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

Currently spending a few months over Winter to train for the upcoming season as well as work on our sailboat.

The Blue Dolphin has mostly been ignored since my accident during RAAM 2011 when I was hit by a semi near Tuba City. Needless to say I was seriously injured sustaining life threatening injuries.  After 3 1/2 months of laying in a hospital bed I was able to get around somewhat using a cane.

One unexpected "bonus" of the accident an subsequent exams was the discovery of a "spot" on my left kidney. In October of that year (only 6 mos. after my accident I had surgery to remove part of that Kidney. Unfortunately the left side of my chest was where I sustained most of my injuries, broken ribs and large open wound the surgeon cut me open on the same side and removed part of a rib. As of this writing my left side is still sore.

A year later I had my right knee joint replaced which had been giving me problems for 5 years. Another surgery almost a year later after my kidney surgery.

As of January of this year I was able to finally get back on the trainer and the bike a few months later. I went on a juice diet as I had gained a large amount of weight due to my sitting around for so long.

During the Summer of 2013 I served as a course official for the Race Across the West but did take my bike along and when I had a chance took a few hrs "Off" and did some riding.  This photo is along the same highway that I was hit on which is near Monument Valley. I also managed to ride a bit in the Valley which was a treat. I had been thru the Valley several other times but during RAAM 06 & 08 as well as 2012 when I was an Official during RAAM.

As you would image my bike, a new S-Works was destroyed during the accident. Only recently I replaced it with this Cervelo S5. 

Furnace Creek 508! One of my five official finishes which put me into the Hall Of Fame in 2010!

A chronicle of my Ultra Distance Riding since 2004.