Solo RAAM - A Team Sport

What surprises many that are not familiar with RAAM, and cycling in general, is that it takes a team to reach the finish line. A RAAM rider’s team (crew) is the rider’s life line and they can make or break the rider’s race as they proceed across the country. As with any team you need a group of dedicated individuals willing to put the team’s needs ahead of their own. A RAAM team consists of some members with specialty skills (logistics, medical, mechanical, etc...) and others with more general skills that range from the simple smile and encouraging word to driving and food preparation. But as a group the crew is a team and each member is as equally important as the other in getting the RAAM rider across the finish line.

Being a part of a RAAM team has its highs and lows and at times can be incredibly stressful. During the race you often find that the teams’ ether form strong bonds or fall apart. The team assembled by Janet and Sam last year fell into the first category and many of us formed friendships that have lasted well past RAAM. What is even more incredible is that almost half of last year’s crew is returning for another run at the “World’s Toughest Race”. Kathryn, Tom (Tommy as he was known last year since we had two Tom’s) and I will be returning to the Osprey crew. We would have others returning with us for the 2009 race, but the economy has made that difficult. But those members will be filling support roles leading up to and during the race.

For 2009 we will be slimming down our team to a lean six members. Last year the Osprey crew consisted of eight members with two minivans and a conversion van. Each minivan had three crew members and the conversion van had two. This worked well but after much discussion Osprey Crew 2009 have come to the conclusion that we can do away with the third person in two of the vans. We will still be utilizing three vehicles (a full size van for primary follow, an SUV or van for errands, and a sedan for running crew back and forth from hotels). Each vehicle will have two crew and we will be running three eight hour shifts.

As our team continues to form there are thousands of preparations to be made before we get to the starting line. But, knowing that once again we will have one of the best teams on the road is comforting. Janet is an incredible cyclist and has surrounded herself with incredible people to help her reach the finish line. Keep those pedals turning Janet, your team is right here with you!

-Bill Osborn