Solo RAAM

Dear past, present or future RAAM lovers,

Let me first start by saying that I have a tremendous respect for the RAAM organizers, past and present, and all the RAAM volunteers. Since I'm neither the RAAM owner, nor a RAAM official, I will respect all the decisions made by them. However, after reading the new RAAM updates concerning the solo division, as a RAAM lover, I can't help but telling you guys how I feel about the direction that RAAM is taking.

Fact #1: RAAM is unfortunately not big enough to have 2 solo divisions.
I think we all agree on that. In 2006, there was only 16 traditionalists (37% DNF), and 13 Enduro (46% DNF). RAAM can't afford 2 small solo divisions, 2 price money, 2 ranks, etc...

Fact #2: By allowing more flexibility for the enduro riders to take their 40 hours (although a great idea) and more time to finish, and tougher for the traditionalists to officially finish RAAM ( the 48h rule was stopped by Lon I guess in 2000), I'm afraid that the traditional division will not live very long.

Fact #3: What makes RAAM RAAM (must be part of a song!), meaning a unique bike race in the world, IS the traditional division, a simple 3,000 miles time trial. Get rid of that division, and RAAM, as we all know since 25 years, is dead.

First being against the Enduro division, I think now that it's a great idea, simply because traditional RAAM is very scary (and I know what I'm talking about...). This Enduro division can and will attract more riders. However, the solution is not doing a traditional vs enduro kind of thing. As Sam said, the only solution is a merger of the 2 divisions in a big one.

Please, see below an email that I sent a month ago to John Hughes and Fred Boethling.

2. Another thought that I’ve got about RAAM is how to make the solo division clear and understandable for everybody (people and media), and very exciting and competitive.

We keep the Enduro and Traditional division like it is, meaning for the Enduro with 40 hours off the bike, and no required sleep for the traditionalist. However, the Enduro division will start the race 20 hours BEFORE the traditional division. There will be only one rank and the winner of the unique SOLO division (traditional and enduro) is the one who will cross the finish line first, very clear and simple. There are only advantages:

It’ll make finally solo RAAM a real competition, not only between riders of the same division, but riders from the 2 divisions.

It’ll keep interest very high through the ENTIRE race for the media, people and of course riders (no more guys like Robic or Larsen riding very hard the first 3 days and then basically the win is over). The competition for everybody will be much more open, and the winner won’t be known until the very end of the race.

There will be only one price money.

The rank will be based on the order of arrival of the riders, period!

20h is more or less the difference between the 2 divisions. Enduro has to stop 40 hours, the best solo usually sleep around 15h-20h

And you won’t get the question that we’ve had this year about who really won solo RAAM 2006, Boyer or Wiss. I think that was very embarrassing for RAAM.

And finally, based on this 20 hours earlier start for the Enduro, the rank for 2006 would have been:
1. Boyer: 9 days 5h
2. Wyss: 9 days 11h
3. Baloh: 9 days 13h
4. Valsesia: 9 days 16h
5. Biasolo: 9 days 20h
6. Haase: 9 days 22h
7. Juarez: 10 days 2h
8. Wallace: 10 days 4h
9. Souza: 10 days 9h
10. ….

To be honest, I think that’s what the rank for 2006 should have been. It looks great and reflects in my opinion who was the best riders.

The practical implications of the merger would be:
The first 10-15 TS will have to be staffed a little bit longer.

Maybe??? RAAM need to have the official (sheriff) agreement for starting the race on Saturday.

There will be another pasta party on Friday. It's always great to have this kind of part anyway before the start :-).

I'd love to hear your comments on that merger.

Patrick Autissier
Solo 2005 (DNF), 2nd place team RAAM 206, solo traditional 2007.

PS: my other idea is to have Boston as the finish line location, but that can be part of another discussion...

Athletes Racing for Charity - RAAM '07

After finishing the Race Across America (http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/) at an incredible second place in a 4-man Team in 2006, I decided to try to finish what I’ve started in 2005, meaning crossing the finish line of RAAM as a solo rider in 2007. I know, it sounds crazy (if not stupid!) to punish himself that way by riding 3,100 miles with barely no sleep for 12 days. But at the same time, I have a huge unfinished business with RAAM, and I won’t get any rest until I get at least another try. Of course, we’ll do again a fundraising campaign.

Please, find below some details about the project ’07:

- The new website @ http://www.patrickautissier.org/ will be completely updated on January 2007
- The fundraising campaign will start in January 2007.
- The 2 beneficiaries will be Partners In Health (http://www.pih.org/), which provides health care to poor people around the world, and Nashoba Learning Group (http://www.nashobalearninggroup.org/), a school for children with autism.
- The start location of RAAM will be in Oceanside, CA, on June 10th, 2007
- The finish location is not yet finalized (would be great if Boston is the chosen one!).
- RAAM, the world’s toughest bike race, is a single stage race, meaning there is no stop required!
- 3,100 miles to ride in 12 days maximum!
- Amount of sleep per day: usually 3 hours.

The project 2007 is well underway, and I hope I’ll get all the details worked out by the end of the year. As of now, this is where I am:

- The crew team is almost complete: 7 people will be at the start, and 2 more will join us by the end of the first week.
- The training (bike and sleep deprivation) is going very well, since 3 months now.
- The sponsors already committed are: Axel Johnson (for the third year in a row!), Coherent (second year) and Spiz (second year as well). However, I still need to find some other sponsors…

An article about the “young” history of Athletes Racing for Charity has been published on September in the UltraCycling magazine. Here is the link to the article, and you’ll find it as well on my website (http://www.patrickautissier.org/) under News & Communications.

Finally, since we’re at the end of the tax year, please consider making a donation to PIH or NLG,…or both.

I wish you in advance a great holiday and you can expect to receive more news at the beginning of the year 2007.

Best regards,
Patrick Autissier
http://www.patrickautissier.org/