WE'VE MOVED

No more confusing CVS's.  No more Loop de Loop around the block.  The new Time Station #39 in Bloomington, Indiana is farther out toward the edge of town on East 3rd St (IN-46).







There will be the famous Office Lounge on your right to grab a famous Indiana Tenderloin.  Remember RAAM Crews, no beers until Annapolis.

Then, a Circle K to your left to fill up that support vehicle or RV.

The time station will be in this small parking lot with easy access in and out.  There will be a canopy tent there with parking for cars.  An RV or 2 can park here but only for a short time or for a rider exchange.

If you're driving the RV and want to take a long break, then before the time station turn right here on Park Ridge Rd, watch for signs

and then turn left into the Mr Hibachi parking lot.  Proceed through the lot into another parking lot for trucks and there's plenty of room

Mr Hibachi is Bloomington's best Chinese Buffet if you want to chow down.



And then there's Bruster's acrosss the street for some ice cream.

There's Summerhouse Inn across the street.  The owner is quite the bicycle fan and talked me into moving the time station over here.  He will have a hospitality room for all of you.  Probably some rooms to nap in, and just maybe a shower for all you hard working RAAM crews.



Let me know if you see this guy out
around the streets of Bloomington.

I'll be waiting for y'all
to arrive.

Well, less than 24 hours from the start of RAAM and RAW (they stop at Durango, CO), so I should look at all the teams and solo's that hopefully will be travelling through Bloomington, INDIANA next week.

By the time the solo's arrive here, they are pretty much zombies.  The crews are looking for some civilization and Bloomington is the place to be.  We are the largest city along the RAAM route and the time station is across from a mall and there are lots of nearby restaurants.  The famous loop de loop is still on the route so be carefull just after the time station.

CREWS: DO NOT USE THE RAAM HANDBOOK'S ALTERNATE ROUTE THROUGH BLOOMINGTON.  IT GOES THROUGH OLD TOWN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE ARE T'S AND JOGS - VERY HARD FOR LARGE RV'S.  JUST AS YOU ENTER THE METRO AREA OF BLOOMINGTON AND TRAFFIC TURN LEFT ONTO CURRY PIKE AND THEN FOLLOW THE RIDERS' ROUTE.

SOLO RIDERS:

Well, it looks like the favorite is past winner Christoph Strasser of Austria.  He did not race last year as Pierre Bischoff of Germany won, and he is not racing this year.  I'm always pulling for Marko Baloh of Slovenia - a classy guy that's been racing for a while.  Other notable internationals are Chris Hopkinson (UK) Gerhaud Gulewicz, (AUT), Henning Larsen (DNK), Mark Pattinson (UK).  There's one US soloist that I need to mention.  Joel Southern from California, and an adopted Hoosier has raced and hold records in more classifications of RAAM than anyone.  This year he's attempting solo, and two Hoosiers, Steve Gerbig and Dave Tanner, are in Joel's crew.  Another US soloist is Tom McKenna, who has RAAM legend, Lon Haldeman, on his crew.

There are a handful of women solo's, and again the most notable is veteran Seana Hogan.

I see Sandy Earl, originally from Ft Wayne, is racing a 2 person recumbent team.  4 Dudes Race 3000 miles for a Cure" includes Chris Clemons, a "digital nomad" but claims Geneva, IN as home.

There's a 4 man team from SC named Bike Law, and is promoting a national hotline of Bike Attorneys.  Check out their website.

And finally, we have a 8 man team mostly from Columbus, Indiana and are sponsored by Southern Hills Youth for Christ of Bloomington,  I'm sure there will be a big crowd at TS 39 when they come through.

Just riding on campus (IU) and stopped to listen to Hoagy!

Hello Ultra Distance Cycling Enthusiasts:  Bloomington, Indiana is alive and well.  We are still "the shangrila of Indiana", a liberal college town always bucking heads with the current political landscape.

The city is now a GOLD level League of American Bicyclists Bike Friendly City, as we are striving to get to platinum one of these years.  A few causes will help us achieve this.

USBR 235 is a scenic spur of USBR 35 in Indiana and for the past couple of years, along with Adventure Cycling and INDOT I have been trying to get official recognition of this by all jurisdictions along the way.  When completed this will be quite a scenic and bicycle historic route that starts in Indianapolis and through Martinsville, Bloomington, Nashville and ending south of Columbus.

Our Bloomington Bicycle Club is promoting the building of a bike/ped bridge over the soon to be completed Interstate 69.  This I-69 divides our metropolitan area and we feel we need a safe passageway for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The city and county continue to add bicycle facilities but too slowly by my account.  We have been working with both governments in achieving this bicycle mission.

Sylvia and I just saw the filming of 3089 Miles Across America up in Indy along with a film about the US/UK 8 man team record holder in RAAM.  They were both well done and inspiring.  I was honored to be included in the credits along with the other time station captains.

We're the largest metropolitan area along the route, so we have everything to offer here.  We encourage all the crews to stop and we'll assist you with whatever you may need.  I always take a break from cycling during the 5 days of RAAM here in Bloomington, and again we strive to be there 24/7 for y'all.

See you in June.

Use Facebook

Follow Time Station 39, Bloomington, IN on our Facebook Page, "Time Station 39"

It's much easier for me to use this medium than the blog.

Jim

Just Waiting

Tropical Storm Bill will be moving out tomorrow on Saturday.  The leaders won't be here until Monday afternoon, which is a lot better than the unpredicatable middle of the night, as the leaders always sleep west of Bloomington at night and we have to wait.  Looks as if Strasser has some competition this year.  Go Dave!!! USA! USA! USA!

Crews: Do not follow the alternate route for crew vehicles between TS 38 and TS 39.  Some large RV's will not be able to make some of the turns in this center of the city.  I've told RAAM every year to change it, but they don't listen to me.  Take this as a warning, and do not bitch at me when you finally reach TS 39.

No grocery store at the parking lot.  There is a 24 hr Krogers two blocks to the south and a 24 hr Marsh 2 blocks to the east.

And here's our favorite, Christoff Strausser, from 2011

Time to get ready for RAAM TS 39.  My wife, Sylvia, and I had a lot of fun last year.  Lisa Oliphant Brown kept her company and they became fast friends.  Alas, she and husband Buff moved to Tigard, a suburb of Portland a couple of months ago.  However, we are flying out there to visit and then ride Cycle Oregon on the tandem.

I seem to remember we had an issue with one of the legs of our tent, so I'd better put it up in the back yard.  What I don't remember is how damaged it got.  I think I've got things covered with a sledge hammer and duct tape.
I'm preparing for our club's (BBC) double century this year.  It's usually a loop, but one of those way back when was a one way Ride Up INdiana, RUIN from the Ohio River to the Michigan line on the eastern edge.  This year I've come up with a one way named RORIN from Evansville to Hanover.  Just in case you can't figure out the acronym: Ride the Ohio River of INdiana.  It's got to be the most beautiful 200 miles I've ever come up with.  I just hope I finish.  Dave Tanner, a RAAM veteran of many years, will be riding it along with five others.

Things have changed a little at TS 39.  There is not a grocery store within walking distance of your RV anymore.  However, there is a Marsh a couple blocks away to the left of the route after the loop de loop.  We still have the two CVS's to confuse all of you.  The time station is by the second CVS you see.  There should be plenty of RAAM signs to guide you as I've saved every RAAM sign I've gathered over the years.  Next year in 2016 there just might be a Whole Foods across from us by the mall.
I checked out the the solo rosters and recognize a few names:

Dave Haas from Wisconsin - below from 2008

Alberto Blanco, USA - below from 2011

I can't wait to see the 3 Musketeers from Austria - Christof Strausser, Franz Preihs, and Gerhard Gulewicz

See y'all sometime in June.

2014 Anticipation

Starting to get ready for RAAM.  Well, actually preparing for the BBC's annual double century, which I always schedule a few days before RAAM.  This year's double will  be Judah-Springville-Williams-Shoals-French Lick - Birdseye - St Meinrad - Santa Claus - Dale - Otwell - Montgomery - Odon - Springville -
Judah.

I'm a little worried about our time station location.  I've tried to get an okay from the amigo's at Casa Brava Restaurant for us to take one parking space that is the farthest away from their place, but I haven't gotten any word from them.  I think there is some language barrier.  I don't think there'll be a problem.  I had to move it 50 yards as I don't work at CVS anymore, but this new location will enable the RV's plenty of room in CVS and O'Malia's parking area.  We'll have to steal some electricity at night from the CVS parking lot, too.  Hopefully, there won't be any problems.  We'll make sure to point all the hungry crews toward Casa Brava, CVS, and O'Malia's.

I have no idea who are the favorites, but I'm sure it is Christoff Strauser, winner the past 2 years, and the RAAM record holder.  Last year's weather was rather favorable to the racers and he was close to breaking the 7:00:00:00 barrier.

See you out there!

I'm glad to announce that RAAM shouldn't have any road construction to muddle through in the Bloomington area, finally!  The only concern I see is aggravated motorists on the IN 45-46 four lane bypass around the Indiana University Campus.  The reason being is that there is now a 10 foot bike/pedestrian asphalt path beside it. So, riders and crew may get yelled at to use that!  But, it's summer time and most of the university traffic will be non-existent.  

YoHo's General Store in Solsberry (IN-43) is back in business in a huge way.  In the past the dilapidated general store was just a meeting place for all the farmers in the area.  Mr. Yoho always had gatorade, cokes, and candy bars around for his clients and all the area bicyclists.  He also had YooHoo drink, naturally, and a visitor could gather a lot of history based on some of the remaining sale items hanging around from forty to fifty years ago.  Mr. Yoho passed away about a year ago, and the Cook Foundation, a major philanthropy organization of Southern Indiana, has completely renovated it, while still trying to keep its old charm.

Mr. Yoho always talked fondly of "those bikers racing across the USA with crews of doctors and nurses measuring stuff on the racers."  I'm not sure of what he thought of seeing Jure Robic's Slovenian Army crew with their traditional music blaring, very similar to scenes from the movie Red Dawn  (Sidenote: Robic bypassed Solsberry illegally in the most controversial RAAM ever).  Nevertheless,  RAAM gave him lots of stories to tell all his old cronies around the pot belly stove the past few years before his death. 

I'm still at CVS at 510 South College Mall Rd, so the time station will still be there awaiting all the RAAM riders.  Our goal as always is be available for the racers and crews from the first participant to the last participant.  And, the world famous leader board will be here, too.

Dave Tanner won't be crewing this year but will be assisting me at Time Station #39.  Also, we have a blog: ts38bloomingtonin.blogspot.com 

Construction still at Bloomington TS 39

You'd think that after 1 and 1/2 years of construction a 4 mile state road construction would be finished. Well, it's not - not until November of 2012. It just might be due to the feud that Bloomington is having with Governor Daniels and the I-69 project. Those Republicans really want to fu** with us hippies in Shangrila, Indiana. I wonder if Boulder has the same problem? Well, the construction crew assures me that it should be all "done" before RAAM gets here or else I'll have to recommend that all racers bring along a mountain bike!

I should run for President

And my sole platform would be nationwide WIFI for all of America. Call me cheap, but no way am I going to buy 3G when I'm a block away from Panara, Steak and Shake, etc, etc. Well, maybe it's just RAAM's website, 'cause I'm typing this blog without a problem. Getting WIFI has again been a problem this year but it's hit n skip which is even more frustrating.
We had a great day yesterday. So great that I didn't have time to blog out. The teams were starting to come in, and Leah Goldstein, solo woman, came through, She's riding real strong but she's now lost her neck muscles and can't lift up the neck at all. Seems kind of dangerous. I lost my photographer, Sylvia or else I would've put a pic of Leah and her neck. You'll have to wait for the end of RAAM highlights.
I missed just 1 team last night at 4am. I had to go home and sleep at least 3 hours in a bed for the first time in 3 days! I was back at the tent at 5am, and we've been busy ever since. The parking lot looks like a Tom Raper RV outlet mall!
Well, now I have to work 12noon till 10pm.

naptime

We cheered on four more male soloists they were supposed to start coming in at 2:45am, but instead Marko Baloh and Alberto Blanco arrived at 4:45am. They both slept for and hour and half. Gerhard Gulewicz blew through our time station looking fancy and dapper like always with a smile on his face as he came thru at 5:30am. We'll see who establishes himself as the 2nd place holder!
Mark Pattinson was supposed to get in at 8am but it was more like 11am. Boy, is my schedule messed up!

Waiting in the darkness

After a great pizza at Mother Bears we got up at 2am to get out to the tent to await #2 to #4 who are neck and neck. That's Marko Baloh, Gerhard Gulewicz, and Alberto Blanco. Well, it's 4:23am and no one yet! There's a lot of construction here in Bloomington, but all the crew have been complaining about the terrible directions in their map book starting east of the Mississippi River. I hope our time station is a sight for sore eyes. It is in the largest city that RAAM comes through and I hope our hospitality is of Hoosier standard.

The dark horse in the afternoon

After hurrying to set up the tent for the Austrian Rabbit, Christoph Strasser, he came through at 3:30pm Tuesday while I was working at the local CVS behind the RAAM Time Station. Strasser is riding a record pace and just may break Pete Penseyre's 20 year old record.

It's Started

The SOLO RAAM has started. They are in Arizona and maybe Colorado by now. We'll be waiting for them at TS 39 come Tuesday. Baloh and Christof are looking to be the favorites, but it's still quite early. Dani Wyss has won the Race Across the West. How about Race Across the East?

New and Missing

A new RAAM graphic has been created. Maybe the new colors are more worldly as RAAM hasn't been a national phenomenon in quite a long while. 2011 will be represented by 18 countries as of February 2002. Unusual ones are India, Lichtenstein, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, and Korea!

There's five (5) solo women. WOW - women on wheels! 60 something David Jones will again cross solo! A couple crusty old Hoosiers, Steve Gerbig an Joel Sothern, are crossing, too.

Here are my favorites for solo men: (1) Marko Baloh - will take up the Slovenia slack. He just got the 24 hour record and looks to have the finances straightened out. He just has to get over those Rocky Mountains without medical problems. (2) Mark Pattinson - has had impressive finishes in the past years and always finishes strong. (3)Chris Gottwald - They say he's a rookie but I swear he rode in 2008 or 2009. From K-Zoo and works in Ft Wayne; he's as local a we can get.

And here's what will be missing.



Jure' Robic died last November hit by a car (naturally for us cyclists) while returning home from a mountain bike ride. He was the Lance Armstrong of RAAM. He will be sorely missed.

Great American Bike Race Trailer

A great trailer of yet another RAAM documentary to be released. It's on our Hoosiers 4 man 60 year old team that raced in 2010. In 2011 Joel Sothern and Steve Gerbig will be racing as Hoosiers 2!

RIP Jure' Robic

Part 4 Photo Gallery RAAM 2010 Bloomington Indiana

Part 3 Photo Gallery RAAM 2010 TS 39 Bloomington Indiana