Now it's starting to make more sense

Since I've never done anything like this before, there were lots of questions coming into it but now things are starting to settle out a bit and I think I am getting a better picture of what's gonna happen when the race begins. It still have lots of questions about the rider transitions and details related to other logistics but I'm a fast learner and think i'll get the hang of it quickly. We've all been working really hard to get it all together and now I see why Team Type 1 has done so well in this race. This is a VERY well-oiled machine and very little is left to chance. Dave, the team master, has done a fantastic job organizing everything and the crew is 100% committed which is key to success. Not to mention that this is one of the friendliest groups of people I have ever been around. We had a big meeting last night where everyone was in one room and I really got a feel for what it takes to make this deal happen. Let me just say, it's a VERY big deal and I am glad to be a part!

My day yesterday consisted of 3 trips to the SD airport (about 30 miles from our hotel) to shuttle crew/team back to our hotel as they arrived. My last run was at 11:00pm and got in the bed about 1:30am. I guess I am just acclimating to the lack of rest I will get starting tomorrow. I also got to take a scenic trip to a bike shop to get floor pumps. It wasn't meant to be scenic nor was it meant to take so long, but it did. We ended up at a Trek Factory Store, which was pretty cool. They had some super high-end bikes and lots of stuff you wouldn't find in a local shop. One road bike priced out at 7999.00 and they had a TT bike for 6999.00. I got both:) I also got to hang out a little bit with Type 1 racers...a great group of guys who I am looking forward to getting to know as I drive them (at least 4 of them, anyway) in the rider van. We already talked a little bit about music to get them amped and I have some of what they like on my iPod already so I think we will all get along just fine. Anyway, if you are wondering about how this race plays out for the racers, here's the scoop.

The team is made up of 8 racers split into 2 groups. 4 of them will be resting in the racer RV for around 8 hrs while the other 4 will be racing. At designated exchange points along the course (17 or 18 of them I think), the 4 riders that are riding will then move to the RV while the 4 rested riders will take their shift on the road. They will maintain this exchange system for the entire 3005 miles. Of the 4 racing, 1 will be on the road taking a pull time-trial style (8-15 min efforts at LT) while the other 3 will be in the van that I am driving. As the rider on the road begins to tire, I will be waiting a mile or so down the road with the next racer who will then begin his pull as soon as the current rider makes it up to us. The rider who just pulled will jump in the van to rest until his next pull while the navigator and myself rack the bike. We will then leapfrog around the follow-van (the van that follows the rider on the road at all times) and the racer on the road as we move ahead a few miles to where will ready the next rider in the van to take his pull. BTW, each racer has a road bike as well as a TT bike for the flats. We will maintain this strategy for the entire race. But don't worry, I won't be driving for the entirely. There are two crews so I will drive for around 8 hrs and then the navigator and I will move to the crew RV where we will rest for 8 while the other driver & navigator do their shift for 8 hrs. At least that's how I think it's all gonna go down.

So there's an update. Now I need to go get some food and get ready for inspections, which take place at the Oceanside Pier. The RAAM folks have to inspect everything from our RVs to the bikes and vans. This will be my first introduction to the official race part of things as we now just 1 day away from the start. I should be able to get some good photos there so check back soon.