Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: Pip on 19 May, 2014, 09:02:49 pm

Title: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Pip on 19 May, 2014, 09:02:49 pm
Shu Pillinger, who rode LEL last year, is attempting to be the first British woman to complete RAAM solo (approx. 3000 miles) within the time limit of 12 days and 21 hours. The race starts on June 10th.

Follow her progress and support her here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shusanah-Pillinger-The-Road-to-RAAM/357848314306879

Or tweet using the #shuRAAM hashtag.

She has worked very hard over the winter
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: teethgrinder on 22 May, 2014, 05:28:25 pm
Thanks :thumbsup:
I'll also be following Hoppo, who was the first Brit to finish RAAM.

I'll also be keeping an eye on Daniel Moores who I rode some of Miglia Italia with. He'll be the youngest Brit to attempt RAAM AFAIK. I can't remember his age, but he'll be under 25 IIRC.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 22 May, 2014, 06:33:54 pm
It'll be interesting to see how Daniel goes.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: zigzag on 22 May, 2014, 06:56:40 pm
good luck to Daniel, he was the first rider whom i rode considerable distance with on lel09 before i met Tomsk and Deniece. then also shared some miles on mille miglia. young guy with big ambitions! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Pip on 22 May, 2014, 07:01:57 pm
Good evening Remas,

Here is a link to his website: http://danielmoores.com/news/

it modestly understates his RAAM attempt.

My experience of working with Shu is that just to arrive on the start line with a crew and all the logistics in place is a major achievement.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: teethgrinder on 22 May, 2014, 07:28:32 pm
My experience of working with Shu is that just to arrive on the start line with a crew and all the logistics in place is a major achievement.

It is!

Wilko mentioned it when he was guest speaker at the AUK dinner. Even a man of his ability wouldn't find it easy to raise the money. He quoted at least £20,000 minimum, which I agree with.

Hoppo is also struggling and still needs about £2000.

Daniel Moores has done all sorts of stuff like gone to either Antartica or Artica, Can't remember which, so he's well practiced in getting sponsorship. (He works for Morrison supermarkets, so he isn't paying for it all himself) He just writes hundreds of letters to companies.

Then, when you've got the money, you need a support crew of at least 8, including a doctor and two support vehicles IIRC.

Riding the unsupported Trans Continental or Trans American, as organised by Mike Hall, seems more attractive to me.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: mattc on 22 May, 2014, 07:32:33 pm
Here is a link to his website: http://danielmoores.com/news/

it modestly understates his RAAM attempt.
After RAAM he's planning a quiet year-or-so:

Everest Summit Expedition April 2015 – summit of Everest via the North col

South Pole to the North Pole November 2015 – March 2016

Very sensible.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: teethgrinder on 22 May, 2014, 07:33:53 pm
He's also training to be an airline pilot.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 09 June, 2014, 01:55:05 pm
Aren't the Things also riding this year?
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 09 June, 2014, 02:19:31 pm
Next year, in a team of tandems.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: vorsprung on 09 June, 2014, 03:08:00 pm
Riding the unsupported Trans Continental or Trans American, as organised by Mike Hall, seems more attractive to me.
+1
Title: Re: RAAM team efforts
Post by: thing1 on 10 June, 2014, 08:28:31 am
Next year, in a team of tandems.

That's it, we've fallen in with some bad influences. But an excellent team. Love Sweat and Gears - Tandem 2015 (http://lovesweatandgears.net/donate/lsg-2015-tandem/).
We've been concentrating on training so far this year, but now RAAM 2014 is all but underway, it's going to be time to get very serious in finding corporate sponsors. A team of 8 riders takes a lot of cash to support, and certainly if you're aiming to place well.

I noticed this earlier today too: looks like 4 or 5 british B-and-C-list celebs are riding in teams this year. road.cc (http://road.cc/content/news/120849-pippa-middleton-ride-world%E2%80%99s-toughest-bike-race-month) (Sister of Princess of Cambridge plus her brother and an ex boyfriend, a reality TV star, and a partner/owner of Fullers brewery?)
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: SJR on 10 June, 2014, 11:47:01 am
I'd spotted that team on the roster and was wondering when we'd be forced to watch the documentary :)
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: andrew_s on 11 June, 2014, 01:17:50 am
The leaderboard for timestation 1 is showing US-based brit Mark Pattinson as the early leader - perhaps.
The perhaps is because last year's winner and last starter (Christoph Strasser) is showing as having arrived at the same time, but with a riding time of 5306 d 18 h 30 m (average speed 0 mph)
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: thing1 on 12 June, 2014, 06:16:29 am
Christoph Strasser has knocked out 1100km in the first 34 hours. Only a 4 person(!!) RAW team in front of him, everyone else a good way back. Amazing.

Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: SJR on 12 June, 2014, 08:13:02 am
Looking like a one horse race methinks.  How on Earth can Strasser be over 10% faster than anyone else?  Awesome
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Karla on 12 June, 2014, 01:10:53 pm
Christoph Strasser has knocked out 1100km in the first 34 hours. Only a 4 person(!!) RAW team in front of him, everyone else a good way back. Amazing.

That's just over 20 mph, i.e. 481 mile 24h pace. Ouch.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Pip on 12 June, 2014, 03:07:56 pm
On her way to Flagstaff, in better shape than the crew!
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: mattc on 12 June, 2014, 05:30:45 pm
Christoph Strasser has knocked out 1100km in the first 34 hours. Only a 4 person(!!) RAW team in front of him, everyone else a good way back. Amazing.

That's just over 20 mph, i.e. 481 mile 24h pace. Ouch.
surely its all about pacing at this stage?

e.g. if Wilko rode 530 miles in the first 24hours, you wouldn't be betting your house on him. Would you?
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: teethgrinder on 12 June, 2014, 06:00:50 pm
I think they have a tailwind plus you can keep up a good speed without touching the brakes on those roads. Hills are long but not steep in the Arizona Desert. I've averaged about 24 mph for 12 miles hardly pedaling. Climbing is often at a low gradient. For example, it took me about 10 miles to realise that I'd been riding uphill constantly since I left a hotel in Death Valley.
They build roads properly in the USA!
I think that Strasser knows what he is doing and has it down to a tee. After all, he broke the long standing record last year. He's also using a full on TT bike for the fast sections (as he did last year) and is swapping (very quickly and well organised) back to his standard bike for the tougher bits, which I expect does make a difference.

Hoppo is going better than he ever has, which is also probably partly because of the tailwind.
No Daniel Moores. I don't know why he was a DNS.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Clare on 13 June, 2014, 11:06:46 am
Why is Shusanah's arrival date and time on the leaderboard so odd?

Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: marcusjb on 13 June, 2014, 11:12:04 am
As I understand it, the timing chip is actually carried on the follow car?!?  So, if, whilst the rider is sleeping/resting, that follow car has to pop out for an errand, then the timing is turned off temporarily and then it'll sort itself out once she's back on the move. 
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: marcusjb on 13 June, 2014, 01:02:08 pm
http://markpattinson.com/post/88623499854/why-does-mark-disappear

May also be the answer
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Clare on 13 June, 2014, 01:47:46 pm
Thank you, I guess 01/01/0000, 00:00 is the default setting.

Is there a real time tracker for RAAM? I am just watching the leader board at the moment but watching actual progress would be much better.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: marcusjb on 13 June, 2014, 01:53:10 pm
http://tractalis.com/RAAM2014/
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Clare on 13 June, 2014, 02:05:21 pm
Thanks.

 :)
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Clare on 13 June, 2014, 07:10:22 pm
http://tractalis.com/RAAM2014/

Gah, I'm getting nowhere with that, apparently I have to install MS SIlverlight, which I have done but it still tells me I have to install it  ???
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Pip on 17 June, 2014, 03:49:44 am
As I understand it, the timing chip is actually carried on the follow car?!?  So, if, whilst the rider is sleeping/resting, that follow car has to pop out for an errand, then the timing is turned off temporarily and then it'll sort itself out once she's back on the move. 
Marcus, chip in rider's jersey during day, follow car at night
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: thing1 on 18 June, 2014, 05:41:38 am
For anyone on the Facebook, I really do recommend Liking up Shu's team page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shusanah-Pillinger-The-Road-to-RAAM/357848314306879?fref=nf
The multiple updates per day are just like following an epic audax, but been going for over a week now. Just amazing!
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: marcusjb on 18 June, 2014, 01:57:29 pm
Strasser has finished!

7 days 15 hours and 56 minutes

Defies belief!

Mark Pattinson in a solid second place now.

Shu looks to be going very well in third place in the female solo.  Very tight at the top of that with 11 minutes between 1st and 2nd at 1977 miles!
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: SJR on 18 June, 2014, 03:12:11 pm
Agreed, utterly astonishing.  I rode my first '24' last summer and was chuffed with a little over 400 miles.  Strasser managed more or less 400 a day for over a week.  I just can't get my head around what that takes at all.  Mindboggling.  Also to be SO far ahead of the competition.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: marcusjb on 19 June, 2014, 08:53:22 pm
Shu is out  :'(

Broken clavicle.

What an amazing ride though. Truly gutted for her and her team.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: thing1 on 19 June, 2014, 09:29:53 pm
Shu is out  :'(

Broken clavicle.

What an amazing ride though. Truly gutted for her and her team.

This is such awful news, I've been totally riveted watching the updates Shu & crew have put out this last 9 days. They've all been amazing.

No one can take away from the fact she's done an amazing ride and was in such good form having 9 hours in hand at the time station before sleeping last night.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery and she can enjoy being back on her bike soon.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: SJR on 19 June, 2014, 10:04:02 pm
Devastating!  What a shame for Shu.  Rest up and come back strong.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: walney on 19 June, 2014, 10:35:22 pm
I can't imagine how Shu and her team must feel after putting on such a fantastic performance. Hope she recovers quickly. I can honestly say I am more disappointed by this news than the England result.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Pip on 20 June, 2014, 12:57:59 am
On behalf of Shu and crew, thanks for your kind thoughts. She was i n good shape but clipped the edge of tarmac/soft shoulder and took a heavy tumble, breaking her çollar bone.

She was going well, but battling sleep deprivation and extreme heat and humidity brought on an attack of the dozies which caused her to veer off line.

A magnificent and inspiring effort
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: mattc on 20 June, 2014, 07:42:10 pm
Massive bad luck :( She was nailed-on for an in-time finish.

I don't have any firm stats, but as I said before I reckon the accidents/km from rider fatigue rate is very high on this event. I guess it's an inevitable consequence of riding for several days on the very edge of exhaustion, on public roads with all the uncontrollables they bring.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Pip on 21 June, 2014, 05:51:01 am
Sadly, Shu was literally within sight of a scheduled sleep stop, about 2 kms from where the RV was parked up to  the side of the only shady stretch of road for miles.....what could have been?
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Pip on 22 June, 2014, 02:24:40 pm
In a similar vein to some of our epic longer audaxes, much of the drama is staged as the endgame is played out by the slower riders.
We have been privileged to share desert, plains and mountain roads with Morten, Angela, Joan, Valerio and  Marshall among the many soloists. Some of them have DNF'd near the finish and others are walking the tightrope of time elimination.

Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: ian_oli on 22 June, 2014, 08:52:01 pm
Just caught up and really sorry to read this, however a great attempt!!
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: mattc on 24 June, 2014, 06:43:30 pm
As an aside,good to see a Brit 2nd overall.

Well played Mark Pattinson.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: mattc on 10 July, 2014, 01:21:21 pm
Sorry, non-solo diversion:
I was reminded about the Middletons riding in an 8. Struggled to find any coverage.

I did find a rather vacuous article on the Femail site, with this hilarious reader comment:

Glos_lady, Gloucestershire, 2 weeks ago
They cycled 3000 miles in six days; 500 miles per day?! I think someone has got their stats wrong here!


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2665784/Glad-two-wheels-Pippa-James-Middleton-sister-gentle-waterside-stroll-friends-Maryland.html#ixzz374DCBZXh
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 10 July, 2014, 02:25:10 pm
If she was averaging over 20mph for 3 hours at a time, for 6 days, then she was doing bloody well. A lot of us 'cyclists' couldn't do that, including me.
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Justin(e) on 11 June, 2015, 02:51:12 pm
Nice story about Shu and RAAM 2015

Link (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/cycling/33020308)
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: The French Tandem on 11 June, 2015, 04:09:52 pm
Quote
We plan on blaring out music through the deserts....

... 90s club classics with a smattering of Eurovision - to educate the Americans."

 :sick:
Title: Re: RAAM solo 2014
Post by: Pip on 01 July, 2015, 01:37:40 am
A year on and her guts, courage and battered bank balance contrived to put right past year's mishap:

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/33332089