I had the same reaction to it.

Anamosa is home to the Anamosa State Penitentiary, which is the largest one in Iowa. I’m guessing it’s also the largest employer in town and everyone in town knows someone that works there. So, they are probably just having fun with it. Since they house some of the worst offenders in Iowa I suppose it helps to have a sense of humor about the people that live just down the road from you.

….Which makes it even less funny.

Hally has it right. I grew up about 20 miles away from Anamosa. We drove by the prison and the prison farms often. It was nothing to see inmates working the fields and gaurds with rifles on thier hips.

A good friend of mine lives right next to the prison. You can look out his bedroom window and see the prison wall. I asked if he felt safe living that close. His response was, “If someone escapes, thier getting out of town and not hiding in my house right next door.”

I actually think the slogan is really funny. Maybe because I’m from that area, but we always said “Drive/Ride/Run it like you stole it.”

This phrase actually has bicycle connections. When the time-trial bike of Lance Armstrong (who was riding for Team Astana at the time) turned up missing before a stage of the 2009 Tour of California, TREK supplied Lance with another bike on short notice with a notation on a chainstay saying, “Lance – ride this one like YOU stole it”.

In addition, back during stage 17 of the 2004 Tour de France Lance attempted to give teammate Floyd Landis an opportunity to win the stage, telling Floyd to “run like you stole something”. Unfortunately, Landis couldn’t hold off the pursuers and Armstrong was obligated to take the finish sprint and protect his own position in the GC.

So while there might have been a better slogan they could have come up with, I’m OK with this one. After all, they might have decided on something like

“Anamosa — you’ll want to stay for 20 to life”.

-“BB”-

I actually think it is kind of funny now that I know the reference. I hope no one gets a bike stolen and then blames the town for the slogan. We have enough politics in the world lets keep them out of our vacation.

Kicks9

Thanks for the background. At least I can view the slogan with a different perspective now. I appreciate ANY Iowa community who actually wants to host RAGBRAI and did not intend my remarks as criticism of the town’s volunteer spirit. I know they will put in a lot of hard work to host our hungry horde. I look forward to being there.

Hey, it’s their town, I’ll just be a visitor!!!!

The Prison is really an incredible building. It was supposedly built by inmates from locally quaried Limestone up the road in Stone City. There is a museum and gift shop on the property as well. Maybe they will be open while we are there.

While you are in Anamosa, swing by the prison. It is very interesting architecturally. Made with native stone, it’s quite beautiful regardless of its purpose.

PS: Being aware of the background, I thought the slogan was catchy.

Well,it’s better than, “Ride it like your rich grandmother who spoils you bought if for you”.

Looking at their logo and knowing about the prison I NOW understand completely.

RIDE RIGHT

Being a native Iowan…and having never been arrested let alone spending “time” in the “hoosegow”…I caught on immediately and I like the town’s slogan. “Catchy”!!!
Cheers!!! 8)

I love this slogan! I love that towns get into RAGBRAI! I hope it is open – it looks AMAZING!!!

I thought it was hilarious! And Marshalltown was clever. Best graphics goes to Lake View with Brake by the lake!