Hmmm, the money issue is possibly the key. Better get saving up then!!
I have ridden across the U.S. about 12 years ago, so I got the gist of how mahoosive the place is.
At the risk of showing my innocence, I watched a RAAM Doc.and some of the riders seemed vaguely human, the sort you would see riding long Audax (i.e what I can do with some more training) and did not all resemble the barking mad Jure Robic, who asks his support team at one point,
"Why am I training? why do you make me do this?".
"No Jure, you are doing the RAAM now!"
"Am I?"
The most worrying part seemed to be the number of competitors who dropped out due to kidney or liver trouble, sounds quite nasty. A bit more serious than my PBP hot foot.
I am sure there are zillions of reasons to bottle out, but I have now got that itch.
Ta, Lord H.