Anybody else following RAAM???

[uk elephant]

Turns out there is a Norwegian team in the lead......the team is from central Norway, where I'm from. Saw a story about them in the local paper on-line:

http://www.adressa.no/sport/article1100439.ece

It's their first attempt, but so far they are doing well and feeling strong. And they are over 2 hours ahead of the next team. According to the story they are enjoying the landscape too..."just like the movies".

[Mr. Bloom]

I had dinner at Panera and as I was leaving saw three riders. First one didn't register with me.

I did take note of #201 and #408.

They looked peppy for sunset!

[Zen]

I'm sure I must have seen some riders when I was coming through Mt. Airy area at 2:30 AM today. Who else would be out riding a TT bike in a skinsuit?

[BurrOakBobcat]

While running errands and sitting outside eating at Taco John's, we saw 4 riders in Athens OH late this afternoon.

Several years ago, when I followed the event much more closely than I am now, we rode from Athens OH to Parkersburg WV to glimpse more of the riders. It was really something to see Lon Haldeman parked in a lot; he wasn't racing that year but was in a vehicle.

It is incredible physical accomplishment to ride RAAM, on the one hand and, on the other, I think it's incredibly dangerous. Sleep deprivation alone sets up the possiblities for a lot to go wrong. More than a few participants, I think, flirt with causing themselves serious personal injury. If there were a built-in requirement for x hours of sleep for every x hours on the bike, it would be a more sane event.

[Mr. Bloom]

I stopped at the Time Check tent halfway through the ride tonight. The last riders were expected around midnight tonight.

BurrOak: You're so right. The volunteer said that some of them were really in bad shape and worn out. The weather here today was beautiful...I can't imagine what they'd be feeling if the weather was bad.

A local guy came through with his team last night and had 100 folks from the club to cheer him on! It must be cool to do RAAM through your hometown!

[Blueberry]

Didn't they try that with Enduro RAAM (4 hours of sleep a night, IIRC)? Wonder what happened to it....

I'd like it way better if it were sleep 6 hours and ride.

CA

[crazycanuck]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/sp...xcS3PeXF8EM5tw

interview with an interesting solo dude.

[Blueberry]

Very interesting article. Hmmm....makes one question the wisdom of doing such rides. But I do admire his dedication.

CA