DES MOINES, Iowa - Thousands of cyclists continue their trek across Iowa in the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
RAGBRAI riders arrived in Winterset, south of the Des Moines Metro area, late Monday and local businesses could feel the benefits.
"I think the RAGBRAI brings an economic benefit to each community it comes through because you have thousands of riders, they're hot, they're tired, they're hungry. Each community takes care of those riders, but I think they also, by giving them cheese curds or beer, also provide them with that memory," said Rebecca Fons with the Iowa Theater, located in downtown Winterset.
Some of these RAGBRAI riders are veterans of the event.
"This is my 20th consecutive year," said Steve Whitty of Des Moines.
Other riders are crossing Iowa for the first time.
"The first day was horrible. It rained the whole time and yet that rain probably helped me to keep cool because the hills coming out of Council Bluffs were really rough," said T.J. Collins of Ft. Dodge.
The touring cyclists arrive in Indianola this afternoon before starting their longest single-day stretch of the journey on Wednesday when they ride to Centerville.
RAGBRAI ends on Saturday in Keokuk.