Too Early to See Strasser Finish RAAM

Tuesday evening an email exchange went around for a planned 4:15 am ride to see Christoph Strasser’s RAAM record breaking finish.  He was forecast to arrive around 5 am.  We all went to bed knowing that it was possible that he would slow down and we might miss him because of work commitments.

The alarm rang at 3:30 am and by 3:45 the emails were flying once again.  Strasser’s finish was now expected after 7:00 am.  We decided we would ride anyway.  We met up at the 7-11 on Benfield Rd & Jumper’s Hole Road and made up a route as we went along.  There were only two stated goals as we started.

1. Go by the RAAM official finish line in Crownsville.
2. Stop at the Big Bean for coffee at the end of the ride.

Along the way we added miles, enjoyed one another’s company, found Dan riding earlier than we expected and he joined us, went to Annapolis City Dock to the ceremonial finish line of RAAM, saw George going fishing, rode some of our usual route backwards, saw two SPP riders on the 5:45 ride, and made it to Big Bean.  It was a wonderful morning.

In the end, just over 35 miles was added to my cycling log, and the first ride with my new Garmin Edge 1000.  I’ll be doing a review of it later, once I’ve put it through its paces a bit more.

Strasser finished in record time and at a record speed.  Official time was 7 days, 15 hours, 56 minutes (about 7 hours faster than last year on a course that was 60 miles longer) and an average speed of 16.42 mph, almost 1 mph faster than last year’s record.

There was one incident on the ride this morning.  As I was coming north on Highway and in the left turn lane to turn onto Boulter’s Way, a car came and made a “left hook” in front of me.  I nearly collided.  Those who were riding behind me warned me and couldn’t believe the car driver would cut me off like that.  I missed a collision by less than a foot.  It was close!  The car driver was definitely in the wrong.

Bible Verses of the Day:

Direct Aaron and his sons to deal carefully with the sacred donations of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they may not profane my holy name; I am the LORD. (Leviticus 22:2 NRSV)

So then, he who marries his fiancee does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better. (1 Corinthians 7:38 NRSV)