Club Information & History
The Quad Cities Bicycle Club was organized in early 1964. The first QCBC letterhead displayed affiliation with the Amateur Bicycle League of America (now known as USA Cycling). Early activities included racing, touring, and social riding. In 1971 the QCBC was incorporated in the State of Iowa.
During the 1970s, QCBC activities expanded into participation in RAGBRAI (the Des Moines Register’s Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa), a formal club century (the Heartland Tour), as well as the Kwik Star Criterium. The club experienced a huge increase in membership. Affiliation with the League of American Bicyclists (formerly the League of American Wheelmen) began in the mid-1970s.
By the early 1980s, the QCBC launched a two-day ride called TOMRV (Tour of the Mississippi River Valley) that developed into the top two-day tour in the Midwest. This successful ride came to a close after the 2022 season. The QCBC had a great run with this ride for 46 years. The Kwik Star Criterium became one of the Midwest’s best bicycle races and is featured as part of a 4-day race series over the Memorial Day weekend. Other recreational ride activities offered by the QCBC have evolved over the years.
Our newsletter, Pedalwheeling, and the membership booklet and directory, rate near the top for quality.
In the late 1990s, the club created a Web page (www.qcbc.org), implemented community support for various safety projects, and initiated support of competitive cyclists. Now well into the 21st century, the club continues to pursue the goals stated on its original letterhead over 60 years ago as enthusiastically as the original members did in the 1960s.