Race Across America RAAM

I reckon this one would be good to have a go at, way cheaper as well as its unsuported, I think Mat Chester attempted it fixed one year although he might of dropped out

http://greatdividerace.com/pages/home.html

I reckon this one would be good to have a go at, way cheaper as well as its unsuported, I think Mat Chester attempted it fixed one year although he might of dropped out

http://greatdividerace.com/pages/home.html

I've heard about that one before, there is some guy who has done it fixed a few times. If we are on about unsupported off road races the Iditarod race in Alaska although shorter needs some serious rep for the conditions.

the 2007 solo winner did 4183km in just under 12 days.

Does this mean that they don't do transfers but ride the distance between stage towns when the next stage doesn't start in the town where the previous stage finished?

Oliver, there is only one stage. It starts in California and ends in Maryland.

I'd join a team of four or eight for this. 100,000 ft of climbing could be interesteing though if it were to be done on fixed. Some serious stock of hubs and wheels would be needed for that.

Oliver, there is only one stage. It starts in California and ends in Maryland.

Er? I was asking about Le Tour Ultime, not the RAAM.

Get used to thread drift. ;)

Toss

meth is a hell of a drug.

Drugs are bad, mkay

Drugs are bad, mkay

Chemist!

Does this mean that they don't do transfers but ride the distance between stage towns when the next stage doesn't start in the town where the previous stage finished?

Yup, they ride the entire way. It's not quite the exact route that the TdF uses each year, but it's a reasonable approximation. The main objective is to drag you over every single big climb that the TdF goes over. :)

Dunno if this is any use, but 3 or 4 years ago there was a documentary following the RAF cycling team doing the RAAM, and very good it was too.

You might be able to contact someone for advice and tips via the website.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcycling/teamsanddisciplines/coachescredentials.cfm

That was on again a few days ago on telly. Saw it on Dave (freeview)... might be able to catch it on Dave ja vu.

They got a 52 year old musician to see if 'anyone' could do RAAM. he was just bitch. he couldnt even average something like 18mph on flat circuit for 30mins. then when he got chucked off the team at the last minute he was bitching and moaning like no tomorrow. such a gaylord. HTFU.

That was on again a few days ago on telly. Saw it on Dave (freeview)... might be able to catch it on Dave ja vu.

They got a 52 year old musician to see if 'anyone' could do RAAM. he was just bitch. he couldnt even average something like 18mph on flat circuit for 30mins. then when he got chucked off the team at the last minute he was bitching and moaning like no tomorrow. such a gaylord. HTFU.

I saw a bit of that. What a cock, even when the team finished and had averaged 20 mph he was moaning saying, "They told me I needed to average 25 mph they only averaged 20 mph I could have done that." No you couldn't.

^was it me or did u hear him say that he still doesnt understand the gears on the bike?

what's not to understand? It kinda pissed me off that most of the program was about this knob, and his training rather than the RAAM itself. weak

Yup, they ride the entire way. It's not quite the exact route that the TdF uses each year, but it's a reasonable approximation. The main objective is to drag you over every single big climb that the TdF goes over. :)

I don't like the sort of route that looks like a series of disconnected squiggles (CW comment about the Tour of Britain), either, but of course this just adds a wholly different level of hardship.

I rate more what people do who ride pretty much the exact route and then get in the car for the transfers, for some reason.

So, I'm going.

I mean, why the heck not?

Fuck yeah!

I'll keep a sketch diary while I'm there, and I'll try and scan it in when I'm back. Watch this space, I leave on the 17th.

Have fun - sketch diary sounds perfect. But I've got an image of you telling your RAAM riders to 'do that really pained expression again' so you can capture it properly.

More Opinions please! In about an hour I'm going to send off my spare parts and tools list.

Here is a copy of it, if I have forgotten anything, let me know!

8- Brake cables and cable ends@ 2.50 each- £20.00

8- sets of Zipp Carbon Rim specific brake pads (will we need inserts or do you use bolt on? This is assuming that you use inserts) @ 20 per set- £160

16- Spokes and nipples (I will need to know what spokes you use)- £16-35

8-Fizik bar tape and gel inserts (I might be a bit excessive on this, but I was thinking that you would want them re-wrapped every other day)- @ 20 (12 for the wrap and another 8 for the inserts? I can't remember how much they cost)- £160

8- Shimano gear cables (and cable ends)@ 2.50 each- £20

If you are bringing back up wheels, then we should be ok for cassettes. If not, then please let me know and I'll try and get ten speed durace compact ones ordered.

4- durace 7900 10 speed chains- @ 40 each- £160

2- back up sets of lights. I think that there are probably rules about which lights you are allowed to use, so I would need to see these before I could order more lights. My recommendation is a Cat Eye HL-EL135 front light as it's designed to actually light in front of you instead of just as something for other people to see you. I don't think the rear is as important, just a normal Cat Eye ld130 back light (or two) should do the trick. The other option is to get a re-chargeable set of lights, although I'm not sure what kind of leccy we'll have in the Winnabago. The re-chargeable ones that I recommend are the Cat Eye Triple Shots, it the only light that they specifically mention as being good for twenty-four hour races (EDIT just looked up the price for these, seem to cost about £150 each. Probably not worth it)- The two battery powered lights I mentioned come as a set for £25 pounds- 2 are £50
plus either AA or AAA batteries

1- spare helmet- I would say getting a back up helmet that is a universal fit just in case of emergency wouldn't be a bad idea. Specialized do one called the Air Force 3. £25

16- tyres- This would be factoring in a tyre change every other day as well. If you get the spare wheels then it would be a good idea to have wet weather tyres on those so that we can switch them out if we need to very quickly (I don't know what the rules are for this).
Continental Ultra Gatorskins for wet weather x4 @ £30 each- £120
Continental Grand Prix 4000 x8 @ £35 each- £280

16 tubes- 700x23-38 presta @ £4.50 each- £72

2 boxes of Park Tool's self adhesive patches (emergency use)- £4 each- £8

Pedal Spares- at least one set of spare cleats each, I need to know what kind of pedals you are using (I'm assuming Look)

total budget- 1,110 (this isn't including things that have notes on them, IE the pedals and the cassettes)

Everything else I think we would have to go through a bike shop for, partially because we would need specialized tools to fix or remove the part. If you can think of anything I've forgotten, please let me know asap.

Tools
I have a few tools, but because I work in a bike shop I've never really bothered to invest in some things, I'll make a note of whether I have it or not for each of the items (this way I can also use it as a packing list)

Allen Key Set (NOTE I have allen keys, of course, but I would prefer to use a torque wrench on everything that is anywhere near the carbon fibre. I do not have one of these, and would need you to bring yours or to buy one)

Tyre levers-yes

Chain Breaker-yes

Shimano Cassette tool (only needed if not bringing spare wheels)-no

normal range of philips head screw drivers- no, but I need them anyways so I'll buy some

Teflon Chain oil- yes

spoke nipples wrench (I'll need to know what size your nipples are)- yes, depending on size

Truing stand (this is a major wish list item. I can true the wheels against the brake blocks, but it will be much better and easier if I can put them in a stand, especially considering space concerns in the Winnibago. This is not something that is small enough that I would want to bring with me, it would need to be gotten in LA)

15 mil spanner- yes

adjustable spanner- yes

8,10,12 mil spanners- no

Cable Cutters- yes

Pliers- no (which is kind of shocking. I'll get some before I go)

Random stuff you may not have thought of (but probably have)

Assos Chamois Cream- the best on the market by a long shot. They also do the best cycling shorts if you still need to stock up.
The best food bars are done by Cliff, they also have started doing energy cubes (kinda like gelatin cubes, but veggie) that are easier to eat than the bars and the "toothepaste" style gel packs. It's nice if you are going to be on your bike for as long as both of you are that you have some kind of variety in your weird energy foods :-)

2010: LFGSS conquers RAAM?

I'm totally up for this

I think if it was an 8 person team it would even be possible to do it fixed.

Chain and spare links, chain ring bolts and batteries for the GPS thingy - cable ties/velcro straps, shoe laces, gaffer tape, stack of rags and vaseline. oh a few packs of those dentists gloves to keep your hands clean.

sounds fantastic.. v. jealous
fingers crossed!

Got the chains, hadn't thought about the chain ring bolts, damn good idea.

And Gloves! Well into the gloves idea.

IMO in addition:
Factoring in a minor crash:
first aid kit
another spare helmet
spare sunglasses
spare forks
hadlebars / stem
possibly a spare frame

*at least *1 spare set of wheels per rider plus rims and spokes if your going to rebuild a wheel (e.g. a damaged rim on day 1 shouldn't leave you without a spare for the rest of the race)

2 track pumps
chain breaker pin (2)
power clips
full spanner set
cassette tool
WD40
flat head screwdrivers
spare allen keys
you don't need that many chains (take 4) or brake pads (2 changes each) or bar tape (2 spare sets) or tyres (8 maybe?)
spare pedals
2 spare BB's
copper grease
shimano crank extractor (with the oversized adapter thingy)
shimano BB tool
spare skewers x 2 (in addition to spare wheels)
at least one spare front and rear mech
stem / top cap bolts and star washers
spare spoke key
spare water bottles
1000 zip ties
swarfega, rags, burts bees, sunscreen, gloves
copper grease
toolbox
music