It’s all go here. No time to do much outside riding, preparing to ride and squeezing in a limited amount of sleep.
We came together as a group on Friday, having not met everybody or done an event like this before. by day two into the Race Across America we are a family of 12, sleeping next to each other, supporting each other and feeding each other.
We’ve had some minor teething issues with the complex navigation and the strict 50 page rule book. A few hand slaps to date, but no time penalties so far.
The 12 of us are living out of a RV that comfortably sleeps 6. Since we’re wearing Icebreaker and don’t stink the shower is used as a cupboard most of the time. While the rear bedroom looks great, it turns into a mini trampoline while the RV is moving. Some of the roads are that rough you actually get air if you are lying on it.
Life fort he support crew is just as tough as it is for us riders. They are only getting 3 hours sleep on average too. They are fantastic and we couldn’t do it without them. The opportunity to do this and the jourey so far has been amazing. Without Makuini (our Support Crew Chief) we would not have made the start, without the entire crew we would not have made the end, and without the Icebreaker gear the girls would not be smelling sweet and the blokes would not be looking like machines.
We have just pulled into time station #23 in Ulysses, KS and found the biggest Icebreaker logo in the world hanging from a crane – 8m x 6m, 10mm steel! A big thanks to our Mac Operator from Wellington HO Jiana Benham and her family – Dad Jim, Mum Shirley and brother Kelly Wilson. The sign was a sight for sore eyes, a really amazing welcome for the team on this long, tough journey. They’re wonderful hosts and have welcomed us into their home for an amazing feast – they’ve recharged out batteries that’s for sure!
We will hit halfway tonight! Bring on Annapolis.
- Jason Brown, New Zealand GM and Team Icebreaker RAAM cyclist
Follow Team Icebreaker on their Race Across America, send messages of support and WIN IcebreakerGT gear: http://raam.icebreaker.com/
