Most people consider riding 100 miles on a bicycle an achievement. Claus Henning Schulke is preparing to ride 30 times that distance as he goes solo from Oceanside, CA, to Atlantic City, N.J.
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Sports Editor
Of all the athletes I have seen and covered, among the most impressive are cyclists. What they do is more physically grueling that even marathoners, and they certainly far outpace baseball players and golfers.
In races like the Tour de France, for example, cycllists average more than 100 miles a day and have a “saddle time” of 4 to 5 1/5 hours. When I was working with Michelob Utra I covered the Mt. Baldy stage of the Tour de California, which is known as one of the most physically demanding climbs in the world. Some of it has a 16% grade and finishes with 15 punishing switchbacks climbing to an elevation of 6,500 feet.
So when I had the opportunity to interview world-Class cyclist Claus Henning Schulke, who is going 3,000 miles, solo, nearly non-stop, through the USA for an event called Race Across America, I leaped at the chance. Wikipedia describes Race Across America as “one of the longest and most grueling annual endurance events in the world.” More than 20 riders from across the world take part in it. This year’s event goes from Oceanside, CA., to Atlantic City, N.J.
Even more remarkable Schulke, who is perhaps more well known as “Bottle Claus,” is 60. That’s not his average speed; that’s his age.
“I hope to beat the over-60 age group record time of 10 days and 17 hours,” said Schulke, who traveled from his home in Berlin to take part in Race Across America. And, unlike the Tour de France and other similar cycling events, he has no teammates to do NASCAR-style drafting and he must go through a huge variety of terrain: over mountains (“the highest peak is over 10,000 feet,” he said), through deserts and even on interstate highways. Al of this is in the weather elements nature can provide in America in June: the heat of the day, wind, rain, humidity and even the dark of hte night and early mornings.
“It’s not an e-bike,” he joked.
To accomplish his goal, he must ride for 20 hours a day. Let me repeat that part for you: he must ride for 20 hours a day.
“The first 40 hours we (Schulke does have a support team traveling with him in a van) try and go without sleeping,” he said. “And then we go until 2 a..m., and then at 4 a.m., the crew (and here’s where he makes a little joke, showing off his jovial personalty) pushes me back onto the bike.”
The clock, so to speak, is constantly running. There’s no TV timeouts, no running out of bounds, no stoppage play. In order to maintain his strength and energy he must eat. But not too much. “I will have a little pasta,” he said. “And then at the end of the day some ice cream. On the bike, I have a water and sugar mix. You have to digest. In the desert, which is 144 degrees (C, that’s 110 F), it’s better to have a drink” than solid food.
His crew is vital, too. “If I’m showing signs of falling asleep when I’m riding the team knows it, says ‘uh oh, something’s wrong’ and wakes me up,” he said. “I need a team for motivation. They follow me in the car (a van, actually) with a loudspeaker, some music and telling a few jokes. East of the Mississippi (River) it can be hard to keep awake.”
This is not just a personal journey for Shulke; he is also raising money for The White Line, which is devoted to ending road deaths and creating safer streets for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.
Claus Henning Schulke Tour Across America Q&A
Where Can I Follow Bottle Claus?
You can follow Schulke’s adventure on his website and his Instagram page.
What States Does Bottle Claus Go Through In His Journey?
The route goes through 12 states. It starts in California and goes through Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and eventually into New Jersey.
How Much Does It Cost?
The total budget is $50,000. Half of that is from sponsors and half is his own money.
How Much Is The Crew Paid?
The 8-person crew are all volunteers. It is comprised of a chef; Chef Executive Organizer Roger Hobby (whom I know frrom him organizing the Los Angeles Diner en Blanc events); a sports physiotherapist; a navigation and motivation specialist, a mechanic, a social media expert and a van driver with logistical support.
Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, and an award-winning journalist who has covered sports, destinations, events and entertainment for more than two decades. While working as a newspaper sports reporter, he received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism. He covered on the Tour de California for PubClub.com while working with Michelob Ultra.
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