blb@cbdkc1.UUCP ( Ben Branch ) (08/05/85)
Boyer's win in RAAM has generated interesting comments. Let me throw in my two cents' worth as a three-year RAAM fan. Boyer did have a great win, no doubt about it. The road racers have a lot to be proud of (if they insist on thinking in those terms). But let's also notice that, 1. Secrest, the 2nd place finisher by 4 hours, was beaten in the last two years by Penseyres and Haldeman by more than 4 hours. 2. For whatever reason, it seems to have been a fast course. Secrest also broke the old record; Shermer set his best time ever; at least a couple of the women broke the old women's record. I, for one, would love to see Boyer ride against Haldeman (who caught the flu) or Penseyres (who crewed his brother's effort this year.) That would be even more competitive than this year's race. RAAM is an evolving event, as the rapid decline in crossing times shows. It attracts both dedicated competitors and folks who are testing themselves just to finish. Boyer is in an entirely different league than the "just-finishers." But so is the top of the RAAM field. Of course, I don't know how Haldeman or Penseyres would do in the Tour de France -- Boyer has shown his mettle in *both* styles of racing, which have different mental demands. You can't choose between riding fast ("be an athlete") and skipping sleep ("sleep deprivation") in RAAM anymore if you're shooting to win. You have to do both.
blanken@uiucdcs.Uiuc.ARPA (08/13/85)
I've got it straight from Lon himself, he likes the long distance rides better than the stage races which make up the Tour De France. Eric Blankenburg U of I Urbana, IL