Elite Transcontinental Tour

New Route! 19 Days Coast to Coast

San Diego, CA to Williamsburg, VA
Arrive in San Diego Saturday, May 15
19 days 3,075 miles 162 miles per day
7 days 174-220 miles per day
Fly home Friday, June 4th
$3,395 for 30 or more riders
$3,695 less than 30 riders

This tour is only for Elite Riders! Each day is planned to offer the best support and efficiency for riders who want to simulate riding at a Race Across America pace across the country during daylight hours. RAAM winners Lon Haldeman and Susan Notorangelo will help you mentally and physically to succeed during this difficult tour. A recommended training goal is to ride 300 kilometers in 10 hours or complete 350 miles in 24 hours. Our route will follow 75% of the RAAM 2010 route with a good mix of mountains and back roads. Riders who complete 100% of the tour (14 mph minimum elapsed time) will qualify for the Race Across America.

This tour averages 165 miles per day across the deserts, mountains and prairies of the southern and central United States. Full support is offered to keep everyone rolling efficiently across the country. Riders who complete each day within the time limits will also qualify for the Race Across America solo division.

This tour filled up in 2007! Don't dawdle.

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Expected Riding Speed

This isn't your typical lemonade and cookie tour. The Elite is the most strenuous of any PAC Tour events offered this year. Riders are expected to maintain a 14 mph minimum average or stay within a 90 minute group spread per 100 miles (which ever is slowest). Riders behind this pace will be shuttled ahead until they are back on schedule.

Lights and Night Riding

Day 2 is 205 miles from El Centro, CA to Wickenburg, AZ. We will have a special night time start at 3:00 AM. We will ride in the dark until about 6:00 AM on this day. This section of the route is rural desert without much traffic in the morning. We hope to miss some of the heat of the low desert. Riders need to bring a RED taillight that is visible for 1,000 feet. CAT-EYE brand 5 bulb LED taillights meet this standard. Riders also need a front headlight that will laminate the pavement 50 feet ahead. This headlight must be visible from 1,000 feet away. This will be the only time riders will need headlights. Riders can store their headlights in their stash box the remainder of the tour. All other Elite Tour days will end before sundown and within the 14 mph minimum speed.

Elite Transcontinental Travel

The Elite Transcontinental Tour begins in San Diego, CA. Riders fly into the San Diego airport and take the hotel shuttle van to our motel in San Diego.

The Elite Transcontinental Tour ends in Williamsburg, Virginia 60 miles from Richmond’s airport. We will assist the riders in arranging shuttles/taxi’s to take them to the airport. Riders fly home from Richmond or Newport News, Virginia. Some have taken a shuttle van to the Washington, DC airports.

Bike Shipping

Riders ship their bike in cases to the beginning hotel. The bikes should arrive several days before departure. Most riders call the hotel to check on the bike’s arrival or use the tracking system of the carrier. PAC Tour will carry standard collapsed card board bike boxes for riders to the finish. Hard shell cases are shipped at the rider’s expense to the finish hotel.

More detailed bike shipping and the motel address information will be available in the 2010 Rider Packet that is mailed in late December or early January.

Daily Schedule

3,075 miles
162 miles per day

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Day by Day Over View of the 2010 Elite Tour

Fly into San Diego on Saturday, May 15

Today is your last day to rest and relax. Assemble your bike. Ride to the beach. Take some photos of the ocean. Eat an ice cream cone and watch the surfers in the waves. Tomorrow the Elite Tour begins and you won't have any time except to eat, ride and sleep for the next 19 days.
 

Day 1, Sun. 16, San Diego, CA to El Centro, CA, 130 miles

We leave the valley of the San Diego area and immediately begin climbing to 4,000 foot elevation in the first 50 miles. Over 90% of the climbing is in the first half of today's ride. The second half of the day is much faster but includes 40 miles of hot desert riding. Most riders will complete this day in 8-9 hours including rest stops. This is not an easy day but a good introduction to the Elite Tour.
 

Day 2, Mon. 17, El Centro to Wickenburg, AZ, 205 miles

The next day starts at 3:00 AM with a night time start. We will ride in the dark for the first 50 miles to avoid some of the heat of the desert. This is the only day riders will need lights on their bikes. The road is rural and desolate to Blythe. We will have a sunrise breakfast on the Glamis Sand Dunes. When the day heats up at 8:00 AM most riders will have ridden 75 miles. It is about 130 more miles to Wickenburg. It will be a long day but the best way to get across the desert and miss 1/3 of the heat.
 

Day 3, Tues. 18, Wickenburg, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ, 160 miles

The following morning we climb into the mountains and it won't be as hot at 7,000 foot elevation. There are four major climbs today of about 2,500 feet each. The pine forests of Prescott are a welcome change from the scrubby desert. The final climb to Flagstaff is past the red rocks Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona, Arizona.
 

Day 4, Wed. 19, Flagstaff, AZ to Kayenta, AZ, 150 miles

This could be the easiest day so far. Hopefully down hills and tailwinds will make this a good recovery day. The Indian villages of the Navajo Nation are interesting and colorful tourist sites.
 

Day 5, Thur. 20, Kayenta, AZ to Cortez, CO, 140 miles

The ride through Monument Valley is famous from southwest postcards. If the tailwind wind continues this could be another fast day.
 

Day 6, Fri. 21, Cortez, CO to Pagosa Springs, CO, 120 miles

Today we are in Colorado. There are a few longer climbs but no mountain passes. Today shouldn't be too tough. Everyone should be trained up for the Elite Tour by now and ready for some longer mileage days ahead.
 

Day 7, Sat. 22, Pagosa Springs, CO to Taos, NM, 160 miles

We bend back into New Mexico and have several shallow passes along railroad grades. These grades are not too steep but steep enough for tired legs.
 

Day 8, Sun. 23, Taos, NM to Clayton, NM, 185 miles

We depart from the mountains and head into the prairie grasslands. The wind will be a factor today. A west tailwind could make this an easy day. A south headwind could add two hours to our riding time.
 

Day 9, Mon. 24, Clayton, NM to Meade, KS, 180 miles

When you get the mountains and trees out of the way you can finally see something. Crossing a little bit of Texas and Oklahoma are the accomplishments today. Grain elevators spaced eleven miles apart are the landmarks for each rural town in the distance. These are good days for tight pace lines and friends to help pass the time.
 

Day 10, Tues. 25, Meade, NM to Wichita, KS, 185 miles

Today is all Kansas....wide and flat and straight. The cattle trucks with their leaking loads are the main obstacles. Again the wind will be the deciding factor between a fast or slow day.
 

Day 11, Wed. 26, Wichita, KS to Fort Scott, KS, 150 miles

Finally back into some rolling hills and trees. The landmark destinations come quickly now with more cute small towns. The humidity of the midwest replaces the dry air of the west.
 

Day 12, Thur. 27, Fort Scott, KS to Jefferson City, MO, 180 miles

Just when you were tired of flat lands you got plenty of hills today. The route is up and down all day with dozens of 500 foot climbs. The tourist traps of the Lake of the Ozarks are a good distraction. Maybe you could stop and visit the Elvis Wedding Chapel.
 

Day 13, Fri. 28, Jefferson City, MO to Greenville, IL, 150 miles

More hills today with several steep 14% grades. Crossing northern St. Louis is always a entertaining ride. The Mississippi River is where the final count down to the finish begins. Less than 1,000 miles to go.
 

Day 14, Sat. 29, Greenville, IL to Danville, IL, 200 miles

Illinois is very flat compared to Missouri. This is where we split from the RAAM Route for the next 400 miles. We will take a more northern route around Indianapolis.
 

Day 15, Sun. 30, Danville, IL to Greenville, OH, 190 miles

The farm roads of Indiana are great for cycling. We will cross the entire state today. This is a long day but the last flat day of the tour.
 

Day 16, Mon. 31, Greenville, OH to Athens, OH, 190 miles

We head back into the rolling hills of Ohio. The cycling here offers good variety and the towns begin to have the architectural style of the old eastern settlements.
 

Day 17, Tue. June 1, Athens, OH to Elkins, WV, 160 miles

We enter the mountains of West Virginia. Each climb is slightly bigger than the next. The RAAM Route will bend north toward Maryland and we stay southeast toward Virginia.
 

Day 18, Wed. 2, Elkins, WV to Orange, VA, 170 miles

Today has seven major climbs with 10% grades and tight hairpin descents. If you are feeling strong, then today could be one of the best of the tour. If you are feeling bad, then today will make you feel worse.
 

Day 19, Thur. 3, Orange, VA to Williamsburg, VA, 140 miles

The final count down to the finish on lots of little roads through the Virginia forest. Eventually you leave the trees and arrive at the Yorktown Beach. ³Ocean in View, Oh the Joy². Actually it is Chesapeake Bay, but it looks like an ocean, and the road ends there, so it is a good place to stop a very long ride across America.
 

Training Tips for the Elite PAC Tour

by veteran PAC Tour riders
Anna Robic and Lotta Myles

Elite Tour riders need to be durable and consistent to complete this tour across America. Riders are expected to average an minimum of 14 mph during the whole day. That might not seem too fast now...but with mountains, headwinds, fatigue and rest stops a 14 mph pace is quite respectable.

The following training guidelines are realistic to complete the Elite Tour. We realize riders have jobs and don't have time to ride over 30 hours per week. Riders should follow and adapt these guideline to fit with their lifestyle and other commitments.

1. Veterans have found it better to save up their limited training time and ride longer days (over 100 miles) two times per week with short fast one hour rides on their other training days.

2. Begin some of your training rides at sunrise. Ride in the heat, rain and wind and be used to a variety of weather conditions.

3. Participate in several fast weekend group events and be comfortable riding with others. Most PAC Tour participants ride in groups with 3-4 other riders.

4. Use the bike you will be riding on PAC Tour during your longer training events. Get your arm supports, shoes and saddle adjusted before the tour.

5. Know how to change a flat tire in less than seven minutes. Practice taking your wheels on and off your bike. Know how to patch a tube or install a new tube quickly. Carry the right type of pump and be familiar with how to use it.

6. Ride back to back long days over 200 miles as often as possible. Riding consecutive long, hard days in training is the key to feeling good on PAC Tour.

7. Be comfortable training 300-500 miles per week for the ten weeks before the tour. Get ready gradually...during PAC Tour you will ride 1,300 miles per week.

8. Train on your mountain bike by riding rough roads and loose gravel. By improving your bike handling skills "off road" you will be a better road bike cyclist.

9. Don't forget your speed...each workout should include some rolling hills to sprint up, some farm dogs that chase or some fast tail wind sections to help you push a big gear.

10. Ride 200 miles in less than 12 hours at least three times before the tour. Warning: this is a minimum standard. Most Elite PAC Tour riders can ride 200 miles in under ten hours.

11. Ride a three day weekend tour away from home of at least 500 miles. Ride 150 to 175 miles every day. Go to bed tired and wake up tired. This will be a good simulation of what PAC Tour will be like.

Special Food and Diets

1. If you are using a liquid diet you should train while using this food. Use this diet for your multiday events. During the Elite Tour you can bring 2 containers of your favorite powder. You will be able to refill your powdered food in the morning and at mid day and in the evening. Ship additional containers to motels along the route.

2. PAC Tour will be supplying Hammer Electolyes, Antifatigue Caps, and Sustained Energy at four rest stops during the day.

Training Schedule

Four-Five Months Before PAC Tour (Winter)

Supplement your indoor bike training with running, skiing, weight lifting, rowing, swimming and staying active all winter.

Three Months Before PAC Tour (February-March)

• 150 - 200 miles per week
• (Desert Camp in Tucson is 500 miles per week)
• Ride one day per week over 100 miles
• Ride one long 150 mile event during the month
• Hang in the back of a fast group (20+ MPH) 30 miles per week

Two Months Before PAC Tour (March-April)

• 200 - 300 miles per week (Hell Week in Texas is 100 miles per day)
• Ride one or two days per week over 100 miles
• Ride one 200 mile event during the month
• Ride in the middle of a fast pack 30 miles per week

One Month Before PAC Tour (April-May)

• 350 - 550 miles per week
• Two days per week over 100 miles
• Ride a 200 mile event under 12 hours
• Ride in the front of a fast pack 30 miles per week

One Week Before PAC Tour (Mid May)

• Ride enough to keep your legs fit but rested
• Get plenty of sleep
• Install a new chain, free wheel and tires
• Install and lubricate new STI shift cables
• Pack your gear bag two days before you leave (make sure your gearbag weighs under 40 lbs)
• If possible, arrive at the start two days before you start riding so you are not feeling rushed.

If you have any training questions contact:

Lon or Susan
PAC Tour
P.O. Box 303
Sharon, WI 53585

262-736-2453
e-mail: info@pactour.com

The Historical Record

2007 Rider Blogs / Web Pages

George Metzler's Elite Blog
Richard Waugh's Elite Tour Blog
Vernon Smith's Elite Tour Blog
Jeff Linder Report

2007 Daily Schedule

Departure (June 27, Wednesday)

1999

For the first time since 1991 we started in Huntington Beach, California located just south of Los Angeles. We stayed at the Hilton Hotel on the Pacific Ocean, within walking distance of the beach and interesting downtown activities.

We wanted to make this Elite Tour a tough bike ride but also a fun tour. That is why we extended the riding days from 15 to 17 days. There will still be many very hard days to challenge the strongest riders.

Our new route used bits of Route 66 across California, Arizona and New Mexico. We took the newer sections of road here which are smooth with lots of history and great scenery. We then turned north into Colorado and cross the dreaded Wolf Creek Pass climbing over the Continental Divide at 11,000 feet. Continuing east into Kansas we stayed in Dodge City along the Chisholm Trail of cattle herding fame.

By the time we got to Missouri the hills start again. We traveled miles of twisting winding roads through the Ozark Mountains. In Sikeston, Missouri we ate at Lamberts Restaurant famous for their "Throwed Rolls". The waiters pitched hot buns across the room to people waiting to catch them.

We crossed the Mississippi River and were briefly in Illinois before heading into Kentucky. Our route merged with the PAC Tour Oregon Trail path on to Tennessee. This area has some really good riding on small roads and rolling hills. When we entered eastern Tennessee and north Georgia we are back in the mountains again. The roads looked like a combination of the Blue Ridge Parkway and back road West Virginia. Very intense riding but beautiful.

As we entered South Carolina we are back on our previous Southern Tour route through Greenwood and Orangeburg. This is still the best way to the ocean and Charleston. This Elite route avoided some of the desert heat from past years and offered many miles of new routes.

1999 Tour		Start in Los Angeles Area
Day	Date	Finish	Miles
1	Sun 13 Jun	29 Palms, CA	135
2	Mon 14 Jun	Kingman, AZ	195
3	Tue 15 Jun	Flagstaff, AZ	165
4	Wed 16 Jun	Gallup, NM	201
5	Thur 17 Jun	Durango, CO	187
6	Fri 18 Jun	Alamosa, CO	150
7	Sat 19 Jun	Lamar, CO	195
8	Sun 20 Jun	Dodge City, KS	179
9	Mon 21 Jun	Winfield, KS	197
10	Tue 22 Jun	Carthage, MO	179
11	Wed 23 Jun	West Plains	163
12	Thur 24 Jun	Sikeston, IL	170
13	Fri 25 Jun	Franklin, TN	207
14	Sat 26 Jun	Cleveland, TN	160
15	Sun 27 Jun	Hartwell, GA	177
16	Mon 28 Jun	Orangeburg, SC	177
17	Tue 29 Jun	Charleston, SC	106

2,943 miles 173 miles per day

5 days	195-207 miles
6 days	165-194 miles
6 days	106-164 miles

1998

The 1998 edition was on the road at the same time as RAAM, timed to finish in the main pack. Those qualifying for RAAM were John Ashby, Richard Dalton, Phil Emery, Frank Karbarz, Emmy Klassen, Rich Kondzielaski, and David Roedel. This was one of the toughest PAC Tour trips ever. These riders truly earned their qualifying status after riding 2,000 miles with heat over 100 degrees.

PAC RAAM 1998 Riders Cross RAAM Finish Line

1998 ROSTER

PAC RAAM 1998 Group Photo Point for another view

PAC Tour veteran Steve Born wrote this about his finish in the 1998 Race Across AMerica:

"I was a sight at the finish. I looked like hell and I was so overcome with emotion that I was bawling my head off. I hadn't slept much in the last three days, I hadn't taken a shower in longer than that and I had lost 12 pounds so you can imagine how *fresh* I looked. I was so happy to see Lon and Susan and some of the PAC RAAM riders there; it really made my day. I only wish I had been more coherent. To have Lon there made me so happy as he's always been someone I have looked up to over the years. Both Lon and Susan have been such good friends and that they made the effort to be there at 6:00 AM was really nice."

1997

The inaugural Elite Tour was held in May 1997. For some flavor of the ride see Seana Hogan's Journal on her "Elite PAC Tour: Mini-RAAM."