The Ride Bike Shop

06/18/2026

Hello all, no Thursday Night Gravel this evening. I'll be celebrating my daughter Vera's 13th birthday.

See you nrext week,
Mark of The Ride...

06/05/2026

BIG NEWS, Fairfield! We are now offering bicycle rentals and we couldn't be more excited to help you explore our beautiful town and trails on two wheels!

Whether you're visiting town, showing friends around, someone just itching to try a bike before committing to a purchase or simply looking for a fun way to get outdoors, renting a bike is a great way to experience Fairfield at your own pace.

Rental Rates
• Daily Rental: $45
• Weekly Rental: $250

Available Add-Ons
• Helmet — $5
• Water Bottle Cage — $5
• Lock — $5

Please note that late returns are subject to a $45/day fee.

E-bikes and children's bikes are not available for rent at this time.

Ready to ride? Call The Ride Bike Shop at 641-472-1719 to check availability and reserve your bike today.

To learn more visit our website: https://www.theridefairfield.com/bicycle-rental

06/03/2026

Hello all, grab onto summer and ride! Hot weather means south winds and that means we'll be starting at Maasdam Barns on the Fairfield Loop Trail.

A couple things:

1) The Jefferson County Trails Council Scavenger Hunt is underway. Pick up punch cards at the bike shop, or trailhead kiosks, and drop off completed punch cards at the bike shop.

2) The Ride Bike Shop now rents bikes. check out the details here: https://www.theridefairfield.com/bicycle-rental

3) While not the next race in the Iowa Gravel Series, it is the next local race in the series and a fun one. It's July 18th; perfect for going into RAGBRAI exhausted, haha! Check it out here: https://iowagravelseries.com/albia/

We depart from Maasdam Barns at 5:30pm on Thursday, June 4th.

See ya'!
Mark of The Ride...

The Routes: 13.5 and 25.7 miles

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55478286

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55478338

p.s. We start at 5:30pm at Maasdam Barns

05/27/2026

Hello all, it's time for a change. Thursday Night Gravel will now have changing starting points, mostly nearer to the edge of town, to maximize the good stuff like gravel, dirt, loop trail, less traffic and minimize the in-town traffic experience.

SO PLEASE NOTE THE STARTING POINT IN THE POST AS IT WILL CHANGE WEEK TO WEEK.

This week we start at the Izaak Walton Golf Course parking lot. The Ride with GPS routes reflect this. The routes end there as well and all are welcome to stay for dinner and drinks at the clubhouse, (kitchen closes at 8:30).

We depart at 5:30pm on Thursday, May 28th from the Izaak Walton Golf Course parking lot.

Weather looks great! Warm and sunny.

Come join us for some fun on wheels,
Mark of The Ride...

p.s. We depart at 5:30pm on Thursday, May 28th from the Izaak Walton Golf Course parking lot.

The Routes: 14.9, 19 and 34.7 miles

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55354110

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55354166

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55354276

05/20/2026

Hello all, come join us for another edition of Thursday Night Gravel. The weather will be mild so you can ride hard without working up a lather. Time to start building those miles in preparation for the season's riding events.

We depart The Ride... at 123 N. Court St. at 5:30pm on Thursday, May 21st.

See ya',
Mark of The Ride...

The Routes: 23.8 and 36.4 miles

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55234792

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55234807

05/13/2026

Hello all, come join us for a bike ride! The weather looks great for Thursday Night Gravel. Time for some dirt road getaway riding, especially for the longer routes.

We depart The Ride... at 123N. Court St. at 5:30pm on Thursday, May 14th. We'll end the ride at The Mad Hatters for dinner and drinks. Join us if you can.

Remember, it's all about the ride so have a good one.

Mark of The Ride...

The routes: 14.3, 21.5 and 34.3 miles

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55114548

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55098966

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55098910

05/06/2026

Our Naturalist, Austin, and Mark of The Ride Bike Shop added some planks to the crossings on the Whitham Woods single-track trail this afternoon!

05/06/2026

Hello all! As my kids say when they're littles: Ride, ride!

Weather looks good for Thursday Night Gravel tomorrow evening!

We depart The Ride... at 123 N. Court St. at 5:30pm on Thursday, May 7th.

Don't forget: Iowa Gravel Series first race, The Kalona Horseshoe, is this Saturday. https://iowagravelseries.com/kalona/

See ya',
Mark of The Ride...

The Routes: 13.6, 23.4 and 32.9 miles

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54879924

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54879891

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54879952

05/05/2026

Hello all! Scavenge much? We'll, you're in luck as the 2026 Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Jefferson County Trails Council has started early this year. So you have even more time to get out and enjoy the Fairfield Loop Trail and, yes, SCAVENGE!

Punch cards available at trail kiosks and The Ride Bike Shop. Turn in completed punch cards at aforementioned bike shop by Friday, July 3rd to be eligible for the prize drawing.

See you on the trails,
Mark of The Ride...

04/30/2026

Hello all, no Thursday Night Gravel this week. I don't want to be responsible for sending you out in weather that will only bring you home churlish and hangry. God only knows the potential repercussions of that.

On a brighter note, head up Hwy. 1 a piece the weekend next for the maiden voyage/opening salvo of the Iowa Gravel Series: The Kalona Horseshoe! Rub shoulders with the gravel illuminati, (whatever that is), and exhaust yourself on the hills and valleys of the English River watershed. Keep a sharp eye out for a 32" wheel rig, the next 'it' thing in an industry that keeps falling for the next 'it' thing. Hell, show up on a penny farthing! With the right 'panache' you'll start a trend.

The link: https://iowagravelseries.com/kalona/, a guaranteed good time!

See ya' next Thursday!

Mark of The Ride...

Kalona is more than just the “quilt capital of Iowa”. It has a deep and long legacy of fantastic gravel roads to travel.