RAAM Roses attempted to break the world record for the Race Across America in order to raise money for two UK charities. All the money raised by RAAM Roses will be split equally between children’s cancer charity The Joe Glover Trust and youth arts charity IdeasTap.

Last summer marked the first of The Roses’ epic feats of endurance.

The Race Across America is a 3,000-mile bicycle race from the Pacific to the Atlantic. First held in 1982, RAAM is considered one of the most challenging sporting events in the world, with cyclists riding over 300 miles per day.

The Route

Once the clock starts on the west coast, it doesn't stop until each racer reaches the finish line on the east coast. RAAM is 30% longer than the Tour de France and solo racers finish in half the time with no rest days. The race format is essentially a time trial, commonly called racing against the clock. Unlike the Tour de France, there is no drafting or taking shelter from the wind. 

RAAM had been a long-term dream for The Roses and presented a fantastic fundraising opportunity. But the team’s success was down to number of things including intense planning, seven months of training and a crew of 14 people. The four-person mixed team of cyclists rose with superhuman strength of mind and muscle to the challenge of a training regime that would have left most of us whimpering in a corner. 

After days and nights on the road, the team successfully crossed the finishing line. As it stands the team have raised a whopping £26,193. 

Want to read more? Check out the team’s training blogs.