Friday, June 18, 2010

TS:46 Grafton WV IMG00245.jpg

Kevin leaving TS:46 Grafton WV for a quick run thru Maryland and back into WV. For fun he'll climb a 3 mile 8% grade before he mosey's into Keyser WV.

Gator
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Still Climbing IMG00243.jpg

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Night Climbing IMG00242.jpg

Night climbing in W VA. is much better than day climbing according to some very reliable sources. Bundrick is in heaven with all the descending on this section.
Gator
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel
Made the exchange at TS 45 in Ellenboro, WV. Having been with Kevin the last 24 hours I can say that he's looking better every minute!

Re: [garandon] W. Virgina

This is some of the hardest climbing on the course. Even after Kevin
finishes West Virginia, there are a lot of steep climbs through the
remainder of the race until the last 50-60 miles. It appears he may
be doing the VW climbs at night, which is good.

Jeff Bauer
Gran Fondo Fixies 2008

On 06/18/2010 07:25 PM, gator@gatorcochran.com wrote:
> As Dave and I wait for our crew exchange in Ellenboro W. Virginia we talk about the climbs to come during the 379 miles left in the race. Looking at Kevins TS reports he has picked up his pace since yesterday and last night. Hopefully the little rests he got will help him thru these last few sections of the course. The terrain to come is the most difficult climbing in RAAM. The altitudes may not reach the Rockies but the climbs are relentless. I can't imagine doing them on a fixie!
> There is more elevation gained in the upcoming section than between any other consecutive time stations anywhere from coast to coast. The toughest being between Cumberland& Hancock all in the Maryland mountains. I personally think Kevins climbing is very smooth and consistent. He gains a lot of ground when he's climbing. We will see what kind of demons the road ahead throws at Kevin. We will do our best to help him prepare.
> Gator
> Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

W. Virgina

Gator,

You guys are doing an awesome job of supporting Kevin. Keep up the good work!

Steve


As Dave and I wait for our crew exchange in Ellenboro W. Virginia we talk about the climbs to come during the 379 miles left in the race. Looking at Kevins TS reports he has picked up his pace since yesterday and last night. Hopefully the little rests he got will help him thru these last few sections of the course. The terrain to come is the most difficult climbing in RAAM. The altitudes may not reach the Rockies but the climbs are relentless. I can't imagine doing them on a fixie!
There is more elevation gained in the upcoming section than between any other consecutive time stations anywhere from coast to coast. The toughest being between Cumberland & Hancock all in the Maryland mountains. I personally think Kevins climbing is very smooth and consistent. He gains a lot of ground when he's climbing. We will see what kind of demons the road ahead throws at Kevin. We will do our best to help him prepare.
Gator
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

__._,_.___

Allegheny Mountains IMG00257.jpg

Kevin is now in the Alleghenies. It won't be long before a crew exchange with Troy & John.
More tough climbing today. The toughest and the last major climb is Sideling Hill.
Gator
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

IMG00260.jpg

More Allegheny Mtn
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

IMG00261.jpg

A local friendly rider sided up to Kevin and struck up a conversation.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

W. Virgina

As Dave and I wait for our crew exchange in Ellenboro W. Virginia we talk about the climbs to come during the 379 miles left in the race. Looking at Kevins TS reports he has picked up his pace since yesterday and last night. Hopefully the little rests he got will help him thru these last few sections of the course. The terrain to come is the most difficult climbing in RAAM. The altitudes may not reach the Rockies but the climbs are relentless. I can't imagine doing them on a fixie!
There is more elevation gained in the upcoming section than between any other consecutive time stations anywhere from coast to coast. The toughest being between Cumberland & Hancock all in the Maryland mountains. I personally think Kevins climbing is very smooth and consistent. He gains a lot of ground when he's climbing. We will see what kind of demons the road ahead throws at Kevin. We will do our best to help him prepare.
Gator
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Update Out of Blanchester, OH

Early this morning around 12:30 am as we rolled out of Blanchester, OH,
Kevin was fighting hard to keep moving. He said that he felt as if he had
no power. He slept for about 6 hours total in three stops between
Blanchester, OH and Chillicothe, OH. Once the daylight hit, Kevin
courageously got back on the bike and started turning the peddles over. He
was struggling. Slowly he made mile after mile. About 7 miles out of
Chillicothe, he wanted to stop again. We pulled off of the road and he laid
down and put his feet up on a cooler. Things were not looking good. After
about 10 minutes, he told us that he felt like he was disappointing us.
Imagine that, this man had ridden his bicycle dang near 2500 miles, and he
was worried about us. At that point, Troy, Bejan, and myself each told him
that we were not disappointed in him, rather the opposite. We told Kevin
that no matter what, we loved him, and that we were there for him. We told
him that we signed on with him till the end, and that we were going to see
him thru this whole ordeal. What happened next was the greatest example of
determination that I have ever witnessed. Kevin hopped on the bicycle, and
he commenced to turn the peddles over once again. However, he seemed to
have a little bit more giddy up in his pace, and the look of determination
as we continued to provide him leap frog support on the tight, twisty road
into and out of Chillicothe. We stayed with Kevin until Londonderry, OH
where Roger and Danny took over for the long haul into Athens, OH and them
West Virginia. We do not know how this will end, but I do know that this
has been one amazing Journey to be a part of, and that Kevin is one heck of
a cyclist, and an awesome person.
s legs.
As you might have noticed Kevin has made a long haul to Chillicothe but that time has involved lots of sleep as we are trying to get the power back in hi
Thank you T421 for encouraging Kevin as you pass!