* RAGBRAI needs more portable toilets on the front part of each day's ride. There are plenty in the overnight towns, and in the daily halfway 'meeting' town. But in the first 25 or so miles of the day, they can be very sparse, not including cornfields. I propose they set up an area of 100 or so portable toilets around the 10-15 mile mark. This is where most riders, souped up on breakfast and/or coffee, need the break. Food and retail vendors would even help to pay for the cost, knowing there will be a logjam of riders there (pun very much intended).
* One of the most dangerous things about riding with so many others is actually going uphill. My second day was very hilly, and so many people are barely pedaling or walking up these hills that you have a relatively unsafe blob of riders together, wobbling on bikes in a small area. On most occasions, the better riders have to move way over to the left just to keep their cadence going and avoid a crash.
* Three years ago I blogged that there was hardly any pie on the ride anymore. I'm happy to say there were several places selling a variety of fruit pie (yea for pineapple pie!) on the two days I rode. One place even had fried pie on a stick - an awesome combination for riders.
* Speaking of food on a stick, one of the best RAGBRAI stops ever had to be the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Yes, it was too close to the start of the day to get a huge crowd, but if ever there was a perfect venue for these cyclists, it was there. Lots of food, shade, even indoor restrooms. As I tweeted that day, the only thing out of place was that the riders were better dressed in their spandex than most usual fair goers!
* Speaking of stops, determining what will be successful is really part art, part science. I think the best strategy is being separate in the country, and together in the town. Vendors on the road who are too close to each other won't get big crowds, nor will places on the the edges of a town that has a centralized vendor area. Having beer and music isn't enough to draw a good crowd anymore. Being unique helps, but still, it has to be in the right location.
* My favorite team name was Team Brick. Slogan: If it was well built, we laid it! And there was a tie for my favorite t-shirt. One said, "Forecast for tonight: Beer. Low standards. Poor decisions. Beer." The other said, "Does this shirt make me look drunk?"
It was two days of carefree fun. Is there any other kind?
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