Posted on 06/11/2010 6:29:29 AM PDT by WackySam
The 29th annual Race Across America (RAAM) started yesterday, 9 June in Oceanside, California. 275 riders will participate in this year’s route that travels more than 4,800 km (3000 miles) eastbound to the finishing city of Annapolis, Maryland on June 18.
“The course is 99 percent the same as it has always been but there are always slight variations,” said Gary Baraff, vice president of development for RAAM. “But this year it still involves 100,000 feet of climbing and it travels through the same states. We have a few variations at the start and along the way.”
RAAM’s transcontinental route is the longest-running ultra-endurance bicycle race in the world. It will incorporate over 100,000 feet of climbing as it passes through 14 states including some of the world’s most mountainous terrain through the Low Sierra Mountains of California, heading east through Arizona to the jagged Rocky Mountains in Utah and Colorado.
Cyclist will take a break from the larger climbs as they head into America’s Great Plains, crossing Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
The race then climbs over some of the longest ascents as it heads into the final leg over the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern states of West Virginia and Pennsylvania before reaching the finishing city of Annapolis in Maryland.
The ride consists of soloists and groups composed of two, four and eight riders that will race relay-style across the country. This year’s event includes 275 riders who require more than 1,000 crew members. Last year’s winner in the men’s category was Daniel Wyss of Switzerland. He completed the 4,862.3 km in 8 days 23 h 33 min with an average speed of 24.59 km/h.
More than half of the racers use the event as a platform to raise funds for various charities. In each of the past five years, racers raised more than $1 million.
This year the Glass Packing Institute (GPI), a sponsor of RAAM, will support five Recycling Awareness and Collection Events in designated locations along the race route to help educate each community on the benefits of recycling.
The Race Across America Collection Events will be held in Oceanside, California on June 12; Durango, Colorado on June 13; Bloomington, Indiana on June 17; Oxford, Ohio on June 18; and Annapolis, Maryland on June 19.
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Currently, the leader Jure Robic has covered 764 miles in a little over a day and a half and is averaging an amazing 19.13.
These numbnuts came through my town Wednesday I think. What a pain in the a**. Hey Euroweenies- go away and find something useful to do.
“numbnuts” is an understatement. Their route takes them within 10 or 15 miles of my office. I may have to head down and cheer them on. I hear the ride through Appalachia may be the toughest part of the trip.
Go Lon Haldeman!
I doubt it. He won the first RAAM (I think it was called something else then) back in the ‘80s. He’s probably 60 years old now.
A great rider!
I was working in a great bike shop in college back then. Followed RAAM like crazy.
Geez, I hadn’t thought about this since the 80’s when I ran a shop.
Prior to the internet, we’d call the French Embassy and get the latest TDF results and post them in the window.
Man, the ‘80s were the heyday for bike racing in the US.
Alexi Grewal on his Pinarello in the Olympics
John Howard’s land speed record
Lon Haldeman and Race Across America
Greg LeMond and the Tour
I was doing USCF Category 4 racing in my Cinelli leather hairnet helmet - big stuff!
I still have my “helmet”!
It was great. I still have my hairnet too. Campy Nuovo Record, the classic gruppo.... Alfredo Binda Extra toe straps...
Don’t forget Gorski and Vails.
I also still have my custom built Paramount with Super and Nuovo Record.
Lost a pedal while the bike was on my car rack - aluminum Cinelli toe clip and Binda Extra toe strap. I’m still mad about that. Happened 20 years ago!
And the frames!
The Italian frames one could get!
Masi
Colnago
DeRosa
Pinarello
Ciocc
Tommasini
Olmo
So many guys I only knew by their bikes.
I have the Conlago Superissimo with C-Record (including those gawdawful Delta brakes) hanging in the garage.
Back in the day when 28 spoke wheels were daring...
A former two-time winner (Gerry Tatrei, AU) of that race used to use my house as a base-station as he was training. The guy would go and take little 40-hour warm-up rides (for great distances) and come back looking like he never broke a sweat.
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