FAQs
What is included for Tour des Trees Riders?
Your Tour des Trees experience includes 7 nights hotel accommodations, three meals per day, ample beverages and snacks during each day’s ride, baggage transport , friendly course support that includes a marked route, SAG vans, as well as mechanical and medical assistance if needed.
What if I can’t ride the whole day?
-No worries. We have “sag wagons” that will be happy to give you a lift to the hotel. Naturally the hope is that you can ride most of the way, but almost everyone needs help sometime. So when you’re out of gas – the van won’t be ! The “SAG wagon” are available to transport cyclists as needed due to mechanical problems or medical injuries. The vans also have extra water and snacks, if needed. If at any time you need assistance, please signal a SAG van with a “thumbs down” signal.
What if I wake up one morning and don’t feel able to ride? How can I get to the next overnight site?
Assuming that you are just a little too tired to pedal that day you will become part of the support team and will join in one of the SAG vans. Understand that we can not transport riders that choose to “SAG” to that day’s destination, the SAG wagons primary responsibility is to support the riders on the road but heh don’t sweat it you will find that supporting your fellow riders can be a fun and fulfilling experience on its own!
Do you have suggestions on what to pack?
Cycling Apparel:
- 2-3 pairs of cycling shorts (see tour veterans Andy Kittsley’s suggestions below)
- 2 cycling jerseys will be provided so that you can proudly display the TDT colors each day
- 3 pairs of cycling socks will be provided (see tour veterans Andy Kittsley’s suggestions below)
- 1 pair of cycling shoes
- 2 pairs cycling gloves
- 1 helmet (this year we are actually providing cycling helmets courtesy of KASK)
- 1 pair of cycling glasses
- 2-3 wicking cycling undershirts
- 1 wind/rain cycling jacket will be provided
- 1 pair arm & knee/leg warmers
- 1 cycling cap and/or helmet liner
- 1 pair of toe and/or shoe covers
Accessories:
- Hat
- Sun-block and Lip Balm
- Personal Medications
- Camera
- Chamois Cream
I will not make any specific non-cycling apparel suggestions other than to say that casual dress will be the standard for most of our evening meals. “Casual” on most bicycle tours can be anything from shorts to convertible style pants or jeans and tees to ExOfficio style shirts. But please do remember that Mary has asked that we wear “slacks” to the Saturday nights kick-off event.
Andy’s suggestion:
What should I bring to wear after the day’s ride? What’s the dress code?
- Civvies (mufti) bring shorts, a pair of jeans. "T" shirts, tops, and whatever else makes you feel groovy. Sandals are easy to pack, and offer good relief from the constriction of bike shoes. Think Very Casual.
How many pairs of bicycle shorts should I bring?
-Three pairs of bike shorts are good. (When you wash a pair having 3 gives an extra day for the first pair you wear to dry)
How about sox?
- (The important thing about sox is the number you have should be evenly divisible by 2 : -). Cycling sox (three pairs) will be provided. Bring 3 or 4 more pairs. Sox get wet and they can be hard to dry. A fresh pair each day is a small luxury you will enjoy. Black ones for a wet day will keep the road grime from staining white ones.
- The bundles of white short cuffed sox that you can get at Wal-Mart (for instance) are fine. The nice thing about cheap sox is at the end of the day you take ‘em off your feet, put ‘em on your hands, wipe down your bike, and throw ‘em in the trash.
How do I wash my riding clothes at the end of the day?
-many hotels we stay in have a laundry room, often we will Pool our stuff and wash all together therefore a permanent pen should be used to mark your stuff... OR... wash them in the shower when you clean up at day's end. (Wear them in, start the water and soap thing, then strip and walk on them to agitate (also cuts down on slips!) Rinse, and hang somewhere...
What do we do if it rains? What do we wear?
- There are rain hats to go over your helmet if you want, there are clear raingear sets so the tour jerseys are seeable. Bike shops can help you with gear and selection.
What do we wear if it’s cold?
-Cool weather - arm warmers and leg warmers (like the legs of tights, and the arms of a tight top) just pull on like socks. Benefit: they can be "peeled" when it gets warmer.
What about wind?
-A vest for wind and the wind shell that comes with the rider kit should be sufficient.
How do we cool off when it’s hot?
-For hot days, a water bottle dripped through your helmet vents will be welcome relief. A mouthful of water "sprayed" on your legs at the top of their stroke will cool them very nicely.
-Stay hydrated. Drink frequently. Too much water however can cause hyponatremia, where the excess water pulls electrolytes OUT of your blood. That’s a bad thing.
- Click on this link for basic info and guidance:
http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/Cracking-the-Code-on-Hydration.htm
And always, a rest in the shade, a dip in a stream, an ice cream shop...
How do I keep my energy up between meals?
-Energy bars and drinks. There are literally dozens of choices. The best have little to no sugar, and supply complex carbohydrates in the form of Maltodextrin. Check out Hammer Products at www.hammernutrition.com they have a complete line of endurance products. Perpetuem, hammer gel, and other things to supply the body's needs during all-day endeavors.
Bike seats seem uncomfortable, how can I minimize rashes and saddle sores?
- Butt butter is an external lubricant that reduces friction between you and those pricey shorts. The stuff works, but it can be a bit of a mess. The "shower –laundromat” doesn't adequately rinse it out. Buy it at your bike shop.
-The best defense is, of course, seat time. Ride often, and ride for as long as you can. Your bottom will get used to it.
Who do I room with? Do we change roomies every night?
-You will room with the same person during the whole week unless you snore badly. (Or are flatulent!)
What is typical morning like? And a typical day?
-A typical day starts with whatever ritual you need: But it’s good to pack your travel bags, drag them to the lobby, then have breakfast, coffee, tea, etc. Next get your bike and air up the tires, fill your water bottles, find your ride buddy, and be ready to ride. Pay attention to timetables, wear a watch.
Will there be rest stops along the way?
There will be at least one and sometimes two rest stops will be available along the route before and after lunch to provide water, beverages and nutritious and delicious snacks.
Will there be a lunch provided during the ride?
Lunch is provided on the course each day, usually somewhere between the halfway point and destination for the day. Lunch will range from a box lunch at a community park to a welcoming local restaurant or our favorite a community civic organization that appreciates our cause and where we can reciprocate their kindness by giving them an opportunity to raise funds by providing lunch to the TDT riders.
Ride Buddy?
Generally this will be someone you find yourself riding with the first day. Someone who rides the same speed you do. It’s a natural sifting process.
How do I know where we’re going?
- The ride is typically gone over at dinner the night before, maps and route notes are distributed that evening or the next morning. Also most of the route will be spray painted with road hickies to direct you along the way (we will go over what to look for during the ride briefings).
What if my bike breaks?
- If your bike breaks we have excellent mechanics (Bubba & Brian) along who will get you going quickly, unless you break it severely. You will be responsible the cost of items needed to repair your bike; cables, tubes, tires, chain…but the labor is generally free (although the mechanics can be influenced with beer)
Should I bring anything for my bike?
- If you have special wheels on your bike that use bladed spokes or special spokes of some description you may want to have a few with you. Remember the spokes on the rear wheel are different than the front, and there are 2 spokes for the rear, the side where the gears are, and the other side.
-You should bring 3 or 4 tire tubes, a patch kit, tire levers (to pry the tire off the rim), an inflator head and 3 or 4 CO2 canisters (16 gram). It's always good to be able to change a tube; someone will be willing to show you. (The CO2 canisters cannot go on an airplane, buy ‘em when you get to Shy-Town)
Anything else?
It helps to keep the unpacking in the room to a minimum, stay organized, do things the same way each day - it makes forgetting things less likely.
Preplan tomorrow tonight (i.e. if you use Perpetuem, mix it the night before so you're not rushed in the morning. Rushing around - you WILL forget stuff.)
Bring your own pillow if you cannot use those bricks in the hotels; put it in a bright pillow case so you'll see it and remember to pack it.
