Safe and Successful Ultra Racing needs a large amount of preparation and planning well before you reach the start line! This presentation addresses some aspects of preparation and planning for your Ultra Race! Ride safe! Have Fun!

1. Introduction to Ultra Racing by
An International Ultra Cycle Race
643 km From Pune to Goa
‘Race Across America’ (RAAM) Qualifier

2. DETAILS
ROUTE - The Race Covers @640 - Pune
to Goa
DATE : 5th Nov 2016
START : Pune – The city of cycles
FINISH : Bogmalo Beach, Goa – A popular
tourist spot
DISTANCE : 643 kms(400 Miles)
FORMAT : Solo event and Team Relay event
DURATION : 38 Hrs
An International Ultrarace
On The Race Across America calendar
• Pune
• Panchagani
•Mahabaleshwar
• Satara
•Kolhapur
• Belgaum
• Goa
The Deccan Cliffhanger 4th Edition – 5th November 2016 – Event Managed by
THE EVENT

3. Crewing Experience
• RAAM 2012, 13, 15, 16 - Crewed forVarious
Teams, Solo from various countries
• RAW 2014 – Crewed for Solo Racer
• RAAM 2014 – Official at RAAM
• RAE (Race Across Europe) 2015 – Crewed
for 2 person team from UK
• RAA (Race AroundAustria) 2016 – Crewed
for Ammar Miyaji
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
EVENT DESIGNED AND CONCEIVED BY
Divya Tate – The
motivating force
behind Inspire
India

4. ULTRA CYCLE RACES
 Fully Supported by Crew
 TimeTrials – (the clock never stops)
 TDC - 640 km in @ 32 hrs (non stop race)
 RAAM - 4800 Km in @ 9-12 days
 Solo & RelayTeams
Ultra races like Deccan
Cliffhanger, Desert 500, Race
AcrossAmerica are fully
supported, long distance
time trials
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

5. WHO??
THE RACERS
THE CREW
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

6. GETTING THERE
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

7. 80% of the work has to be done BEFORE you
reach the start line
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

8. PREPARATION & PLANNING
 Preparation is the
gathering of the
relevant and
necessary resources
1. Training
2. Gear
3. Crew
4. Vehicles
5. Stuff!
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

9. PREPARATION & PLANNING
 Planning is the way of how
and when the resources
will be used to perform the
activity or complete the
project
1. Strategy
2. Race Plan
3. Logistics
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

10. PREPARATION
CREW
I owe my RAAM to my
crew.There isn’t a day
that goes by that I am
not grateful for their
sacrifice, dedication
and passion.
CREW ROLE ISVITALTO A RACERS SUCCESS
Cliffhanger 3 – ApurvVerma, 3rd placeWinner
with crew
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

11. A Well known quote at RAAM
“The crew cannot win the
race for a rider, but the
crew can lose it!”
CREWING IS A TOUGH JOB
It is as important for the Racer to understand this as it is
for the crew!
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

12. ROLES
During an
Ultra Race
RIDERS –
RIDE!!
(And nothing else)
CREW
DOES EVERYTHING
ELSE
Hydration
Nutrition
Entertain
Motivate Look after all
Inventory, Bike
Maintenance
Drive,
Navigate
Chores,
washing,
cooking
Look after all
physical and
psychological
needs
And
THINK
Introduction to Ultra Race Crewing by

13. Crewing sounds like PARENTING!!
YES.... and it is just as demanding!
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

14. ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS of CREW
YES
 Commitment, Motivation
 Common Sense
 Spirit of Adventure
 Able to handle Discomfort,
Sleep Anywhere
 Good Natured,
 Flexibility, Resourceful,
willingness to adjust
 Proactive, Positive Can-Do
attitude
 Remain Functional with
sleep deprivation
NO
 Triple A personality type
 Hostile, Aggressive
Behaviour
 Rigid about personal
space, schedules
 Lazy, Unengaged,
Apathetical
 On vacation
 Negative attitude
 Serious Medical conditions
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

15. CREW
TASKS
 Pre-Race Prep
 Drive, Navigate, Communicate
 Managing Data, Metrics
 Management, Logistics,
Planning, Strategy
 Manage Nutrition, Hydration,
Health and well being of Rider
 Medical, Physio, Massage
 Bike Mechanics
 Social Media Management
 Look after themselves, Look
out for each other
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

16.  Pre-Race Prep
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

17. Introduction to Ultra Race Crewing by
•Drive –There is a lot of that!
•Navigate – Using your choice
of devices!
•Communicate – Constantly
with other moving parts of
the your team.

18. Introduction to Ultra Race Crewing by
•Manage Data, Record
keeping - Related to rider
Nutrition, Hydration,
Distance covered, time
taken etc
•Social Media Management

19.  Bike Mechanics
 Maintenance
 Managing STUFF!
Cliffhanger 2 – Srinivas G.’s Crew does a quick fix
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

20.  Manage Nutrition,
Hydration, Health,Well
being of Rider
 Medical, Physio, Massage
 Manage Psychological Well
being of the Racer
L-Chai being motivated by his crew. Below – Rahul
Kotbage owes his RAAM Qualification to his crew at
Cliffhanger 3
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

21. Introduction to Ultra Race Crewing by
 Management
 Logistics
 Planning
 Strategy
Time Space Management, People
Management, Managing supplies, Keeping
Racers, crew and vehicles refuelled, Planning
ahead, Accounting for the changing scenario
and keeping the race in place!

22. COMMITMENT TO A COMMON GOAL
 To achieve success the
team and Crew need to
have the same objectives
or Intentions.
 Safe and Happy finishes
depend on mutual
respect and gratitude
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

23.  Look after
themselves
 Look out for each
other
Cliffhanger 3 – Hiren Patel Crewing for fellow Randonneur
Dinesh Marathe
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

24. RAAM Preparation
through Immersion
Benefit of Crewing for International
athletes at RAAM
Chai Learning the ropes of Ultra Racing as
Joan Deitchman’s Crew in RAAM 2015
In 2016 Amit Samarth similarly crewed for
Seana Hogan along with another friend
from India
Introduction to Ultra Racing by
WHY RACERS CREW

25. PREPARATION & PLANNING
 Planning is the way of
how and when the
resources will be used
to perform the
activity or complete
the project
1. Logistics
2. Strategy
3. Race Plan
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

26. PLANNING
RACE PLAN
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27. CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS
As we know, long Distance cycling involves some fundamental Maths.... Distance
travelled, distance left, time taken, Race time, Riding Average, Applying variables for
terrain, climate or other factors, Estimating and projecting arrival times, calculating
off saddle time... It’snotrocketscience!!
Pre-Race - Use these skills to make a structured plan
Race Duration – Use it to monitor and control Race Performance!
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

28. DO THE MATH
Introduction to Race Across America (RAAM) by
TotalTime SOLO- Hrs 32 32
Projected RaceTime – Hrs 27 30
Off SaddleTime – Hrs 4 4
SaddleTime – Hrs 23 26
Total Distance – Km 644 644
Average Speed – Kmph 28 24.77
KM/4Hrs 112 99.07
Hrs/100Km 3.57 4.03
OPTIMIZE
SOLO – Crew and Racer – Optimize Off-Saddle time
• Do the Maths to estimate
your position in TIME-SPACE for
the duration of the Race.
• Use that projection to
structure your plan for that
particular race, the terrain, the
time of day that you will face
heat, cold, wind.
• Break the race into units
that work with your riding,
nutrition, sleep cycles.

29. DO THE MATH
Introduction to Race Across America (RAAM) by
Team - Persons 2 3 4
SaddleTime – Hrs 24 24 24
Distance - Km 644 644 644
Average Speed – kmph 26.83 26.83 26.83
Hrs PerTeam Member 12 8 6
Kms PerTeam
Member 322 214.67 161
TotalTime TEAM - Hrs 30 30
Projected RaceTime –
Hrs 22 26
Off SaddleTime – Hrs 1 2
SaddleTime – Hrs 21 24
Total Distance – Km 644 644
Average Speed - kmph 30.67 26.83
KM/4Hrs 122.67 107.33
Hrs/100Km 3.26 3.72
OPTIMIZE
 TEAM – Optimize RestVS
Output, Optimize Racer
Strengths
• Do the Maths to calculate team
average and estimate the teams position in
TIME-SPACE for the duration of the Race.
• Use each racers data to make a plan
of racer rotation so that you know roughly
where on the route transitions will take
place, or at what time of day.
• That will help fine tune racers
strengths with respect to the terrain of
the route.

30. USE THE MATH TO PLAN
No Control
Point
Place Total
Distance
Partial
Distance
Average
Speed
Estimated
TOA
ActualTOAComments
1Start Pune 0
2CP1 Mahableshwar 125 125
3Refreshmen
t break
Satara 186 61
4CP2 Yelur (before
Kolhapur)
274 88
5Refreshmen
t break
Nippani (top
ofTawandi
ghat)
353 79
6CP3 Kittur 454 101
7CP4 Belgaum,
Hotel Milan
500 46
8CP5 Left turn to
Usgaon
589 89
9CP6 – Race
Finish*
Dominos
Pizza,
639 50
10Finish Bogmalo
Beach
644 5
A Basic Plan/Structure should be in place. If you
go off the projected line...You can easily calculate
how to get back on track.
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

31. A Race Plan should take into account Racer Nutrition, Hydration, Avg
Speed, Terrain, Sleep, Off-Saddle Time, Mechanical issues, Crew
Roles, Crew Rest, Re-fuelling, Supply halts.... and keep an
allowance for unplanned situations
DETAIL RACE PLAN
First BritishWoman to
complete RAAM Solo
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

32. SET YOUR GOALS
 Set your LongTerm
Goals
 Set RealisticTiered
Goals for each Event
Primary, Secondary etc
 Design your Race Plan
based on the Goals
 Communicate your
goals with your Crew
 Avoid Crumping
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

33.  Flexibility/Adaptability
 Communication
 Managing Expectations
 Defining Roles
 DefiningGoals
 Remaining Focused
 Remaining Motivated
SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF THE PLAN
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

34. PLAN YOUR RIDE RIDE YOUR PLAN
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

35. CHALLENGES
 SLEEP MANAGEMENT
 AVOIDING CONFLICTS
 OPERATING OUTSIDETHE COMFORT ZONE
 REMAINING MOTIVATED
 MAKING OBJECTIVE DECISIONS WHEN
FATIGUED Introduction to Ultra Racing by

36. TOOLS
 CREATING CHECKLISTS
 ESTABLISHING PROTOCOL
 TROUBLESHOOT ISSUES
SYSTEMATICALLY
 GATHER INFORMATION BEFORE
DECISION MAKING
 RECORD KEEPING/MAINTAINING A LOG
Introduction to Ultra Racing by

37. Introduction to Ultra Racing by
#MOTIVATIONALQUOTE

38. At Deccan Cliffhanger Victory comes with BEER!
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39. Don’t forget to have fun!!
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40. Introduction to Ultra Race Crewing by
Ultra Race Crewing Presentation
by Divya Tate
ThemotivatingforcebehindInspireIndia
UltraRaces
DivyaTate has been cycling, commuting, touring, and Randonneuring in India and abroad for 24
years.
Starting with Brevet Organisation in 2010, and overseeing the growth of Audax India
Randonneurs since 2011, and Race Director for several cycle races in Pune, she gathered much
experience in managing Events. Divya has Crewed and Officiated atThe Race Across America
andThe Race Across theWest for 5 consecutive years, in addition to crewing at the Race Across
Europe andThe Race AroundAustria.
The Deccan Cliffhanger is currently in its 4th Edition, and there are plans afoot to create a
progression of races to provide Ultraracers in India with an opportunity to evolve to
International standards. Recognising that this activity is completely new in India, she has been
conducting seminars and training workshops in Ultra Race Crewing.
Through her passion for cycling and her commitment to the sport she hopes to continually
inspire others.