'Psycho Sally' attracts 'psycho cyclists' to Albia cookie stand on RAGBRAI Day 5

ALBIA — For psycho cyclists cycling through Albia on Thursday, Psycho Cyclist Cookies was the place to be.

Jennifer Hess and Troy Folkerts created "Psycho Sally" to advertise their one-day cookie stand. A 12-foot-high by 16-foot-wide mural features the Monroe County Courthouse and the county's Freedom Rock with Sally's foam and epoxy head. Their stand sold cycling themed cookies like "energy trail mix," "pedal power pineapple" and "revved-up velvet" in addition regular fare like chocolate chip and strawberry shortcake cookies in the meeting town on Day 5 .

"I figure that anybody who rides across Iowa in seven days is a little nutty," Hess said. "Some people said that they look like that on the route. So it's relatable."

Hess teaches psychology at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. They heard the RAGBRAI route would come by their Albia-area home, but were told they should build the stand on the courthouse square.

For hours in Albia, Psycho Sally was the biggest star. People posed for photos with her. Some were confused.

"It's been amazing to see people interact with it and smile," Folkerts said.

More: On his 16th RAGBRAI, rider halfway to collecting enough pie recipes for cookbook 'RAGPIE'

Hess and Folkerts, who have been a couple for about 10 years, felt consumed by the project for the past few months. A month ago they began baking cookies in the kitchens at their respective houses and freezing them.

"It's all-day long," Hess said. "You think when you put cookies in the oven that you can do something else, but you can't. You got to wash the dishes and put the next ones on the tray. It's just been our lives for the last couple months."

"It started out with excitement, and then it got into a grind," Folkerts said. "Kind of like the people on RAGBRAI."

In all they made 1,522 cookies. By 11 a.m. Thursday business was steady, Hess said as she talked to a rider in a Cookie Monster jersey who bought a cookie.

"It comes in waves," Hess said. "We'll get a bunch then it will die down."

Psycho Sally was the icing on the cake after they baked the cookies. They took taped cardboard together, poured epoxy over it and made Sally's jagged teeth.

"I come up with the ideas and he makes them happen," Hess joked.

"Tell me what you want and I'll build it," Folkerts said.

Philip Joens is riding his 19th RAGBRAI. He has completed the river-to-river trek seven times. He covers retail and real estate for the Des Moines Register and can be reached at 515-284-8184 at pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 'Psycho Sally' attracts 'psycho cyclists' to Albia cookie stand on RAGBRAI Day 5