I am putting a team together to compete in the Race Across America 2010 - 3000 miles (100000ft of climb)!! I need people to assist in the support role. We have secured sponsorship from the RAF Sports Lottery, have already got a main sponsor and are working on some other avenues to subsidise the trip.

All those interested in the chance of a lifetime trip from the West to the East Coast of the States in June next year please get in touch with either myself or John Crewe.

We would be especially keen to hear from you if you have got any sports massage qualifications.

Cheers

Pete
Look forward to hearing from you.

Pete, good luck with the RAAM, I'm fully qualified in sports massage but not sure I would be able to crew for you as I'm doing Roth in the July.

What if they wore cowboy outfits; would you make yourself available then?

Who are the riders? Are you and JC riding?

Cheers for thinking of us Frank

If you can slew your taper etc then it could work!!

Perhaps some high altitude, desert, burgers and pasta may help you!!

All the best

Pete

Hello Sags

Yep me and JC and 2 other ex RAF guys from the local area. There may be a plan to put out an 8-man team and if we do we will give you a shout!!

You interested in crewing for us? Road trip of a lifetime!!

Cheers

Pete

How long does it take a team to do the RAAM and how long will you guys be out there?

Pete,

I'd be up for riding it if you need any more riders,

Daz

Pete

I am interested in crew'ing although I'd rather be riding.
Would need to know dates and involvement as I'm thinking of doing Lands End-John O'Groats at roughly the same time as prep mileage for IM Switzerland.

Any personal costs involved?

Hi Mat

Great of you to offer. You would be more than welcome. Start date is June 12th 2010. We need to be on the Atlantic Coast in 9 days!! No pressure!! Please let me know if you can make it. We are still trying to sort out sponsorship. We have secured some money from the SPorts Lottery, one corporate sponsor, and are looking for more.

We will try to minimise the costs wherever possible with the riders paying more than the support for obvious reasons. No exact figures on personal contributions, that will depend on the amount of sponsorship. We will endeavour to minimise our own pockets taking a hammering wherever possible.

Let me know if the dates work out.

Cheers

Pete

4-man team has only 9 days to do it!! No pressure esp with almost 100000 ft of climbing, the desert and 3000miles!!

Mad or what???

Hi Daz

Cheers for the offer. It is much appreciated. Unsurprisingly we are not short of offers for riders. If we go up to 8 we will give you a shout. Fancy helping us out? Know a sports therapist who would like the trip of a lifetime?

Cheers

Pete

Pete,I am an RI at headley court. Fully qualified and very experienced in sports massage and injury prevention. Could possibly rope in a physio / sports med trained GP if interested? Would be very keen to support.

Mike.

Would have loved to have crewed for this, perhaps wearing the chef's hat but alas I've just entered the Deloitte ride across Britain challenge exactly the same dates, if that's the one you're thinking of Mat it's already full! J o G to LE fully supported leaves 12 June.

Good luck with it all guys, awesome adventure.

Pete

I would like to offer my services as support crew, I have extensive experience of driving safely in America, used to using a SatNav (or map and compass where required) and like Red Bull to help keep me going! I'll call to chat further or feel free to call me at work on ext 7385.

Hi Mike

Great to hear from you and I would like to chat to you. What is your tel number down there at Headley?

Cheers

Pete

Hi Kelda

Very many thanks for thinking of us and we will undoubtedly miss your culinary delights. YOu will have your work cut out doing the end-to-end and good luck with that venture (I would love to say it is a little venture, alas no it is a monstrous undertaking too esp on your own).

Keep us posted of your progress and trg schedules. Perhaps we should start a sticky for the uber-long distance riders for next year.

Any luck with the Fuerteventura option?

All the best,

Cheers

Pete

Pete, best to get me on 07891764431, I'm never in the office!

Best of luck with this. The RAF have some history in this event having won it a few years ago, so there really is no pressure. If I recall correctly, Dave Green (Head Coach of RAF Cycling) was a member of the team one year when he crashed and broke his collar bone.

You are full of good cheer Turbo!

Turbo the Coach more like with that pep talk!!
Thanks for the tips. Had a mtg with DG a few weeks ago to pick his brains about the event. I reckon their record is safe!!

What's news guys? Keep us up to date with your progress.

Frank, latest is through the blogs via raf-ultra.co.uk, but in a nutshell, everything's going to plan. We've nearly firmed up the suppport crew and are now getting down to the nitty gritty of planning the detail, which is immense. There's a RAAM seminar being held in London in Feb, so a couple of us are going to that.

What about the nitty gritty training what a bummer the last month has been for riding outside! My RAB ride stuff says you should easily be able to do 3.5 hours at this point ... chance would be a fine thing!

Kelda,

Training all being covered on our blogs which you can access through the website www.raf-ultra.co.uk

HTFU

Plan....do we have a plan?? :0
As 'rookies' we are finding things out for ourselves to be honest. JC frequently points out that we should be recording some of the team meetings and discussions due to the dynamics of the team, some functional and some dysfunctional!!! All things considered it is going to plan as JC points out. Training was a bummer over xmas for sure esp with all the free time!! Still it stops us overtraining. Our enthusiasm to get out on the road was kerbed by me slidding off within the first 15mins of our first outing!! Nice!!
More to follow. JC's blog is the one to look at as I am not too active with my own. Look forward to your comments,and thanks for the support.
Cheers
Pete

Hi Pete,

It can't be easy getting those miles in during this rather chilly winter! I have organised a team to ride across America also this year (But not the RAAM), we set off from San Diego and ride the south route across and plan to take 14 days... We start our ride on 31 Mar 10. 6 x riders and 4 x support.. And some very tired legs I am sure..

All the very best in training and I look forward to following you guys during the event..

Cheers,

Cheers for that Marc. Are you blogging/updating whilst you're out there. Good luck.

That is our plan, hopefully our support crew will have a blog set up. Will let you know.

Cheers

A tentative enquiry at this stage. Does anyone know of a bike mechanic who would like to join the RAAM support Crew in June?
If so please contact me via this thread or PM me.

Cheers

Cheers Marc
I hope it all goes well for you. From the feedback at the RAAM seminar at the weekend, people either love it or vow never to come back. Perhaps you could use your trip as a taster for bigger things ;-)
Yep the trg is a challenge, and the turbo is getting a hammering (literally!!).
Let us know your blog details when you can so we can keep tabs on your progress.
Good luck.

Hey Pete,

Our blog is http://raftransamerica.blogspot.com/

I am currently speaking with some guys in the US Navy, who are also doing the RAAM this year. They are riding on the first day with us, and hopefully assisting us with some comms! I am more than happy to pass details, for both you guys to liaise and perhaps get some benefit from the contacts!!

I would have jumped at the chance to be your bike mechanic, but with my current training towards another Ironman I cannot really allow the training break. Especially from the riding and fitness I plan to gain in the US. I can be contacted on mgpreece@qinetiq.com or 01772 852106.

Please feel free to drop me a line.

Cheers,

Pete,

I have been speaking with some US Naval guys who have arranged a comms government company to contact me, they work Terrestar. www.terrestar.com

They have offered to support my challenge, and it might be something you guys are intersted in for comms! Mind you, I would imagine your crew wagon will be pretty close to the riders at all times.

On another note, do you have a sports supplement sponsor? If not I maybe in a position to provide a contact for the largest sports supplement company in the UK. They are also sponsoring my challenge.

Best to give me a call on 01772 852106 or 07528 579537.

Speak soon,

Cheers Marc for the connection. Have PM'd you. Good luck with the US adventure and the IM training.
Speak soon
All the best
Pete