Check us out, RAGBRAI riders

Gazette Editorial Board

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They're just a day away. As many as 28,000 bicyclists will stream through the heart of Cedar Rapids on Thursday - Day 5 of the 40th RAGBRAI event. It's the first time in 22 years that our community will be an overnight stop for this annual weeklong journey across Iowa.

It's a big deal, and we welcome these visitors. We're even expecting a break from the torrid heat of late.

City leaders and hundreds of volunteers have worked long and hard for months. They've put together an impressive plan to accommodate, entertain and encourage bicyclists from all over Iowa, the United States and even other countries to see how far Iowa's largest city has come four years after our greatest-ever natural disaster.

RAGBRAI presents a great opportunity for our community to put our best face forward. There's been extra spruce-up and repair work along the biking route. After all, many guests are expected.

The New Bo and Czech Village area, including the African American Museum of Iowa, play major attraction roles. The recent completion of the new National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library couldn't have come at a better time.

Then there's the big Party on the Island concert, for which the city will spend about $250,000 toward costs of the entertainers, security, lighting, fencing, seating, and related services - the biggest chunk of an expected $400,000 budget overall. No small investment. No guarantee that it will all be recouped.

RAGBRAI riders likely will make a major economic impact. Most important, though, will be the impressions the visitors take away as they cycle out Friday morning. Were they pleased or pleasantly surprised by their experience? Will they want to come back? Move here? Spread the word about our community?

It's showcase time.

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