Wednesday, June 6, 2012

RAW: The Gear














People new to ultra-distance cycling often ask about the staff, stuff and gear. The short answer is lots of bikes, wheels, gloves, shorts, food, yadda, yadda, yadda. For a full accounting, check this post from Rob's 2010 Race Across America.

The primary difference between Race Across America (RAAM) 2010 and Race Across the West (RAW) 2012 is:

1.) There will be two fewer crew members and no motor home.
2.) Instead of writing this blog from the comfort of my home and pretty much making things up in the absence of actual facts (as I did in 2010), I will be with Rob, as night-crew navigator, live-blogging from about 20 yards behind him from 7PM to 7AM Wednesday night/Thursday morning, Thursday/Friday and Friday/Finish.

So while most of you are asleep, I will be posting things for you to read first thing in the morning when you wake up.

So what gear will I be using during RAW?

Back in the olden days (1996), when Rob did his first RAAM, there was no way to access the Internet from the road and cell phone service barely worked.

In 2012, you can't swing a dead cat without bumping into the Internet and cell phone service sort-of works. So, my weapons of choice will be:

- 1 iPad2 with a Verizon 3G connection
- Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover (I have to tell you: this thing VERY cool.)
- 1 iPhone 4S

That's pretty much it. Should be fun. Really.

(photo credit: NBC. For those of you who do not get the photo reference, click here.)

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