling Adventure!

Pump up those tires and tighten your bike helmet, it’s time to hit the trail! The Great Outdoors Foundation invites you on a Rolling Adventure in Bondurant, Iowa! This biking event supports bikers of all ages with two different routes. The 30 mile Adventure Route is for serious bikers that are up for a challenging rid eon trail, road and gravel terrain. The 10 mile Trail Route is for families and bikers that would enjoy an leisurely trail ride to Malley’s Park. All participants will fuel up in the morning with breakfast provided by Founder’s Iris Pub. On your return to Bondurant, Reclaimed Rails Brewing Company is offering pint specials for all registered riders.

10:30 AM: All participants check in for breakfast at Founder’s Irish Pub in Bondurant.

11:00 AM: All rides start at the intersection of Main Street and 1st Street SE.

Trail Route: The family ride will start with a bike rodeo and free helmets for the first 70 kids. Once in Malley’s park, music from Abby and the Sawyers will entertain the crowd.

Adventure Route: Refreshments and educational stops throughout the ride in Chichaqua with the ride ending in pint specials at Reclaimed Rails.

ALL PROCEED SUPPORT THE JESTER PARK NATURE CENTER.

Register Here More Information Here

Congratulations To CVT Volunteers!

Posted by ---

Friends of Chichaqua Valley Trail was selected as Polk County Conservation 2015 Volunteer Group of the Year! Thank You Kami Rankin, Melissa Schmeling, Loren Lown and Pat Spain for the nomination and recognition. We greatly appreciate your support!

Pictured: Stewart Buck, Mark Arentsen, Maribeth Arentsen, Lori Cook, Mike Kaiser, Jeff Cook, Karl Peters, Melissa Schmeling, Joe Engel.

image image

What can bike trails do for your community

Posted by ---

The Des Moines Register published a story about the value that bike trails can bring to the community.  In the article, a recent Chichaqua Valley Trail event was also highlighted.

Thank you – Michael Gould, Shawn Birdsall, Lee Coons, Andrea Boulton, Rep Zach Nunn, Founders Irish Pub, Reclaimed Rails Brewing Company, Brick Street Market & Cafe and City of Bondurant in helping to make this a successful event!

Biking trails expand to East Polk

Posted by ---

Des Moines Register reporter Jonathan Krueger writes about the growth of bike trails in eastern Polk County and a new mobile app called “Iowa By Trail”.  You can read about it here.