It's a Team's Life
20 mph 3000 miles RAAM Day 1
Crew Member – Day 1
We made it to Oceanside, CA with all of the racers gear. It is time to get the show on the road and no turning back. The nervousness is still here thinking of all of the things that can go wrong and hoping that everything goes right!
We were given directions to the hotel the racers were checking into, two rooms, and four beds with two people to a bed. They are not wasting any money on luxuries and it is each man for them selves buying meals or personal items. They are great stewards of the charities money.
We called ahead to the hotel and due to miscommunication on the size of the truck we found out we are too big to fit into the lot. Luckily the manager came to our aide with suggestions of where to park and ideas on where to park the motor home on the premises. We need the truck near to the hotel, as we will use the box as a garage to house the bikes and tools until the day of the race.
Some of the guys flew in today and as we all walked out to the ocean to get a view they are all trying to figure out when they can take their first ride! Jeez they have 3000 miles to go and they want to warm up!
Tomorrow we start the process of getting the chase vehicles, and small motor home, and the bikes ready to pass inspection. All the vehicles have to be identified, and have slow moving vehicle signs, while the bikes and helmets of the riders have to be covered in reflective tape. Inspection is on Friday and the pressure is on to have everything done right.
Follow along as we traverse the country in this unusual but exciting adventure!
Scott Garcher, FedEx Custom Critical is one of the riders
and I am going to include a copy of his blogs from a rider’s point of
view.
Scott Garchers Blog:
I guess it’s real now. I am typing on my flight to California for the start of my summer vacation – the Race Across America (RAAM). The Ohio Cycleworks Charities team has worked so hard this past year and I know I speak for everyone when I say I can’t wait to simply get pedaling! It’s like we are a race horse that is kickin and itchin to get out of the stall. Only three days until the gun goes off on Saturday, June 16. From that point on, all the planning and training stops…and the real fun begins. My anxiety and excitement is at an all-time high!
Riding 3,000 miles on a bike is most absurd when you think about it. To do it as a vacation is, well, I’ll let you fill in the blank. I never said this was a logical endeavor. When I was approached by Brian Ray to join the team , however, I don’t actually re-call ever thinking about what we would go through. I thought, “Sure, this sounds cool I guess.†The reality is this may be one of the most mentally and physically challenging things I will go through in my life.
As background, Ohio Cycleworks Charities (http://ohiocycleworkscharities.org/) is a 501c3 that was created last year and born out of Ohio Cycleworks. The goal of the charity is to raise funds through physical fitness and competition – giving back to those in need. Our selected partner/recipient this year is Akron Children’s Hospital, a superb and very well-recognized organization in our back-yard, with connections around the country (through the Children’s Miracle Network).
While many racers and crew on the team have had a firsthand experience with Akron Children’s Hospital (me included with my son Caleb), we received a sobering e-mail last week that reminded us why we have been preparing and training for this event. The author of the e-mail is a fellow triathlete and friend. An excerpt of his message includes:
Dear Friends,
Most of you know our oldest son, Jake’s, medical history. Many of you also know that, on June 13 at Akron Children’s Hospital, he will hopefully have the final surgery of his life to implant bars in his back to help correct the scoliosis of his spine. This 8-10 hour procedure will entail two surgeons opening him from the side, removing a unneeded rib, removing the discs between his 5-11 thoracic vertebrae and using the rib to fuse those vertebrae. He will then be closed, turned over and his back opened to insert bars on either side of his spinal column. The bars will be then fused to the vertebrae.
As serious as this procedure sounds, it has been performed many times before by the surgeons with the very favorable results of increased mobility, enhanced quality of life and reduced future deterioration. Unbelievably, his hospital stay will be a week or less and they expect him on his feet the day after surgery. The recovery, however, will be about two months, somewhat painful and will include a great deal of rest.
Talk about bringing things close to home. As I am typing this message Jake is literally in surgery at the very hospital our charity is supporting. This (Jake) is why we have been working on this project for over a year now. This is why we woke up at 04:30 for those indoor training sessions in the middle of the winter. This is why we have been sore, and hurt, and exhausted, and stretched beyond what we thought could be possible. I know Jake personally as my oldest son played against him in little league. I can’t wait to see him once he is out of the hospital, which will hopefully coincide near the time we should be crossing the finish line in Maryland. An appropriate closing event for our effort, wouldn’t you say?
I think that’s enough for today. The captain just turned on the fasten your seatbelt sign and the crew is yelling at me to shut my laptop down. One thing is for sure - there is no turning back as I only bought a one-way ticket.
Our page on the RAAM website:
http://www.raceacrossamerica.org
More to come…
Bob & Linda Caffee
Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical 

TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO
Expediters 7 years been out here on the road 12 years
Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle; 

Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;

Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;

Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.