race across america

reaper2

If anyone is interested there is a program about the race across america on tonight at 8.15 after the TDF coverage. Looks like a nice evening in then

jellybellywmb

well done that man for both riding across the usa in the time allowed and putting up with the idiots in his support crew.
Nothing like being motivated by people saying you are not going to make it!!

HarryB

Thank God he didn't beat the record. I thought he was a total c*ck. Thought he was a tosser and his support crew were even bigger tossers than him.

campagone

I missed the start of the show so I didn't know the background of this guy, but he came across as somebody who had a little bit too much time and money on his hands. He didn't appear to be in peak physical condition to undertake such an effort, but he did finish, so hat's off to him.

mozwyn69

Noticed he spat the top of a gel sachet onto the floor at the very beginning of the ride, I wonder if his support team were picking his litter up after him.

mathi

Just watched it over breakfast . Not what i was expecting at all with regards to his "negative " team .

yogi

Started watching it and had to turn-off after 10 mins. What a kn*b. He's the kind of idiot who gives cyclists a bad reputation. Totally self obsessed. Not even sure if he was a cyclist and I don't care if he did cycle across America.

Once_In_A_Blue_Moon

Nice to know it wasn't just me who thought the guy was a c**k. He looked to me like he was just on one big ego trip. Very little preparation and his "team" didn't have a clue.

How he finished it God only knows.

angelic upstart

Reminded me of many a sportive rider. :roll:

mrushton

The whole programme was badly made imo. But on his first day he was suffering heat exhaustion. Surely he had trained in he heat to understand what would be required. One has to qualify for RAAM so he should have known from eg PBP about diet, sleep deprivation etc. he used a double chainset (compact?) but a triple would have been betterespecially in he high mountains and aero wheels which are pointless under 25mph, as well a tt bike which actually injured him! There was no background to how he had qualified and what his experience was. He succeeded, but it didn't make good viewing

guv001

I missed this program I take it it is not worth chasing up to watch.

Blonde

I agree that the programme wasn't informative enough and that it would really have benefited from some background on his training and his preparations but I guess the film was about the race itself not about the lead up to it. I am sure he was very well prepared but they didn't show it. He had to qualify to take part so he must have been as prepared as anyone can be for that type of event. Being struck down with heat exhaustion (or sickness) can happen to anyone, regardless of whether they have trained in the heat or not though - Sometimes sh1t just happens. I felt for him! I did note that he appeared unaffected by altitude so he must also have trained for that. Again though, it is hard to know as the programme only showed certain aspects of the race. He was no more 'self-obsessed' than you need to be to take part in that event, or than any other althlete. His crew were stars, all of them and supported him all the way. They were concerned for his safety and were trying to get through to him that he was out of time at some points. That was their job and I think they did it well. He would not have made up the time had they not told him he needed to, as he was too far gone to know it. Anyone who has done long distance events/audax will know that spaced out feeling and will know how sleep deprivation and mileage affects the mind! He could not have done it without his team - which he said several times during the programme. I think the one thing that really came across to me was that despite his being a 'solo' ride, it was a real team event.

andy_wrx

The whole program just didn't seem to be saying anything to me,.
It seemed just a disjointed series of random bits of film of the guy and his crew, not edited together coherently to tell a story or anything.
He's going to walk it, he's not going to make it, he's not going to make it, he's made it. Complete anti-climax.

I also got fed-up with watching him set-off at the bottom of a climb on his climbing bike with aero wheels, followed by a shot of him apparently going up the same climb but somehow now on his TT bike with the climbing wheels, only to apparently arrive at the top of the climb and back on the climbing bike but now with the climbing wheels.

There should have been an epic tale in there, but this program didn't show it.
I guess it shows-up just how good the quality of some other documentaries really is.

Blonde

I agree - badly put toge5her, badly edited. A shame as it could have been so much better told. Where's Damon when you need him?!! If you've not see any of his cycling films they are really well made; entertaining and well shot and edited IMO, he just needs to get them on telly! His latest PBP film was well received. Not sure if he frequents this forum though!

simon_e

Can't say I would have followed his preparation methodology (saying he was 80% fit at the start, using a TT bike that did his neck muscles in). He had done it as part of a 4 man team in 2005 so you'd have thought he knew what he was getting himself into.

In one respect don't understand why it is termed a 'solo' race when his support team requires 2 vehicles and nearly 10 people. However, it's still a hugely intimidating distance. The Great Divide Race mtb event is unsupported, now that is a challenge. Jenn Hopkins is doing it on a singlespeed. Yikes!!

Jim Rees did RAAM again, and quicker, this year - 11days 8hour sand 18mins:
http://www.teaminspiration.co.uk/jim2008.htm
According to the site his occupation is "Executive Coach & Keynote Speaker". From the evidence in the film I wouldn't ask him to coach anyone I know. But then again I think business executives (CEOs, directors etc) are all ar5eholes anyway.

jimrees

Hi,

I'm the chap a load of you are slating.

You may or may not want to know that the documenatry you watched or partly watched and then judged was an account of a normal guy looking to prove a point about the fact that it's more about mindset than it is about ability!! The programme was in fact well filmed but chopped to bits to allow for adverts etc.

My background is Ironman trialthons and have represented GB in my age group in 2 long course championships before doing Raam as part of a 4 man team in 2005 and then did solo last year and again this year. I'm not attempting to kid anyone, I am not an elite athlete. If I came across as arrogant it was more because I did believe that I could break Chris Hopkinsons record of 11 days 23 hours set in 2005, for me it was a matter of staying on the bike.

I'm a parent with 6 kids who is passionate about making a difference around the mindset of the UK population, in particular with children and in my spare time I've been doing free talks to schools around the UK to inspire children to reconnect to their inner greatness.

My belief is that through negative conditioning from early childhood we start believing that things aren't possible and then start accepting that belief for the rest of our lives.

Yes I am a keynote speaker & executive coach and all I would have to say about some of the comments posted on this site is that you might want to consider doing the race and then form your own opinion about juggling your own business, running a family and setting up a charity to inspire children.

It's just so easy to judge people, it allows us not to look at our own stuff!!

My question to you all is what have you done that has left a positive finger print and lifted someone up recently, because that's what I'm aiming to do on a dialy basis.

Now hopefully you can have a little think about doing something postive instead of slating someone you've never met! What is this country coming to!!

Mossrider

Good response Jim, your achievement speaks for itself. I guess your detractors must all have managed some incredible things in their time, and I can't wait to hear more from them.

Actually, on second thoughts please don't bother...

bhm100

here, here.

Don't judge the whole of the forum on the basis of a few JIm, there are plenty around who just can't be bothered to argue with folks who use such language to criticise "those who do"

I saw the program, and I found it inspiring. I thought your team was excellent, the editing does cut things about but it seemed to me like they were trying to show the whole range of emotions over a 12 day period - "he's up, he's down, he's not going to do it, he's done it" which surely happens.

The only thing that puzzled me was why you aimed for 21hrs on the bike with only 3hr rest periods, but hey - you're doing it, not me, so it's your call.

Finally, I used to have a motto on my desk - "You wouldn't worry about what people think if you realised how seldom they do"..... it applied in more cases than you'd probably expect....

Brian

HarryB

jimrees wrote:

Yes I am a keynote speaker & executive coach

You mean people pay to listen to you? Based on what I saw of you in the programme I'd personally cross the road ro avoid listening to you. Only my opinion of course.

BTW I've done lts of things that have left a footprint but don't need my ego massaging by mentioning any of them here

yogi

I’ll stick with my original analysis.

BeaconRuth

Very interesting to get your perspective Jim. I've talked to both Chris Hopkinson and Lynne Taylor (Women's LEJoG record holder and current 24hr Champion) and it has always struck me that the mental challenge is what it's really about. I've little doubt that many people are physically as capable, but it takes a very special person to have the required mental strength. A chap I know talks of trying not to be a 'mental midget' and you, Chris and Lynne are all 'mental giants' as far as I'm concerned.

jimrees wrote:

........was an account of a normal guy looking to prove a point about the fact that it's more about mindset than it is about ability!!

I don't think this did come across really although I can see that now that you've said it.

My belief is that through negative conditioning from early childhood we start believing that things aren't possible and then start accepting that belief for the rest of our lives.

So true. Full marks for practising what you preach, Jim. Forgive me if I say you must be just a little bit crazy though?

Ruth

daniel_b

I didn't know the aim of the programme before i watched it, but remember watching a programme about this very race on Channel 4, something like 15 years ago - anyone else remember it?

It was 2 hours long, and followed a few individuals from both the mens and womens races, it kept cutting from one to the other at regular intervals, and giving you updates on what position they were in, and who was closing on them, and how far behind the next competitor they were etc.

It was riveting television, and how I wish I had taped it, but hindsight and all that.

I think I had my hopes up about this programme, and was expecting the same thing, I didn't realise it was a documentary on one competitor.

It was still very interesting, but I would have liked more info on how his placing in the race was going, and how far behind, ahead he was of his competitors.

I think we had a 'he's in 30th place' at the beginning, followed by 'he's gaining places at every stop, 24th, 23rd, 22nd etc' and then i thikn right at the end we were told he had finished in 18th.

I know that isn't Jim's fault, and is down to the production team, but that was my main gripe with it.

Be interested to hear if anyone does remember the 2hr RAA programme I mentioned earlier, or if I am just going insane :roll:

Dan

musto_skiff

jimrees wrote:

Yes I am a keynote speaker & executive coach

As I read your post I just knew that would be your business.

cbj

After reading Jim's rather overly defensive patronising post ( what did he expect - no criticism at all on a publicly broadcast documentary ? have a 'little think' about it), I'm not sure whether I think he's a bell end or I'm suffering from negative conditioning . . . .

andy_wrx

I stand by my earlier comments.

I didn't say anything about Jim, I said the programme was poor, that it didn't say anything to me.
It was badly put together, seemed just a disjointed series of random bits of film of the guy and his crew, not edited together coherently to tell a story or anything, continuity was terrible.

I said before that there should have been an epic tale in there, but this programme didn't show it and I guess it shows-up just how good the quality of some other documentaries really is.

Mossrider

I'm not sure whether I think he's a bell end or I'm suffering from negative conditioning . . . .

It'll be the latter.

Why does everyone have to be so rude on forums. You surely wouldn't be like that in real life (I hope). You can comment on the programme quality, question Jim's fitness or choice of lifestyle (although it's his choice not yours, so why you're worried I don't know) but you are insulting a guy you've never met.

To my way of thinking it says far more about you than him. I know who I'd prefer to share a journey with.

choppertron

I didn't like the programme at all - Sorry.

jimrees wrote:

It's just so easy to judge people, it allows us not to look at our own stuff!!

I agree BUT, What are you doing with this comment if not just that?

jimrees wrote:

My question to you all is what have you done that has left a positive finger print and lifted someone up recently, because that's what I'm aiming to do on a dialy basis.

The line between Selfless and Self-indulgent is a thin one.

BeaconRuth

I agree with you, Mossrider. I also agree that the programme wasn't well made and might not have shown the most interesting things from the best angle, but that's got nothing to do with the point that Jim Rees says he wanted to make - that it's possible to achieve amazing things with a positive mental approach. Yes, the guy is crackers to ride across America to prove that point, but I could list a dozen people I know who I admire for the single reason that they have a positive mental approach to life. They are fighters, the ones who don't give up, who look on the bright side, who work hard at things and focus on achieving them. Is Jim Rees such a bad guy for wanting to get that message across and actually doing something about it rather than sitting on message boards being critical?

Ruth

Once_In_A_Blue_Moon

Okay, maybe I was a tad harsh, but I formed my opinion on the basis of the film. To me Jim (and thanks for the input), it didn't look like you were well prepared (surely you must of knew you would struggle in the heat?) and you did come across as very arrogant. Fair play or giving it a go and succeeding, but believe me, I'm sure a lot of people (myself included) would love to have the opportunity to ride across America. Not all of us can find the time, nevermind the money.

Also, this "negative conditioning" you talk about- your team didn't have a very positive outlook and were convinced you wouldn't finish the ride let alone break the record.

cbj

I apologise for being rude, I generally don't get upset about stuff on forums ( I'm sure people have suggested I may be a bell end in the past) but obviously have to accept that was harsh suggestion for some bloke I've never met.

On the documentary I only caught the last 20 mins and concur with the criticism about production but have to admire the effort it took to cycle across America, regardless of his motivation.

choppertron wrote:

The line between Selfless and Self-indulgent is a thin one.

Absolutely spot on.

campagchris

Ive spoke to Jim on another forum and found him a very genuine guy.He's very positive minded and very helpful offering to come to schools in my area to do talks (for free may I add) He set himself a goal and went for it,and I for one say chapeau Jim.Im pleased to see you went a lot faster this year and had no neck problems.We all cycle for different reasons and I find it hard when people knock another cyclist for trying to do something positive or just beating a goal they set out to do.Not every cyclist can win the tour :shock: