It's always been known that RAAM is the toughest race in the world:
The World’s Toughest Race In 1993 Outside magazine, the biggest and most popular magazine on outdoor sports, commissioned a panel of experts to rank the world’s toughest events. Using such criteria as the “Mule Factor”—the distances involved; the “Forum”—how tough the course is; the “Anguish Index”—how hard the competitors “have to work to convince themselves that what they’re doing is only mildly inane and self-destructive;” and the “O Factor”—a combination of the cost to do the event and the drop out rate. Given these criteria, as judged by a number of multi-sport athletes and observers, the ranking came out as follows:
1. Race Across America 676.2 points 2. Vendee Globe Around-the-World Sailing Race 675.0 points 3. Iditarod Sled Dog Race 417.5 points 4. U.S. Army’s Best Ranger Competition 402.5 points 5. Raid Gauloises Wilderness Competition 399.0 points 6. La Traversee Internationale (25-mile swim) 301.4 points 7. Badwater 146-Mile Cross Country Run 113.4 points 8. Hawaii Ironman Triathlon 67.2 points ----------------- I was surprised that the Iditarod was 3rd, but I always knew the Hawaii Ironman was for light-weights. Notice the tour de france isn't even on the list. Watching McEwen in that sprint finish in the Giro, made me think this is about exciting as watching paint dry. But of course the Giro is only a giant marketing scheme to sell european products, and impractical bicycle equipment in the USA. From sunglasses to bottle cages, it's all about selling [censored] that doesn't work for the average guy. Kind of like American Idol, that's what I would compare it to.
It's always been known that RAAM is the toughest race in the world:
The World’s Toughest Race In 1993 Outside magazine, the biggest and most popular magazine on outdoor sports, commissioned a panel of experts to rank the world’s toughest events. Using such criteria as the “Mule Factor”—the distances involved; the “Forum”—how tough the course is; the “Anguish Index”—how hard the competitors “have to work to convince themselves that what they’re doing is only mildly inane and self-destructive;” and the “O Factor”—a combination of the cost to do the event and the drop out rate. Given these criteria, as judged by a number of multi-sport athletes and observers, the ranking came out as follows:
1. Race Across America 676.2 points 2. Vendee Globe Around-the-World Sailing Race 675.0 points 3. Iditarod Sled Dog Race 417.5 points 4. U.S. Army’s Best Ranger Competition 402.5 points 5. Raid Gauloises Wilderness Competition 399.0 points 6. La Traversee Internationale (25-mile swim) 301.4 points 7. Badwater 146-Mile Cross Country Run 113.4 points 8. Hawaii Ironman Triathlon 67.2 points ----------------- I was surprised that the Iditarod was 3rd, but I always knew the Hawaii Ironman was for light-weights. Notice the tour de france isn't even on the list. Watching McEwen in that sprint finish in the Giro, made me think this is about exciting as watching paint dry. But of course the Giro is only a giant marketing scheme to sell european products, and impractical bicycle equipment in the USA. From sunglasses to bottle cages, it's all about selling [censored] that doesn't work for the average guy. Kind of like American Idol, that's what I would compare it to.
Hmmm. Years before, I think there was another selection, and the Western States 100 came out on top, if memory serves. For me, the reasons why someone would do something so manifestly risky, unpleasant and weird are just slightly more interesting than any kind of ranking of these gore-fests.
It's always been known that RAAM is the toughest race in the world:
The World's Toughest Race In 1993 Outside magazine, the biggest and most popular magazine on outdoor sports, commissioned a panel of experts to rank the world's toughest events. Using such criteria as the "Mule Factor"-the distances involved; the "Forum"-how tough the course is; the "Anguish Index"-how hard the competitors "have to work to convince themselves that what they're doing is only mildly inane and self-destructive;" and the "O Factor"-a combination of the cost to do the event and the drop out rate. Given these criteria, as judged by a number of multi-sport athletes and observers, the ranking came out as follows:
1. Race Across America 676.2 points 2. Vendee Globe Around-the-World Sailing Race 675.0 points 3. Iditarod Sled Dog Race 417.5 points 4. U.S. Army's Best Ranger Competition 402.5 points 5. Raid Gauloises Wilderness Competition 399.0 points 6. La Traversee Internationale (25-mile swim) 301.4 points 7. Badwater 146-Mile Cross Country Run 113.4 points
Jock Boyer did it several years ago after returning from the tour to show that an average tour cyclist could do it and win no problem. He won.
Andres
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8. Hawaii Ironman Triathlon 67.2 points ----------------- I was surprised that the Iditarod was 3rd, but I always knew the Hawaii Ironman was for light-weights. Notice the tour de france isn't even on the list. Watching McEwen in that sprint finish in the Giro, made me think this is about exciting as watching paint dry. But of course the Giro is only a giant marketing scheme to sell european products, and impractical bicycle equipment in the USA. From sunglasses to bottle cages, it's all about selling [censored] that doesn't work for the average guy. Kind of like American Idol, that's what I would compare it to.
"> I heard that some cyclists ride RECUMBENTS and wear HELMETS while doing
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RAAM. Why do those guys hate America so much?
bents may be the future of RAAM. no need to have the hook on the back of the helmet, for the Shermer cable, since you don't get Shermer's neck on a bent. The aerodynamic advantage of bents really starts being a factor in cross-continent type races. In a century type race, where everyone is going all out, the advantage is nil. But in a cross-continent type race, at the triple-century mark, when everyone is pooped out, that's when bents start to show their advantage. The safety issue is the only thing that bothers me about them, as they are so hard to see, for cars in an open course.
I've been working on an invention myself, where the Shermer cable attaches to the back of the helmet, and you can lower and raise the head, with a bar-end-shifter-type mech, from the bar.
"> I heard that some cyclists ride RECUMBENTS and wear HELMETS while doing
Quoted message said:
RAAM. Why do those guys hate America so much?
bents may be the future of RAAM. no need to have the hook on the back of the helmet, for the Shermer cable, since you don't get Shermer's neck on a bent. The aerodynamic advantage of bents really starts being a factor in cross-continent type races. In a century type race, where everyone is going all out, the advantage is nil. But in a cross-continent type race, at the triple-century mark, when everyone is pooped out, that's when bents start to show their advantage. The safety issue is the only thing that bothers me about them, as they are so hard to see, for cars in an open course.
I've been working on an invention myself, where the Shermer cable attaches to the back of the helmet, and you can lower and raise the head, with a bar-end-shifter-type mech, from the bar.
"Robert Chung" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:[email hidden]:
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Callistus Valerius wrote: > It's always been known that RAAM is the toughest race in the > world:
If it's that tough, maybe you can get David Blaine interested in it. He loves that sort of weirdass [censored].
David Blaine would do RAAM as a warm-up for his attempt to set the world speed record for shoving an entire bicycle up your own ass.
With or without lubricant?
I didn't realize bicycle jamming was so specialized. Are there sub-sub- categories for different types of bicycles? Would team RAAM contestants do a circle jam sort of a thing?
The aerodynamic advantage of bents really starts being a factor in cross-continent type races. In a century type race, where everyone is going all out, the advantage is nil.
Fred -
Why would an aerodynamic advantage not be a factor in a century?
Why would an aerodynamic advantage not be a factor in a century?
thanks,
K. Gringioni.
People on regular bikes have the gas to power through headwinds, in century rides. But when you start going past the triple-century mark, they start pooping out in headwinds, while the bents don't suffer as bad. It's a tortise and the hare sort of thing. This assumes riders of equal abilities.
