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Ultra cyclist Shusanah Pillinger sets out tomorrow to become first British woman to conquer RAAM soloShusanah Pillinger and Herts Air Ambulance

Ultra cyclist Shusanah Pillinger sets out tomorrow to become first British woman to conquer RAAM solo

Hertfordshire rider back for coast-to-coast race after crashing two thirds of the way through 12 months ago
by Simon_MacMichael
Mon, Jun 15, 2015 20:49
8

A cyclist from St Albans who last year aimed to become the first British woman to complete the Race Across America (RAAM) solo, but crashed out more than two thirds of the way through with a broken collarbone, will set out from California tomorrow for a second attempt.

Shusanah Pillinger will be supported by a crew of eight people on the 3,000 mile journey from Oceanside, California, to Annapolis, Maryland, including a paramedic from Hertfordshire Air Ambulance, the charity she is raising money for.

Erica Ley was also a member of the support crew on the ill-fated attempt 12 months ago which came to a halt with that crash on the ninth day of the coast-to-coast challenge.

Ahead of leaving for this year’s race, Pillinger said:  “Last year I was supporting the Herts Air Ambulance whilst taking part in the same race but was unlucky enough to fall from my bike after 2,150 miles, breaking my collarbone.

“However I was lucky to have my own personal helicopter paramedic in the support crew so was looked after well.

“Erica's expertise was also called on to help out another cyclist who collapsed during the race – something that probably saved his life.”

She said the incident gave her a new perspective on the first-response team’s work and has made her more determined than ever to raise funds for them.

“Knowing what these guys can do in an emergency, from witnessing it first hand, really makes me want to help contribute to the upkeep of the vital service, so I will once again be fundraising for the Herts Air Ambulance this year,” she explained.

“My primary goal is to finish the race and claim the first British solo female record without further incident but it would be fantastic if we could raise more than last year’s total of £8,200 on the way! Every pound donated will help me to keep pedalling.”

Pillinger, whose two bikes are nicknamed Sagan and Wiggo, has another more lighthearted challenge in mind besides completing RAAM – earning a British Cycling pin badge and a place in a prize draw for a goodie back by completing its climbing challenge that coincides with this week’s Aviva Women’s Tour.

Given that if all goes to plan she’ll cross the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies over the coming days, the 5,874 metres required to earn that badge should be well within her reach – but as she told a supporter on her Facebook page, “only if my Garmins stop crashing and losing my data. I lost all of Wolf Creek Pass last year.”

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance fundraising co-ordinator Cristina Barone told the Herts Advertiser:  “We are absolutely in awe of Shu’s determination and courage for taking on this gruelling challenge for the second time, and for raising money for Herts Air Ambulance along the way.

“Her story is truly inspiring, and I hope the local community will sponsor her incredible challenge. It is not often that someone will cycle 3,000 miles for a charity, and to do it twice is extraordinary!”

The ultracyclist is the daughter of the planetary scientist Colin Pillinger, who died in May last year, and who was in charge of the Beagle 2 Mars exploration project.

The probe, launched in 2003, had been believed lost but was discovered on the surface of the planet in January this year.

He was also an advocate of the Philae project, which landed on the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko last November, 10 years after leaving Earth as part of the European Space Agency’s Rosseta mission.

Two days ago, the lander reactivated itself from hibernation two months earlier than expected, with one well-wisher on The Road to RAAM Facebook page taking it as a good omen, telling Pillinger: “Not sure if you have seen the news – Philae has woken up in time to watch your journey across America!"

Her crew will be blogging about her ride in the coming days, and you can also follow her progress on Twitter as well as through the official RAAM website, and donate to Herts Air Ambulance through Pillinger’s page on Just Giving.

ultracycling
Shusanah Pillinger
RAAM 2015
RAAM
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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8 comments

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fretters | 9 years ago
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apologies for any offence caused. as wellcoordinated said (thank you) it was a lighthearted comment and not in anyway trying to undermine the achievement. i am well aware that with the distances involved etc one would require a well equipped and well run support team.

my tiny mind just thought there was some irony, not in what she was doing, rather what was written.

i remember now why i don't comment much on here

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Gkam84 replied to fretters | 9 years ago
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fretters wrote:

apologies for any offence caused. as wellcoordinated said (thank you) it was a lighthearted comment and not in anyway trying to undermine the achievement. i am well aware that with the distances involved etc one would require a well equipped and well run support team.

my tiny mind just thought there was some irony, not in what she was doing, rather what was written.

i remember now why i don't comment much on here

I knew what you were getting at and there is no need for apologies, I'm sure no-one took offence, I just was pointing a couple of things out, as this site has a problem with people "jumping on the bandwagon" as soon as one comment is made that's made in jest, it brings out a pile of numpties who then belittle what anyone is doing. So I just tried to nip that before it began

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Gkam84 | 9 years ago
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There is nothing light hearted about riding 3000 miles in a time limit of 12 days, stopping for just 2 hours everyday to factor in food, sleep, changing clothing, mechanicals...etc, takes your time limit down to 11 days. That is an average of 273 miles a day.

It is the same as riding the Tour De France in half the time that the pro's have to do it with a proper support crew and hotels every night, massages, meals tailored to their specific needs and many other benefits that simply are to much to factor into a RAAM attempt.

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themartincox replied to Gkam84 | 9 years ago
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Gkam84 wrote:

There is nothing light hearted about riding 3000 miles in a time limit of 12 days, stopping for just 2 hours everyday to factor in food, sleep, changing clothing, mechanicals...etc, takes your time limit down to 11 days. That is an average of 273 miles a day.

It is the same as riding the Tour De France in half the time that the pro's have to do it with a proper support crew and hotels every night, massages, meals tailored to their specific needs and many other benefits that simply are to much to factor into a RAAM attempt.

so, sounds a bit like that Trans-Am 'race' then, except the riders are fully on their own to "factor in food, sleep, changing clothing, mechanicals...etc"

you do know that "a proper support crew and hotels every night, massages, meals tailored to their specific needs and many other benefits" are all considered and usually given as part of a serious crack at RAAM?

RAAM, Trans-AM, and LeTour are all hugely challenging events, all for different reasons, and in each iteration there will only ever be a handful of serious contenders capable of winning the event - and they all have different strategies.

The 2 hour stop per day is not quite true, Christoph Strasser will stop for far less than that, whereas others will stop for far more - whatever works for them. In exactly the same way someone like Kristof Alagaert will be able to ride for 20 hours per day during transcontinental whereas I won't. Different stroke for different folks.

Good luck to Shu' is what I say!!!

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Gkam84 replied to themartincox | 9 years ago
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themartincox wrote:
Gkam84 wrote:

There is nothing light hearted about riding 3000 miles in a time limit of 12 days, stopping for just 2 hours everyday to factor in food, sleep, changing clothing, mechanicals...etc, takes your time limit down to 11 days. That is an average of 273 miles a day.

It is the same as riding the Tour De France in half the time that the pro's have to do it with a proper support crew and hotels every night, massages, meals tailored to their specific needs and many other benefits that simply are to much to factor into a RAAM attempt.

so, sounds a bit like that Trans-Am 'race' then, except the riders are fully on their own to "factor in food, sleep, changing clothing, mechanicals...etc"

you do know that "a proper support crew and hotels every night, massages, meals tailored to their specific needs and many other benefits" are all considered and usually given as part of a serious crack at RAAM?

RAAM, Trans-AM, and LeTour are all hugely challenging events, all for different reasons, and in each iteration there will only ever be a handful of serious contenders capable of winning the event - and they all have different strategies.

The 2 hour stop per day is not quite true, Christoph Strasser will stop for far less than that, whereas others will stop for far more - whatever works for them. In exactly the same way someone like Kristof Alagaert will be able to ride for 20 hours per day during transcontinental whereas I won't. Different stroke for different folks.

Good luck to Shu' is what I say!!!

Nothing like the Trans-Am as well you know, Trans-Am, Trans Conti and various others are basically ver long distance Audax events, nothing like RAAM or RAI. 2 hours a day was just an example, to show how easy it is to lose a day from your time limit.

Strasser is in a class of his own and way beyond what anyone else can do. If you are going to have a serious crack at RAAM, you can't afford to stop for hotels and massages, you get a massage as you try and get what little sleep you can in an RV. You know all this, you've been on a RAAM crew.

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wellcoordinated | 9 years ago
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Come on GKam84 lighten up! fetters was making a light-hearted comment.

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fretters | 9 years ago
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chapeau. massive respect. i really hope she succeeds. however i had to chuckle, when i read she's doing it solo with a team of 8 people to support her!!!

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Gkam84 replied to fretters | 9 years ago
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fretters wrote:

chapeau. massive respect. i really hope she succeeds. however i had to chuckle, when i read she's doing it solo with a team of 8 people to support her!!!

In case you think that is funny, I suggest you go and find somewhere to watch a film called Bicycle Dreams here is one suggested site, just click play a few times and close the ads, it will start http://putlocker.is/watch-bicycle-dreams-online-free-putlocker.html

THEN come back and you'll why they need support crews. It is not like the Trans-Am "race" where riders can do it unsupported, because they are stopping every night to sleep and find food....you don't have time to do that on RAAM, even stopping for the minimum of periods can put you behind the time limits

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