"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - NBC to air RAAM '04 Jan 22

I've been searching the forums for this and haven't found it anywhere yet.
NBC is to air the 2004 RAAM this Saturday January 22 at 2:30 eastern. It'll be a two hour program. Here's a link (http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/index.htm) to the RAAM site for more info.
Roger

Thanks for the heads up!

Koffee

Wow, awesome news.

Don't take this the wrong way, but of all the races to be showing....

Good catch. Got my MythTV set to record. The category in this software for the RAAM says, "Sports non-event." Uh...right.

Thanks. My TIVO was going to miss this because bicycle or cycling is not listed anywhere in the description from NBC.

Thanks, I'm going to try to get that taped.

awesome news! thanks for the heads up, I would have missed it without ya

Don't take this the wrong way, but of all the races to be showing....
I have a lot of respect for these guys but yea it aint my cup of tea either. It kind of fits the X-treme bill though for such sports shows I would guess.

Don't take this the wrong way, but of all the races to be showing....

I agree. On the one hand it's great to get something ... anything. But outside of the local Philly network stations where can you get to see US PRO on TV? It's the national championship road race fer gawd's sake ... :mad:

OK, let's try to anticipate what we'll see in this coverage so that we don't let our expectations get too high.

1. A shot of the start.
2. A shot of various riders going across the hot Arizona sands.
3. A couple shots of people struggling.
4. A couple shots of people dropping out due to mechanical trouble.
5. A shot of the leader.
6. A shot of the chasers.
7. Another shot of the leader.
8 thru 24. repeat #6 and 7.
25. the triumphant finish.

Interspersed among these shots will be several lengthy personal profiles guaranteed to tug at the heart strings of anyone watching.

I'm sorry to be so jaded, but we've been here before. And we're seldom happy with how non-cyclist TV producers present our sport.

I'll watch with an open mind, but the history is very long, and this event doesn't really lend itself to TV.

Roll tape!

Knowing this going in, it will be alot easier to watch.

We'll get to see a lesson riding on sleep deprivation!

Very little coverage of bike races on TV but when there is some people want to complain and pick it apart, go rain on some one elses parade please. I for one am thrilled to be able to watch this while waiting for spring.

I'll continue to be skeptical about American TV coverage of cycling until I see something good.
I'll watch this one with an open mind. And if it paints an accurate picture of cycling, I'll be complimentary.

But I will say that inadequate coverage of cycling is a step backward.

This particular event is a beast to cover, so I'm actually amazed that they're even making an attempt.

This is not the first time this has been broadcast is was done for a couple of years back in the eightys I believe and for me was quite fascinating.

OK, it's been on for 20 minutes, and I'm impressed by the coverage, and thankful that it's not the typical network coverage.
What I want to know:
How many cameras did they have on the road? And what format were they? Beta? DV? mini-DV?

I don't know, but I'm impressed so far (I've got Tivo). What I'm wondering is, where are the women? I was sure women raced this ride, right?

Koffee

yeah, it's not bad coverage. didn't see any women either. i kinda like the team coverage, and the camera work and on-bike interviews are good.

No more than an inch of snow here, and my local NBC station is rolling school and church closings on 1/5 of the screen. :rolleyes: But so far, the show is quite good. :)

pretty cool, and plus they are using a great singer/songwriter's, Bob Schneider, music for the soundtrack.

It wasn't the TDF, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I am in awe of those riders stupidity or heart, I'm not quite sure which...

It wasn't the TDF, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I am in awe of those riders stupidity or heart, I'm not quite sure which...

I think it's a little of both. ;)

Koffee

Best moment: Hassy saying to his support crew, "Hey, fellas, keep up if you can." :)

I'm surprised I didn't see more solo riders with aero wheels. Is there a rule forbidding them? I saw several teams with them though.

Sort of a road version of the old 6-day velodrome races...

It wasn't the TDF, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I am in awe of those riders stupidity or heart, I'm not quite sure which...

I agree.....however I myself am not quite ready to tie a bungee cord to the back of my helmet to keep my head upright while I ride, sleep deprived, into the night.... :eek:

I was all set to watch the race this afternoon. I even made a point of calling a friend who is trying to qualify for next year's RAAM. It's been pretty cold around here lately, and we're getting a lot of snow today. I was really looking forward to some scenery of warm weather riding. So, what do the geniuses at the local NBC affiliate do? They cover the freakin' snow storm for hours and hours! I was so pissed! (as if you can't tell) Did anybody not know it was snowing outside? Their "coverage" of the snow storm could have been condensed to, "It's going to snow a lot. The roads are bad. Stay home unless absolutely necessary." But no, they turned the programming in to "Son of the Weather Channel". Grrr...

Sorry, I just had to vent about the morons at our local network. I'm firing off an e-mail to them next.

It wasn't the TDF, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I am in awe of those riders stupidity or heart, I'm not quite sure which...

Guess what? Our neighbors are probably saying the same things about us when we go out riding in the heat of summer, or rainy days, or when snow is falling. :D

I missed this on TV (there was a road race today and I don't have TiVo) but was wondering if they showed much of the recumbent team. They crossed the finish line first if I am not mistaken. Anyway, one of the guys on that team is a local rider, so I was wondering how much airtime they got.

They showed nothing of recumbents. Until you mentioned there were recumbents, I didn't know any were entered.

They just featured a couple of teams (like the top 2 teams and the team of the older guys in their 70s). Then they featured like the top 6 solo male riders. They mentioned the ones that dropped out (probably not all of them).

I thought it was pretty good, but I was disappointed that they didn't feature more riders. There were definitely overlooked riders. I would love liked to see more riders out there, but for what it's worth, it still was a very good show.

Koffee

I was all set to watch the race this afternoon. I even made a point of calling a friend who is trying to qualify for next year's RAAM. It's been pretty cold around here lately, and we're getting a lot of snow today. I was really looking forward to some scenery of warm weather riding. So, what do the geniuses at the local NBC affiliate do? They cover the freakin' snow storm for hours and hours! I was so pissed! (as if you can't tell) Did anybody not know it was snowing outside? Their "coverage" of the snow storm could have been condensed to, "It's going to snow a lot. The roads are bad. Stay home unless absolutely necessary." But no, they turned the programming in to "Son of the Weather Channel". Grrr...

Sorry, I just had to vent about the morons at our local network. I'm firing off an e-mail to them next.

Well, I have Tivo, and I saved it. As soon as I get the software for uploading my saved Tivo shows to my laptop, I can burn you a copy and shoot it over to you. We had bad snow, so they had a scrolling screen under the picture mostly, but it wasn't so bad. We're used to snow, but teh problem with Chicago is that it's been snowing since about 7pm last night, and it's still snowing now, almost 24 hours later. It deserved some kind of coverage, you know? ;)

Koffee

Awww Koffee, you're sweet. Thanks for helping to cure my cabin fever!

No problem. I can't wait to get this software so I can upload to my laptop! I hope I can edit out commercials and stuff.

Koffee

That show was awesome. Thanks for the info, Roger.

That guy with the helmet/neck holding contraption was such an inspiration. Did you see towards the end that he couldn't even get on the bike on his own? His guys had to help him do that. What more could he have pushed through? That was amazing.

I think the lack of aero wheels is just an issue of practicality. Aero wheels can be a disadvantage if the wind is pushing you from the side. Hmm...they did have people following them, though, and you wouldn't think it would take much time to change wheels according to the conditions out there.

I'm terrible with names, but did you notice that the guy who came in 2nd (I think it was him) was riding a Softride? I thought that was interesting.

And what's with (a) the guy who looked like santa claus and (b) the guy with the big mullet who got DQed?

I want to ride across America one of these days, but I've got to have my sleep!!

The second place guy.... that was Trevino. Mullethead- his name was Roser or Rosar... something like that. I thought it was funny that he just said he was no mullethead.

It definitely is inspirational, but it really makes you wonder if you could really attempt such a race. If you need the sleep, ride in a team! ;)

Koffee

Ride, not race.

I was supprised to see one of my LBS' (Team Action Sports) won the 4 person team.

I'm talking about something similar to what America by Bicycle puts on each year (www.abbike.com).

The fast ones are pretty much a century a day for a month. Plenty of time to sleep.

I call it "riding across America," nothing official.

That old guy who finished RAAM with a hook and bungee cord holding up his head and a fractured pelvis is hardcore.

They're all hardcore. The way they just held in there was incredible.

I wonder what the story was of the guy who's support team abandoned him, forcing him to drop out of RAAM.... that has to be JUICY! :eek:

Koffee

They made it a good 2 hour program. Personally wish the teams would have been covered better (not comlaining though).
It sure beat having to watch golf again.

Well, I have Tivo, and I saved it. As soon as I get the software for uploading my saved Tivo shows to my laptop, I can burn you a copy and shoot it over to you. We had bad snow, so they had a scrolling screen under the picture mostly, but it wasn't so bad. We're used to snow, but teh problem with Chicago is that it's been snowing since about 7pm last night, and it's still snowing now, almost 24 hours later. It deserved some kind of coverage, you know? ;)

Koffee
i live in philly and they completely skipped raam, needless to say i was pissed, would you mind throwing one in my direction as well?

They're all hardcore. The way they just held in there was incredible.

I wonder what the story was of the guy who's support team abandoned him, forcing him to drop out of RAAM.... that has to be JUICY! :eek:

Koffee

This is what Danny Chew had written about it during the race. And that's about all I can find, other than RAAM doesn't let riders ride at night without a chase vehicle.
At TS# 10 in Heber, AZ 553 miles in, solo rider Russ Goodwin became the races first casualty. After sleeping only 1.5 hours the first two days, he asked to go down and his inexperienced crew prevented him from sleeping. Climbing out of Strawberry, AZ, a driver fell asleep and drove over Russ from the rear. His bike got mangled as he went under the vehicle, but he was OK. After this he only rode a little bit farther before he realized his crew and him were not a good enough fit to go on. He dropped out within 300 miles of his Sierra Vista, AZ home.

There were at least two 4 woman teams and a mixed team as well.

Dang, that's harsh. How could a crew prevent the rider from taking a nap? It should totally be up to the cyclist if they need one, and you'd think the crew would have enough sense to realize that.

So it's not like his crew abandoned him, as indicated on television. He just realized it wasn't a good idea to continue with them?

Koffee

My chiropracters office manager crewed on RAAM this year and he says, 'wasn't a good fit' would be a very, very nice way of putting it... :D

Guess what? Our neighbors are probably saying the same things about us when we go out riding in the heat of summer, or rainy days, or when snow is falling. :D

Maybe... If so, I guess I feel honored.

I thought it was interesting, but I also thought those guys were idiots for doing that to their bodies. Granted, it was extreme dedication, but mostly just ********. Again, I did watched some of it but would imagine you would have to be interested in cycling to watch it. I would be interested to see how the nielson ratings were.

I did watch some of the race last night. These guys are definitely dedicated, but mostly just ignorant. I cant believe they would harm their bodies like this. I would definitely think this is too hardcore for 99% of America. I cant imagine the nielson ratings on this were too great, but maybe so. Anyone know?

Since the race starts here in San Diego, I was very interested in watching it. They had a special on it yesterday so I decided to watch. After seeing what these guys puts themselves through just to finish the race seemed insane. So many of them ended up in the hospital, doing a lot of damage to their bodies and minds. Going without sleep not only puts them in danger but cars around them. I'm all for competition and riding for enjoyment but this seemed way too extreme. I think they should make rules for the race saying that the riders have to get a minimum of 6 hours sleep a night. So what if you finish the race in 10 days rather then 6.

Since the race starts here in San Diego, I was very interested in watching it. They had a special on it yesterday so I decided to watch. After seeing what these guys puts themselves through just to finish the race seemed insane. So many of them ended up in the hospital, doing a lot of damage to their bodies and minds. Going without sleep not only puts them in danger but cars around them. I'm all for competition and riding for enjoyment but this seemed way too extreme. I think they should make rules for the race saying that the riders have to get a minimum of 6 hours sleep a night. So what if you finish the race in 10 days rather then 6.

Eealier threads have been nothing but positive. As with most ultra-marathon type events, it is an exercise in bodily punishment that I find to be ludicrous. I watched the event in full simply because I love cycling. Some apparently found the fool who used a brace on his neck to be a hero - I believe him to be a fool.

That neck brace was a pretty ridiculous contraption, eh? And what's with the teams, riding relay? Even though the teams and the individuals don't compete directly, it's as if it's two completely different races.