zippyjuan
06-21-2005, 07:16 PM
The Race Across America is called the toughest race by Outside Magazine. It is a bicycle race from San Diego to Atlantic City on a route that covers 3052 miles and has 110,000 feet of total climbing. They cross deserts, climb the Rocikes and the Appalatians and face whatever weather they encounter. Most will sleep maybe an hour or two a night and eat and do almost everything on their bikes. Coast to coast in less than ten days. Because of sleep deprevation and the monotony of it, they will eventually lose track of where they are and where they have to go so support teams are critical. As is nutrition. Among this year's participants is Eric Heiden who won five Olympic gold medals for speed skating. His sister Beth was a medalist too. On Sunday, the individuals set off and Tuesday the teams went. For the team portion of the race, it is one bike and either two, four, or six members trade off riding- relay style. They are expected in Atlantic City in about five days and even though they start a couple days behind the individuals, they will pass them along the way. The leader of the individual race has been averaging 18 miles per hour so far- that is average for twentyfour hours of riding so his rest time counts. Two others are presently over 15 miles per hour. This is a pace you need to maintain for nine days- not just for a couple of hours so that is pretty quick for this. For more information about the race: http://www.outdoornewswire.com/v/current/htdocs/etc/sa.php/63617465676f72794c6162656c3d416476656e74757265526163696e67266c6f636174696f6e3d323030352f30362f313131 373831383231362672737349643d31303836%5C%22
And the official site is www.raceacrossamerica.org .
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/JeffryZ/RaceAM.jpg
And the official site is www.raceacrossamerica.org .
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/JeffryZ/RaceAM.jpg