Crew cut

She adds that it will take her some more effort to participate as a rider. The biggest hurdle for an Indian rider to participate,she says,is financial. “I would love to participate in RAAM as a relay team member in future and not as a solo rider,” says Tate.

Explaining her role as a crew member,Tate says that the members are expected to be able and willing to do multiple tasks — driving,navigating,cooking,laundry,bike repairs,shopping and other errands,while continually looking out for the riders’ safety. In short,whatever is required to keep the riders well-supported,hydrated and nourished,says Tate. “I also cooked for the crew,organised and set up kitchens,” she says.

But Tate’s role was to change soon,when one of the riders was sent to a hospital with some health issues on the very first day,and one crew member and a vehicle had to be sent with him. “Then the need for a navigator became greater and that was my primary role was for the rest of the race. I enjoyed it since I got a chance to be in the follow vehicles with the riders,directly supporting them,” recalls this mother of two teenaged sons.

Elaborating the nature of the race,Tate says that it is one long race in which male solo riders,who ride the entire distance,have up to 12 days to finish,and women solos and 50-plus riders have 12 days and 21 hours. Relay teams of two,four or eight persons get up to nine days to finish. “My team,called Team Break The Cycle,crossed the finish line in seven days,nine hours and 44 minutes. We were a crew of 14 and a team of four riders with three mini-vans and two mobile homes,” she says.

The ultra-endurance event is not only demanding for the riders but also for the crew. “Physically,mentally,emotionally and psychologically,we were all challenged at various times; going for up to two days without any sleep,skipping meals and even showers. Besides,having to learn to live intimately with a group of strangers under high stress put its own demands,” she says.

India,she says,has a large number of long-distance endurance cyclists,who are well on their way to getting ready for an event as demanding as RAAM. “My presence there was being followed with great interest from my fellow riders in India,many hoping to participate in future. Funding for an event of this nature will be the big challenge but I am very hopeful. It is just a matter of time before Indians succeed at RAAM,” she concludes.