Reports from the Race Day Four

Hello and Welcome to RAAM Race coverage day four. Here is an elevation profile of the stage they are currently racing from Taos, NM to Cimarron, NM - Mike Z (going to bed) I will continue to update this one post throughout the day even if there are newer entries added above it.
1:00 AM - Alex will be in red river soon. I changed vans so I could switch alexto the 48 17. Its a surly flip-flop hub so the change only takes a minute. We will gain 1200 feet in the next 10 miles. Both riders serfping (?) well and trying to pace themselves. KR started at 118am EDT This climb would be beautiful in the daytime. You can see the canyon walls in themoonlight rising straight up on both sides. We just passed goat hill campground.

1:24 AM - We have to keep the interior lights out so that we don't attract the moths. Temp is 47f going to be cold going down the back of this. We just watched jeanfhe (?) is looking very strong tonight. All business, he was getting his game face on earlier.

1:50 AM -The final 4 miles of the climb rise a leg busting 1200 feet to the summit of bobcat pass.
After that we say adios to the Rockies. Of the next 300 mi, 280 are downhill - Merrill

2:00 AM - Alex a bit lightheaded at 8600ft. KR going for the final push at 0200EDT. Approx 7 mi. There is snow on the sides of the road and it is 44f. Climb is relentless, but not unbearably steep. Passing thru red river now. RV from team 611 is now following goat and Madi in the follow van for team AFC. Keith is still carrying a nice cadence of around 60 on the 48x18.
2:21 AM - Now taking the turn out of red river the road goes straight up and his cadence is down to 30. Earlie today he hit 45 mph and the cadence was over 140. Took 2 of us to count it, one watching KR and the other calling out the time.
2:27 AM - 3 mi to the summit and KR is stepping it up a bit. Alex is going to polish this one off.
Final assault - Gotta be a 15+ % grade. For the last 2 miles and 2 to go. Alex is up to a 42 cadence with a slight drop in the grade. Baby Sug is yanking on the bars and putting his whole self into this monster.
2:37 AM - KR is back on. 41f freezing. Baby sug is getting dressed for the descent. Under a mile to the summit. KR is looking strong. Baby sug is back in the land of the living. Throats burning from lack of O2.
2:44 AM KR has reached the too of bobcat pass 1084 miles in the bag. We are now beginning our departure from the rocky mtns. Baby sug is flying. All Keith is talking about is food. Taco bell, and his new fav Angelos in So Cal. Summit temp was 35f. Says it isthe biggest climb he has ever done. He also says he could never have made it without all the training assistance of his tmr pals! OK I made that one up. He would like to thank his wife for letting him climb this mountain.
Alex is on course, but he is surely thankful to his awesome babe cleo. He also I'm sure is thankful to those surly fellows in Minn for building such a sturdy machine.
(note from Mike Z - not sure if the times are EDT they are coming in late or Merrill forgot to convert)
*Message from JK* Merrill - Your posting this evening has been terriffic. Just want to give you sum cred for a great job. Please pass it on to the whole crew - they do these guys a great honor to make their experience possible! -JK
*Message from Jellyfish* Kudos fellas! ROCK ON! -JF FELLAS: Madi, Stacey, Moms, Dads....EVERYONE!
The RAAM Website puts AFC in 4th place at Time Station 20 (Abbott, NM) with 1166 miles covered. They are currently between Abbott, NM and Clayton, NM. Here is the profile for that stage:
11:08 AM - PAD Result: 130 mi, 6 hrs Ending Felt, OK

1:08 PM Merrill gets clean - I just paid 9 bucks Boise City, OK for a shower. First since CALI. Now I'm racing to Elkhart Kansas to catch up. KAL are riding about 24 mph for the first 60 mi. A very hot 87f and once again no clouds. Elkhartis TS 22 We are very close to TX although there is some dispute over the border. - Clean Merrill

1:24 PM - Some Irish dude - I just spoke to a nice Irishman in a pink shirt riding a bicycle in the middle of nowhere. Nice chap, just riding along by himself. Was surprised that the country was so big. 1324 EDT Saturday - Merrill

1:29 PM - Equipment test - AFC magnets on van and saris rack are good to 150 kms. hypothetically speaking. Cruise is set to posted speed as per the rules. - Unsigned

1:30 PM - Although it hurt me to do so, I attached aero handles to KR s bike and out on the HED front wheel. I called surly and they issued a RAAM exemption to allow him to ride like that without losing all street cred. - Merrill

1:44 PM - Pizza - Trying todo something special for KAL. They are in solo support mode witk madi and goat shuttling whilei bask in luxury of shower and chillaxing. I'm at pizza hut getting something for KR. Alex requested macD's but the guy says the closest one is 30 miles! AD wants a dbl cheeseburger, may have to settle for personal pan. I'm tapping my foot impatiently since I have to catch up with the pizzas! - Merrill

Here is the profile of the current stage between TS 22 Elkhart, OK and TS 23 Plains, KS
1:59 PM - Irish are team 611. Guy has whole face covered with zinc sun lotion. KAL are 15 mi east of TS 22 at 1353 EDT. That's 1326 total, closing in on half way. That is 75 miles this shift so far in maybe 3:20, I forgot to start my watch. - Merrill

2:08 PM - These guys are all like soldiers, tired hungry dirty. They keep pounding away the miles not wanting to let down the team the crew the supporters and people who give money for ADA and PSC. When they finish a climb segment they are SPENT, often apologizing they couldn't go farther as I hold their bike while they unclip and gasp for air. Minutes later they go right back outto help the other guy who is by then starting to wither. Back and forth this goes on 24-7. I got to read a couple of these posts on a real computer and I have to mention that my typing and spelling are sponsored by blackberry and their excellent "
"Suretype" keypad! - Merrill

2:14 PM - Temperature rising - 92F now. Goat is handing up water bottles to dump over their heads. RAAM rules allow max of 4 handups per hour. They have rules foreverything.
2:27 PM From the chase car, Madi W says KR is on cruise control...at 26MPH -W
3:20PM - Hugoton KS - Stopped at mcd's, now I got to catch back up.

3:19 PM EDT executed the dbl cheese burger handup. Plain with only ketchup. No problem keeping it warm with temp at 94f and a large dashboard in the minivan. -Merrill

Nice Article about the race in The View from Ellicott City.

4:05 PM Merrill answers reader's questions:
-No, KR is not wearing tri shorts or wings to go with his aero bars
-KR had a plain pizza
-Baby sug ate 2 dbl cheeseburgers
-Patt does not seem to have gained any weight. He is in his usual high spirits
-Adam is also cherry and very polite to the crew
-Yes, we really wish that there had been a toilet available at the last RV stop
@ Mile 1380 - Baby sug just passed me at the corner of US 83 and SR 51. 96F He is hungry, but enjoyed the cheeseburgers. I'm thinking of trying out for chef for one of the pro teams. We are starting to see some puffy cumulus building on the horizon to the east. We are riding toward an area that had some flooding recently, or so I am told. I'm in a news blackout. My wife told me about russert, that is really sad. -Merrill

4:34 PM - We have 2 aero helmets for the team. Adam requested he get one to start the next shift. I'm taking KRs in while Alex finishes the segment to TS 23. I have to clean offall thebugs first, these guys are flying. Unofficial first 100 miles today in 4 hour 7 mins. Total looks to be 140 with about 8 mi togo. There is a chance they finish it under 6 hours. Was it the cheeseburgers and pizza? No way, it was just a serious pedaling effort with great solo vehicle support from Madi and the Goat! You can't say "chaprau" to that, more like a 10 gallon hat. Temp now 98F Gotta go change out the van and drive the RV to TS 24 25 and beyond! See you in Annapolis. Merrill

Here is the profile for the next stage ending in Bucklin, KS:







10:25 PM - Cunningham, KS. I just got a nice nap while goat drove the RV. Its 2225 sat night RV is here. Eta for PAD is 11:00PM. Mileage to here is 1518, woo hoo more than half way.I'll update you on the road, gotta go adjust KR s aero handles. - Merrill