Can You Stomach This?

Jure' Robic's goal this year was not only to reclaim his title but to do it in record breaking fashion. In fact I was considering to open TS 39 earlier than Tuesday afternoon. Well, Jure's stomach would not cooperate on Friday or Saturday as he was climbing in Colorado. Everyone deals with stomach issues at least once during a solo RAAM, and this one has evened out the field. His average speed is now lower than the record of 15.4 mph, but with some tailwinds and his stomach calming down, he could still be on the hunt. Gulewicz is only 3 hours back at TS 23 patiently waiting to make his move. There's a battle for 3rd with Pattison, Morlock, and Warner-Smith at TS 20. At TS19 it's a traffic jam with 9 riders within 9 hours of each other!

RAAM should boycott Arizona in 2011

I can't believe the Arizona authorities pulled over a solo RAAM rider's RV to check passports. The rider was delayed a couple of hours I think. What? Were they brown? Did they speak a funny language? I'm totally embarrassed of being an American and especially Arizona. I was thinking of riding in Arizona for a week in the future spring breaks. Not anymore, Hell Week here I come!

Bad Bad Boys

Well, I've been studying the roster of the solo men, and the clear favorite is Jure Robic, Slovenia. He lost last year to Dani Wyss, Switzerland during the most controversial RAAM ever. If it wasn't for that extra hydration before the start or a misplaced route book, Jure could have won it. Others would say touche' to all the spying and head games of the Slovenian Army. But, one can't deny that Jure is one of the top RAAM performers ever! Gerhard Gulewicz, Austria, and Mark Pattinson, UK/USA, have had some good results in past RAAM's. Julian Sanz, Spain, is another one not to count out. But, my sentimental favorite is Kevin Kaiser, USA, from Georgia. He rode a solid RAAM last year in his rookie solo year, and the previous year he raced across America with a partner on a fixed gear! But, he's also a pharmacist, and us druggists have to stick together.

After you, ladies!

The women started earlier today and have all passed TS1. They were all within 20 minutes of each other, with the ave speeds ranged from 14.3 to 13.0 mph. Of those 5 women the first place and fifth place were recumbents - that's very interesting!

There are no clear favorites here. Recumbent Barbara Buatois, France, has quite a lot of impressive results and is backed by a lot of sponsors and financial backing! Michelle Santilhano, S Africa, started 2009 RAAM solo and DNF'd on day 3. Let's hope that experience will help her in 2010. An Italian belladonna, Sabrina Bianchi, sure has the name for cycling. Amy Xu looks strong as nails. And then the local favorite, Sandy Earl, grew up in Indiana and has the women's record at Calvin's 12 hr challenge in Springfield, OH. We Hoosiers and Buckeyes are pulling for her!

Techies!!!

Klaus Rothe, my technical advisor, and I, the dumb Dell PC guy, have started our annual but late search for the best and/or cheapest way for internet connection for the RAAM tent Tuesday June 15 to Saturday June 19.

Two years ago, we had hit and skip wi-fi reception thru PC Max by accident, and last year we had wi-fi reception from 8 to 8 thru the College Mall. This year Klaus even has me talked into buying an Ipad for the event, but alas, no wi-fi at 8:30pm in front of the CVS.

He has mentioned that the best option is Mi-Fi but it is quite expensive for poor little me [unless BBC would flip the bill]. A phone card - 3g ubs port would be great to use but I don't have one and I don't have a laptop.

I asked Sprint and Verizon for assistance last year and was denied, but Klaus will try to strike a deal this week, but I'm not expecting any cooperation there.

Klaus would love to have any kind of brainstorms in this matter so we can serve the tent and crews and riders with RAAM info 24/7.

Thanks for any help out there.

Motivated

Well, I'm now into this RAAM thing full tilt. I knew that the motivation would kick in the closer it came. Just e-mailed out press releases and notices to bike shops and our Bloomington Bicycle Club. I'll be leading a Breaking Away Descriptive Ride this Sunday and will plug RAAM again. This is our 3rd year and I think the racers and crews are looking forward always to come through Bloomington, the metropolis of RAAM!