Saturday 24th March

Saturday morning saw the team awake to a much brighter prospect than the last group training session in the beautifully sunny Wales. The team were returning to Cardiff Metropolitan University to compare the physiological test results taken back in January. The test results taken today would establish their current fitness levels and measure their rate of improvement. This would provide vital information to the Master Chief to aid in the final team selection.

Using the same format as the January tests each rider undertook a test designed to assess their VO2max, maximum heart rate, anaerobic threshold, and maximum power output. Every rider gave their all and the effort they have been putting into their training was evident with hugely improved results all round.

Arguably the most arduous task of the day was taking the 30 different sandwich orders! But after refuelling and taking a moment to soak up the sunshine, the team set off to Builth Wells to attend the opening of the new Cycle-Tec shop!

Chosen by H4H, Cycle-Tec will be joining the team in the RAAM as part of the vital support crew. They will be providing much needed mechanical support by repairing any damage or breakage to the specially adapted hand bikes and upright bikes.

Gareth Rowland, joint owner of Cycle-Tec says; "We are really proud to have been selected to support the Battle Back RAAM team, it's truly inspiring to work with these guys and their dedicated support crew. To have been selected by Help for Heroes to support this project is a huge honour."

The training session really demonstrated the team bond that has formed so solidly since training began last October. Make sure you check the team out on Twitter:

* Riders: @angryhaggis7143 / @davidtedworth / @joetownsend1664 / @jon_leg / @shortersi / @BZissman / @smeenagh / @BB695 / @don_maclean

* Support crew: @ga_cycle_tec / @jessbaker24 / @jimklass / @trevhunt55 / @nmoulsdale / @JPNevin / @Paulie_m_smith / @kelly_bostock

With the team selection weekend now just around the corner, the riders are determined to ensure they have done enough to make the final cut. While a mammoth challenge, each individual is focused on the goal - dominating the USA and no one wants to be left behind.

Saturday 3rd March

It may have been a soggy start but sprits were high as we started the 4th RAAM training weekend. Once again based at Tedworth House, the Help for Heroes Personnel Recovery Centre in Wiltshire, the focus for the weekend was riding, riding and more riding as the team conquered an 80km circular cycle route through the rolling Wiltshire countryside, down to the New Forest

After a not so brief morning briefing, the crew were divided into the two teams they will be working with when in America – ‘Team A’ and ‘Team B’. Each has been strategically selected to compile the best possible crew of drivers, navigators, physios and a bike mechanic. Once organised and acquainted the crew took their positions in the vans, ready to simulate their roles for the actual race.

The two vans set off behind the cyclists, the tunes blaring and crew singing along. Unfortunately, the morning wasn’t completely uneventful; two of the cyclists took a slight (!) detour, of nearly 20 miles to Warminster but with some help from the crew we managed to get them back on track!

After smashing through 30 miles all riders and crew arrived in to Market Lavington, all stopping for a well-earned packed lunch. A huge thank-you from the team to the generous local who sponsored the team £5!

Post-lunch we were just about to get back on the road when the heavens opened and all team and crew members were subjected to a hail stoning. It took a bit of persuasion but the cyclists dug deep and pushed on through.

It was out of Market Lavington and into Urchfont, heading south to Pewsey. Once on the homeward bound stretch between Everleigh and Pewsey, cyclists were hit with the biggest hill they’ve tackled yet. Not a single crew member would have pressed if any of the cyclists decided it was one hill to far but all of the riders rose to the challenge and conquered the 241m. On reaching the top everyone was reassured ‘it’s all downhill from here’ by the Master Chief.

Forty-eight miles in and the riders were starting to feel it, but promise of a hot cup of tea and some freshly baked cookies back at Tedworth kept everyone motivated. This is the longest many of the cyclists would have ever completed in one stretch and the crew were hugely impressed with both their speed and stamina. It is obvious the work the riders have been putting in in their own time to meet their time targets.

After many long, hot showers and a well-deserved feast, everyone moved back into the library for a further briefing about the importance of nutrition. It was then into the classrooms for the support crew to start building some of the new Scott bikes which will be ridden on the RAAM. It ended up being quite a late night, working until around 2300, but at least everything was prepared for the morning.

Team Hybrid Donate a Handbike to H4H

During the monthly RAAM training session this weekend at Tedworth House, Team Hybrid generously presented H4H with a handbike that the guys will be able to use to make sure they reach their peak fitness for this incredible challenge.

There are a huge number of benefits that cycling brings to those going through their rehab, including improving their muscle strength, building their stamina and enhancing their physiological and psychological well-being and self-esteem. Team Hybrid have first-hand knowledge of severe trauma and disability so know exactly what the guys and girls go through during their long road to recovery.

We are so honoured that they have chosen to support H4H with this very kind donation and know it will make a really difference to our heroes.

Saturday 4th March

Sunday morning saw the team up and out by 0930 with the very unwelcome addition of torrential rain! While dampened riders were inevitable, dampened spirits were out of the question with all crew and riders determined to build on the successes of the day before. The riders were paired up - one upright bike with one hand bike - and the crew all piled in together, then we were off!

Just a few miles out of Tidworth, the team encountered the first technical hitch of the day – the gears were playing up on Scott’s hand bike and his break block had also fallen off. Mark, Scott’s upright buddy rider, was also having issues with his gears and so both riders were taken into the support van to warm up, whilst the mechanic worked on their bikes. A few miles further down the road and the crew came across the first hand bike with a puncture- the hand bikes are particularly susceptible to punctures in the wet weather because of increase in debris on the road.

Once Scott and Mark had warmed up and their bikes had been sorted, the crew pulled over to ‘transition’ them back onto the road. Just as we did so, we received another call from Joe, one of faster the hand bikers, who had come off his bike further up the route so we rushed ahead to try and track him and his buddy rider down. By this point the rain was really starting to come down hard and being in rural Wiltshire, phone reception was very patchy so staying in comms was becoming increasingly difficult.

After dodging deep puddles, other cyclists and traffic as we went, the crew finally tracked the duo down in a nearby house, having had to shelter from the cold. All of the team would like to say a massive thank-you to Steve and Joan from Nether Wallop who took them both in and later delivered their bikes back to Tedworth House due to lack of space in the support van; the generosity of members of the public towards our Armed Forces never ceases to amaze all of us.

As soon as we had completed one pick up, another call came in from three other cyclists who had gone off route and had issues with their bikes and the weather had taken a turn for the worst. The snow was coming down thick and fast and with the air temperature now bitterly cold there was real pressure on the support crew to find the guys ASAP.

Rushing through the country lanes we had little information and barely any mobile signal to find the next three riders. We knew they were taking refuge in an unused barn due to the snow, we had the name of a village and a Church as a reference point but we had little else to go on and no way of contacting the riders. Eventually we found them but we were greeted with some rather miserable and very chilly faces! Once back in the minibus with the heaters on full blast and the iPod blaring, the rescue effort soon became a great story to regale their fellow riders with. Paul, from Team Strategic Lions who won the 8-man relay class of the RAAM last year, kindly offered to stay and look after the hand bikes as we couldn’t fit them in the bus; we promise we went back to pick him up! Team Strategic Lions have been incredible, supporting the team in every way possible from day one.

We made our way back to Tedworth House, much earlier than planned, where the brilliant staff had laid on teas, coffee and homemade cookies fresh out the oven. Having heard about the riders struggles all afternoon they had also been out to buy cup-a-soups so the guys could warm up quickly when we got in.

After showers all round and plenty of warm clothing, we cleaned down the bikes and waited for the last of the riders and vehicles to come in.

It was then a very frank debrief from the day – although things didn’t exactly go to plan for us, some within our control and some outside of it, it was vital for riders and crew alike to take away these many learning’s before we go to America. It’s certainly better to iron out some of the issues we had and agree standard procedures when a problem arises now, rather than when we’re racing out in the States.

As always, the riders were absolutely incredible. Despite the temperature and weather conditions they ploughed on through as long as they could and showed that grit determination which makes them so inspiring. They have taken on Master Chief’s battle cry with complete passion and determination; ‘train hard, cycle easy’.

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting us on Twitter and Facebook – it really means a lot to the guys to know that they are being thought of. If you would like to donate and leave your messages of support, you can do so at www.bmycharity.com/battlebackraam2012

By Jess Baker, Help for Heroes

Despite the snow and bitterly cold winds, it was a successful weekend for both riders and the support crew as training stepped up a level for the gruelling Race Across America.

While the cold gave everyone a false sense of distance from the race start date, minds were focused on the task at hand.

Tedworth House Personnel Recovery Centre kindly put us up for the weekend and provided a great base for some endurance training amongst the rugged Salisbury Plain as well as some comparative time trials at Hullavington Airfield, originally visited late last year.

Saturday 4th February

Master Chief ordered an early start as all support crew and riders were filed outside in a crisp -7°C! Attentiveness in earlier training was the first test of the day with plenty of forfeits in store for those who hadn’t yet learnt the RAAM rules.

An incorrect answer resulted in a ‘beasting’ from Master Chief – carrying a 20kg power bag for the support crew and a best effort, 1 mile loop for the riders. Needless to say the rule absorption rate has significantly increased.

Lunchtime provided a welcome break back into the warm and a speedy attempt to thaw out before preparing to get back out on the road.

With stomachs full of a hearty lunch and fully kitted up in their warm weather gear, the team were ready to tackle their 30 mile challenge across the Salisbury Plain. This provided the support crew with the perfect opportunity to simulate the navigation procedures that will be required during the actual Race Across America. Luckily, only a couple of wrong turns were made!

With a heavy snowy sky and conscious of the energy required to complete the full weekend’s activities, it was decided to alter the full route and bring the guys back before the weather closed in.

After a quick shower, the team warmed up under blankets in the Library and tucked in to some freshly baked cookies courtesy of Team Tedworth. As the RAAM team waited for the whistle to blow for the Scotland v. England match, the room was filled with the good-humoured banter that is flowing so easily as the team and crew are bonding.

The last session of the night was a basic bike mechanics session for all the riders and crew.

At the end of a long and chilly day and the knowledge of another the following day, an early night was the top of everyone’s agenda.

Sunday 5th February

An overnight dusting of snow was no match for our riders who were up and out by 08:30. The team were keen to get up to Hullavington Airfield and see how their intensive training has made a difference in their time trials.

Ten minutes after departure, the support crew van encountered “a ramming from one of the RAAM-ers” (in the words of the riders) as one of the riders accidently drove his car into the back on the van. Merely a bump, no one was hurt but the minibus was a little worse for wear!

Having travelled an hour north to the Airfield the track was covered in snow on arrival, so the team set up the turbo trainers in a nearby hanger and got cracking on the morning’s time trials.

Meanwhile, the support crew took the opportunity to simulate the transition process of getting the riders in and out of the vans under a time pressure. Having previously only practiced on foot with props, there were a few slight hiccups including the team initially forgetting to drive the van out to the track!

While providing vital training for the support crew, this also broke up the snow and with a little help from the sunshine, the track was clear for the team to use in the afternoon.

After re-fuelling and a tea and coffee run for 45, arguably the biggest challenge of the day, the team were ready to get out on the road. They repeated the same 6 laps of the peri-track (approx. 15 miles) completed before Christmas which enabled the team to gauge their progress over the course of the training.

The results were substantial and the efforts the boys have been putting in between training sessions were clearly visible. Even in just the last couple of months the improvements can be seen.

Everyone came away with a renewed sense of inspiration and excitement about the race. It is undoubtedly a huge and phenomenal challenge, to cross the entire continent of America from coast to coast, but if we can beat the British weather, we can take on the Rockies!

This weekend we were located at Cardiff University to start the first training weekend of 2012. The aim of this weekend was to help us indentify the current fitness levels of the guys who are hoping to be part of the team and set performance objectives to enable us to monitor progress. It was also an opportunity for the crew team to start planning the intricate logistics of the race. Four potential upright cyclists and 6 handbike hopefuls all took part, all coming from different areas of the Forces, from Royal Marines to the Army. It was a great cross section.

Saturday 7th January

We kick started the weekend bright & early with a brief from Strategic Team Lions who won the RAAM in 2011. They gave us an overview of their experiences and what we should expect from the race, as well as things to look out for, all of which has been hugely valuable.

We then split into three groups, hand cyclists, road cyclists and support crew. The hand cyclists were taken into the lab to start their testing. The testing enabled us to measure the current fitness level of each rider. This data will be used to provide us with a base level by which to measure performance against. Each rider undertook a progressive maximal bike test designed to assess their VO2max, maximum heart rate, anaerobic threshold, and maximum power output. There were a few red faces after each session but the riders soon recovered and by the end of the day everyone was comparing scores and the competitive spirit came out.

The upright bike riders were put through rigorous resistance & interval training sessions throughout the day.

The crew got together to start to identify the needs of the crew and riders for the race. The reality of the challenge that lies ahead of us started to become apparent. As well as a race, the RAAM is a navigational challenge. The support crew are responsible for making sure the riders get across safely and are crucial in the success of the team. The support crew will leapfrog during the race providing support to the riders and will consist of two RV trucks, for the riders and team to sleep in, and two support vans for the bikes and equipment.

The crew went through overarching logistics as well as specifics of transitions of the riders from vehicles to the road as the race goes on. The crew have to adhere to a rule book that is around 2 inches thick so practice of these specifics is incredibly important. Most of the activity was classroom lead so looking forward to putting into practise with props tomorrow which should make it clearer for everyone.

We finished off the day with a media brief and a Twitter lesson so you can follow some of the individuals hoping to be part of the team - check them out here: * Riders: @angryhaggis7143 / @davidtedworth / @joetownsend1664 / @jon_leg / @shortersi/BZissman. * Support crew: @ga_cycle_tec / @jessbaker24 / @jimklass / @trevhunt55 / @nmoulsdale

Sunday 8th January

This morning the upright bikers and the support crew were straight into putting yesterday's lessons and planning into practice using tyres, people pretending to be support vans and traffic cones. Very comical but also very useful to see everything in practice, think it's finally clicked!

The upright bikers were put through their paces in the lab and the handbikers were given advice on how to use the gym to develop their power as well as an interval training session which I also took part in. It was great to experience the training the guys are going through and the incredible effort they are putting in, although I'm glad it's them and not me taking part as I am not sure my efforts would win us the race!

The past couple of days have also been a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and bond. The pressure, organising and tiredness that everyone will experience over the next few months and especially during the actual RAAM, will mean that we have to be a close, efficient team. Given the teasing that was going on, I think the could be the easiest part of the preparation! We all departed tired but happy at what had been achieved. The excitement is really starting to build and although the task ahead is mammoth and daunting for all involved, we are really looking forward to facing this challenge head on.

It's been a hugely successful weekend, now the countdown begins to the race in June. The next training weekend is at the beginning of February - don't forget to follow us for all the latest news on Twitter (@BB_RAAM2012) or on Facebook (Team Battle Back RAAM 2012).

This weekend saw the first selection process for the Race Across America Team at Tedworth House, Tidworth, Wiltshire. The weekend kick started with an induction all about what the RAAM is before a gentle 13mile ride around Tidworth Garrison.
 
On Sunday we took the guys to Hullavington Airfield, Wiltshire where they were put through their paces to give a ‘best effort’ around the peri-track, a total of 24km.  There were some impressive times achieved by both the upright and handbike participants.

For some of the guys, competing in the RAAM will be one of the biggest achievements, something they never thought possible after a life changing injury.  The next training weekend is at the end of November so stay tuned for more updates on how the team are getting on.

We spoke to SSgt Jonpaul Nevin who is ‘Crew Chief’ and in charge of logistics and making sure the team get across safely.