Sir Steve Redgrave cycling RAAM

[darkstar]

http://www.redgravecrew.com/

I recently found out Redgrave is cycling the Race Across America with a team of mates. He's 48 years old, what a legend, he continues to amaze me.

 

[vernon]

http://www.redgravecrew.com/

I recently found out Redgrave is cycling the Race Across America with a team of mates. He's 48 years old, what a legend, he continues to amaze me.

If he was doing it solo, then I would be impressed. Assuming that he has an even share of the riding then he's got 375 miles to do with decent breaks between each spell of cycling.

I wonder how the serious UK Audax riders would fare if they put a team together.

 

[darkstar]

If he was doing it solo, then I would be impressed. Assuming that he has an even share of the riding then he's got 375 miles to do with decent breaks between each spell of cycling.

I wonder how the serious UK Audax riders would fare if they put a team together.

Hmmm if he were doing it solo i would be amazed, a fairly old ex rower who doesn't cycle much completing RAAM solo. That is a huge strain on the body. All the members of this team seem to be ex rowers, not much cycling history.

Serious Audax riders would do very well i would have thought! Wouldn't make much for charity though

David Goggins is doing it this year as well, check out his website. He used to weigh over 200 lbs, then got into ultra marathons to raise money for charity. He set a target of $1 million, aiming to complete the 10 toughest endurance events in the world. Last year he was diagnosed with a hole in his heart, had the operation. It didn't sort out his problem but he's still riding this year, solo. In training he's doing 500 mile rides as if they're the norm. He's my inspiration to go out training.

 

[vernon]

In training he's doing 500 mile rides as if they're the norm. He's my inspiration to go out training.

That would be my motivation to stay in bed

 

[John Ponting]

Does it say they will ride a relay? I've just posted the question on their site.

 

[vernon]

Does it say they will ride a relay? I've just posted the question on their site.

No need to ask them. Eight man teams are ridden as relays. Each rider averages three hours per day in the saddle.

Average speed for teams is between fifteen and twenty miles per hour.

Not that daunting when it is broken down.

 

[rich p]

No need to ask them. Eight man teams are ridden as relays. Each rider averages three hours per day in the saddle.

Average speed for teams is between fifteen and twenty miles per hour.

Not that daunting when it is broken down.

I do twice that on tour at least!

I guess these retired rich sportsmen have to find some way of filling their lives up after they're too old to compete.

 

[Andy in Sig]

That's right Rich: you tell 'em!

 

[ASC1951]

I guess these retired rich sportsmen have to find some way of filling their lives up after they're too old to compete.

SSR won't have got rich from rowing and I'm sure his profile is such that he has to turn down demands on his time rather than look for things to do.

I know what you mean about the RAAM, though. I'm 12 years older than him and even I could manage a relay crossing with six months' notice to get trained up.

You thinking of assembling a UK Old Farts Team, then Rich?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I love the way RAAM is bigged up as this huge, HUGE, insane 'toughest bike race' challenge, and don't get me wrong taking part is on my 'bucket list', but ultimately it is just a supported cross country tour. Unless you are serious about winning it or setting a record for your class...

Tim Commerford (bass player with Audioslave) did it recently in a four man team. Oddly one of their number got taken out by a rival teams support vehicle anding their attempt so set a new record. Their view was commendable; "We all finish as a team or none of us finishes at all" iirc.

Redgrave will do well. Huge CV capacity, excellent leg strength, and rowing an ideal crossover sport for cycling, and vice versa.

 

[wafflycat]

Don't kid yourself that RAAM is easy. It's not - it's bloody hard. I know two guys who have done it - one as a solo ride and another as head of a 4-man team that won the event. We're not talking leisurely pootle here, it's serious riding to a tough schedule. Fail to keep to the time allowed and you're out. It was featured in a BBC series shown in the depths of night about people who took on a challenge they had not considered before. A marathon runner was picked to try for a place in a Brit 4-man team to do it. He failed to make the grade and wasn't even allowed to start. He was of the mistaken belief that because he was fit from running marathons, he'd be able to do the RAAM He was wrong - and he came across as most miffed about it.

 

[HLaB]

Does it say they will ride a relay? I've just posted the question on their site.

On another page of their site:

The route is over 3000 miles, touching 14 states and climbing over 100,000 feet. Teams typically cross the country in 6 to 9 days, averaging 350 to over 500 miles per day. Solo racers finish in 9 to 12 days, averaging 250 to 350 miles per day. Teams have a relay format and race 24 hours a day.

The Sir Steve Redgrave Crew aim to finish in under 9 days and to win their age category.

 

[wafflycat]

I love the way RAAM is bigged up as this huge, HUGE, insane 'toughest bike race' challenge, and don't get me wrong taking part is on my 'bucket list', but ultimately it is just a supported cross country tour. Unless you are serious about winning it or setting a record for your class...

Then you are mistaken. It's a serious endurance event. It has strict rules, strict time limits, and only limited stops allowed. It is definitely not 'just a supported cross country tour' If you think it's that easy, I can point you in the direction of a couple of guys who have done it and they'll enlighten you as to how easy it is...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Then you are mistaken. It's a serious endurance event. It has strict rules, strict time limits, and only limited stops allowed. It is definitely not 'just a supported cross country tour' If you think it's that easy, I can point you in the direction of a couple of guys who have done it and they'll enlighten you as to how easy it is...

You're not the only person who knows people who have done it.

If these are the people referred to in your previous post...

One who did it as a solo ride? Yep that is a huge challenge. Chapeau to the slightly mad man.

One who did it as part of a winning four man team? Yep this is a big challenge too. Chapeau to the group of mad men.

But as part of an 8 man relay team, 3000 miles between 8 people with a support wagon to kip in between stints, a backup team to carry your water, etc., at an avg speed of what around 16 mph* to finish in the time limits?

I'm game.

*Based on the stats of the 8 person team that finished last, last year.

 

[wafflycat]

Chris Hopkinson was the first Brit to do it solo. Yes, he's a madman, but in a good way. Then there's Team RAF who've done the for-man team event a couple of times.