News : RAGBRAI: Meeting begins months of preparation for July 26 ride-through

The Vinton RAGBRAI meeting began with a short video of the history of the annual ride across Iowa.

VU director Nathan Hesson begins the meeting on the RAGBRAI ride-through Sunday at the Palace.

More than 80 people sat in the Palace Theatre Sunday afternoon, snacking on soda and complimentary popcorn as they watched a movie.

But what they saw on the big screen was not from Hollywood, but Des Moines: A short video history of RAGBRAI.

The video explained how the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa began, and how it has grown into one of Iowa's biggest annual events. The audience then heard several local residents explain what needs to be done in preparation for the day that 12,000 to 15,000 cyclists and support team members ride through town.

VU Director Nathan Hesson began the meeting.

"We need lots of help and lots of support," he told the audience.

Hesson then introduced the committee chairs, who each explained their role in the event. The committee leaders also urged anyone who is interested to sign up to be part of their committees.

Dave Redlinger is the head of the Security committee. He explained the route, and the need for many volunteers for flaggers at several intersections. The bikers will ride in from Garrison on Highway 218, then take 4th Street through downtown. The entertainment, vendors and portable restrooms will be located in the downtown area, from B Avenue to Second Avenue. There will be a main stage near the courthouse, and a Budweiser stage at the corner of First Avenue and Fifth Street.

After leaving the downtown area, the riders will proceed east on 4th Street, the turn south on 8th Ave. They will turn east again on 13th Street and follow the County Home Road toward Shellsburg, ending up in Cedar Rapids to spend the night.

Duane Randall is the chairman of the Entertainment Committee. He told the audience that his committee, which he dubbed "Randall's Rowdies," is in charge of finding entertainment for that afternoon. But because July 26 falls during the week (a Thursday), many acts will not be available.

City Coordinator Andy Lent is in charge of the Sanitation Committee, which has the jobs of obtaining the dozens of portable toilets that will be needed, as well as garbage removal.

Jeff Peterson, a frequent RAGBRAI rider, is in charge of the hospitality committee. He said his goal is to create an event that leaves a lasting impression on riders who may be seeing Vinton for the first time. He told the audience about the year he rode through Eagle Grove, where residents had placed classic cars in each driveway along the route to welcome visitors. For the rest of the ride, he said, cyclists continued to comment about what they had seen in Eagle Grove. Peterson said he hopes for the same result from the Vinton ride-through.

Matt Salger is in charge of the Vendor Committee. He and Hesson will be working with the city on issuing permits to those who want to sell food and other items to the cyclists that day.

Tami Stark is the communications chairperson for the Vinton RAGBRAI event.

"Our main concern is that people get the information they need," said Stark. "One thing that we didn't stress enough today is the fact that 99% of what the local committee is doing is mandated and/or suggested by the actual RAGBRAI organization. We changed a portion of the wording on the vendor form, and that is all. Fees and policies are standard RAGBRAI procedures that have been proven over the decades to work for communities."

Vendor Information

Business owners and members of service organizations who are interested in selling concessions and other items also received some basic information. While anyone can set up a booth on private property without obtaining a permit from the city, those who set up booths on public property must pay a permit fee of $350 or $400 for a space with electricity.

Each vendor is also responsible for obtaining a permit from the Black Hawk County Health Inspector's Office. Those permits cost $33; anyone selling food must obtain a permit, even if selling on private property.

RAGBRAI officials have given local leaders some basic tips for a successful day:

1. Keep all of the vendors close together, along the route.

2. Keep pricing simple, in whole dollars (cyclists do not like to handle change).

3. Keep the products as simple as possible. For example: Sell whole apples, not apple slices, because selling sliced apples requires refrigeration.

Hesson said a meeting for vendors will be set up a few weeks before the event, to provide more specific information.

Vendors should contact Hesson for permit applications. His email is nathan@vintoniowa.org.