First organized ride- Newbie questions

[mayanorange]

Alright ladies, tomorrow is the MS150 Cape Cod Getaway. We picked up our packets with info and all our numbers so we could do it ahead of time and now I have questions.

1. Do people really stick the number on the front of their helmet or am I going to be the dork who did it?
2. I ride with a camelbak and they say to pin the bib number to your jersey. Not sure I can fit it under the Camelbak- can I just pin it to my camelbak?
3. Shower trucks- are these like dorm showers where one should bring flipflops?
4. If I'm bringing a sleeping bag, can I use the second luggage tag or do I really need to dig out a duffel I can then jam my backpack of clothes and the sleeping bag into?

There might be more later...

[SheFly]

Good luck to you!

1. Do NOT stick the number to your helmet - it will never come off .
2. Pin the number wherever works. If it is on your CamelBack, that is ok.
3. BRING FLIPFLOPS! Those shower trucks can get nasty after awhile. On the flip side, if you ride fast, and arrive early, you will be one of the first in. You'll want the flip flops for the showers at the MMA anyway.
4. Yes, you can use the second luggage tage for your bag if you don't need it for anything else.

Have a blast! I'll be doing the anti-T-storm dance for you.

SheFly

[SheFly]

Sorry - other advice for you:

- pack your camera, lip balm and sunscreen in your pockets or CamelBack.
- carry some $$ with you on the ride. Typically you don't need it, but one year DH and I literally had to buy a wheel from someone (it's a LONG story, but a good one), and thankfully, I had the cash.
- do not eat italian sandwiches at the rest stop . DH tried this his first year, and it did not go well.
- do not take long breaks! Your legs will cramp up, and it will be harder to get going again once you are back on the bike.
- pack all of your clothes in ziploc bags INSIDE your bag. Why? When you get to MMA and P'Town, you want DRY clothes! I packed EVERYTHING in these, and put outfits together in one bag so I could just pull that one out when I needed it.
- pack a sweatshirt/fleece/jacket. Temps are supposed to be warm, but it is cool by the water and you will want one.
- if you are taking the ferry back to Boston, pack Bonine or Gravol. If the weather is bad, you don't want to be seasick!

Again, have a blast!

SheFly

[mayanorange]

Thanks SheFly!

Maybe I'll stick the front number on the strap of my camelbak then. I don't want to deprive the relatives (some in Europe) of the action shots, but yeah, I wasn't too keen on a giant sticker on my helmet!

Thanks for the weather help- looks like we're good til noonish, so we're going to have to hustle!

[Biciclista]

I put the number on my helmet and pulled it off after the ride. All stickers are not created equal. If you have hopes of getting your picture taken, the photographer uses the number of your helmet to identify you. I'd be surprised if no one else had stickers on their helmets.


Shefly has lots of good advice.

[mayanorange]

Yes, Italian sandwich and riding= bad! LOL The ziploc bag idea is great! I'll have to stuff the phone, etc in my camelbak in one too in case it pours. I'll throw in some ginger pills (which is as good as commercial remedies- Mythbusters is full of useful info!), but we don't get seasick. But there's a first time for everything I suppose!

[katluvr]

Ditto to what Shefly says.
It is hard to find pics when you dont' use the number on helmet, but usually they have a sign of what film roll it is.
They also give you a number to put on bike. I usually do not attach it. You can wait to attach it when you have to put your bike in the "bike corral" for over night or the truck for transport bike. It flaps in the wind--and will drive you crazy. (Well it bothers me)
At the ride in Texas they had this large cardboard-ish number to attach to the front of your bike. There was a 20 mph head wind and folks have this large cardboad number to add to the drag. And if a cross wind it hit it, there when you handlebars turning!

It was VERY cold for the over night when I did the "GreatMass" a few years ago. As for the ferry boat ride. I wanted a nice quiet scenic ride. IT was a BIG party boat! It was like at a wedding reception...people that never get out and drink and dance have gone wild!

Oh, still take snacks. On day one, the lunch provider (sandwiches/subs) FORGOT and we had cape cod potato chips--yum, but not substance.

Then when we got ot the finish on day one teh beer line was MUCH shorter than the food line....must I say more!
I did have a great time!

K

[SheFly]

but we don't get seasick. But there's a first time for everything I suppose!

Famous last words! I didn't either until the year of the monsoon ride... And I was EVILLY ill the whole 3 hour ferry ride back. Hopefully, you won't have to worry!

SheFly

p.s.
I've been in the official photos without the numbers on my helmet. You will have a number on the front of your bike, your back, etc....

[jobob]

No advice, just sayin' I hope you have a great time !

[mayanorange]

Shefly- I promise I'll take a preemptive ginger pill! They do work rather well- I get a bit carsick sometimes, especially up and down big hills.

Kat- yeah, I'm going to see how securely I can rig up the bike number. It might be difficult to work around my bento. Which will be full to the brim with food! I should have enough that we won't need their snacks, but if they have something good....

Thanks Jobob!

[katluvr]

The year I did it they have "mini Cliff bars"...before you could buy them.
They had TONS of them, so I didn't feel tooooooo bad that I grab handfuls of them. I had enough to last me thru many a summmer training session (I like only a small bite). It was GREAT!

Now I am hooked on the mini Lara bars..I need find a race that has tons on those to stock up on!

Have a blast...hope the weather holds for you.
K

[mayanorange]

Kat- at ASCM in Seattle, Powerbar was giving away the new Powerbar Bites. The oatmeal raisin ones are yummmmm, so I grabbed a couple bags of those at REI. But I could save those for later if they have good stuff...

[ny biker]

I always put the number on my helmet. I think most people do.

Good luck!

[ttaylor508]

I always put my number on my helmet too and it has always peeled off no problem. Some of the organized rides I have done will require you show a bib number, either on you jersey or helmet in order to get food etc. If I take my camelback, I pin the number to that instead of my jersey.

Good luck and have fun!