For competitive cyclists, Race Across America (RAAM) is a cross-country race that separates the boys from the men. Our city’s paved trails and greater Sacramento’s hilly rural routes have served as a training ground for two local teams representing Sacramento, Team Sac PD and for first time, an all youth team, “Believe and Achieve.” On June 16, 2012, these local teams will compete in RAAM against 95 other teams from around the nation and world. RAAM is the toughest bicycle race in the world. It is incomparable to the Tour de France; RAAM is a non-stop, 24 hours a day relay race. This 3,000 mile cross-country bike race starts at Oceanside, Calif. and ends in Annapolis, Md. In the history

Team SacPD is on their home stretch. “Group B is on the way to meet group A for our final day of racing. On the way to the finish line!” was sent out on the team’s Twitter feed Friday morning. Having cycled just over 2,820 since Saturday afternoon’s start, Team SacPD has just 176 miles to go, however, embedded photographer Kati Garner stated, “…the last day of RAAM is not an easy ride for the racers…..they are in the Appalachians, full of ascents and descents for miles and miles.” Team SacPD is the first all police officer team in the history of Race Across America (RAAM), fully comprised of police officers from the Sacramento Police Department doing the race on their personal vacation

It’s all downhill from here… so to speak. Monday, in the Race Across America, Team SacPD concurred their highest elevation climb of the race. With their climb to nearly 11,000 feet above sea level Monday, the team has climbed a total of 55,952 vertical feet since the start of the race Saturday. From this point, the majority of the race is downhill except for a few smaller elevations climbs later in the race. At the time of this posting, the team is skirting the southern part of Colorado and is about half way across the state. At this point they have traveled almost 1,030 miles and have about 1,969 miles to go. The only significant challenge reported today was a racers blown tire shortly

Sunday was a long but rewarding day for Team SacPD in their second day of Race Across America. The team traversed north east through Arizona and at the time of this posting they are just north of Tuba City heading toward Utah. Team SacPD is now 33 hours into the race and have traveled over 615 miles. They have climed a total of 32,744 vertical feet and are presently around 5,000 feet above sea level and will reach around 11,000 feet in this assent.  The day was not without challenges. Early in the day one of the riders wasn't feeling well and had to sit out several relay rotations, but later returned to the race reportedly doing well. The same van that broke down Saturday developed mecha

Team SacPD, started the Race Across America (RAAM) Saturday afternoon. Starting from the pier in Oceanside, they already peddled over 170 miles with just under 2,830 to go at the time of this post. They have cumulatively climbed 8,789 vertical feet and reached a top elevation just over 4,000 above sea level. The team is now commencing a stretch in the race where over the next 750 miles they will ascend to an elevation of over 10,000 feet above sea level. Until they reach that elevation, they will be on a consistent climb with few brief downhill breathers. Shortly after the races start, one of the teams vans with relief riders on board, broke down with radiator issues. “1st crisis! One va

Oceanside, CA | Team SacPD starts pedaling across America, a 3,000 mile trek, at 2PM today and will end in Annapolis, Maryland. The first all police team to compete in the Race Across America (RAAM), Team SacPD, entirely comprised of officers from the Sacramento Police Department, assembled in Oceanside over the past few days, prepping and taking care of last-minute details heading into the big start at 2PM Saturday in Oceanside. Team SacPD is riding to raise awareness of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. “The eight member SPD Team will raise money and bring media attention to the National Law Enforcement Memorial, Washington DC. Working with the hundreds of federal, state,

Oceanside, CA | Part of Team SacPD (Sacramento Police Department's new cycling team) arrived in Oceanside Wednesday evening for registration in the Race Across America (RAAM) event. Six people affiliated with Team SacPD headed to Oceanside Wednesday in two vans; fourteen more crew members and racers traveled Thursday to join them. The relay teams for RAAM will start on Saturday at Oceanside Pier. Other RAAM races began Tuesday. The race finish is in Annapolis, Maryland between June 24th and 27th at the City Dock. Fourteen additional Team SacPD members head to Oceanside Thursday. You may have never heard of “Team SacPD” before, and with good reason; the team was recently assembled and thi

How do you ride a bicycle 3,000 miles? “Little pieces at a time,” says Sacramento Police Lt. Mark Greenlee. Greenlee is one of eight riders in Team Sac PD that will be cycling across the continental United States in the Race Across America event (RAAM). Today and tomorrow, twelve crew members and their riders will be making their way to the starting line in Oceanside, California. Friday will be a frenzy of inspections, meetings, team photos and hopefully some time to check out the first 40 or 50 miles of the course. Saturday the race is on. Those interested can track Team Sac PD’s progress through a progressive photo album updated throughout the race. What do you pack when you are on

“What group is out there that is basically murdered? There’s very few professions where people are murdered for their profession. Police work’s it,” said Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel, one of the eight members comprising the Sacramento Police Department’s Race Across America team. “We divide out those who want to hurt people from those who do not want to be harmed,” Braziel said. The team is hoping to bring national awareness to the 19,000 officers who have died in the line of duty and to the fact more will in the future. Already it seems their pledges have gone beyond expectations. The police department website has received a donation from an unknown supporter in Ireland, Brazie