2011 RAAM Race Report

TDL Team Live Forever completed RAAM yesterday with a sub 7 day finish time. We had no accidents, no crashes, 4 bike flats (no mechanicals), 1 car flat, and a new appreciation for the comforts of everyday life.

Our race was very competitive early in the week, arriving at the desert time stations like Flagstaff, AZ well ahead of top level teams. Unfortunately, we failed to execute a crew rotation system that could support full speed race pace. Crossing the country safely without delays requires certain tools and leaders that we overlooked. We basically rode the wheels off our train.

By Kansas, our unstructured rotation plan had taken apart the team. We were so mis-directed that I had to ride into Missouri solo after 15 hours on 2 man shift without steady racer and crew rotation taking place.
This resulted in some infighting amongst the team. Some people prioritized rest and safety, others solely focused on riding fast.

The conflict boiled over when a fatal car accident closed the race course near Greensberg IN. Some wanted to take the opportunity to rest, others wanted to find a way to keep racing. By this time, members of our crew had already contacted the RAAM headquarters to report that our team was a safety hazard. The race officials agreed and put a mandatory rest on certain crew and 1 racer.

So for 8 hours that day, we stopped racing and tried to sort out our issues. By this point, our competitors were far enough ahead that the race took on more of a relaxed tempo. Our transitions and our stopped time and frequency increased greatly.

We were able to bring things back together, have moments of efficiency and conquered some difficult terrain but ultimately the mixed agendas and priorities tore the team apart. We were also able to ride the last 70 miles of the race together as a unified team with all 4 racers on the road and a full support crew marking the course and keep us fresh going to the finish line (picture attached).

The race rewards prepared teams who limit their lost time. Its so easy to make quick mistakes, yet so hard to gain time. Pushing 1 or even 2 miles per hour faster for several hours requires a lot of precious energy and effort and only gains a few minutes. Stopping for minutes, let alone hours to rest takes you out of the race.
To all of the team, thank you for coming along on this wild ride. I'm sorry I couldn't be more clear on what was to be expected but until you've done RAAM (none of us had), you can't properly prepare for it.

I hope we can all take away something new, something learned, something worthy about ourselves and others. Please feel free share your pictures and memories...

Our 2nd start line - RAAM 2011

Some people say the race starts at the Mississippi. For T415, its at a little motel past time station 40. Our several festering wounds boiled over at once. RAAM won the fist round, now we fight back in round two.

Race Against Adversity

So here is an example. I'm totally zoinked from the preceding events. I trade up two rest blocks to get a six hour break. But to stop that long you have to haul ass up the road 125 miles which takes 2 hours. Then a motel check in, shit and shower takes 1 hour. Now the vehicles need gas, ice, and food for the next shift which I have to take the first pull. So I get on the bike after a 30 min nap and the incoming racer gets lost in town at the time station. Its illegal for me to ride the race course in reverse to find him and make a transition. We trade about 10 frustrated cell phone calls until I can get back to racing. 45 minutes lost. Again, I'm shot to france so I need a short pull. They set up a transition down the road to relieve me and his pedal breaks on acceleration. Again I have to keep on keeping on.

Its so easy to lose time and so hard to gain it back.

Running too hot, too soon.

We've cleared 2 states in 2 days and I've got 2 hours sleep. having to pull a lot of slack for the others but still having fun. up next: more climbing thru UT and CO.

RAAM day one drama.

10:27pm - Blyth CA

We are underway, about 110 miles into the race. I pulled the first solo shift to get us out onto the city, about 24 miles.
At our 3rd rider transition we find the road closed due to an accident. I don't believe there was a cyclist involved but the road was closed to all traffic.

That we really screw up the teams trying to get riders up the road for new transitions.

Luckily, our team seems to be racing ahead unaffected.

The race is crazy. Fun too. So far.

The explanation about 3 riders.

So the saga that previously developed was like this: our 4th rider Charlie, collapsed uncounsious at the top of Sleeping Indian climb. This was thursday afternoon on a course pre-ride.
So charlie spent that night and all of friday in the hospital. Our crew member Kim attended to him until 1 or 2 in the morning.

He passed several extensive test and decided to join us at the start line. (Despite the fact I had line up a pinch hitter - Dez Wilder).

---

From: Kimberly Ferguson <swimca@gmail.com>

Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:35:23 -0700

To: obie miller<obie.miller@gmail.com>

Subject: Pic

The start line of a 3000 mile bike race.

Team Live Forever

Where is the fourth rider?

The saga will be unveiled next post... :)

RAAM official inspection

Lon Haldeman, RAAM founder, was on-hand at vehicle and equipment inspection this morning. He offered some insider info and pointers for us to take with us on the chaotic journey ahead.

We made a few adjustments to our gear and left inspections early. Then off to official team photoshoot, which in the spirit of RAAM chaos was only attended by 3 of our 4 racers.

To be continued...

RAAM opener

We arrived in Oceanside today to register with RAAM headquarters and checkin at the hotel.

The beach scene at the Oceanside Pier was just right out of Baywatch. Kids skateboarding the strand, teenage girls in bikinis, etc.

After a whirlwind of packetpickup and jersey sizing we stepped out for a ride as a team at 4:30. The RAAM spirit was quick to blow us over. At the top of a considerable grade, we pulled over to talk stragedy. And this point marks the start of the RAAM saga.

To be continued...

RAAM fueling station

Racing a bicycle 24/7 (literally) will require a significant amount of calories. I expect to use a liquid diet while racing and then eating comfort food immediately after a shift.

These are the Hammer Nutrition products we've selected.