History of the Race Across America (RAAM)

The concept of a bicycle race across America can be traced back to newspaperman George Nellis, who in 1887, crossed the United States on a 45-pound iron high-wheel bicycle with no gears and with pedals attached directly to the front wheel. Following the railroad routes across the country, he made the crossing in just under 80 days.  Today, the fastest solo racers can cross in 8 days!

What is RAAM? This race is one of the most respected endurance sports events in the world. Some call it the most grueling race of all sporting events. RAAM is seen as a pinnacle of athletic achievement not only in cycling circles, but the greater sporting community as well.  Racers must traverse over 3000 miles across 12 states, pass through 88 counties and 350 communities, and climb over 170,000 vertical feet. Racers come from all over the world and all walks of life and are both amateurs and professionals.  Unlike the three great European Grand Tours (Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana and Giro de Italia), RAAM is not a stage race. RAAM is one continual stage, similar to a time trial. Once the clock starts it does not stop until the finish line. RAAM is about 30% longer than the Tour de France. Moreover, racers must complete the distance in roughly half the time allowed for the Tour.

More importantly, RAAM is not limited only to professional cyclists. RAAM is open to professional and amateur athletes alike. Solo racers must qualify to compete under very difficult time limits in one of 24 selected races worldwide.

RAAM has a rich and storied history. In 1982, four individuals raced from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to the Empire State Building in New York City. Covered by national television, the race captivated the public’s imagination. Teams were added in 1992 and quickly became the most popular and fastest growing segment of the race. The 2012 race will be the 31^st edition of RAAM. There is no race that matches the distance, terrain and weather; no other event that tests a team’s spirit from beginning to end.

Fans from all over the world follow RAAM. Fans can follow RAAM on the web, through the bi-weekly RAAM Newsletter, race blogs, the social media (Facebook and Twitter) and traditional mainstream media. There is local, national and international coverage by the traditional media. Additionally, RAAM has at least four of its own media crews on the course providing up-to-date video, photo and text coverage. Race coverage statistics include 25+ million page views annually and 2500+ articles in mainstream media (TV, radio and print). The largest field of racers and the most extensive coverage in the event’s history is expected this year.

Here are some fun facts about RAAM:

• Total race distance from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland is more than 3000 miles.
• Collectively, the Solo and Team finishers will travel a combined distance equivalent to circling the Earth at the equator seven times.
• In the 27 year history of the race, Solo finishers have ridden more than one million miles – that’s two round trips to the moon and back.
• The lowest elevation of the race is 170 feet below sea level. The highest elevation is more than 10,000 feet above sea level. This elevation range exceeds two vertical miles.
• Each Solo and Team will climb more than 100,000 feet. This is roughly the distance from the ground to the edge of space, more than three times the altitude flown by commercial jetliners and almost four times the altitude of Mt. Everest.
• Less than 200 solo and tandem racers have officially finished solo RAAM earning the title of RAAM Finisher, compared with over 2000 individuals who have summated Mt. Everest and 200 racers every year compete in the Tour de France.
• Racers have come from 5 continents – North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Europe. More than 25 countries have been represented in RAAM.
• RAAM crosses the five longest rivers that are entirely in the US: the Mississippi, Missouri, Rio Grande, Arkansas and the Ohio.
• In the last four years, RAAM racers have raised more than $4,000,000 for charities.