If you generally look north of the New York State Thruway, there's much less snowfall. Most of the lake effect snow hits south of that line, but occasionally will drift north.

Anyone here ever thought about doing RAAM?

I’m kind of interested. If not the race than to just ride across America.

Race sounds more fun.

She will.

Oof.

Words to live by.

I didn't watch the video. Mrs. rjones28 will likely spend less than $3,000 on her knife.

They had a bid for base openings that ends 2 days before I start. Was really really hoping DCA would be an option.

Luckily I think I have a good chance of staying east coast.

Mower blades are where the real cutting action is at.

Time to mow.

Again?

Mine would just cut herself with a nice knife. You would shudder if you saw what she does with our nice knives (nothing like the really nice Japanese knives, by the way).

RAAM is incredibly expensive. You don't get to do it without support, and you need to spend a stupid amount of time on the bike just to qualify. Can you do 400 miles in a 24 hour period? That was just one stipulation. If you're considering it, you may want to look at the Trans Am Bike Race. Unsupported, 4,000 miles, 17 days for the winner.

I hear that nurses and doctors appreciate the clean cuts from high zoot knives - they stitch up nicely.

Touring would be fun. Racing those kinds of distances seems like it would be a slog for me.

The end of last night's ride. Missed the sun falling below the hills by a few minutes. This was not even 7 PM. Note to VV - only the grass is dead. Everything else is evergreen.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...645d2aaa5a.jpg

I have determined that crit racing on Zwift is about all the racing I'm really up for.

A couple years back BF member and friend Biker395 did RAAM as part of a 4 person team. The team approach makes a lot more sense than solo. You split a lot of the cost and you get to sleep more. They were all very experienced endurance riders/racers.

A member of my road club did it solo 3 times. This was several years ago and he said it cost him about $30K each time. The first time he DNF'ed due to hyponatremia but the second effort he became the first finisher over 60 and the third he became the first over 65.

It's not racing like you think, they don't carry high average speeds or draft in lines or any of the usual road race stuff. It's very dependent on sleep deprivation and just staying on the bike for as many hours as you can stand. Lots of riders drop out. Some have neck issues, (Shermer's Neck). Some fall asleep on the bike.

Someone else I know did it as a 2 man team and it turned into a fiasco. There was fighting among the support crew and people dropped out and flew home and most of them weren't friends after the race.

You have to qualify for RAAM. I'm not sure how many but there are events that count toward it. There is one this weekend.
The 508

Weekend fun alert!

https://tatertotfestivaloregon.com/

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My ideal race length is about 3 hours.

I'd rather tour big mile events than race them.

Tour Divide looks fun, but I'd like to do it at a 7-week pace.

One of my clubmates has done a ride (not the RAAM) across the country several times. Too much of a good thing is not good IMO but he loves it.

In 1990 4 of us rode across the US on touring bikes, staying in motels. I only rode 3000 miles and bailed in Kentucky. I wanted to do it again but stay out of the south but it never happened.

If I were suddenly in a position where money wasn't an issue and I could just ride all the time I would like to attempt Race to the Rock in Australia. It's basically a bikepacking race through the Australian outback to Uluru Rock (f/k/a Ayers Rock). Course always changes but 1500-1800 miles I think. The first year only one person finished. I think the last year they had it maybe 5 people finished. When it first started they intentionally kept details of how to register private with the idea that if you really wanted to do it you'd figure out how to contact them.

Imagine.

RAAM makes my ass hurt.

I don't even want to drive across the country, much less ride across it!