Eight Guys, One Bad Idea - The Road to RAAM 2021

Name:   Matthew Chun From:   Honolulu, HI How long have you been cycling:   I have been cycling for three to four years What is your athletic background:   I was a collegiate D1 Swimmer for University of Hawaii at Manoa. What is your injury history:   Two stress fractures to my left wrist (biking and Ultimate Frisbee) and a shattered Ulna with a dislocation of the right elbow. What was your first bike:   Gary Fisher Big Sur What do you ride now:   Specialized Tarmac eTap What do you remember most about your first bike:   The front suspension and  egg beater clipless pedals. What does your preparation for the race look like:   Amp Human, SIS Beta Fuel, SIS Iso Gels,  Honey Stinger Waffles, Honey Stinger Energy Chews, and lots of reviewing of the route What do you expect to get out of the race:  I believe that I can ride 50+ miles/day over multiple days.  I get to see different states I’ve never been to and be part of a greater team that overcomes a 2,400 mi challenge. What section of th

Name:  Darrell Pitman From:  Cincinnati, Ohio How long have you been cycling:  I got my first bike as a Christmas present at 5 years old and have been riding since.  I started my biking career when I was five and made use of it when delivering newspapers during my grade school years.  Advance forward about 20 years, and the family and I would ride together while vacationing in Hilton Head Island during our annual thanksgiving vacation. The trips to and from Harbor Town and South Beach were more fun on a bike and we would stop occasionally to check out a sun bathing alligator.  One year, feeling adventurous, the kids and I decided, ok I decided, to find the Baynard Ruins.  Spoiler alert, not much to see.  I bought my first road bike about three months before joining my friends for the Ragbrai trip across Iowa, as I decided that it was time to upgrade to a multi-gear road bike. I have now done that a couple of times and look forward to RAAM.  What is your athletic background:   I like

Name:   Walt Hand From:  Cincinnati, Ohio   How long have you been cycling:   I have been seriously riding since  2011.  My  1st 500 mile RAGBRAI was 2012.  It was in excess of 90 degrees for 1st three days with some seriously strong headwinds.  I was exhausted and TOTALLY HOOKED.  I LOVED IT!!!   What is your athletic background:   In high school I played football and tennis, but that was a LONG time ago.  I was smoker for 25 years and decided to do a full marathon by age 50 (2011).  Since then, I have 11,000 training  miles.  3,000 miles of running and 8,000 miles on the bike.  I have done LOTS of events with friends and made some great memories.   What is your injury history:  This could take awhile.  I have Metatarsalgia in my left foot.  I have had two arthroscopic surgeries on my  left knee.  I have had two rounds of PT on my neck and low back due to too much running and not enough CORE work.  My right shoulder currently has a Labrum tear.  I also have arthritic tendons in both

N ame:   Kevin Irwin   From:  Mason, OH   How long have you been cycling:  Off and on, but mostly off for 42 years.  I started riding more regularly as an adult about four years ago.   What is your athletic background:  None, but I rode my bike a lot as a kid.  I spent my summers in Florida and would ride my bike everywhere just exploring.   What is your injury history: None to speak of.   What was your first bike:  5 years old, Johnny’s Toys, Sweet Huffy with a banana seat    What do you ride now:  2018 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105   What do you remember most about your first bike:  I remember customizing it with old leftover Harley parts my dad had laying around.   What does your preparation for the race look like:  I a trying to get a ride in everyday.   I have been using Xert to track my indoor program rides.  I also plan on using Zwift to do some social rides this Winter.     What do you expect to get out of the race: The love and adoration of my friends and peers?  It is a

Name:   John Miller From:  Alexandria, KY How long have you been cycling:  Nine months What is your athletic background:   Two words, weekend warrior.  I ran track and cross country in high school.  Post high school I have played flag football and slowpitch softball competitively for the last twenty plus years.  I also coached cross country at the middle school and high school levels post high school.   What is your injury history:  I have had a few injuries, that is for sure.  In 2003 I ruptured the flexor tendon in my ring finger on my left hand and had to have it reattached surgically.  It still doesn't bend or straighten, but it works well enough.  In 2016 I tore my bicep, rotator cuff, and labrum in my left shoulder which had to be repaired surgically.  In 2018 I suffered a grade 3 tear of the groin in my right leg.  That was not fun!!!! What was your first bike:  2018 Raleigh Willard 1 What do you remember most about that first bike:   That is easy to remember since I just

Name:  Scott Pennington From:  Union KY How long have you been cycling:  Since I was 5.   I used to ride stupid distances to friend's houses in middle school that no parent would all ow today, like 25 miles of hilly rural curvy roads. What is your athletic background:  I grew up playing baseball, soccer and wrestling.   I've always had biking and running in the background.    My wife has a new addiction to running, so we've been hitting several half marathons in the midwest and at Disney.  We did OK in the Chicago Tri  which became a Bi when the lake was too rough to allow the swimmers in.  She wants to do a half in every state, so we better get moving.  I w ant to do exactly 1 marathon to say I've done one, but I'm not sure my knees would still talk to me. What is your injury history:  I've had both ACLs reconstructed by Cincinnati Sports Medicine (shout out to Dr Mark Siegel!!) from playing indo or soccer.   I will eventually most likely have both knees repla