RAGBRAIFrom the archives: Historical RAGBRAI photos through the yearsDes Moines Register1973: Clarence Pickard rides in the first RAGBRAI.Register File PhotoRegister columnist Donald Kaul, right, stops for a chat with local residents on the first RAGBRAI in 1973.Register File Photo1974: Ben Ulin, then 15, sips a soda among an army of bikes in Guthrie Center.Register File Photo1974: A mob of riders leaves Council Bluffs.Register File Photo1974: A rider searches for his camping equipment.Register File Photo1975: Riders climb another hill.Register File Photo1975: Two riders show off their bike decorations.Register File Photo1976: Jim Van Eschen, then 19, rests at a campsite in Grinnell.Register File Photo1976: Janel Wiechmann, then 18, coasts downhill near Grinnell.Register File Photo1977: Fred Schwink, then 15, rests after setting up camp in Onawa.Register File Photo1978: Steve Menefee stops to tie his shoe along the route near Washta.Register File Photo1979: A rider stops to dip his tire in the river.Register File Photo1979: Register columnist Donald Kaul stops to get his picture taken.Register File Photo1980: Bicyclists set up tents in a Perry city park.Register File Photo1981: Mara Krumins takes a break halfway through the day's route in Diagonal.Register File Photo1981: Tom Schlife pumps up a flat tire south of Coon Rapids.Register File Photo1982: Bicyclists climb a hill near Mount Pleasant.Register File Photo1982: Riders take a break during the route from Estherville to Forest City.Register File Photo1983: A group of bicyclists pedal on.Register File Photo1984: Iowa Department of Transportation employees Chuck Steinbach, foreground, and Albert Pierce, fill a seam in Highway 415 in Polk City as RAGBRAI bicyclists pedal past them.Register File Photo1985: Children greet riders as they arrive in Cedar Falls.Register File Photo1986: Roy Growe rides a Linear recumbent bicycle north of Nevada.Register File Photo1986: The Clevenger family of Monroe pedal toward Eldora.Register File Photo1987: John Davis, then 12, shakes his sheet dry after a morning storm.Register File Photo1987: Mary Stegebart and her son, Scott, pose by a sign near Denison.Register File Photo1987: A rider walks into the Mississippi River at the end of RAGBRAI.Register File Photo1988: Children cheer for RAGBRAI riders as they pass through Des Moines.Register File Photo1989: RAGBRAI founder John Karras, left, and former Register columnist "Iowa Boy" Chuck Offenburger.Register File Photo1990: Mark Wagner of San Diego unloads bicycles at the Sioux County Fairgrounds in preparation for his 10th RAGBRAI.Register File Photo1991: Jeremy Higgins, left, talks with Andrew Corson as bicyclists travel by on Highway 6 going into the Amana colonies.Register File Photo1992: Cela Fugate poses near her stand in Kellerton.Register File Photo1993: Glen Braddy and Kathryn Braddy ride over a wooden bridge south of Panora.Register File Photo1994: A cyclist squirts children with his water bottle while passing through a tunnel made of hay in Elberon.Register File Photo1994: A cyclists pedals his antique-style bicycle near Colo.Register File Photo1995: The Jacobsen family poses for a photo near their farm in rural Elk Horn.Register File Photo:1996: Alan Schroeder watches RAGBRAI riders from the back of his pickup truck with his kids Leah, 2, and Randy, 5, during the first day along the route.Register File Photo1996: Riders pass a sea of corn on the way to Northwood.Register File Photo1997: Chuck Cibula walks his bike into the Missouri River as his teammate Lee Wickwire contemplates the same move. Both are from Belle Plaine.Register File Photo1997: Mary Ellen Dittmer scoops out hot sweet corn for a hungry lunch crowd in Lacona.Register File Photo1998: Adam Ciha of Iowa City, with Team Ciha Pet, gives Mac the dog some water in Dike.Register File Photo1998: Joani Ellingson, left, gives a high-five to riders as she welcomes them to McCallsburg.Register File Photo1999: A group of California riders takes a breather from the day's heat and humidity in Clear Lake.Register File Photo1999: Leah Schoville of Blair, Neb., chows down on watermelon in West Bend.Register File Photo2000: Iowa State Patrol Officer Al Perkins, working during his ninth RAGBRAI, directs traffic south of Harlan at the intersection of highways F-58 and M-47.Register File Photo2000: Riders take shelter from the rain in Mitchellville.Register File Photo2001: Dave, left, and Andrew Schultz finish breakfast outside of Sioux City as riders pass in the background.Register File Photo2001: Riders file into the main street of Manilla.Register File Photo2002: Riders chug up the long hill past the historic Medora Church on Warren County Road G76.Register File Photo2002: A RAGBRAI couple kisses after getting married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale.Register File Photo2003: Jake Long, then 6, and his sister Cindy, then 8, spray riders.Register File Photo2003: Bicycles rest against a 70-year-old barn on the Mike Pein farm north of Glenwood.Register File Photo2004: Eagle Grove Mayor Ron Berg greets riders while dressed as Elvis Presley.Register File Photo2005: Paul Mittelstadt, 53, of Minneapolis wades into the Mississippi River.Register File Photo2005: A rider cools his head in Milford.Register File Photo2006: Riders dance in Montezuma.Register File Photo2006: Lance Armstrong arrives in Montezuma.Register File Photo2007: Tara Scieszinski of Albia has a checklist written on her arm of all the towns along the day's ride. Her friend Katie Bunch of Albia crossed each town off as they made it.Register File Photo2007: Riders fill downtown Laurens.Rodney White/The Register2008: Riders prepare for the ride from Missouri Valley to Harlan.Rodney White/The Register2008: Trevor Lyons of Connecticut balances his gear as he rides to the campground through Missouri Valley.Rodney White/The Register2009: Cyclists arrive in Milo.Register File Photo2010: Riders form a train while dancing in Dike.Register File Photo2010: Riders enjoy a homemade water slide at the Mary Weinreich farm just east of Kingsley.Rodney White/The Register2011: Emmy Shawver, then 15, left, plays with the West Branch High School pep band to welcome riders to town.Register File Photo2012: Kelly Alfers of Minden, owner of the pie stand, Kelly's Berry Best Pies, greets riders outside Marchus.Rodney White/The Register, Rodney White/The Register2013: Riders raise their bikes in celebration after completing the final day in Fort Madison.Register File Photo2013: First time rider Louise Stapleton enjoys some sweet corn in Vinton.Register File Photo2014: Riders roll through Strawberry Point.Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register2015: Riders make their way along the route toward Fort Dodge.Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register