Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI 2012 is pleased to offer Breakfast on the Bridge, a farewell meal for RAGBRAI riders as they exit Cedar Rapids through the Czech Village.

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The Czech Village/New Bohemia District is a beautiful area of our town, and it is well suited for RAGBRAI volunteers to secure bike lock-ups, sanitation areas and water distribution stations for the ten thousand riders expected to pass through the District.  With its many shops and attractions, Czech Village/New Bohemia has a lot to offer cyclists who have never visited Cedar Rapids, or are not familiar with the area.  The relaxed setting will encourage riders to take a break from their bikes and enjoy the art, history, and scenery of the District.  Breakfast on the Bridge will send the cyclists off in style, and give them a reason to return to our city.

Beginning at 6:00 A.M. on Friday, July 27, 2012, riders are invited to dine near the Bridge of Lions in Czech Village/New Bohemia.  Vendors and businesses will offer a variety of breakfast foods and beverages, and seating will be available, along with water and assistance from RAGBRAI volunteers.

After breakfast, riders are invited to participate in a variety of cultural activities.  The Iowa Accordion Club and Czech Band Plus will offer live music, and Czech Folk Dancing and the Sokol Tumblers will also perform.  Art Bikes demonstrations and displays will also be available for the cyclists to enjoy.

Many cultural and artistic attractions, including the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, the African American Museum, St. Wenceslaus, and CSPS will be open to riders.  Signage for events in the District will be in both Czech and English, and windows in the area will be decorated in Czech theme.

Maps will be distributed the night before at area
campsites, and will also be available that morning for
riders to find the various food locations.  Volunteers will
wear red “Czech with Me” tee-shirts for directional
assistance to riders during the events, and several bike
repair depots will also be available for cyclist in the
District.

It is our hope that riders will exit the Czech Village/New Bohemia District with full stomachs and a favorable impression on the Cedar Rapids RAGBRAI 2012 experience.   The Czech Village/New Bohemia area of Cedar Rapids offers a unique, small-town feel with a cultural twist.  Making the RAGBRAI riders feel welcome is our top priority, and nothing says Midwestern hospitality like a warm meal.