What is almost doubly astounding is meeting people in a town that is hosting RAGBRAI a couple of weeks before the event is due to hit. They are so excited that the event is coming and, of course, the expectations of revenue are very big in small towns that normally don't see more than a few bicyclists each summer. I rode through one in 2008 on a transcontinental trip and some folks suggested I hang around for a couple of weeks to wait for the event.