How to follow the Eurodrive RAAM team 2022?

Now, that the start of the race really gets close, family and friends frequently ask how they can follow us.

Already here, you know the our RAAM Website at raam2020.de (even if we had to postpone our start from 2020 to 2022, we did not change the address of our site).

Here, the whole team can post photos and text alike – for the benefit for all those stayed home. How intense they will post, most probably depends on the a couple of circumstances. After we left Europe for the American west coast the 12.06.2022 the whole team will have enough time to post impressions from the preparation until we start at the 18.06. After the start, the whole team will be in race mode. We will be busy day and night, keeping the wheels turning around, both those of the bikes as well as those of the cars supporting. Taking pictures then is not our top priority, but wait and see what will pop up there, perhaps especially from Ingar & Dag, our media team.

Live tracking

The RAAM organiser will equip each team with a GPS-tracker. The location of this tracker can be followed live via the official RAAM site at https://www.raamrace.org/live-tracking

On this site, you have several views and options to select what you see. Our Team Eurodrive will start in the RAAM (not the RAW, which is the Race across the West, is started simultaneously, but is only the first part of RAAM), as a 4-racer team in age class 50-59, the start number of the team is T402.

The direct link to our Eurodrive team page at RAAM

Note that the GPS-tracker might not necessarily be with the active rider on the bike at any time. It can also be in one of 2 following cars. When the car stops, the tracker stops while the rider might still be moving. And if you see the tracker going uphill at a speed of 75 km/h, the tracker will most likely also be in the following car transporting one other rider ahead to the next exchange rather than in the car directly behind the racer on on the road.

2 weeks to departure

With less than 2 weeks to the departing flight to the USA (12.06.2022) and less than 3 weeks to the start at 18.06., it’s time for a short update.

We are on track! Thanks to our amazing crew chief Klaus, who has organised flights, hotels, car rentals and much more, we are well prepared for the trip to the US and beyond. Thanks to our extended crew heads with Rolf and Axel, we have most equipment organised or know what we still need and where to get it. Thanks to our creative designer Bettina, we have all a perfect look (and feel) with all the clothes for the racers and the crew, safety jackets, bottles, stickers for the cars, etc. Thanks to our medical team Eva and Hans we are well prepared also when it comes to medical issues, during preparation as well as – hopefully – during the race. Thanks to our personal muesli specialist Fritz we have tons (almost) of nutrition for an optimal performance of the racers and the crew.

The racers are still the same as always:

Jürgen Goos (GER)
Sjur Midtskogen (NOR)
Kjell Teigland (NOR)
Peter Wieland (NOR/GER)

Our Crew had some changes since our first plans in 2020:

Klaus Käfer (GER, Crew Chief)
Axel Fehlau (GER, Deputy Crew Chief)
Rolf Nett (GER, Reserve racer)
Bettina Baacke (GER)
Hans-Jan Backer-Owe (NOR)
Kristian Meinich Backer-Owe (NOR)
Fritz Geers (GER)
Dag Grundseth (NOR, Media)
Hans Nielsen Hauge (NOR, Medical)
Sabine Keller (GER)
Eva Müller (GER, Medical)
Ingar Storfjell (NOR, Media)

During the last 4 weeks, we had weekly online meeting for our Q&A. The racers did their best to be in good shape at the stating line, with more than 20.000 km on their bikes in 2022 (combined), indoor, outdoor, in sunshine and rain, head and tail wind, on training camps as well as lonely, in the basement, at home. After a long preparation period (our initial start in 2020 was postponed due to Covid), we all are very enthusiastic to finally board our planes and fly over the ocean …

E2 Team Application

“Depending on your life experiences, crewing on RAAM will be the most amazing or awful thing you ever do, it may be both.”

These are the words of David Styles, summing up his experience as a RAAM crew chief in his RAAM Guide for the support Crew.

We are in the final stage of putting together our Team for our RAAM 2020 adventure. In the past, we received some requests from interested persons. In order to structure the teambuilding process, we established an area with descriptions for the different roles in our team including the possibility to apply online. Our goal is to have the core team ready by end of August 2019.

There is still space for a 4th and 5th racer, crew, photo, medical, mechanics and others ;-). Some details:

E2 Crew

Each of our 4 racers will have their own following car (4 cars in total). Each following car will be a minivan with its own fixed crew of 2 persons, one driving and one navigating. The crew may swap roles as often as they want during the race/day/shift. While in active race mode, the car will follow the rider in short distance (at night within the light beam of the car). During her/his break, the cyclist will have to get the best possible recreation in the back of the minivan. Thus we are looking for experienced and calm drivers with additional talents (bike mechanics, medical, physio, …).

Expect – beside the pure driving/navigating job:

  • to take care of the bikes (load/unload/repair),
  • to take care of the cyclist (food and beverage),
  • take care of the car (fuel and everything essential),
  • take care of the course (5000 km are long enough so no detours),
  • take care of traffic rules (breach of them cost the whole team a penalty),
  • take care of motel stops (check-in, unload the car, prepare for the night, being the alarm clock, prepare or buy food, check-out and load the car).

All this for 7-8 consecutive days with as little as 5 hours of sleep during each non-active shift.

Good Characteristics of Crew Members (taken from here)

  • The desire to crew with an urge for adventure able to rough it.
  • Able to not shower or put on make-up.
  • Able to get dirty and keep smiling.
  • A sense of humour.
  • Thoughtful to others.
  • Able to avoid arguments by biting their tongue.
  • Smart and inventive.
  • Able to maintain some semblance of hygiene even during the rough parts of the race.
  • Someone who is totally committed to the rider even if the rider does not perform to his or her own expectations.
  • Able to catch short naps and still remain alert.
  • Able to drive safely.
  • Not too verbose (silence is often golden in the support vehicles).

Bad Characteristics of Crew Members

  • Egocentric.
  • Will not wash even when the opportunity arises.
  • Does not clean up after him or herself after preparing food.
  • Lazy.
  • Poor attitude.
  • Lacks enthusiasm because a rider is doing poorly in the race.
  • Wants to be in the limelight.
  • Moody, sarcastic, rude, lewd, and crude.
  • Talks too much.

E2 Captain / Crew Chief

The Team Captain is kind of the project manager of our RAAM2020 project. He is a crucial part of our crew moving from the west to the east coast in the US. During the race, we expect to meet challenges that go beyond the pure performance of cycling and driving. Even if we try to be prepared as well as possible, we will have to cope with difficulties that require a clear and calm head, the ability to find creative solutions and the decisiveness to implement them even if the might not be unanimous.

In addition to the general characteristics of a crew member, we are looking for a person who is:

  • calm
  • stress-resilient
  • decisive
  • creative (able to think out-of-the-box)
  • result-oriented

E2 Racer #4

So far we are one Norwegian cyclist, one German one and one hybrid. We are looking for one more to join our RAAM E2 Team. The 4 riders will split into 2 sub-teams with 2 riders each. Each sub-team will switch between an active and passive state in an 8-hour rhythm.

During the active race state one person will be cycling (followed by his minivan) while the other is transported in his minivan to the next exchange point. The riders will switch every 30 – 60 minutes, depending on circumstances like elevation profile, track, strength, temperature, day-/nighttime to mention just a few.

During the passive race state, the two sub-team members will drive to a motel, eat, sleep and prepare to take over at the meeting point the team in active race mode most likely will reach during their active shift.

As we don’t aim for a new record, good mood count more than strong cycling performance. Yet you should know what you are going to be 7-8 days on your bike (you have 2 of them). During your active state you cycle as constant as possible, not overpowering yourself, but still strong enough to bring your whole team a sound stage towards the finish line in Annapolis. While off the bike you get as much rest as possible, your next active state will come! And don’t forget: even if your 2 drivers will do everything possible to keep you going, they are humans too, most likely tired like a dog and happy for any support they can get!

E2 Reserve (racer #5)

Yes, in spite of participating in as a 4 person team, we need a 5th cyclist. Why? Things can go wrong (accident, health, …). Things can change (motivation, plans, …). And some team roles are easier to replace than others.

The 5th cyclist will prepare as if she/he would participate as one of the 4 main cyclists in the team. She/He will fly to the USA together with the other drivers, including bikes. If one of the 4 main cyclists for one reason or the other is unable to start (which can basically happen until 5 min prior to the start whistle), racer #5 stands ready and is saving the conduct of the project (and thus makes the rest of the team extremely happy).

If all 4 main drivers are able to start, cyclist #5 will join the team taking the role of a driver. Once the start whistle was blown, there is no possibility to substitute racers. If one of the 4 racers cannot continue, the remaining 3 will have to continue as a team of 3.

Our offer

This is not a commercial undertaking, i.e. all E2 team jobs are unsalaried. However, the E2 RAAM 2020 project will cover expenses for the flight/stay/food/etc. Why you should spend 3+ week of your time in volunteering supporting 4 racers on their RAAM? There might be plenty of reasons: fun, challenge, experience,  preparation for doing your own RAAM one day in the future, being part of a wonderful team, opportunity to do something extraordinary, a once-in-a-lifetime chance, friendship, memories (also illustrated by a photo book), and many others.

The goal it to the team roughly in place by the spring of 2019.

Still interested?

Apply for one or more roles of the RAAM 2020 E2 Team.