Cyclists in Ride Across America pass through area

Friday, June 18, 2010

A solo racer cycles along U.S. 54 Highway in Nevada, Thursday.

Herald-Tribune

Teams from the Race Across America were making their way through Vernon County on Thursday. The Race Across America is a bicycle race spanning more than 3,000 miles, from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md. Women started the race on June 8. Men followed on June 9, and teams began on June 12. According to the Race Across America Web site, racers range in age from 18 to 70, and race against time to reach the finish. Riders traveled through Fort Scott and Nevada on their way across the country.

Here are some fun facts from the RAAM organization:

* 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; or, two round trips to the moon.

* The lowest elevation is 170 feet below sea level, and the highest riders will encounter is 10,000 feet high 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.

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The worlds best athletes in your back yard. Please give them encouragement and respect on the roads. Most of us would never be able to do complete this difficult task. Go RAAM.

-- Posted by vcbill on Sat, Jun 19, 2010, at 5:51 AM
Best athletes in the world, give them respect and encouragement. Go RAAM.

-- Posted by vcbill on Sat, Jun 19, 2010, at 5:57 AM
Very dedicated too. I was on my way from Fort Scott to Nevada during the strong rains and thunderstorms the other day and they were still out in force on the highway.

DRIVERS, BE CAREFUL! SHARE THE ROAD!

-- Posted by willybishop on Sat, Jun 19, 2010, at 2:27 PM

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