Have you ever wondered why the organizers don’t plan this ride to go from east to west instead?

There are two reasons for this. The first is the wind. The prevailing wind in July in Iowa is usually out of the south, southwest, or west. Take a look at this wind rose, which is for Des Moines, for the month of July given a temperature of 85 or more (which is the average high around central Iowa in the last week of July). You’ll also take note how little of an east wind occurs this time of year. Therefore, riders on average are not fighting as bad of a head wind. Sure it can happen, but a stiff east wind in this part of the year is incredibly rare.

The second is simply the sun. It rises in the east and sets in the west, and you’d rather have the sun at your back as the heat of the day sets in rather than in your face. Riders are usually the most tired right at the end of the ride with the sun beating down.

Sure, you could ride the other way, but it won’t be as pleasant as the west to east ride that RAGBRAI does.