Ride of Memories: The 24 Hour Cycling Race
David Kiser rides his bike in memory of his mother-in-law this June, making a much more challenging trip in a ride across America to benefit pancreatic cancer research and prevention.
The 24-Hour Race Across America (RAAM) corporate team challenge starts in Oceanside, CA and heads east through the Imperial Valley, skirting the Chocolate Mountains, rolling through Blythe, and then into Arizona. It passes through Prescott and finishes in Flagstaff – approximately 490 miles from the start.
The 48-Hour RAAM corporate team challenge starts in Oceanside, heads east through the Imperial Valley, and goes through the same mountains, through Blythe, then into Arizona, passes through Flagstaff, and into Colorado, finishing in Durango – roughly 830 miles from the beginning.
“I remember saying to Ron Kessler in Trinidad, CO that I wasn’t sure there would be a RAAM in 2006,” said Paul Skilbeck.
The world’s toughest cycling event increases its focus on cycling ability held in Tempe. Described by many as the boldest step the race has taken since the introduction of team competitions in 1991, some say even bolder, the RAAM is introducing a new category of racing for the 2006 edition, called the Solo Enduro category.
Different riders ride for various charities in the RAMM from cancer to osteoporosis.
According to the organization’s newsletter women all too infrequently grace the solo RAMM but last year Catharina Berge of Uppsala, Sweden who moved to Visalia, CA entered the race as the sole entrant in the female field.
Racers have shed pounds since the 1980s by reaching for lighter bikes made out of carbon fiber, titanium or a combination of the two according to the organization.
There are many opportunities for solo bike ultra racers to qualify for the RAMM.
“I’ve crewed the solo race 17 times including three wins and have done more than a half dozen with the legendary Kish Krew,” said Peter.
Equipment that works well for riding five-hour centuries isn’t necessarily going to be the one for riding 24-hour races.
“As ultra cyclists we are all faced with the question of how much training is enough to perform well at the distances we choose to ride,” states the RAMM website. “To achieve full potential as an endurance athlete and remain competitive in challenging events, an individually designed resistance training program should be implemented.”
If you are interested in helping Kiser or want more information about the route, email Virginia Griffin, PanCAN Team Hope, Fort Worth TX volunteer coordinator, at vgriffin@pancan.org.
The link for the big ride is raceacrossamerica.org.
