RAAM 101

Who are these people?
Competitors in the Race Across America comprise a wide cross section of cyclists spanning Tour de France racers and Olympic athletes to juveniles and septugenarians. People compete solo or as members of a relay team.

Why are they doing this?
For some it is the prestige of winning a category of the world's toughest ultra-endurance bicycle race, while for others it is the achievement of simply finishing. For many it is an opportunity to prove their commitment to a cause, and charity fund-raising has become a significant part of the Race Across America in recent years.

What is the race all about?
It is a bicycle race from Oceanside, California to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Solo riders complete the course in as little as eight days, while the fastest teams finish in under six days. It is about ordinary people being great, it is about realizing dreams, it is about being the toughest of the tough, it is about taking the national stage for a cause that matters… it is about the vastness of the United States of America and the drive and determination that has propelled this great nation to being the world superpower.

That sounds a bit corny
It is, but these kinds of feelings do exist, and RAAM is the place where you will find them. If you're looking for city chic, go to a downtown nightclub.

They don't really do it Solo, do they?
Sure they do. The Race Across America has a reputation across the globe for being the world's toughest ultra-endurance bike race. Extraordinary cyclists who can ride extremely quickly over a short distance (like about 500 miles in a 24-hour period) come to test themselves against the world's best in a long distance race (RAAM is about 3,000 miles). The solo competitors are the stars of RAAM, going on four hours or less of sleep a day, braving all weather conditions and the harshest terrain to be found in this great land. Very few people can actually finish a Race Across America within the allotted time of 12 days.

So compare it to the Tour de France
The Tour de France is about 70% of the distance of Race Across America, but they cover the Race Across America course in about 40% of the time. Only one person has ridden both, and he said the Tour de France was harder. But he didn't win the Tour de France, while he won RAAM. If he had been up against several riders faster than he in RAAM, he might have said otherwise. The Tour de France is run on a budget about 50 times greater than RAAM and it attracts the world's most famous cyclists. You have to be invited to compete in the Tour de France. RAAM is a like everyman's Tour de France. You can enter simply by meeting a qualifying standard, and you won't win a vast sum of money. But RAAM has an honest camaraderie that the Tour lacks. Both are truly wonderful cycling events and deserve your full attention every year.

OK, OK, lay off the sauce already. What's cross country team racing all about - how does that work?
The team categories consist of two person, four person and eight person teams. Those riding in the eight person category only spend three hours a day on the bicycle on average. Think you could manage that? Teams generally ride the race as a relay, but it is possible to ride in an echelon formation too. This is when riders follow close behind one another benefiting from the slipstream, where it requires up to 30% less effort. By switching the lead rider frequently they can maintain a higher speed than individuals. True synergy.

So what about all these vehicles with the signs all over them?
Those are the team support vehicles. Each team and solo rider has them, and they are required to follow very close behind the rider between dusk and dawn. Most of the teams have two support vehicles, some have three or more. Some of the solo riders get by with only one support vehicle. Companies sponsor these riders, and in return get to put their stickers on the car.

How long do they ride before resting?
This really varies. In the Solo Traditional category, they can go for as long as they like before resting, although if an official thinks a rider looks too tired, he can force the rider to stop for a three-hour break there and then. These riders generally take about 90-240 minutes off the bike each day.

In the Solo Enduro category, riders are required to stop for a minimum of 40 hours between the start and finish. This works out at a bit over four hours a day for the fastest riders. These riders have to take their breaks at Control Points, and they get to choose from about 30 of these spaced more or less evenly across the country. Then at five control points (Durango, CO, El Dorado KS, Jefferson City, MO, Indianapolis, IN, Parkersburg, WV, the Solo Enduro riders have to stop for two hours, like it or not. These are actually good places to get out and meet them).

What's a Control Point?
There are 56 Time Stations. At each time station the rider has to call into race headquarters in Atlantic City and report location, rider number and time. This way we can keep track of them. Of these 56 time stations, about 30 are designated as Control Points, but only the Solo Enduro riders need be concerned with that. Control Points are the locations where they are allowed to stop and rest. Then there are the Mandatory control points. As mentioned above, there are five of these, and the Solo Enduro riders don't get to choose: they have to stop at these locations for a minimum of two hours. Mandatory Control Points are great places to come out and catch some of the race, because you know there will always be some riders and their crew hanging around there.

Where do they sleep?
Some sleep in RVs, some get a motel room for a few hours. Everybody except the Solo Enduro riders can choose where they sleep - although it has to be within sight of the course. But the Solo Enduro riders have to sleep at a Control Point.

What does it mean when a group of people is clustered around a support vehicle?
This can mean a lot of different things. Normally it means there is a problem of some description. When there's no problem, they're out on the road following the rider. If you are at a Control Point, however, it may be that they are having a group meeting while the rider sleeps. It could be that they are simply chatting. If you feel like approaching them, maybe tune your ears in and get a sense for whether or not this would be a good time to introduce yourself. If there's serious business being discussed, best wait a few minutes if you can.

How did so many racers decide to get into this race?
The Race Across America has been running now for 24 years, so word has got around. As mentioned already, there are a lot of reasons why people do this race. One of the common reasons is it is a great road trip. Can you imagine how great it would be to have a crew of dedicated individuals tending to your every need, feeding you, massaging you, keeping you entertained for as long as you want while you ride your bicycle across a grand and beautiful continent?

Why do so many of them have gray hair?
Younger people tend to have a harder time with ultra-endurance events. It's partly psychological, partly physiological. Also there is the question of finance. It costs a five-figure sum to mount a challenge in solo RAAM

Why is #194 riding at average speed 19.5 mph, and #425 at 23.4 mph?
The numbers beginning 1 are solo riders, the numbers beginning 2 are two-person teams, those beginning 4 are four-person teams, and the numbers beginning 6 are eight-person team riders. In between Oceanside and Flagstaff, AZ, you might also see some with numbers beginning 7. These are competing in the 24 Hours of RAAM, a new offshoot race that ends in Flagstaff.

What should I ask or say to the riders if I encounter them at a gas station?
They will probably be pretty tired, so keep it simple. Let them know you saw them out on the road, express your hope that they have a strong tailwind and wish them well otherwise, ask if the race is going the way they thought it would, what their main challenges have been, if the motorists have been treating them alright… those kinds of question.

What should I do if I drive past these riders when I am out on the road?
Give two or three short blips on the horn about 100 yards back, to let them know you're coming. Find a safe place to pass and cheer and wave as you go by. It's tough out there. Your encouragement could be what it took to keep them from quitting.