I have the utmost respect for you and just the fact that you were willing to put yourself out there to try something new is incredible. Figuring out what makes us tick is ongoing because we grow, we develop and sometimes we have to adapt. Very glad that you had a great crew that realised the danger you were in, and now that you are better may the rest of your sunrises and sunsets on the road be of the kind that you create and crave. Looking forward to your next update on what happens next.
Juliana you are an inspiration and a legend. Devastated to see what you are going through but please look after yourself and I truly hope you will get well soon!
I’ll never race.
I done some touring where I traveled at most 100 miles in on day( flatlands)
Totally in agreement about how you rather race unsupported. When I’m out on my bike my mind gets lost in the world around me. Nothings better to refresh my brain
Great and honest story. Hope you will recover soon but I like the way you’ve wrote the article because it sounds very familiar for most of us bikepackers, long distant riders en travellers. Thanks Juliana!!
Hope your feeling better and recover fully. Thank you for putting your thoughts into words. Great words from Billy Rice ” don’t ever feel sorry ” but we do anyway. And we do fail. But you have such a great take on life and fill it with such adventure. Keep on being normal its every one else that’s crazy.
Thank you for sharing, so glad Billy was there to look after you and I agree things happen for a reason. I’m glad you took the challenge, I’m very proud of you. Also you confirmed what I thought all along but wasn’t sure, that RAAM is not for me either for the same reasons. Hope you are doing better and I hope to one cross paths out there,
total respect!
Lonnie
Dear Juliana,
The most important thing is that you tried, had the experience and learned from it. Your points comparing RAAM to ‘adventure’ riding are very good. I know you’ve heard this a 1000 times, but I stumbled upon your book on Amazon, got curious, read your blog etc about a month ago and you have inspired me as well as countless others, not only by what you are doing, but also the way you do it and not least your attitude to what you do.
What inspiration you might ask. Well, after 20 years of family life and no exercise I wanted to get back to my previous level of fitness. Soccer was out of the question, I hate running but always had a bike. ( everybody does in Denmark). So, bought a new bike, the hybrid was too heavy so got a Bianchi racing bike last year and started training much more. Your inspiration was first of all to train longer distances and secondly doing it for the adventure and your own pleasure. I would never have contemplated riding 100 or 200 km but now those distances are my goals. Never give up, endure the suffering, always arrive at your destination no matter what the obstacles. Now I don’t care so much about windy weather and rain.
My motivation for riding became clear. I think I will never join a cycling club, use a power meter or ride to compete. Just as you write it is about the ride itself and the simple personal pleasure it brings. Plus, of course, the fitness and health benefits at my age (55). Just riding without a bike computer makes it a more pleasant experince=no pressure! (tried it once…..hmmm).
The most amazing thing you have done, in my eyes, was your brave ride around the world. With no experience that was incredible. Just making that decision is fantastic. Rebel attitude, nothing to lose, just doing it. I just read your first book – I hope your biking adventures and ‘new’ life has helped you tame your inner demons.
My very best wishes and luck for your future.
Elo Simoni
Juliana, you are a winner and always will be because you’ve learned the important lessons. I’ve always found that the worst parts of my life have taught me something About myself and they’ve made me a stronger person. That’s what I see in you. I’m kind of glad that, if this had to happen, it was while you were in a supported race, major highways not withstanding. I’m betting that it won’t be long before you’ll be planning for and training for another race. Just once when you’re in America, it would be really nice to meet you face-to-face.
Juliana,
I think you are an amazing athlete. I have followed your exploits and have watched the movie Inspired to Ride. I think that you are an amazing athlete. I understand a bit how you felt I had heat exhaustion last year but after hydrating I got back in and finished the RAW with my partner, a two man relay. I am training to do the RAW solo then hopefully do the RAAM the following year (2018). It seems that you do not want to do the event again I get that but maybe Seana Hogan’s experience of DNF a couple of times, I think, may shed some light on your current train of thought. Keep up the awesome work in the sport!
Thank you Juliana! I am really enlivened by your critique of RAAM, of your team to catch and pull you through to recovery, and for your honest reflections. Ride on! With endurance, electricity, and ecstasy. You are an inspiration!
Hi Juliana, I second all you said, each word. It was my first and hopefully last experience as a crew chief in RAAM. I still want to know if RAAM makes sense at all. What was our contribution to humans’ well beings? Because, you know, such an unbelievable sacrify has to make a difference in people’s life. What is this difference? I am not sure about the answer, yet.
I like the whole story in comparison of the first post you had shortly after your ended RAAM. I , too was a non finisher in 2006, due to serious girl issues. At first, I feel my RAAM dream was shattered, but after crewing 10 times for a variety of riders, each experience, I came away with new friends and some enemies. I was finished in 2014, never to go back. Yet, I will not regret what I learned about myself in those selfless 2 weeks of my life. I too, prefer to train alone, ride solo 24 hr mtb races at my own steady pace, and hope to just “ride” the Divide in a year or two. It is within our personal self to achieve what is important to us that matters. I have high esteem for RAAM athletes, and have seen it all, sometimes I get it, sometimes I don’t. It is very personal and individual for each rider. Good on you and just keep doing what you are good at. God bless, Snowkitty🐾
Juliana,
I have great respect for every human doing solo RAAM. Not only finishing, just trying to. But, I know that what we like to call fun, meaning enjoying competition and all the situation around is not a big factor in RAAM.
So, Juliana, you entered RAAM after having done the most spectacular rides for mind and body like Transambikerace and Transcontinentalrace as well as the ride around the planet earth, and I easy can imagine that there is something you missed.
For me, starting “on the other side”, beginning with things like RAAM, then entering the unsupported “world”, riding became a new, a bigger game.
Stay or come back in that game you like.
Yours, Rainer
I agree with you Juliana, I had more or less the same experience with another endurance discipline. Nothing is better than being on its own and doing what you like at your own pace.
JanieB
July 7, 2016 @ 11:39
I have the utmost respect for you and just the fact that you were willing to put yourself out there to try something new is incredible. Figuring out what makes us tick is ongoing because we grow, we develop and sometimes we have to adapt. Very glad that you had a great crew that realised the danger you were in, and now that you are better may the rest of your sunrises and sunsets on the road be of the kind that you create and crave. Looking forward to your next update on what happens next.
Saz whittle
July 7, 2016 @ 13:18
Juliana you are an inspiration and a legend. Devastated to see what you are going through but please look after yourself and I truly hope you will get well soon!
Joseph calamia
July 7, 2016 @ 13:26
I’ll never race.
I done some touring where I traveled at most 100 miles in on day( flatlands)
Totally in agreement about how you rather race unsupported. When I’m out on my bike my mind gets lost in the world around me. Nothings better to refresh my brain
Marcel Besemer
July 7, 2016 @ 13:48
Great and honest story. Hope you will recover soon but I like the way you’ve wrote the article because it sounds very familiar for most of us bikepackers, long distant riders en travellers. Thanks Juliana!!
Todd Beck
July 7, 2016 @ 14:26
You are Truly Inspiring! You Won by being there!
Adrian
July 7, 2016 @ 16:25
Hope your feeling better and recover fully. Thank you for putting your thoughts into words. Great words from Billy Rice ” don’t ever feel sorry ” but we do anyway. And we do fail. But you have such a great take on life and fill it with such adventure. Keep on being normal its every one else that’s crazy.
Lonnie Binderim
July 7, 2016 @ 16:34
Thank you for sharing, so glad Billy was there to look after you and I agree things happen for a reason. I’m glad you took the challenge, I’m very proud of you. Also you confirmed what I thought all along but wasn’t sure, that RAAM is not for me either for the same reasons. Hope you are doing better and I hope to one cross paths out there,
total respect!
Lonnie
Dave Michael
July 7, 2016 @ 18:13
Excellent read and great insight. You are a champ.
Robert Volk
July 7, 2016 @ 21:36
Great post, enjoyed reading it. Its good to have perspective!
Jan
July 7, 2016 @ 22:40
Good honest no nonsense assessment of your experience – All the best for the future, Look forward to read about your next cycling adventure …
Sandra
July 7, 2016 @ 23:53
Yes! Love you Juliana.
E. Simoni
July 8, 2016 @ 00:17
Dear Juliana,
The most important thing is that you tried, had the experience and learned from it. Your points comparing RAAM to ‘adventure’ riding are very good. I know you’ve heard this a 1000 times, but I stumbled upon your book on Amazon, got curious, read your blog etc about a month ago and you have inspired me as well as countless others, not only by what you are doing, but also the way you do it and not least your attitude to what you do.
What inspiration you might ask. Well, after 20 years of family life and no exercise I wanted to get back to my previous level of fitness. Soccer was out of the question, I hate running but always had a bike. ( everybody does in Denmark). So, bought a new bike, the hybrid was too heavy so got a Bianchi racing bike last year and started training much more. Your inspiration was first of all to train longer distances and secondly doing it for the adventure and your own pleasure. I would never have contemplated riding 100 or 200 km but now those distances are my goals. Never give up, endure the suffering, always arrive at your destination no matter what the obstacles. Now I don’t care so much about windy weather and rain.
My motivation for riding became clear. I think I will never join a cycling club, use a power meter or ride to compete. Just as you write it is about the ride itself and the simple personal pleasure it brings. Plus, of course, the fitness and health benefits at my age (55). Just riding without a bike computer makes it a more pleasant experince=no pressure! (tried it once…..hmmm).
The most amazing thing you have done, in my eyes, was your brave ride around the world. With no experience that was incredible. Just making that decision is fantastic. Rebel attitude, nothing to lose, just doing it. I just read your first book – I hope your biking adventures and ‘new’ life has helped you tame your inner demons.
My very best wishes and luck for your future.
Elo Simoni
shelley
July 8, 2016 @ 00:55
“…riding hard, alone, with joy.” Is there anything better?
Starr Guckert
July 8, 2016 @ 01:41
Juliana, you are a winner and always will be because you’ve learned the important lessons. I’ve always found that the worst parts of my life have taught me something About myself and they’ve made me a stronger person. That’s what I see in you. I’m kind of glad that, if this had to happen, it was while you were in a supported race, major highways not withstanding. I’m betting that it won’t be long before you’ll be planning for and training for another race. Just once when you’re in America, it would be really nice to meet you face-to-face.
Syril Galindo
July 8, 2016 @ 02:04
Juliana,
I think you are an amazing athlete. I have followed your exploits and have watched the movie Inspired to Ride. I think that you are an amazing athlete. I understand a bit how you felt I had heat exhaustion last year but after hydrating I got back in and finished the RAW with my partner, a two man relay. I am training to do the RAW solo then hopefully do the RAAM the following year (2018). It seems that you do not want to do the event again I get that but maybe Seana Hogan’s experience of DNF a couple of times, I think, may shed some light on your current train of thought. Keep up the awesome work in the sport!
Jennifer Baker
July 8, 2016 @ 02:59
Thank you Juliana! I am really enlivened by your critique of RAAM, of your team to catch and pull you through to recovery, and for your honest reflections. Ride on! With endurance, electricity, and ecstasy. You are an inspiration!
Carmen
July 8, 2016 @ 04:03
Hi Juliana, I second all you said, each word. It was my first and hopefully last experience as a crew chief in RAAM. I still want to know if RAAM makes sense at all. What was our contribution to humans’ well beings? Because, you know, such an unbelievable sacrify has to make a difference in people’s life. What is this difference? I am not sure about the answer, yet.
Snowkitty
July 9, 2016 @ 08:14
I like the whole story in comparison of the first post you had shortly after your ended RAAM. I , too was a non finisher in 2006, due to serious girl issues. At first, I feel my RAAM dream was shattered, but after crewing 10 times for a variety of riders, each experience, I came away with new friends and some enemies. I was finished in 2014, never to go back. Yet, I will not regret what I learned about myself in those selfless 2 weeks of my life. I too, prefer to train alone, ride solo 24 hr mtb races at my own steady pace, and hope to just “ride” the Divide in a year or two. It is within our personal self to achieve what is important to us that matters. I have high esteem for RAAM athletes, and have seen it all, sometimes I get it, sometimes I don’t. It is very personal and individual for each rider. Good on you and just keep doing what you are good at. God bless, Snowkitty🐾
Rainer "kingcrab" Klaus
July 13, 2016 @ 15:10
Juliana,
I have great respect for every human doing solo RAAM. Not only finishing, just trying to. But, I know that what we like to call fun, meaning enjoying competition and all the situation around is not a big factor in RAAM.
So, Juliana, you entered RAAM after having done the most spectacular rides for mind and body like Transambikerace and Transcontinentalrace as well as the ride around the planet earth, and I easy can imagine that there is something you missed.
For me, starting “on the other side”, beginning with things like RAAM, then entering the unsupported “world”, riding became a new, a bigger game.
Stay or come back in that game you like.
Yours, Rainer
Tony C
July 25, 2016 @ 03:15
Inspirational tale of woe. You rock.
Tommy Hansen
July 28, 2016 @ 15:58
Juliana, You are definitely a badass!
Tommaso
July 29, 2016 @ 13:38
I agree with you Juliana, I had more or less the same experience with another endurance discipline. Nothing is better than being on its own and doing what you like at your own pace.
Dave Ashenfelter
September 5, 2016 @ 09:45
Ms. Buhring, please take all the time you need to recover. From experience, pneumonia is no fun. Hang in there!