The announcement I’ve been waiting to share

I’ve joined a Race Across America (RAAM) Crew to support a solo rider.

RAAM is a cycling endurance race like no other.  Riders travel from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD (3,000) miles in as little time as possible.  Male Solo riders (under 60 years old)  become an official finisher if they complete the course in under 12 days.  This year is the 30th year this race has been held, and there are fewer solo male finishers over those 30 years than the number of people who summit Mt. Everest each year.  The RAAM Website has plenty of information.  The race begins at noon (Pacific Time) on June 15th.  There are nearly 50 solo racers, and teams of 2, 4, & 8 riders.

The role of the crew is to make sure that the rider is supported and is safe.

I’m working for Team Randy Mouri, a SPP member who lives in Virginia and a fellow Randonneur.  His RAAM profile is here, and his webpage is here.  You can follow Randy’s progress through the webpage.  I’m uncertain how much I’ll be able to post during the days immediately leading up to the race and during the race, as the demands on the crew are tremendous.

This weekend, beginning Friday evening, we will be conducting Crew Practice on the Eastern Shore.  We will be rehearsing the roles of the crew until it becomes automatic, smooth, and mistakes are eliminated and we are functioning like a moving pit crew at a NASCAR race.  Every minute off the bike lengthens the time it takes to get across the country … and this is a race (although finishing is the first priority).

Most of the riders use this event as a fund-raiser for a charity.  Randy has chosen Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia as his charity.  At last night’s fundraiser at the Dogfish Head Alehouse in Fairfax, VA Randy spun outside on his trainer for 10 hours.

Crewing for Randy is going to take me off the bike for 2 weeks in June, so I’ll have some catching up to do in my bike miles.

Watch here for more news as it becomes available.