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
6/25/09
6/24/09
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
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
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
6/23/09
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
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
6/22/09
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
-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
6/21/09
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