CARE Exchange - Bike 101-Helpful Hints

Your Bike		Cleats \| Spokes \| Water Bottles \| Bike Prep \| Shower Cap \| Sunburn \| Clothes
		New Tires - if you have been riding your bike a lot check to see how your tires are looking. They may well be worn down and in need to replacing. Replacing your tires just prior to the ride will save you from unwanted flats. A very shrewd investment.
		If you use clipless pedals be sure to bring an extra set of bike cleats and screws. While the bike techs can help you with many bike problems, they can't stock everything. It is preferable to pack these in your bike gear bag to have with you when you ride.
		Bring a couple of spare spokes. While the bike techs carry standard spokes and will happily fix broken spokes, they do not carry all types of spokes so it is better to come prepared with the right spokes for your bike. Your bike offers a perfect storage space - inside the seat tube - that's the part of your frame from the saddle to the pedals. Just take the saddle off and tape the spokes inside the tube.
		A Polident tablet put into a water bottle cleans the bottle and makes it smell good too -rinse the bottle out afterwards, of course. There are sinks in the Shower section that you can use to clean and rinse your water bottles with hot water. The key is to prevent bacteria building up in your bottles.
		Camelbak users - save some space in your bike gear bag. If you are not using both water bottle cages why not use one as an extra place to store useful items that would normally get crammed into your bike gear bag? Use an empty water bottle to hold your sunscreen, lip balm etc. At some bike stores you can even buy a container that fits in your water bottle cage and holds your cell phone.
		Preparing your bike for the Ride. Take some plastic wrap (Saran wrap etc.) and wrap the top bar of your bike - from the handlebar end to about half way along. On Day Zero you will be given a adhesive bike tag with your rider number to place on your bike. The plastic wrap will stop the tag from sticking to your bike and affecting the paintwork.
		Rider Number Bike Tag. On Day Zero you will be given a adhesive bike tag with your rider number to place on your bike so that your bike can be easily identified. Place the tag as far forward as possible to prevent your leg hitting the tag each time you make a pedal-stroke
		Put a plastic shower cap in your bike gear bag. When you finish riding each day, place the shower cap over your bike saddle. This will prevent the evening and morning dew from getting your saddle wet and leading to wet bottom syndrome!
		Make sure you have a small container of sunscreen in your bike gear bag at all times. You will need to reapply sunscreen during the day. Be sure to bring some SPF 15+ lip balm as well. Even if you don't normally use lip balm/chap stick, on a multi-day ride and your lips will burn if you don't use it. Try to re-apply at every pit stop.
		A String bag can fit into your bike seat bag without taking too much space. Pull it out when you reach bike parking, use it for your helmet, gloves, water bottles, whatever, so you don't drop pieces on your way through camp. The string bag can later be used to haul your stuff to the showers.
		Dress in layers. You will find that you will need to dress for a cold day's ride each morning but then the day warms up and you will need to take off some of your riding gear. Make sure you have enough room in your bike gear bag to keep the extra layers as you remove them. Arm and Leg warmers are very useful as they can be taken off as the day heats up and don't take so much room. A rain jacket/wind-breaker will also help keep in the warmth. If your hands are sensitive to the cold, bring a pair of full gloves. A light pair of knitted gloves will often do the trick. You can just put them over your standard gloves. If you feel the cold in your feet, try cycling booties - they slip around the outside of your bike shoes and can keep your feet toasty warm
In Camp		Back to top
		Before you go to sleep each night, take out the next day's clothes and put them under or in your sleeping bag. This way they will be warm when you put them on in the morning. The mornings tend to be VERY cold.
		The camp is divided into several distinct sections - Tents, Dining, Showers, Camp Services. The Dining and Shower areas tend to be close to each other and a LONG way away from the tent section. When you are ready to head over to the dining area make sure you bring a bag with the following items - fleece/pullover & hat for when it gets colder; toothbrush & toothpaste; flashlight; journal; pens; camera or anything else you will need for the evening. The trick is the avoid walking the long trek back and forth from your tent as much as possible. Bring everything you need and settle in for the evening. When you're ready to go to bed you can then easily make the short walk over to the shower & sink area to brush your teeth and then make your way back to your tent with the aid of your flashlight.
		Tent Decorations. There will be hundreds of tents in camp that all look the same. Sometimes it is hard to find your tent amongst all of these. Tent decorations make the task a little easier - pink flamingoes, flags, or something that will help you tell your tent apart from the others can help. People will suggest that you attach a red flashing bike light to your tent. This is a useful way of finding your tent if you are one of only a handful of people using such a light. If lots of people do this it won't work and we suggest that you consider an alternate plan - it's a little embarrassing when you hop into someone else's tent in the middle of the night - trust me!
		Washing Clothes. There are facilities to wash clothes. Basically there are buckets, and water. Just bring some washing powder (not liquid) in a ziplock bag. For those of us who don't have 7 different bike outfits for each day, washing clothes is the way to survive. Make sure you bring a piece of string to act as a clothes line, some clothes pegs and hangers. There are often chain link fences to use to hang up clothes but often you have to be quite creative when it comes to drying clothes. When you use the hangers, make sure you still use the clothes pegs to keep the clothes on the hangers - it can get quite windy. Make sure you take down all your clothes before you go to bed. If you leave them out overnight they will be covered with morning dew and will be as wet as they were before you put them up to dry. It usually takes 2 days to properly dry bike shorts. If you know someone who gets into camp early, or a crew member that is based at camp, see if you can get them to hang up any clothes that need further drying. Some people choose to dry their bike shorts by attaching them to their bike helmets or handlebars and riding with them the next day - not exactly a shrewd fashion decision but it is an option for the brave of heart. It is also wise to pin your name and rider number on any clothes that are drying, in case they get mixed up with other people's clothes. An alternative to hand washing is to try to get to a local Laundromat close to camp. This is easiest at Paso Robles (Day 3). If you bring enough bike clothes to last until Day 3 you can avoid the dish pan hands and use a dryer! Be warned, the Laundromats can get very busy with the extra Rider rush.
		Showers. The showers are wonderful. Plenty of hot water and a some privacy too. You will have to undress in the communal locker room like bench inside the shower truck, but the shower itself offers privacy thanks to separate stalls with shower curtains. The shower line can be long but, as with any of the many lines you will be in, offers a chance to chat with a great bunch of people. If you can hang out until late in the evening, the shower line gets much shorter and if you want a morning shower, the line is very short. Don't bring a standard towel. They do not have enough time to dry and will start to smell pretty awful as they are packed, still damp, into your gear bag each day. Go to a sport or camping store and purchase a camping towel or a swim chamois. The camping towels are fleece like and you can pick one up at Sports Chalet and similar stores for under $10. I personally prefer a swim chamois. They don't feel like towels but they are very effective at drying your body and even your hair! They store moist. When you go to have a shower, bring the chamois into the shower with you and wring it out. That way you are drying yourself with a warm chamois - a very nice feeling. You can buy swim chamois is the swimming section of a sports store for about $10.
		Shoes. When you pack your Tevas/shoes in your gear bag, try to pack them at the top of the bag within easy retrieval. When you finish riding each day you can change out of your bike shoes and into you regular shoes before having to walk your gear bag to your designated tent site. Much easier on your feet!
		Protect yourself from the Morning Dew. Even if it does not rain on the ride, you will still need to avoid the morning dew that forms on your tent. Do not rest anything against the inside walls of your tent - it may get wet as the tents are not completely waterproof. Be especially careful to keep your sleeping bag away from the inside wall - you don't want to wake up damp and cold. Trying to pack a water-logged sleeping bag into your gear bag is not at all pleasant.
		Fill your tires with air at night when you come in. The lines at Bike Tech are long in the morning, when riders discover problems they didn't check for the night before. Check your tires and give them a once over to make sure there isn't anything stuck in the tread, which can cause a flat the next day.
Medical		Back to top
		If you have heat sensitive medication - contact the medical crew and have them store it for you. Also, if you are required to take any heat sensitive medication during the day, they can arrange to have it available for you at the lunch stop.
Misc.		Back to top
		Specialized Diet? \| Going Bald? \| How long will it take to complete a day's ride?
		If you are on a specialized diet, a high protein diet, are a vegan, or know you have a selective palate bring supplementary food. Most rides cater for a standard carbohydrate-based diet and may not have the food you like. If you are on a high protein diet you will not find protein bars at the pit stops and will need to bring your own supply. Rides do cater for vegetarians but most of the meals contain some form of dairy so if you are a vegan please pack some extra food to sustain you or discuss some alternative options with the event organizers.
		If you are a hair-challenged (going bald), don't forget to SPF the thin/bald spots or wear a bandana under your helmet.
		How long will it take to complete a day's ride? I've been asked this question by hundreds of riders I've trained over the years and there is no simple answer. I've seen riders arrive in camp after a 100 mile day and it's only lunch time!. I've seen others struggle in at the end of the day and yet others not complete the day at all. Often it has to do with riding pace but there are other factors to add to the equation. Remember, this is a ride, not a race and much of the adventure is to be had by stopping to enjoy the areas we ride through. Firstly, there are set pit stop closure times. If you don't make it to pit in time that's it for the day. Be aware of these times. Next there are things to see, do and enjoy along the route. Many riders have a tendency to concentrate on their speed and getting into camp early and find at the end of the event they've missed out on some amazing experiences. Try to stop and smell the roses. Stop and talk to the kids that come out to cheer us on. On Day 2 of the Ride there is a place that sells steamed artichokes to enjoy. Be sure to stop and explore the Missions on Day 2 & Day 3, the list goes on. Don't let it pass you by in a mad dash. There are pictures to take, people to see, even more people to flirt with. And then there are places where you can pull off to the side of the road and take moment to remember why or who you are doing this for. So, yes this all sounds great but you still want to be sure you can finish each day in a timely manner. Buy a cycle computer and get to know what your average speed is as you go out on training rides. Also keep track of how many hours it takes you to complete a ride. You may well be riding at 14 mph but how long do you spend at traffic lights and pit stops? As a rule of thumb, divide the day's mileage by your average speed and then add at least an extra 2 hours to this figure. If you're extra sociable add more! Please also read Pit Stop Hints
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Morning Routine		Morning Routine - I recommend that you get up each day at about 5-5:30am. Ouch! This may seem extremely early but most people are up at this time as it takes quite a bit of time for you to get breakfast; brush your teeth; wake up properly; take down your tent; pack your gear bag and do a little stretching. Ideally you should be on the road by 7am. This give you 12 hours to make it to the next camp. If you are a slow rider, you will guarantee yourself more time to stop and smell the roses and say hello to all the school kids along the route. If you are a medium-fast rider, this will allow you time to enjoy the day's ride as well as more time to relax in camp at the end of the day. When you get up throw on whatever you have to keep warm and head out to breakfast. At 5am it is still not light out. Don't pack up your gear and tent until after breakfast. By this time the sun will be up and you'll be able to see what you're doing. Be sure to bring your toothbrush and whatever toiletries you need in the morning with you to breakfast so you can use the sinks and mirrors in the shower area to make yourself pretty.
Packing		Back to top
		Try to use a gear bag that has multiple pockets/compartments. This way you will not have to unpack every single part of your bag each time you want something. Trash Cans on wheels will not be permitted on the ride. As a rule of thumb - if you bought your bag at a Garden Center / Home Depot - it will most probably not be acceptable. Also - no bungee cords allowed.
		Buy 2 Gallon Zip Lock bags and put everything you are packing into these. This will protect them from rain, dew and odor! 1 gallon ziplocks tend to be a little too small.
		Pack each day's riding gear into separate zip lock bags. Squeeze the air out of the bags before putting them in your gear bag.
		Want to save some space in your gear bag? Why not share the burden with your tent mate. Instead of each of you bringing chamois butter, insect repellant, sun block, first aid supplies - why not divide this task up and share.
		Identifying your bag. It seems that everybody has exactly the same colored bags - the standard dark blue, green, brown and black. An easy way to identify your bag in a mound of bags is to tie a colorful piece of material to it. If you have a sweet tent-mate who gets into camp earlier than you, this might prompt them to pick up your bag from the gear truck as well - they can be more certain that they have the right bag.
		Ear Plugs. Even if your tent mate doesn't snore, the people around you will so buy some ear plugs. It takes a while to get used to sleeping with ear plugs so try and sleep with them for a few days at home before the ride to get used to them
		Hat - it gets cold in the evenings and you can do a decent impersonation of a popsicle in the mornings too. Even if you don't usually wear a hat, bring one. A nice soft ski cap works best. It will hide the bad hair look (remember no hair dryers or curling irons available in camp) and you can sleep in it to keep you warmer. 30% of all heat is lost through your head.
		Sleeping Mat. While I try to cut costs wherever possible, I would highly recommend purchasing or borrowing a Thermarest. If you have friends who often go camping they will most likely have one. You may also be able to rent one from some of the camping stores. I understand that Target has a sleeping mat similar to a Thermarest retailing at about $20. Thermarests usually retail from $50 and they are well worth the investment. The Thermarest self-inflates and ensures that you do not loose any heat to the ground. If you choose to bring an air-mattress instead, be sure to bring a foot pump. Click here for extra info about sleeping mats
		Tent Stakes. There are a couple of days on the ride where the camp sites are extra windy. Once you have set up your tents, always make sure you place your gear bag in the tent so that it will act as an anchor. If you want you can bring along plastic tent stakes for the extra windy days. This will make the tent feel even more secure. Do not bring metal tent stakes as they are not allowed.
		Cameras - Make sure you attach your name and rider number to your camera. Disposable cameras all tend to look the same once they've changed hands a few times. If you are carrying a camera (disposable or not) in your bike jersey put it in a small ziplock bag so that your sweat will not seep into the camera. I've seen many blurry and soft focus pictures which were the result of sweaty cameras. This may be perfect if you're hoping for a Barbara Streisand look but otherwise using a ziplock bag is the way to go.
		Pack a couple of large plastic garbage bags. If you want more space in your tent you can place your gear bag in these large plastic bags and put it directly outside the tent. The plastic will prevent your bag from getting wet from the morning dew.
		Pain Killers & Medication. Please bring your own supply of pain killers. Try to avoid using aspirin as this thins your blood and can be a problem if you have a fall as you will bleed more. Try to stick to drugs such as generic Ibuprofen, Advil, Tylenol and Aleve. Remember, the Medical Tent is not a free drug store! They have a limited amount of supplies available and are relying on each rider to supply their own basic supplies. Don't forget to pack your own allergy medicine, eye drops, band aids, nail clippers, tampons etc.
		Helmet & bike shoes - don't pack your helmet and bike shoes in your gear bag. There will be no time during the ride when you will need to pack these items away so you will not have to make space for these items. NEVER check your helmet in with luggage if you are flying. Bring it on the plane with you. A helmet is useless to you if it has been thrown about by cargo handlers.
		Make sure you bring business cards with you. You'll meet some amazing people on the ride with which you will want to stay in touch.
		When you have finished riding for the day, take your smelly riding clothes and put them in a zip lock bag. Throw in a sheet of Bounce with the clothes to curb the smell of the clothes from permeating through any other part of your bag.
Pit Stops		Back to top
		When at pit stops try the following routine and you will get through the day in an efficient manner - leaving you plenty of time to socialize:
		a) Take your gloves off first! Never grab any food with your gloves on - they aren't very clean and can spread germs to your fellow riders and crew.
		b) Use a small container of Purell Waterless Hand Sanitizer (you can buy a six-pack of these for just over $3 at most drug stores - in the soap aisle) before grabbing food and after using the porta-potties. This is a multi-day bike ride and you do not want to be ill, or cause someone else to be ill, because you didn't wash your hands! Some people use baby-wipes instead.
		c) Go to the food section of the pit stop first and grab what you need to eat.
		d) Take the food with you and eat it when in line for the porta-potties. These lines tend to be the longest and you will most likely have eaten all your food before it's your turn to use the porta-potties.
		e) Make sure you fill up water and Gatorade.
		f) Butt Balm / Chamois Butter is available at all pit stops so you will not necessarily have to bring extra in your bike gear bag unless you prefer a specific brand. Be sure to bring your own supply if you are picky about what you want to go in those bike shorts!.
		g) Make sure that you pick up the Daily Ride paper each morning and check pit stop closing times. If you are a slower rider you will need to make these pit stop closing times. If you fail to get to a pit stop before it closes you will be swept for the day (they will put you in a bus and transport you to camp). There are some days where the mileage is short but the Ride still expects you to make the pit stops by a certain time (allowing you more time in camp that afternoon).
		h) Remember that every line you are in is another opportunity to socialize, flirt and have fun!
		i) Don't stay at a pit stop for too long, unless necessary. After about 15 minutes you will find that your body and muscles cool down and it will take more energy to get back to your regular riding pace.
		j) Do not use Pit Stop 1 as your breakfast pit stop!!!! Breakfast is supplied in camp. If you treat Pit 1 as a breakfast stop this means that the pit stop will run out of food and riders behind you will suffer. Remember we are all in this together.
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ALC Specific		Day 5 - Pack a swim suit and bring it with you on Day 5 so that you can enjoy the Avilla Hot Springs.
		Day 6 - Ventura. If you are fortunate enough to have friends or family come up to watch you ride into Ventura on Day 6 and they stay the night, arrange to have them take your gear bag back to LA with them on the morning of Day 7. This way you will not have to fight the crowds and traffic to get your gear after Closing Ceremony. Day 6 campsite will be at San Buenaventura State Beach.
Day Zero/ Orientation Day		Back to top
		Day Zero is registration day and it can take quite a bit of time to get through the registration process so allow yourself at least 3 hours to accomplish this. Make it at least 5 hours if you did not meet your pledge minimum by the pledge deadline. You must present a photo ID of yourself to be registered. Do not bring your Gear Bag to Day Zero - you only need to bring it on Day 1. These are the things you will need to do on Day Zero:
		Bike Parking - If you shipped your bike with McCollisters your bike will already be set up in Bike Parking and you will avoid waiting in bike parking line. If you did not ship your bike through McCollisters you must check them in at Bike Parking on Day Zero. All bikes will be held overnight ready for the ride out on Day 1. Of course there will be security looking after your bike.
		Check In Area - you will receive a check in card and will be directed to the registration line. If you have not reached your pledge minimum you will first be directed to the Pledge Office. If you have not completed your medical form, you will be directed to the Medical Office. The line for the Pledge Office tends to be VERY long so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time.
		Registration You will receive your luggage tag; rider wristband; rider number sticker for your helmet; rider number stick-on tag for your bike; and tent assignment form. You will need to take your bike tag and attach it to your bike in bike parking
		Safety Video Every rider and crew must watch the safety video. You will not be permitted to ride or crew unless you watch this video. At the end of the video you will receive a safety wrist band. The line for the Safety Video can be long. Allow yourself plenty of time.
		Tent Assignment - this is the last part of registration. To get your tent assignment you must have received your rider/crew wrist tag as well as the Safety Video wrist tag. If you have decided on a tent-mate you will need to go to tent assignment with this person and they must have completed the registration process too. If you have not decided on a tent-mate you can go to tent assignment by yourself and you'll be assigned a tent-mate.
		Crew/Roadie Members - There will an all-roadie meeting at approx. 2pm on Day Zero and will last until about 6pm. Roadie Captains need to meet even earlier. Roadies/Crew must be finished with the registration process in time to make the meeting.
		Ride Gear - there will be an area to purchase Ride gear, especially the Ride jersey. Be sure to try it on first. In the past the jerseys have been on the big side.
		Ways to make the day easier - make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring along a snack and a bottle of water. Also slap on plenty of sunscreen (SPF15+). You will be surprised how easily you can dehydrate and burn on Day Zero. If you have a cell phone bring it along with you and let your fellow Ride friends know your number. It's very hard to keep track of the whereabouts of your friends on Day Zero and this can help. Day Zero can be a stressful day so come with positive attitude and patience. The earlier your finish the registration process the more time you have to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. You will probably find that the excitement and nerves are really going to kick in by Day Zero, which can affect your ability to sleep on the night before the ride. If you can, try to get an afternoon nap in after you have registered.
		Dinner Why not try and get together with some of your Ride friends for dinner - it's always a fun celebration. As usual, try to have a meal that is high in carbohydrates (pasta, potatoes, bread, rice, legumes etc.) to "carb-up" for Day 1. Don't stay out too late. You need to be back at 5am!!!
More Helpful Hints? If you have other hints that may help, please email them to Liz Kinloch