Team Cyclonauts, 2015 Edition

Riders:

Robert "roborider" Baldino

Bernie "Homey" Barge 

Tim Skipper

Brian Stark

Fabulous Crew:

Sean Scott

Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD - 3,000 miles coast-to-coast across the USA.  RAAM is widely recognized as the world’s toughest endurance bicycle race.  Open to solo racers as well as 2, 4 and 8-person teams.  Solo racers must qualify by completing one of 30 qualifying events worldwide.  No qualification required for teams.  RAAM attracts an international field – competitors from 35 countries have participated.  The race has become an outstanding platform for raising money for charitable causes - over $2.5 million is raised annually for a wide range of charitable causes.  RAAM is an American tradition - 2015 will be its 34^th year making it one of America’s longest continuously running cycling events.

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 more to come.....................

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Silver State 508, Reno,Nevada 204

 

 

Having not completed the Race Across the West due to problems with my right knee & Don William's problem with injesting enough  food to keep him going! It was disappointing but in the final analysis probably a race that was over our heads at the time. I had been riding/training a lot but not the miles that I should have. SInce my knee replacement in October 2012 I have had some pain in my right knee & probably pushed my training to hard considering the amount of trauma in the knee due to the surgery!

 

The team called Mahi Mahi, which is assigned by the Adventure Corps rather then numbers was made up of Myself, Don Williams, Lowell "skip" Morgan and Jeff Miller.  All in all we did well finishing the race in 39 hours. The temperatures were very cold at nigh and topped off around low to mid 80's during the day.  I rode 2 stages, 3 & 7. Stage 7 was 112 miles long and the 2nd most difficult in the race. It took me almost 10 1/2 hours to complete as there were 4 mountain passed to ride over the highest being over 7500 feet in elevation. The temp was 38 degrees @ 7 AM when I started the stage. The previous stage was ridden by Jeff Miller and the temps dropped to almost freezing during that stage.

 Jeff Miller                                               Me/Stage 7

Don Williams

Lowell "Skip" Morgan

The 6 12 24 Time Trial World Championships, Borrego Springs, California 2014

Just returned from Borrego Springs where I competed in the  6 12 24 Hr Time Trial WOrld Championships put on my the Race Across AMerica organization. The course, a 18 mile rectangle through the surrounding desert was fast, at least until 2 PM or so when 30-50 knot winds picked up. I was hoping to ride at least 180 miles but only managed 154 but at least this amount did give me 1st place in the 60+ category & 7th overall in the 12 hr group.

I want to think my friend and 2006 RAAM teammate Bernie Barge for volunteering to be my one & only "support crew" for this race. He did a great job keeoing me hydrated & fed during the event. I knowit was frustrating for him as he would have prefered to be riding! I think he has the "bug" now & will try the race next year!

Many thanks to Livermore Cyclery for their assistance in helping me reach my cycling goals!
http://youtu.be/-9i51zMd8RY

Even though I no longer live in the Pleasanton/Livermore area I still remain a member of the Valley Spokesman Race Team & I appreciate all their sponsorship of my races.

I will be heading to Borrego Springs again the 1st weekend in December to ride with the "Over the Top" cycling camp. 

More on that in next "post"!

 

The Race Across the West

Don and me rolling down the beach on the beginning of the race on June 10, 2014 

This June myself and my teammate Don Williams form VSRT prepared to ride The Race Across the West, a race of 860 miles from Oceanside, California to Durango Colorado.  I'm interviewed abt 6 min into this video.....http://youtu.be/qzUQW-qo3II

My friend Bernie Barge was one of the RAAM inspectors this year and here he is giving us the "once over"! Much thanks goes to our crew Tim Burgess and Matt Brooks ( who flew down from Portland) to give us a hand!

More from the actual race in the next post.

Cheers!

As I prepare to ride in the Race Across the West RAW Website, (in lieu of RAAM) this year.

 I discovered this photo of our Team RAAM, Team4GONE from 2011. This was of course before the big accident in Arizona described in detail in another part of this blog.

This year I will be Teaming up with my friend Don Williams. He & I are members of the Valley Spokesman Race Team & have ridden together in the Furnace Creek 508. Our crew chief will be Tim Burgess who has been on my racing crew for several other races, again the FC 508.

In addition my 2006 RAAM teammate Lowell (Skip) Morgan will be part of the crew. I'm certain the Skip would prefer to be riding but he has unselfishly donated his time to help us out.

The Race Across the West starts in Oceanside California and finishes in Durango Colorado a distance of 850 miles & we have to finish within 66 hours. A tall order as there are quite a few long mountain climbs along the route.

Map of the RAW Route 2014

New Season/2014-1015

Gearing up for the upcoming riding/racing season! The Cervelo S-5 is new. My first ride with the Shimano DI2 system! The Specialized Tarmac is my "old" bike (2005) that I have used in all three RAAM races and a few Furnace Creek 508's. My S-Works was destroyed during my accident in Tuba City during RAAM 2011. 

On March 8th I will be heading to Tucson to ride in the Pactour for a week! It is called the Ciricahua Challenge Tour and should be fun as well as good start to my "serious" training for the Race Across the West in June.

I'll be riding with my friend Don Williams (past 508 teammate) and we will be riding as Team Cyclonauts. We are both members of the Valley Spokesman Racing Team sponsored by Livermore Cycling Shop Also our friend Tim Burgh will be the team leader and crew chief. Also my past teammate from 2006 Race Across America Skip Morgan will be grew. I am hoping to find one more crew.

I am still "nursing" several injuries from my accident but I should be able to persevere. I have lots of time before the race. Here's the link to the Race Across the West which starts in Oceanside CA. & ends in Durango Co.

http://www.raceacrossthewest.org/raw3/raam.php?N_webcat_id=124

CU on the road!

robo