RACE ACROSS THE EAST RAAM EVENT

2025: 2nd Overall. 41 hours 32 minutes. First in age group. 3rd fastest time in the history of the course.

Everyone that I work with has big goals, and when Adam Gaedke came to me several years ago--he had in the back of his mind to race RAAM. But it was very far in the back of his mind. 

Currently, RAAM is one of the most-grueling ultra-endurance events in the world.  Since its inception in 1982, only about 2,500 cyclists have completed it.  And only about 5,000 have tried.  While thousands of people ride their bikes across America each year, RAAM is a race--and Solo racers are given a maximum of 12 days to finish the course, while teams must complete the race within 9 days.

To complete RAAM, you have to qualify.  To qualify, there are a few ultra-endurance events to master.  A sequence might look like this:

✅ 24-hour races, where riders get around 400 miles in a 24hr period on a predefined course.

✅ Race across the West--930 mile race with a 92 hour time limit

✅ Race across the East--630 miles with a 63 hour time limit

These last two are also qualifying events that run concurrently with RAAM, and Adam just nailed Race Across the East—finishing 2nd overall and first in his age group.  We had two support vehicles that followed him on the course, with four support crew.  Most important--to successfully complete RAAM, the crew is key.  They have to work together, as well as with the rider.  There can be no egos.

Going for the full RAAM is a multi-year proposition, with time on the bike as one of the MANY things to master.

➡️ ARRIVAL: We arrived several days early just to settle in a relax. Adam found a great, five-bedroom farmhouse where we could cook our own meals, relax, laugh and plan.

➡️ RAE TECH/GEARING: We went with two bikes: A TREK speed concept straight-up TT bike with 48 on the front and 36/10 on the back. The Trek Madone was not set up with any aero cockpit, and it had the same gearing. There are thousands of feet to climbing, so the most advantageous gearing was crucial to the event. There are some RAAM finishers who have even used mountain bikes to get up some of these climbs.

➡️ RAE FUELING: Adam went with almost all liquid fueling, using FORMULA 369. 90 grams of carbs per hour, which he nailed—while adding in fats and proteins.