Getting Ready for the AIDS/Lifecycle Ride

[OakLeaf]

try to sleep with 2500 snoring riders and 5-800 snoring crew

that reminds me... after your Thermarest, your next priority is a couple of pairs of high-NRR earplugs that are soft enough to be comfortable while sleeping.

[Trek420]

And a camp pillow

[aka_kim]

All these accomplishments, yet still a member of Team Sandbagger!?

[melissam]

All these accomplishments, yet still a member of Team Sandbagger!?

Kim,
I'm a charter member of Team Sandbagger. Some things will never change.

Trek, Snap, and Oakleaf:

Thanks for the packing tips. Keep 'em coming! Between this site, the ALC training rides, and the ALC boards, I've been learning all sorts of helpful ALC hints, including:

• Earplugs are HIGHLY recommended
• An air mattress is a must have, and DON'T cheap out!
• Bring a flashlight -- one that mounts on your head is even better
• Bring something to ID your tent amongst the sea o' tents. Especially important if you leave your tent in the middle of the night.
• Put each day's cycling clothes in a zip lock bag.
• Put a dryer sheet in the zip lock bag with your cycling clothes. That way the cycling clothes smell "fresh" when you use them, and the dryer sheets absorb the sweat from the used cycling clothes. (I know, maybe TMI.)
• Do NOT, under any circumstances, bring or use tent stakes.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but if I don't get crackin' here at work, my boss will kill me and I won't be able to go on the ride at all.

- Mel

[snapdragen]

mel - I over packed when I did the AIDS ride a million years ago. I found I only wore sweatpants and my ride t-shirt in camp. Slept in them too...

Are you bringing bike clothes for each day? Have you been told the trick with gallon or 2 gallon zip lock bags?

If you can make room in your duffel, a regular air mattress is lovely, otherwise a thermarest works.

[Trek420]

mel - I over packed when I did the AIDS ride a million years ago. I found I only wore sweatpants and my ride t-shirt in camp. Slept in them too....

Right, I really did not pack street clothes. Just shoes and a pair of sweats. Even wore bike duds on the plane back.

It's not like I'm fast enough to get to camp early and hang out

Bring flashlights AND something blinky for the tent. Like a beacon guiding your way safely home from the porta-potty Don't leave it on of course, just when you head out and turn off when you get back.

Knotted gave me a string of purple flashing lights from Ikea that worked well!! Have fun. be creative.

[melissam]

Ooh, a blinky light -- great idea! I'm putting a checkered flag for Tent ID, but that would be hard to spot during the wee hours of the morning.

I think I'll bring my LED taillight that I never use for bike commuting.