Jul 21 2015
How do you keep a bicycle rider and support crew safe while racing across the country, often along dark highways with poor visibility?
That was exactly the problem facing participants in the Race Across America (RAAM), a 3,000-mile cross-country race starting in Oceanside, Calif. and finishing in Annapolis, Md. Riders are accompanied by their support crews consisting of drivers, mechanics, medical specialists and others, who all need to be ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, around the clock.
At night, along busy highways, safety is a constant concern. That’s why the crew of racer Brian Toone wore Mace® Brand Nite Beams LED accessories.
“If I need something, they had to hop out of the car on the spot,” Toone says. “When you’re in and out of a car on the side of the road like that, visibility is extremely important.”
Toone’s crew maintained visibility by wearing Nite Beams arm bands, leg bands and ball caps, each outfitted with a bright, highly visible LED beam, alerting teammates — and even more important, passing drivers — of their locations.
“I rode for at least part of the night, every night of the race, so they were all out there with me at whatever hour of the day I was riding,” Toone says. “They’re my supporters and my motivators. I need them out there with me, and I need them to be safe.”
Equipped with Nite Beams accessories, Toone’s crew helped him finish seventh in his first Race Across America, with a time of 10 days, 14 hours and 20 minutes.
“All of us on the team were rookies as far as the RAAM goes,” Toone says. “I think our Mace equipment helped give us some peace of mind knowing that we were being as safe as we could out there. Our equipment helped us get to the finish line, and get there in one piece.”
Mace® Brand Nite Beams product can be purchased at Mace.com
Source: http://www.mace.com/