Perhaps it’s my previous life as an endurance athlete, or my love of bicycles, but I find this event (the Raid Calfornie-Oregon) to be incredibly interesting. It’s described (quite fittingly) by its creator as the crash between a traditional brevet and an alleycat. Basically, the event was a race from San Francisco to Portland, with a relatively minimal set of rules: you’ve got five days, you’ve got have a cyclometer and lights, and you’ve got to have “checkpoints” from along the way. That’s it. Take whichever route you choose, just be sure you cover every kilometer on your bike.

The ride reports from some of the racers are good views into the souls of the suffering. Most of us would be quite happy to ride 150 in a day, let alone do it for five days straight with no real company through the hills of northern California. I assume it’s a bit like riding part of the Tour de France, except without the benefit of a team of mechanics, masseurs, and chefs following you around…..

Posted on 8 May 2004