TAKE-AWAYS
1) Have a local guide
2) Prepare routes well - navigation is key
3) Plan the last leg to the destination early and well (meeting points and times, restaurant and bar reservations, print a map with the routes and infos)
4) Pack list - you have to carry all that along the way
PACKING LIST
Around the bike
- Road bike
- bike shoes
- Water bottles holders on your bike and water bottles (at least 2)
- 2 extra tubes that fit YOUR bike
- repair tool for tubes (per team)
- pump or capsules (per team)
- chain lube (per team)
- chain elements that fit YOUR chain
- general bike repair tool (per team)
- GPS (per team)
- bike lights (front & back)
- extra batteries for bike lights
To wear
Helmet (mandatory)
- sunglasses (best with changeable glasses - one 100% transparent, the other one with sun protection)
- bike gloves if you think you need it
- at least 2 sets of bike clothes (pants (with cusion for your soft ass!), tshirt long sleeve or sleeves, socks)
- isolation layer (fleece)
- wind/ rain jacket
- ass cream if you think you need it :-) http://greatbicycletallahassee.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/what-is-chamois-...
- something to wear off the bike and your luggage for DrupalCon - preferable a soft bag and not a hard suitcase: pants, tshirt, sweater, shoes
Stuff
- wallet
- drivers license (if we will have a car)
- passport/ID - not expired :-)
- sunscreen
- Food and drinks for on the go (sports bars and fitness drinks that you know you digest well ;-))
- camera
- phone
- chargers
- external battery charger for your phone
- cosmetic bag (deodorant etc.)
Comments
If a local guide is not
If a local guide is not available perhaps a Drupal local can help preparing the route.
My take on guiding:
- take bike friendly lanes
- avoid cities and traffic lights
- try to shortly stop at tourist poi's or even have a small detour if there's a nice location nearby.
Is it worth splitting the
Is it worth splitting the list up into essential/very good to have/nice to have; equally it rather depends on how far/fast people are planning on travelling. Like if the idea is to encourage people to do a shorter one day ride then it's a different list than for people who are doing several days.
Oh and should anything be
Oh and should anything be mandatory! We do want to encourage people not discourage them.
[The particular singular mandatory item is one the majority of cyclists here don't use. The British Cyclists organisation has a long reasoned policy about promoting cycle use in relation to helmets http://www.ctc.org.uk/campaigning/views-and-briefings/cycle-helmets ... Ah! Unless it's Spain on some 'inter-urban' routes - guess that needs research]
helmets
@ekes, agreed. Helmets (and other stuff) shouldn't be mandatory unless safety or local rules require them.
For me wearing a helmet is
For me wearing a helmet is mandatory when riding in a group.
Why? Just because when something happens it affects the whole group and not a single person. It is a matter of respect.
Yes, sportive riding in
Yes, sportive riding in groups should require helmets. Recreational not so much.