Ira Ryan wins Trans-Iowa endurance race

Framebuilder's party

Ira Ryan
File photo: 10/29/06

Local framebuilder, and ex-bike messenger Ira Ryan covered 300+ miles of gravel roads in 25 hours to win the third annual Trans-Iowa Endurance Race.

Ira, who also won the inaugural edition of the event in 2005, beat out 120 other racers for the win.

According to live audio updates provided by ultra-endurance website Ride424.com, Ira soloed for the final 12 hours of the event and was only challenged 20 miles from the finish, when he pulled away from a Polish rider on one of the final climbs.

Ira’s winning bike. The only bike to ever win Trans-Iowa (he won in 2005 and no one finished in 2006).
Photo: Ira Ryan

Veloshop Cyclocross Race at PIR

Ira in action at
a local cyclocross race.
File photo: 10/16/05

To train for the race, Ira did some epic rides from his house in North Portland. He rode at the front of the recent De Ronde van Oeste Portlandia, got lost in the steep logging roads in the hills west of Portland, and took a 165-mile jaunt to Tillamook.

Ryan’s trip to Iowa was made possible in part by donations from the community, and according to an entry in his blog before the event, his win was fueled by an iPod full of, “plenty of Cult, Van Halen, Distillers, Dee lite and Common.”

Congratulations Ira! I can’t wait to read more about it on your blog.

Check out my image archives, for more photos of Ira Ryan and his bikes.


UPDATE: Ira has updated his blog with photos and a report on his race.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)
tommy
16 years ago

IRA!!!!!!!
eff yes!
love, tommy

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)
Renee
16 years ago

Congrats Ira! Maybe it was the ultra sleek Ira Ryan decals…

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)
Steve
16 years ago

“Final climbs…” I thought you wrote this was in Iowa? 🙂 No, really, congrats Ira, not many of us would dare to attempt such a race let alone try to win it. Way to go!

Dylan VanWeelden
Dylan VanWeelden
16 years ago

Congrats Ira. Just another example of how midwestern kids rock.

Scott Mizée
16 years ago

Congratulations Ira! I saw one of you frames outside my building downtown last week and he told me you were on your way back there for the race at the time. It is great to hear that you won it again!

John
John
16 years ago

Dee lite?

Groove is in the heaaaaaaaart! Grove is in the heart!

Mick
16 years ago

Climbing in Iowa? Good one!

Tony Pereira
16 years ago

Nice one, buddy! Well done.
-T

SKiDmark
SKiDmark
16 years ago

More proof that IRA RULZ!!!!!!!!!!

Tom
Tom
16 years ago

Great Job Sweet Cheeks!!

Michelle
Michelle
16 years ago

Yeah IRA!!!!:)
Michelle

JeremyS
16 years ago

Congrats, Ira! Who needs blood doping European pros when we have inspiring heroes like Ira right here in our city? Cheers!