IOWA CITY, Iowa (BRAIN) — Veteran custom framebuilder Tom Teesdale died Monday of a heart attack while riding in the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, RAGBRAI, the event has announced. Teesdale was 62.
RAGBRAI medical director Bob Libby told the Des Moines Register that a quick-response motorcycle and ambulance tried to help Teesdale on Monday morning after he collapsed. He later died at Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg.
In a statement released Tuesday, RAGBRAI director T.J. Juskiewicz said, “The thoughts and prayers of the entire RAGBRAI Nation are with the family who lost a loved one while he was enjoying RAGBRAI.”
Teesdale operated TET Cycles, based in West Branch, Iowa, for nearly 40 years. He is survived by one daughter and four sons.
About 8,500 riders are making the trek across Iowa this week. In the event's 42 years, 29 people have died during the ride.
More information: RAGBRAI site.
