Gulewicz 1 TS back

Gerhard Gulewicz has been pacing Jure' Robic but one TS back. He reached TS35 the same time Robic has reached TS36. The problem is the huge stormfront that is moving NE at 50mph. Robic has been skirting it while Gelewicz has been free of any precipitation. I feel that it's going to get closer in Ohio and again the moment of truth will be the mountains of West Virginia!

Thunderstorms, floods, Robic

Thunderstorms are hitting southern Indiana hard today and last night. Time Station 39 just got all set up, and then we had to tear down the tents before today's thunderstorms hit. We hope to get them back up when this last front moves out of here tonight. INDOT has not announced any warnings on state routes yet due to flooding, but who knows what it will be like tomorrow. One should watch the same trouble spots as two years ago: Hutsonville-Wabash River, Bloomfield-West Fork of White River, and Columbus-East Fork of White River. Jure' is right behind this last front as he's on his way to Effingham,IL (TS37). We'll be awaiting Robic at 6am Wednesday morning, and Gulewicz 4 hours later!

Jure' halfway there

Jure' has arrived in Pratt, Kansas, the designated halfway point in the past few RAAM's. He's looking a lot better than in the mountains in Colorado. He rested more than usual due to him pushing too much due to the tailwinds in the desert. So, he's back on track but under the solo average of 15.4 mph. Gulewicz is riding steady but has lost some ground in Kansas. The surprise is Georgian Kevin Kaiser. I'm pulling for him to reach the podium as he's a pharmacist like me; ohhhh my, the dark force just entered my mind!!! No, Bubba, No; you can't be my ultra-father.

Meanwhile, Barbara Buatois holds a commanding lead in the women's solo, and belladonna Sabrina Bianchi is moving up the standings.

Hardly any DNF's so far, but after all the rain in Colorado, upper respiratory infections may set in! The tough just keep on going, "What's coughing up a little blood!" Steve Born told Bubba when we took him to the hospital in Craig,CO, 2001, "Everyone does it during RAAM!"

TS 39 will be setting up Tuesday afternoon ready for our first arrivals that evening and more later in the night. Hopefully, all these thunderstorms the past few days will dissipate, but it's June in Indiana! One never knows!

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!