6-hours of sleep, maybe

We surprised Mechanic Dan Large mid-way through day 8 of supporting Team Thin Energy in the Race Across America.

“Exhausted.” That was Large’s first response to the predictable opener.  Despite that, with 7 or so hours left in his odyssey, the chat was upbeat.

PBMA members will likely be familiar with Large from his many presentations at Technical Workshop and CABDA seminars and his resume of neutral, team, event, shop, and individual professional support is exceptional.  Ask him.

Large is one of 14 support personnel taking care of criterium racing legend Rahsaan Bahati, roadie Rudy Napolitano, triathlete Alex Isaly, and MTB rider James Cowan (getting on a time trial bike for the first time).  The team benefits the Bahati Foundation, Rahsaan’s decade old organization dedicated to improving young lives through cycling safely.
The plan was to finish the Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD route in 6 days.

Diligent maintenance around the clock has led to almost no mechanical setbacks to the team, who have both TT and road bikes at their disposal.  All of the team are on tubeless road tires and, with an incredible zero flats, the systems have held up well.

The original plan had Large, the sole mechanic on the crew, rotating into the RV the riders sleep in.  In actuality, the sleep that he has snuck in has mostly been in the car with his crew chief taking over the wheel.   A follow car is required by RAAM from sunset to sunrise and Team This Energy are flat-out racing with two riders exchanging short (originally 30 minutes but the situation has been fluid) road stints for 6 hours and then resting for 6 hours.
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If Rahsaan were to ask in Annapolis, “Large, will you be on this crew again next year?” he was quick to reply with a “YES!”  “With the same solid crew, I would definitely do this again.”  Maybe with more than 6 hours in the RV.

More information at: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/team-thin-energy-raam