Sounds about right. There is support around all the time, and you can get more sunscreen at the rest stations, but if you can fix your own flat you'll save on waiting and fretting. I'd add tire irons to the list, and a rain jacket, if the weather looks like not cooperating. I started with knee warmers and shed them at the first rest station.
But then I refuse to be totally minimalist at these events. I'd sooner be comfortable than miserable.
Yes, you can throw your stuff on the gear trucks even if you're not staying in camp. You just have to consider how to get it from camp to where you are spending the night.
Last year there was a gear transport truck at the start labelled "Not Staying in Camp". It was unloaded right in the parking lot at the camp. And there was an armada of taxis ready to take people to hotels or wherever you were staying.
On that note, i'm warning everyone. I snore like I weigh 1,000 pounds and sound like a freight train. I live in Hamilton but no one to transport, so everyone? Bring quality earplugs or you'll all hate me and plot my demise. This would harm the rep of the ride.
I will try to sleep on my side and it should be okay.
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Never Give Up; Never Surrender! Strength in Numbers. Livestrong!
One thing I found really useful was having a few clothes pegs - I could hang my towel to dry by clipping it to the tent roof (and it helped identify my tent) and air out my jersey without worrying that it would blow away. Also good for clipping the tent flaps open.
When you get to camp, fill a spare water bottle or 2 - then you don't have to wait in line later to get water for face washing or tooth brushing, and the water stations did run out late on the Saturday night last year (or was it the year before?).
Don't worry about snoring, even people who don't normally make a sound will snore after that much exercise if they're sleeping on flat ground. Just bring ear plugs & you'll be fine.
And oh yeah, pack warm pj's or sweats for sleeping - it gets cold!!
Oh...and bring something to attach to your tent so you can find it again. Last year I picked up a bunch of glow sticks from the $$ store and put them on our tent so we could find it again (especially if you are looking for it in the dark). lo
I'm going to have to beg money from someone in my circle of friends. i have yet to get a sleeping back or rain gear, etc. Working on it. Glow stick...that's a good idea.
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Never Give Up; Never Surrender! Strength in Numbers. Livestrong!
How do you guys carry what you BRING WITH YOU on your ride?
I currently have a basket attached to the back of my bike but intend to remove the entire back rack for race day. One of those bags that goes under your seat won't be enough to hold everything...
I'd REALLY like to avoid wearing a backpack or something for the ride!
While I have not done the ride before, the way I understand it works is that you drop your bag off on the saturday morning before the ride starts. Your gear bag is then loaded into a truck and taken to the camp where it then deposited in your tent for you. So no need to carry anything n your bike oother than what you will need durring the ride.
While I have not done the ride before, the way I understand it works is that you drop your bag off on the saturday morning before the ride starts. Your gear bag is then loaded into a truck and taken to the camp where it then deposited in your tent for you. So no need to carry anything n your bike oother than what you will need durring the ride.
Off the top of my head: Sun screen, phone, camera and I'm sure other things too...
Bring, your bike, helmet, any meds required, water bottles, any nutitional supplements you may use, gloves, pump, 2 tubes, patch kit, tire bars, multi-tool, cell, credit card or cash.
I divide things up so anything for the bike is in a saddle bag. Anything for me is in my jersey. You may need arm or knee warmers pending conditions as well.
All overnight kit can go in your luggage. Bring a small flashlight and definately throw away flip flops for the showers/porta potties.
Enroute stops have some fruit, energy bars, water, gatorade, bathrooms, repair stations. Lunch is normally a sandwich/salad with fruit.
Remember, there are sag wagons so if you have a complex mechanical problem or are just sagging, you can be transported to the nearest repair/rest stat.ion