RAIN ride and busdog SAG support...

[chibiker]

I'm doing RAIN this year and considering using www.busdog.com for SAG support and a ride back to Terre Haute (from Richmond).

Wondering if anyone has any experience with the bus service, good or bad???

[Mr. SR500]

I don't know about the BUS. There are enough stops that you really don't need a personal SAG. So the ride should go fine, plenty of gas stations/stores if you need water, etc... Plus most all people are more then willing to lend a hand if needed.

Mrs. will be done with classes by then and SAGging me, she enjoys all the energy at the event. Maybe we can get her to ride in '09.

Registration is no problem, but the hotels are filling up fast. We didn't make the Drury or Pear Tree this year so booked at the Best Western. I think the Holiday Inn and Ramada still have rooms.

[Mr. Bloom]

I need any ideas on logistics that anyone can offer...

Silver has to come up from Evansville. I'll be coming from Bloomington. We're staying at the Hampton in Terre Haute.

Are we going to want to stay overnight in Richmond?

Should we go back and stay in Terre Haute instead?

Where can we park one of our vehicles if we leave one in Richmond?

All advice is welcome...

[Mr. SR500]

Most riders rest awhile, grab something to eat and head out. Richmond has most of the main chains and fast food so plenty of places to eat. Last year you could sleep in a dorm room at Earlham for around $40. The Richmond area riders usually have a cookout that night. Being from Richmond, I would be glad to help out however I can. They will also have overnight parking at Earlham I believe. 2 cars, 2 riders, make it tough. Email me off line and maybe we can figure something out.

[chibiker]

thanks SR500. We are more interested in the ride back vs the SAG support. We are from Chicago and don't really feel like driving two cars to make this happen. So unless our buddie's come up with a van for all of us , the boy and I might be taking busdog back to Terre Haute. We already booked our room too, good thing, because they are selling out quick

see you there

[Geonz]

I used a bus when I did RAIN a few years back, tho' I'm not sure it's the same one. I'm on my own so it was a good option. I wasn't racing - I finished 300th - so the bus was at the rest stops when I got to the rest stops, and it was really nice to be able to get to stuff I didn't want to carry (like extra sunscreen) and yea, use the potty without waiting. We also chipped in for a cooler of stuff so that at the end waiting for everybody we could just chill under a tree. Of course, we had to wait for the last person - but we could rest. I had a two-hour drive home afterward but that wasn't so bad (I stayed in the Hampton before the ride, though).
Oh... I do remember that the bus guy didn't care for non-standard-shaped bikes... didn't like them thar recumbents at all!

[makbike]

I hope this is not a silly question but I'm going to toss it out and hopefully one of the experienced RAIN riders can respond. How do you get from your hotel to the start if you do not have a PSV? Is there a safe route to ride in the early morning hours?

[indysteel]

Makbike, from Busdog's website, it looks like they're encouraging people to ride from the Drury to the Courthouse in Terre Haute, rather than to the actual start line. I guess it's the same difference mileagewise. You'd miss the mass start, which is both good and bad. It's an impressive sight, but it's also kind of dangerous and nutty!

I don't know how safe the route is to the start line--but I can find out pretty easily for you so let me get back to you on that. I remember thinking last year that it was pretty dark for those riders hoping to get an early start to the start line (which you have to do to get to the front of the pack). We had a ride, which was nice.

Ugh. The logistics for RAIN are already giving me a headache and it's not even July yet!!!!

[Mr. SR500]

We sort of get there early to be up front and stay with the police escort. But is seems like was several miles from the hotels. I've had friends catch the group in Terra Haute without any problems. If you want to be up front, you need to be at the start 6 - 6:15, otherwise it's a long line and you can miss the escort.

[Mr. Bloom]

Ugh. The logistics for RAIN are already giving me a headache and it's not even July yet!!!!

Me too! The PAIN, The PAIN

[indysteel]

Makbike, according to a friend of mine, the ride from the hotels (or at least the Drury) is a little dark, but otherwise okay. There are lots of other people doing it so there's at least a little strength in numbers. He and his friends leave the Drury at 6:15. If you ride to the start line, you're essentially doing the course backwards, which puts you according to him at the front of the line.

[Mr. SR500]

If you are doing it the first time and have a SAG then drive out to the state line, otherwise, just ride into town and join the ride when it passes. Either way just do what works best for you.

Mr. S we might have a solution for you, let me know.