RocknRail 1850, which will be July 6, is known as a criterium bike race, according to Meg Beshey, one of the race’s organizers. A criterium is a bike race that consists of several laps around a closed circuit.

The route for this race will take bicyclists around downtown Fort Dodge, from Central Avenue to Eighth Street, then to First Avenue North, Fourth Street then back on Central Avenue, eventually ending between Sixth and Seventh streets.

Beshey said the judge of the race sets the amount of time the racers need to ride.

“Whoever gets to the finish line first, they get a beautiful hand-made trophy and a cash prize,” she said.

There are also different divisions and categories. The series leader, once all the points are tallied, will get a special custom-made jersey.

“It’s like the Tour de France where, if you’re the winner in a certain division, you get a special jersey,” Beshey said. “They started doing that with the Iowa Memorial Cup race series.”

The RocknRail 1850 is a part of the series, which will continue the following weekend in Clear Lake.

Beshey said about 125 racers are expected in Fort Dodge, but that number could go up to 150 or even higher, because two races in the series had to be canceled due to bad weather and flooding.

“Last year we had some surprise sign-ups the day of the race,” she said. “They were so thrilled that there was a bike race happening in Fort Dodge.”

She went on to describe the RocknRail 1850 as a family reunion, as many members of the biking community in Iowa know each other.

“I’m really excited about this,” Beshey said. “The whole tribe is coming.”

In addition, participants, spectators and volunteers will also be getting free sunscreen, provided by a grant from a sun safety awareness program.

Beshey said three gallons will be provided.

“When people are down there watching the race, if they forgot sunscreen at home, we’ll have you covered, literally, by putting on sunscreen,” she said. “The Trinity Cancer Center will be down there for a little while giving away free lip balm.”

The purpose, according to Beshey, is to show that, no matter what is going on, skin needs to be protected.

Any sunscreen not used is donated to Webster County Conservation so it can be used with their outdoor programming. Beshey said last year some of the unused sunscreen was used at Camp WaNoKi.

Additionally, the public is welcome to come down and watch. Beshey said organizers will need help from the public in determining different award winners, such as who has the best tent or who has the best socks.

Beshey also recently learned that USA Cycling, one of the event’s sponsors, will be present and selling official merchandise at a pop-up store located between Fifth and Sixth streets.

She added that RocknRail 1850 is the only place in Iowa where USA Cycling official merchandise can be bought.

Beshey also asked people that live in the downtown area to move their cars off the path during the hours of the race, which is 1 to 8 p.m.

And she said, for the safety of the spectators and bicyclists, those who want to cross the street during the race will need to cross where a volunteer is located.

“It’s free to watch and they can sit anywhere along the course and cheer them on when they go by,” Beshey said. “Ring a cowbell or take a wooden spoon to a pie pan and make noise. They love that interaction with the crowd.”