| Race Across America Coming to Maryland in June
2008 RAAM Has a New Finish Mt Airy Bicycles to serve as Time Station
and Nationwide Penalty Box We are excited to announce that Annapolis, MD, will host the Finish for the 2008 race. RAAM will be racing into history as Annapolis celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. The entire RAAM family is grateful for the support of Atlantic City, NJ which has hosted the finish for the past five years. RAAM's new management team spent considerable time defining the necessary criteria and needs for a finish line host city, and several months of scouting the possible candidates. After visiting a half dozen cities in person, we have selected Annapolis. Annapolis is a beautiful, historic, and quaint city which sits on the picturesque backdrop of the Chesapeake Bay. The city and its Mayor, Ellen Moyer, have a keen interest and track record of supporting environmental friendly activities. Obviously, a cycling event of RAAM's magnitude is of great interest to the Mayor and the city. We expect a warm welcome and strong partnership with Annapolis in 2008 and beyond. Annapolis sits within a region that has a large cycling presence. Washington, DC, and Baltimore boast two of the largest bike clubs in the US with several thousand members each. Additionally, two prominent bike shops and owners are excited to partner with us. Thank you to Parker Jones of Capital Bicycle in Annapolis for serving as a RAAMbassador during our negotiations with Annapolis. Larry Black of Mt Airy Bicycles will be hosting Time Station 52 at his shop. This will also serve as the Penalty Box. Both will be of great help in spreading the news about RAAM in the DC/Baltimore markets. We are excited for the change and look forward to an amazing finish in Annapolis. information:
Raceacrossamerica.org For over a quarter century, cyclists and non-cyclists alike across the land have looked forward to this unprecedented event coming through or near their hometowns. Having their town designated one of the 50 time stations draws even more excitement. The most dedicated fans often stay up through the night to assemble in impromptu villages at roadsides to watch and cheer as the racers and their support crews ride by at their steady paces. "How can anyone ride all the way across the USA on a bike?" is the most asked question "and in 8 days?" For 2008, Mt Airy Bicycles, a lifelong supporter of the event, will not only have the ride pass by their shop on, they will serve as a time station and the only official RAAM penalty box on the course, Any racer with a penalty along the route must sit out for a certain time. Because we are a platinum level designated test-ride center for many of the best bike, trike, and tandem brands, we made sure our smooth, state-bike-route-designated shoulders are wider than the traffic lanes! This is a great place to watch the race and our large, grassy yard will be an ideal place to pitch a tent and relax between racers passing through. Plenty of RV parking is available nearby as well. You can expect to see cyclists coming through from June 17th through June 20th The shop will be providing round-the-clock snacks and comfort amenities for racers, crews, and fans.
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