So it comes to an end....

Well, after nearly 5 years of planning and preparing we have executed RAAM. I wish i had some eloquent way to bring this to closure, but i don't. i keep telling myself if i just wait one more day i'll somehow be able with words to describe the experience myself and 7 of my closest friends and family whet through...but i can't. We went into an amazing battle together and came out the other side better people for it. RAAM has a crazy way of showing you who you really are and how you deal with "life as it happens". While this is my last RAAM as a racer, i look forward to helping others embark on their RAAM adventures as i feel it is an amazing medium for discovering yourself and what lies within you. Until we meet again somewhere down the road....bp

A Few Final Thoughts...and Images

Over the next few days i'll complete my(and crew's) picture download here: RAAM Pictures
I'm still trying to decipher exactly what we went through and what happened...but stay tuned for a recap.
Also, Tuesday July 28th, I'm going to do a "RAAM recap presentation" at Now Bikes in St. Paul. We are doing a short ride at 6pm, then beer and cheese "Sconnie style"to accompany the talk. Good pics, videos and stories are a guarantee.
Finally, I want to say that i am so grateful for all the good thoughts and support everyone sent throughout. We needed everyone of those positive thoughts and comments left here to get through. I can't tell you how many times i was ready to mentally fail...only to be saved by a well wish read to me by the crew from the website. Your support meant the world.

Home

Well, we made it home...what an epic adventure. I'll try and put some closing thoughts together, along with an online album of pics for everyone to recount the adventure. Thanks so much to Matt, my crew and all of you who helped will me across the us...not possible without the support of you all. Off to bed. ben

HE FINISHED!

Sorry for the lack of posts the last day--family obligations. But I wanted to let you know, BEN FINISHED. Solo RAAM rookie finisher, 2009.

It's an absolutely amazing accomplishment. So raise your glasses...he's done. Safely.

-Matt

Less Than 300 Miles To Go!

This will be a much welcomed sight. Annapolis, MD.

Cougar Sighting

Live from the mountains of West Va. Miller lite, Whitesnake cassettes and Marb lights were discovered at the scene. Crue snapped a pic.

Day 10

Entering Ohio at Sunrise...

Location: Blanchester, Ohio
Conditions: 78F, mostly cloudy, winds from the WNW @ 9
Miles covered: 2,458
Miles remaining: 563
Food for thought: In ancient Japan, public contests were held to see who in a town could fart the loudest and longest. Winners were awarded many prizes and received great recognition.


Long, straight Midwestern roads suck. Especially if they're poorly maintained and have lots of traffic. That was the sentiment from both rider and Crue after yesterday's jaunt through Indiana--according to TP member Peter A.

Today is Ohio. And things are looking better.

I got to talk to Peter this morning--Fairbanks was preening--and everyone is feeling the effects of limited sleep. However, the end is in sight and that's energizing Ben. Physically, his body is holding up well and there haven't been any major issues. It's just the sleep factor that's compounding. Ben is especially tired in the mornings and the Crue has to use Ninja mind tricks to un-groggy his mind and motivate him.

Ben is excited to enter the mountains of West Virginia, mostly for the varying terrain. He seems to thrive in hillier terrain versus the flat-ass plains. Right now, TP's plan is to push ahead to the W.V. foothills tonight and then bed down.

That's all for now.

-Matt

Day 9

Just a quick voicemail update from Fairbanks. The Crue is in Indiana. Following yesterday's heat, Ben got a a saline IV and hit the road again. Apparently he hasn't looked as good since day one. More of the same today: heat + Ben riding strong. That's good news after the rough patch he had a few days ago.

Less than 800 miles to go. He's almost there folks.

I hope to have more for you later.

-Matt

Days Seven and Eight

Location: Washington, Missouri
Conditions: 93F, partly cloudly, winds from NE @ 4, dew point 75F
Miles covered: 1,987
Miles remaining: 1,034
Food for thought: David Spade's baby Mama, Jillian Grace, is from Washington, Missouri, (Google at your own risk...)

It had to happen...a rough patch. Every RAAM rider goes through it. When you're doing a race as long as RAAM, it's going to happen many, many times.

Ben's first big rough patch was yesterday. Following on the heels of his 32-hour pull and rest, he got up yesterday, not quit right. That, combined with the 100-degree heat and humidity, made for a tough-ass day.

The Crue was icing him down every five minutes, feeding him fluids, trying to keep his spirits up, but it was challenging...

However, last night, after a hotel-bed rest, an IV and massage, Ben woke up like a new man. Fairbanks said that today, despite the heat, he's "riding like a champ," and his spirits are up.

In other RAAM excitement, the follow van had a flat tire yesterday. The RV had one today. At least no one on the Crue has butt implants, otherwise one of those would likely go flat too and need a changeout.

Next stop, the Mississippi River and less than 1,000 miles to go!

-Matt

It's Not You, It's Me...

...in that I haven't been able to connect with Fairbanks over the last day (it's that damn work thing getting in the way of my RAAM reporting and the fact that the Crue is very busy).

So I'm not ignoring the updates, I'm just waiting for more info. In the meantime follow Larry's updates via Twitter. And Ben's progress on the RAAM leaderboard.

As soon as I talk with the Crue, I'll post more.

--Matt

Road Construction

No daily update from the Crue yet, but Larry did post this to his Twitter account



Looks like Ben ran into a bit of summer road construction. Or it's a scene from a modern day Village People album cover...

-Matt

Quick Day Six Follow-Up

According to Fairbanks, Ben has been on the bike for 32 hours--his longest pull yet--great tailwinds. The team is about 20 miles or so from Pratt, Kansas--the halfway point in the race. When they reach Pratt, it's nap time for both rider and Crue.

-Matt

Day Six -- Long, Hot & Straight

Location: Plains, Kansas
Conditions: 86F, sunny, winds from the WSW @ 14, Gusting to 19, Dew Point 67F
Miles covered: 1,398
Miles remaining: 1,627
Food for thought: The fastest time to pluck a turkey is 1 min. 30 seconds, by Vincent Pilkington

It's hot out there. Eastern Kansas is under a heat advisory today with temps expected to reach 99F--that's right where Ben's saddle-chapped booty is headed...

Fairbanks called me last night for the weather forecast. Given that Ben had favorable winds and the temps were still moderate, they made the decision to have him ride through the night. Smart choice given the forecast for today. Ben well likely sleep during the hottest part of the day, giving him a well-needed break from the unrelenting sun.

After he makes his way--on straight, flat roads--through Kansas, he'll enter Missouri and then Illinois. Not a lot of updates for now, other than rider and crew remain in good spirits. The van hasn't gotten stuck again. And aside from some minor aches and pains, Ben remains in good health.

TP is almost at the half-way point, which has got to be a huge motivator.

Still, no sightings of the elusive wild cougar though....



-Matt

Stuck Van

Here's a photo of the stuck van from Crue member Larry.

-Matt

Day Five--Abbreviated

Just a quick update for now. I talked to Fairbanks for about 30 seconds before he had to hang up for a Crue change out--so I didn't get much. Team Popp just finished climbing Bobcat pass in New Mexico. It's the biggest vertical climb in RAAM. Now with the big mountains behind, Ben is on some welcomed flat terrain.

In other news the follow van got stuck. In mud I presume... A nice local helped tow them out. Hopefully I'll talk to Fairbanks later in the day and get some more info. Stay tuned...

-Matt

Live Video of Ben

Thanks to Dan. Mucho Danke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfmMWKbWVdg

Notice the Pirate EYE PATCH!

Matt >---Danger--->

Tech Tidbit

Here's a little fun tech tidbit from HED Cycling's Dino Edin. In addition to riding a HED frame on the flat stages, Ben is exclusively riding HED wheels.

What's cool is that Ben has HED's new Stinger 4 wheels. These haven't been released to the public yet. In fact, the only other people riding these are Team Columbia-Highroad which includes the likes of George Hincapie.

For those of you who aren't familiar, HED Cycling Products designs and manufactures 16 different models of composite, aerodynamic wheels (as well as aerobars), exported worldwide and used in events from the Tour de France and the Hawaiian Ironman(r).

-Matt

Day Four

Location: Chama, New Mexico
Conditions: 57F, mostly cloudy, calm (though it did pour rain for about six hours earlier)
Miles covered: 934
Miles remaining: 2,087
Food for thought: In May 2007 a local auto mechanic bought a PowerBall ticket at a Chama gas station and won $68 million, perhaps TP should make a stop...

Lots of barn burning updates today. But first, check out the view outside of Chama...

Not bad, eh? It's mountain-ey. And according to Fairbanks, Ben really likes the mountains and has been riding like a rockstar anytime the road turns up or down. Yesterday alone, he climbed around 30,000 feet--that's the height of Mt. Everest. In fact, the Crue has had to rein his climbing enthusiasm in a bit, making sure he's saving enough energy for East of the Mississippi.

What makes this all the more interesting, is that Ben scratched his eye yesterday. So for the past 24 hours he's been riding looking like this:

Yep, with an eye patch...descending roads like this (at night to boot).

Gulp. Not my cup of tea.

Today, Ben will breifly re-enter Colordao and climb La Manga pass--the highest point in RAAM at nearly 11,000 feet--before jogging South to Taos, New Mexico. That's tonight's rest stop and the plan is for him to bed down for a three hour nap.

According to Fairbanks, both rider and Crue remain in good spirits. Ben's having fun and so are his loyal minions. However, sleep is rare and people are starting to get tired. This is what is trying for everyone involved in the race.

Healthwise Ben is faring very well. Aches and pains are popping up (achilles, patella), but they've got 2.5 doctors in the Crue plus a masssage therapist--so it's kind of like a roving HMO. Besides, after riding 1,000, a bit of soreness is to be expected.

That's all for now. I have some interesting tech tidbits from HED Cyling's Chris "Dino" Edin that I'll post in a bit.

Ciao,

-Matt

P.S. Certain readers have been clamoring for more Cougar updates. I promise that those will be coming.

Start Pics

Here are some pictures from the RAAM starting line (courtesy of Greg Rhodes).

-Matt

Live from the Road

Crue member Larry Foss is twittering and posting pics. Follow him at https://twitter.com/TheFixStudio

-Matt