{"id":1535,"date":"2015-07-20T12:20:31","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T17:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sw-businesssolutions.com\/?p=1535"},"modified":"2015-07-25T18:46:33","modified_gmt":"2015-07-25T23:46:33","slug":"members-of-business-solutions-set-forth-on-biking-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sw-businesssolutions.com\/?p=1535","title":{"rendered":"Members of Business Solutions Set Forth on Biking Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Man Up and Go team makes their way along the rural roads of Iowa.<\/p><\/div>\n

On Saturday, July 18, Mike Lofaro<\/a> and Rob Neal<\/a>, members of the Business Solutions executive team, along with a crew of close friends, embarked on the journey to Sioux City, Iowa. \u00a0There they would begin the nearly 482 mile expedition across the state of Iowa in which they would be traveling via bicycle.<\/p>\n

The cross-state ride, known as The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI<\/a>), is an annual bike ride consisting of nearly 9,000 riders. \u00a0Lofaro and Neal, along with their assembled cycling team, participated in this opportunity not only for their love of riding, but to serve as missionaries as well. \u00a0The\u00a0organization and corresponding team name is known as “Man Up and Go,” a charity that emphasizes the relief for orphans and widows, as well as those\u00a0who are\u00a0generally less fortunate.<\/p>\n

The team is using the RAGBRAI trip as a method of fundraising for the organization by sharing their mission to citizens of the pitstop cities along the journey. \u00a0The group rides as much as 76 miles a day, and then devotes their evenings to serving.<\/p>\n

Lofaro noted the difficulty of the process, but realizes the pay-off his work will have in the end.<\/p>\n

“Oh man it was tough but God has my back. \u00a0[These are] great guys and fun times,” he said.<\/p>\n

The group continues their trip each day in the early hours of the morning. \u00a0You can follow their progress below:<\/p>\n

Sunday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo courtesy of ragbrai.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The team traveled 76.5 miles from Sioux City to Storm Lake.<\/p>\n

Monday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo courtesy of ragbrai.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The group traveled 68.7 miles from Storm Lake to Fort Dodge.<\/p>\n

\"The

The group reaches the town of Fort Dodge to conclude Monday’s route.<\/p><\/div>\n

Tuesday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo courtesy of ragbrai.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The crew rode 72.9 miles from Fort Dodge to Eldora.<\/p>\n

\"rob\"

Neal receives a massage after a long day of riding.<\/p><\/div>\n

Wednesday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo courtesy of ragbrai.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The team biked 58.4 miles from Eldora to Cedar Falls.<\/p>\n

\"The

The pack sports their red Man Up and Go jerseys as they ride en route to Cedar Falls.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The

The pack arrives in Cedar Falls along with thousands of other riders.<\/p><\/div>\n

On Wednesday night, the team visited trailer park homes and delivered household goods to the residential families.<\/p>\n

Thursday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo courtesy of ragbrai.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The crew traveled 70.9 miles from Cedar Falls to Hiawatha.<\/p>\n

\"The

The group passes through the town of Hudson on the route to Hiawatha.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Neal

Neal takes a quick fall during the ride, though fortunately comes up with no injuries.<\/p><\/div>\n

Friday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Photo

Photo courtesy of ragbrai.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The crew rode a 65.6 mile route from Hiawatha to Coralville.<\/p>\n

\"The

The team passes Cornell College of Mount Vernon, Iowa on the way to Coralville.<\/p><\/div>\n

Saturday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"7SaturdayJuly25\"

Photo courtesy of ragbrai.com<\/p><\/div>\n

The group traveled 68.5 miles from Coralville to Davenport–the last leg of the ride.<\/p>\n

\"The

The team nears the finish line in Davenport, Iowa.<\/p><\/div>\n

Once they concluded the ride, the men made their way to the shore of the Mississippi River, where they, as tradition calls, dipped their front tires into the river water. \u00a0Participants also start the race by dipping the back tire of his or her bike into the Missouri River in Sioux City.<\/p>\n

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