Final crew details at last!

Now back in Spain for the final training before the race, getting the time to do everything is looking increasingly difficult but let's give it a go. I met with Peter on Monday and not sure he was keen to give me a photo shoot (judging by his demeanour I reckon he thinks I was stealing his lifeform through the camera-but then I need all the energy I can get...).

As you can see, we look remarkably similar, both going for the Jesus of Nazareth look, so I can fall off the bike after 200 miles and let him take over with a bit of make-up from the crew-I might need to add some tattoos though ;)

Peter is chief chef, and all round body mechanic which is just as well, as miracles may be required!

And not last by any means, are JJ and Helen, bringing valuable skills to the party (and as you can see we like to party!) I fully expect them to make sure we have plenty of falling down water for when we cross the finish line in Taos-except we have to drive to Phoenix as there is no way I am going to cycle back unless Peter volunteers to take my place!

Either way-time is now spent training for the last two weeks whilst avoiding injury, prepping the route, and doing the final organisational bits. Wish us luck-we may need it....

ATB

Tim

Preparation and more on the team

Right, I hope I have managed to get this link below in, which harps back to the solo cycle in 2008 for the Great North Run. It was good preparation anyway-though it could have been easier-especially if I hadn't gone against the wind through France, and written my legs off on the half marathon at the end.....Here's the link then:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2008/09/22/gnr08_tim_richardson_feature.shtml

I have added some more photos of the team and need to put more in as I get to the various computers where they are stored for future blackmail purposes ;)

The above left is the crew chief Dave Sutton, pretending he is in pain after a couple of minutes, but hey, he is getting on a bit!

Prep is going well, apart from some really sore knee tendons from cycling too much-that'll be the story of this race and next years that's for sure.

Left here is Mark Turner, my brother for his sins, who is designated as chief technician and is seen here with our secret weapon who will be towing me to Taos, as I don't remember seeing that one in the rule book as not allowed!

As I get the photos of JJ, Helen and Peter uploaded, I will put them on next-it is all down to technology.

I have the bike for the race now, a Specialized Tarmac 2 which I will bed in over the next two weeks. Major effort is now on diet, low key training and planning the final stages. You will all be able to follow the race on the internet live, from the 17th June. I will post up the sponsorship at the next blog with the last photos.

ATB all

Tim

Charities

Check out www.purplesalute.org as the first one we will be looking at, and I will shortly be putting a justgiving site up but the aim is to split whatever funds we raise equally. Peter Jamshidi as team member will also have a private charitable foundation for his excellent work, and if we can get that on time then we will also sponsor that. Either way, we should be on time for the really big one next year! TDR

Team Brazen - Preparation for the 17th June 2009

First of all, a quick overview: Team Brazen consists of a solo cyclist, Tim Richardson, and a crew of five die hards, Dave Sutton-Crew Chief (he volunteered the fool), Mark Turner, John and Helen McGrory and Peter Jamshidi. The aim is to pull together to get Tim to Taos from Oceanside in California, a distance of 1044 miles, as a solo cyclist in the Race Across the West (RAW). RAW makes up the qualification race as part of the first 1000 miles of the toughest endurance cycle race on the planet-the Race Across America (RAAM).

The race starts on the 17th June, and the team are aiming to get there by flying to Phoenix from Heathrow, on the 14th June, doing all the prep, then starting with the main RAAM racers at noon.

The concept came about as a result of Tim deciding to cycle from his home near Gibraltar, to Newcastle to run the Great North Run (which he does every year), in September 2008. Combining this with attempting to raise a serious amount of money for the charity Jane's appeal, meant that all the pain would have a serious cause, and that applies again this time though for two separate charities.

The charities have been chosen for personal reasons, as was the Jane Tomlinson appeal, as Tim admired her tenacity and fighting spirit. This time, two other charities will be the focus of the fund raising. In short they are Purple Salute, and Cancer Research UK, both of which deserve wholehearted support. More on these later.

Finally then, this is the introduction. The main site to watch will be www.raceacrossamerica.org as from the 17th, all the action will be on the web, and on media coverage on the net, and TV in America.