Blogs - Team Badger Bikers

Extraordinary

RAAM is not for everybody. Extraordinary people are required. Team Badger Bikers, riders and crew. reached out and met the standard. Average age 59. the oldest of the group of racers, this team is comprised of strong personalities with unique backgrounds and stories leading up to and completing this Race. As a fellow rider, I applaud the efforts and character of my teammates and crew. This Race will be part of our lives forever. The synergy and bonding of this group of people during this intense… Continue

Added by Paula Larsen on July 20, 2008 at 10:52pm — 1 Comment

Loss of a team member

I don't even know where to start since I'm at a loss for words trying to express my saddness in the loss of Nancy Sellars a team member and friend. She was such a dear person. Such a bright and positive person and a great multisport athlete. She will be missed dearly by all of us who knew her. It's hard to make sense out of this. We ride across the country safely and a few weeks later a team member is hit by a car. Tom Chopp a crew member and Nancy's riding companion was seriously injured in th… Continue

Added by Paula Larsen on July 10, 2008 at 8:25pm — No Comments

I can't believe it's over

There was so much training and anticipation for the week and now it's completed. I learned so much about teamwork and how important it is to say "thank you" and pitch in even a small amount. All of the crew were a Godsend (emphasis on the capital G). There couldn't have been a better crew chief in Nanette with her leadership and organizational skills and the ever present, though quietly wise cracking Gene. The stories they will tell for a lifetime. And Mary with her ginger remedy for upset stoma… Continue

Added by Eileen Sherburne on June 22, 2008 at 12:23pm — No Comments

Home again!

It is all over and I had a wonderful sleep of nearly 12 hours in my own bed. The simple pleasures really are the best. I am still unwinding this experience but very quickly the difficult things are fading and a warm fuzzy glow is emerging. Here are a few quick take aways. As I planned for my part of the ride it was all about the training to handle the load. That was important, but we were all surprised by how much the team impacted our ability to get things done. I don't think we really underst… Continue

Added by Philip Nelson on June 21, 2008 at 1:38pm — No Comments

Thanks to the RV Crew

I made some new friends on this trip and everyone was working very hard towards the common goal. While it was my job to crew for the riders someone had to take care of me! And they did an awesome job. Nanette, Gene and Mary saved my butt out there. They cooked my food. They made my bag lunches and did everything that needed to be done. Not only did they do all this while moving the RV 120 miles up the road every few hours, but they did it with a smile. They did this for our team and when we left… Continue

Added by Jimi Sellars on June 20, 2008 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Perspective Of A Crew Member

I can't believe it is over. I remember the first day in Oceanside, CA. I posted about Nancy's bike being late. I was going to update the blog everyday , hahaha (it is funny now) I had no time to do anything but take care of my riders and I mean no time what so ever. A typical stitch in time would go like this. I would be cruising through some incredible scenery, one rider in front of my van, anywhere from a couple hundred during the day to about 15 feet at night. I would stare at my rider (Nancy… Continue

Added by Jimi Sellars on June 20, 2008 at 5:00pm — No Comments

CHEDDAR HEADS ROCK!

Jim Rieher gets his face in the RAAM website wearing his aero cheddarhead. How cool for all the world to see. Too bad we had a van flat; it cost us two hours, and we lost another hour getting lost somewhere in Arizona. The good news is all of our team are feeling good -- no illness, no injures and bikes are in function junction. The climbs are shared mile for mile. After all, we may be the oldest 8 person team on the road. I know I win on our team at almost 71. Projections based on our time so… Continue

Added by JOHN B. TORINUS on June 15, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Ready to ride

What sound does a Badger make when ready to get out of Dodge on bike? We decided: "Ruf, Ruf, Ruf." After months of preparation, training, fund raising and logistics, we are ready to roll. All of us are well, so that's a plus for openers. So far, only a few frictions amidst a lot of bonding. It;s 65 degrees in Oceanside and overcast. But we'll be in the high desert soon, where temps are in the 90s. I used to train there as a Marine artillery officer, so I know it gets really hot during the day an… Continue

Added by Philip Nelson on June 11, 2008 at 11:42am — 1 Comment

RAAM EVE

It's the night before the team start and time for some good Karma. Saturday night we were home bailing out our basement in one of the worst thunderstorms I've ever seen. Sunday our plane was delayed 4 hours before we sat on the runway another hour and Monday Eileen & I found out our bikes would not be delivered as scheduled and may not even be here Tuesday for our 4:00 inspection. It was right down to the wire, the bikes got here at 1:30, giving us little time to get them put together, take… Continue

Added by Nancy Sellars on June 11, 2008 at 12:32am — No Comments

We are here, but!!!

We are here at the point where the journey begins in Oceanside Ca. but no bike. A little stressed to say the least. Nancy and I have a bike and accessories picked out just in case it does not come in the am. I feel pretty good it will be here because there is so much good karma in the adventure everything will be ok. I will let you know in the am. Nancy is taking it well so far and we will deal with what ever we have to. Nothing is going to stop her from riding this thing. Everybody has been sup… Continue

Added by Jimi Sellars on June 9, 2008 at 11:39pm — No Comments

Gerbil Training -- Circling the Island again and again and again

My wife Kine and I visited Mackinac Island last weekend for a meeting of The Nature Conservancy, and it proved to be a good spot for sprints. The island is 7 1/2 miles in circumference -- blacktop and no cars -- just right for a fast interval. I did so many laps I felt like a gerbil. Now it's taper-down time. One more long ride tonight, and then just easy rides. I have many people wishing our team well. And donations have been pouring in. We hit a good note -- old timers who drew the long suits… Continue

Added by JOHN B. TORINUS on June 6, 2008 at 4:06pm — No Comments

Go Time!!

I can't believe it's almost time to go... Just as in any other "Main Event", I'm apprehensive about this adventure. Did I train properly? Am I ready to do this? CAN I do this?? It's an awesome feeling to be a part of this great adventure. I can't say enough about all of the members of the team who have worked so hard to make this possible. Paula and Dave: Thanks SO MUCH! I believe (and it's true) that this journey will change each of us in different ways . I'm sure, even at this point in our li… Continue

Added by Tom Brown on June 5, 2008 at 8:41am — No Comments

Another Shout Out to Supporters

Thank you to In-Step Physical Therapy for their support and for outfitting me during the non-riding portion of our adventure. Gratitude is also expressed to Billy Kagel & Dave Schneider @ the Hales Corners Wheel & Sprocket for taking care of my bike maintenance and providing tools and bike parts for the team as we trek across the country. In addition to those contributors mentioned in an earlier post; Kalm… Continue

Added by Nancy Sellars on June 4, 2008 at 8:44pm — No Comments

Climbing the mountains, well, small ones

The main purpose of our visit to Maine was 1. lobster, 2. steamers (clams), 3. mussels, 4. see my son and daughter-in-law, 5. bike in the coastal "mountains of Maine. In descending order, the lobster was scrumptious; the steamers were great and I got them all, because then other wimps turned up their noses at the crustacean protein; the mussels were to die for; my kids were happy and let us do our things; and Cadillac mountain at 1530 feet was doable, but boring. I hate the granny gear, but god… Continue

Added by JOHN B. TORINUS on May 29, 2008 at 8:57pm — No Comments

And Now The Taper

Finally the weather cooperated for my last big training weekend, well except for the wind... Friday night Eileen & I got a feel for what it's like riding in the dark. Around 9:00 p.m. we switched on our bike lights, and rode in the headlights of Tom's van, while he & Jimi followed us for about 24 miles. That is going to take a little getting used to! I found it harder to ride in a straight line for some reason, small bumps and pot holes look huge, and when making a turn before the van y… Continue

Added by Nancy Sellars on May 27, 2008 at 1:09pm — No Comments

Jim, no longer the shadow!

Thank you Phil for changing Jim from the shadow to a real person. Way to go!!!! And today the shadow and I did an assimulation ride of repeat 5 and 7 miles x's 4 with a 25 minute rest in between. Good prep for the real thing. The count down has started!!!! Continue

Added by Paula Larsen on May 26, 2008 at 9:38pm — No Comments

Donate to Make-A-Wish

I've made my donation form available online. You can download the form, write a check and send it too me and get our eternal gratitude! So, please do. If you would like to donate in the name of one of the other team members, just write in the margins who's name you would like to donate in and I'll make sure they get notified. Either way the donation goes to the same place, but I'm sure any team member would apprecia… Continue

Added by Philip Nelson on May 25, 2008 at 9:52am — No Comments

Humbled!

My first post I mentioned that I didn't want to say too much about my good day because the sport can be very humbling. It didn't take too long for humble to raise it's ugly head. Last Thursday on the same pack ride, I got destroyed by some of the same riders. This time it was on the easy flat section heading back to Green Bay. I wasn't feeling very well on the long climb and was slower than I've been for a few weeks. I'll attribute that to more long hours, but I'm not too worried because I'll st… Continue

Added by Philip Nelson on May 25, 2008 at 9:46am — No Comments

Wednesday night time trial

Another early season bike time trial that a group of us have been doing for about 20 years was cool and windy. Not fun riding out to where we meet against a strong north wind, nor was the time trial north against the wind. Rather slow times tonight. We had a great ride home with a great tail wind. Just the way I like to ride. Continue

Added by Paula Larsen on May 21, 2008 at 10:07pm — 1 Comment

One Month From Now

...We will be a little more than 22 hours or around 400 miles into our adventure. If things are going as scheduled I think we will be approaching Prescott, AZ, climbing to 5065 feet in what I believe to be the Bradshaw Mountains. (This trip is forcing me to actually look at maps and is really challenging my geographical disability.) With planning, training, packing, etc., the next few weeks they are bound to go by too fast. There seems to always be questions like: Did I ride enough and train ri… Continue

Added by Nancy Sellars on May 12, 2008 at 12:41pm — No Comments

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