The Trans Am Bike Race is an annual, self-supported, ultra-distance cycling race across the United States. The route is about long and uses the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail that was developed by the Adventure Cycling Association for the Bikecentennial event in 1976. The route runs from the Pacific coast in Astoria, Oregon to the Atlantic coast in Yorktown, Virginia, passing through ten states. The inaugural race was in 2014, which 25 people completed, the fastest of whom took less than 18 days. It is not a stage race, the clock never stops from the moment the riders leave the start to the moment that they reach the finish, so it is a long individual time trial. Riders must therefore strategically choose how much time to devote to riding, resting, and refueling each day. Being self-supported or unsupported means that drafting is not allowed, receiving any form of support from other racers, friends, or family is not allowed; all food, accommodation, repairs, etc., must be purchased from commercial sources.
Organization and following the race
The race's founder and main organizer is Nathan Jones, who also participated in the 2014 event, finishing in 13th place, and rode the Tour Dividemountain bike race in 2010 and 2011. Rider positions are monitored using GPS satellite-based tracker devices mounted on participants' bikes that upload their positions to the website for the participants and followers to view. Many participants also update followers on their progress using social media websites. A feature-length documentary, called was made about the inaugural edition, in 2014. The focus of the film was on the male and female winners, Mike Hall and Juliana Buhring, but many of the other racers were also featured, including the actor Brian Steele. The film was made by many of the same people who were involved in the movie about the similar Tour Divide mountain bike race, including Mike Dion and Hunter Weeks.
Rules and results
Rules are listed on the official website. The idea of self-supported or unsupported bicycle racing is a key component, and any type of bicycle is allowed, including recumbent bicycles. The main results are summarized in the table below. It is notable that only two women had completed the race, both in 2014, before Lael Wilcox won the 2016 edition with a come from behind finish to overtake the long-standing leader, Steffen Streich in the final day. In 2016, there was a new pairs category and participants were able to ride the route in either direction. The current record is held by Abdullah Zeinab, who completed the 2019 race in 16 days, 9 hours, 56 minutes.
Similar races
This form of ultra-distance, unsupported bike racing first became popular with the Tour Divide mountain bike race, which was first held as a mass-start event in 2008. The Tour Divide starts in Alberta, Canada, follows the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route through the USA and finishes at the Mexican border in New Mexico. The Transcontinental Race started in 2013 and is the event that is most similar to the Trans Am Bike Race because it is on paved roads; however, that route varies every year with different start and finish locations being used and riders must choose their own route while visiting certain checkpoints. Similarly the Indian Pacific Wheel Race was first held in 2017, racing across Australia, from the Freemantle Lighthouse, Perth, to the Opera House, Sydney. The Race to the Rock has been held in Australia, from Adelaide to Uluru since 2016. The first three editions have all been won by Sarah Hammond. The race series, bring athletes across the Andes Cordillera of Peru with , in the Hajar mountains of Oman with and around . BikingMan races are self-supported but every athlete gets a survival map of a recommended route and can rest at the base camps of the checkpoints. The self-supported nature of the TABR makes it very different from supported ultra-distance events like the Race Across America, in which each racer has a large support crew with multiple vehicles. All such support is prohibited in the TABR and similar races that are described as self-supported or unsupported. Ultra-distance audax and randonneuring cycling events are somewhat similar except that drafting is allowed in those and the organizers often provide support at the control points.
