This is a story from the WQAD News 8 archives from July 2001 by reporter John David.
When some ten thousand cyclists dip their front wheels into the Mississippi River in Muscatine on Saturday, it will mark the end of RAGBRAI but it's just the start of a celebration.
Pedalling along Second Street, Atlanta's T.J. Bankhead is getting some practice for the big finish.
"Muscatine was a great town to train in because you had all the hills, a bluff town."
The Muscatine native riding in his fourth RAGBRAI and it just gets more fun.
"I'm an Iowa boy," he says.
"Iowa has the friendliest people in the world."
Not to mention creative.
You'll find a dozen bikes reaching from ground to sky along Mulberry Street. Dan Clark's creation greeting riders as they cruise to the finish. A memorable sight to end the long journey.
"We've seen people get out of their cars and bicyclists take pictures of it, so it's been fun."
Fun for downtown stores catching RAGBRAI spirit. window displays set the mood for a biking bonaza.
And the sidewalk sales can add up.
RAGBRAI can generate up to a million dollars for each town on the route.
"We get a lot of people that have probably never been in the store before, shopping, coming in," said one business owner.
Coming to Muscatine to make RAGBRAI a success.
"We've worked very long and hard to make this a great ending city, a welcoming city."
Just talk to T.J. Bankhead. he can't wait for the big finish.
"It's a plus that Muscatine is the ending. You remember the town you finished in."