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Tips For Riders
Event coordinators go through a lot of work to make an charity bike ride successful. Following a few simple tips will really help the coordinators.
1. Arrive around 1 hour early. This gives you time to get registered and to socialize with other bicyclists.
2. Fill your water bottles at home. Not all rides have water available prior to the first rest stop.
3. Bring your own tubes, tire levers and a pump and be able to use them. This will get you back on the road faster. Not all bicycling events provide free tubes when yours goes flat.
4. Bring a cell phone. This can really speed up emergency help if you need it.
5. Download and print a route map from home, if the event posts them on their web sites.
6. Bring a digital camera, take lots of pictures, then send copies of them to the event coordinator. They really like this!
7. Follow the rules of the road. This is VERY important. Some events are having a lot of problems with the community and their lack of support for cycling events. This will only get worse if riders do not follow the rules and show respect for the area that they are cycling in.
8. Eat prior to the ride. Not all rides have food available prior to the first rest stop.
9. Have patience in registration and rest stop lines. The folks that are working are normally volunteers and really don’t need the hassle from impatient, inconsiderate riders. Actually, give them a quick thank you. Without them, there would be no rest stops!
10. If you order a certain size of shirt, be happy with it even if it doesn’t fit. Most events order shirts based on what the riders told them that they wanted upon pre-registering. Many events do not order extra shirts. This is because a charity hates to get stuck with a bunch of extra shirts. This is money that would otherwise go to the charity.
11. If the event has a deadline, register before the deadline. This deadline is in place to be able to order your shirts, and get enough food for you on the day of the ride.
12. Don’t complain about things that are out of the control of the event, such as the weather.
13. Don’t complain about the hills. Most coordinators go to a lot of work to lay out the routes. Sometimes, you just have to go over the hills. Maybe the hill that they are avoiding is even worse.
14. Carpool, or ride your bike to the event. Many events have limited parking. This really helps the coordinators.
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