Lee Mitchell, Crew Chief (Veteran)

Phillip Plath (Veteran) is one of the crazy people who has both crewed and ridden RAAM. He is still somewhat unsure as to how he has gotten roped into this for 3 years in a row, especially with a bunch of crazy recumbents. Phil is a California State Mountain Bike Champion that was drugged and hypnotized jointly by Jim Kern and Tim Woudenburg and woke up to find himself laid back on a recumbent, and even worse, really enjoying himself. Since then he has participated in such races as the Cherry Pie Criterion, Mt. Diablo Challenge, RAAM, and (Renegade) Furnace Creek 508 – all on the recumbent. Phil has a lovely and supporting girlfriend who is also his number 1 crew, and is also somehow tricked into various other support efforts – such as writing bios. Phil is the crewmember you will alternately love and loathe, but will never be accused of not telling you what he thought, or not putting his whole heart and soul into the effort. Don’t be fooled by his charms, ladies, this big hunk is taken!

Richard Wagar, RV Driver (Veteran)

Leslie Bullock (Veteran)

Adrienne Ruggles (Veteran) is a rookie to RAAM, but not to endurance cyling. She's completed numerous centuries, one double century, and crewed for the 2005 Furnace Creek 508. Adrienne started cycling through a bargain she made with her husband that he would learn to knit if she would ride a bike with him. She would like it noted that her husband does not yet knit, though she has more than held up her end of the bargain! Upon completion of her teaching credential, she will be teaching elementary school this fall in Sonoma County, California. What good are summer vacations after all; if not for driving thousands of miles at 20+ miles per hour stuffed in a van with other likewise unwashed bodies on little sleep? Following RAAM, she will be returning to the above mentioned non-knitting husband (otherwise wonderful for his non-objection to her bolting the state for several weeks) and an 8 pound poodle.

Sarah Gleisner (Rookie) is not an endurance cyclist. While she does enjoy cycling and has cycled with Tom through some of his favorite times (morning) and places (on gravel), she does it mostly for the pit stops and camaraderie. Sarah is a RAAM rookie. However, she has taken an uncountable number of road trips and has done a lot of international traveling. She's hoping that these experiences have helped to prepare her. For one, she is no stranger to living out of a backpack. Actually, since she has spent the past two years with her nose in the books, she kind of misses it. RAAM 2006 follows Sarah's graduation with a Master's degree in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois. What RAAM precedes is still open to question. Regardless of what follows, she is very excited about crewing for Tim and Tom and is looking forward to some interesting pit stops along the way.

Vincent Pham (Rookie) has never been involved with RAAM, nor has he ever done anything remotely close to endurance cycling. However, he is currently enduring a PhD program in Communication at the University of Illinois. Courtesy of Sarah Gleisner's lunchtime recruiting efforts, this is his first RAAM experience and he is very excited to help Tim and Tom as a part of the crew. He also hopes that he will remain friends with Sarah after the grueling experiences of graduate school, a spring break road-trip, and summer-time RAAM.

Scott Christophersen, Chief Mechanic (Rookie) - Got back into serious bicycling in 2000 after a visit to the Hostel Shoppe to see what recumbents were all about. He likes to be different and recumbents fit the bill. This led to his desire to work in a shop, so, in 2004 he attended United Bicycle Institute. Then in August of 2005 was hired on at the Hostel Shoppe (dream job for a recumbent wrench). In the past he has enjoyed touring (both supported and self-supported) and currently lives 95% auto free. Too big/heavy or too far are the limiting factors, otherwise, commuting, shopping and even trips to the laundromat are accomplished by bike (with use of a trailer).