When John Schlitter, a Kansas native, heard of the Race Across America over twenty years ago, he went to see what all the fuss was about.  As they were riding through his hometown, John briefly rode beside a RAAM rider, leaving John in awe of the huge undertaking that is RAAM. He never imagined that he would someday participate in the legendary race.

John began racing bicycles when he was 16 years old. He got into recumbent racing after co-founding Bacchetta Bicycles in 2001. In 2004, John set a record at the Race Across Florida (RAF), riding 169 miles in a mere 6 hours, 34 minutes. He was the first recumbent rider to win RAF.

In 2005, John’s company, Bacchetta Bicycles, was ask to provide bicycles for a four man relay team in the Race Across America. John was asked to be the alternate rider. As it turned out, his alternate pledge was exploited and he became the fourth rider for the team. His team, Team Bacchetta/ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) was riding in support of the ALS March of Faces. One of the crew was Leon Peek, who had been diagnosed with ALS. John knew that crewing is as tough or tougher than racing and he was inspired by how clam Leon was throughout the race. Team Bacchetta won the recumbent team race that year and ended up third place overall out of more than 20 teams. The RAAM experience infected John to such degree that when he was asked to do a two man RAAM relay, he said, “sure.”

John is racing this year for several reasons. First, he loves to ride Bacchetta recumbent bicycles. Second, riding two man RAAM this year will help John achieve his goal of riding solo RAAM in 2008. Third, this year Team Bacchetta is supporting the Military Families Foundation (MFF). John has great respect and appreciation of those who serve our great country. He is proud to be racing to help families of deployed military personnel.

The 2007 Race Across America will be the hardest race John has ever done. He will have to contend with intense heat in the desert, as well as altitude and plummeting night temperatures in the mountains, not to mention sleep deprivation- and all of that is only the first half of the race!

To make sure he is ready to race in June, John rides 13-15 hours and 250 miles per week. He is also doing several ultra-distance races to prepare. In February, 2007 John competed in the ultra-distance race 24 Hours at Sebring where he placed first!

Phillip Plath is really the unwitting accomplice in all this.  A mountain bike champion from the recent past, he fell under the influence of recumbent riders in late 2003 and was tapped as part of John’s 2005 four-man team that established the current recumbent relay record.  Racing and training for mountain biking put him in a good position to contribute in 2005, but doubling his race hours per day from six to twelve will test his endurance capabilities.  His secret training weapon will be several intermittent 24-hour RAAM race simulations, mirroring the first day of the race.  RAAM may be the only bike race that you cannot and should not prepare for by simulating the entire race.

While crewing and racing in 2004 and 2005, Phillip had the honor of fundraising for an ALS foundation (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease).  His father had died of ALS in 1998.  This year Phillip is honored to raise funds for the Military Families Foundation.  Regardless of the heated political debate considering our current wartime status, the appropriateness and urgency of the MFF agenda cannot be denied.

As with all competitors, Phillip seeks the challenge of his racing goals.  Although the obvious hardships of such a grueling race might seem discouraging, they are exactly what draw the endurance cyclist to RAAM.  The most difficult moments will arguably be the 4-hour, early morning riding stints to get your race mate some short period of sustained sleep.  The magic of every day, on the other hand, is daybreak.  Renewing in and of itself, it also signals to RAAM competitors that their goals are at least one day closer.

Phillip works as a personal trainer in California (better to find good bike training time) and is looking forward to completely discouraging John from a RAAM solo attempt by helping him experience the rigors of the two-man relay in June.