Cyclists Being Tracked in the 2016 Trans Am Bike Race
14 Jun 2016The Trans Am Bike Race (TABR) is one of the most famous cycling events in the world. This self-supported race takes place each year spans a total of 4,200 miles. Starting on the Pacific coast, in Astoria Oregon, and ending on the Atlantic coast, in Yorktown, Virginia, cyclists go through a total of 10 states, traverse various types of terrain, and are exposed to the elements while making the trek.
The Trans Am Bike Race runs across the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, which was created for the 1976 Bikecentenial event by the Adventure Cycling Association. The first race occurred in 2014, and a total of 25 people completed it. Participants are timed from the moment they start to the time the reach the finish line, making it an individual time trial. Riders are not allowed to draft or receive assistance from anyone else, which means that they are totally dependent on themselves; they can only use what they carry with them or what the procure from businesses themselves for food, shelter, clothing, and anything else that they may need.
To give you some perspective, here’s a look at how the Trans Am Bike Race compares to the Tour de France:
| Trans Am Bike Race | Tour de France | |
| Total length | 7,080 kilometres | 3,520 kilometres |
| Total rest days | 0 | 2 |
| Highest apex | 3,300 metres | 2,200 metres |
| Total length of time | 17-40 days | 23 days |
| Average time traveled on a daily basis | 370 kilometres (traveled by the 2015 winner) | 170 kilometres |
Given the statistics about the race, and the fact that cyclists are totally dependent on themselves, the Trans Am Bike Race is, without a doubt, one of the most strenuous bicycle races in the world.
Family members, friends, and anyone else who wants to keep track of the cyclists’ progress can easily do so via global positioning systems (GPS.) Each rider has a GPS tracking device placed on his or her helmet, and real time feed provides live updates. Spectators can also stay connected by checking following the race on Twitter and Facebook.
In 2016, the Trans Am Bike Race is even more exciting than it has been the previous two years. Why? – Because the usually male-dominated race has more females than before. And, to make things even more interesting, the GPS tracking devices are showing that the female participants are serious competition for male cyclists.
Whatever the outcome of this year’s race, and future races, may be, one thing is certain: The Trans Am Bike Race is one of the most thrilling events in the cycling world.
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