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rider frequently asked questions (faq's)

 

 

 

 

 

AIDS RIDE SECRETS

By Kimberly Sorrell, Training Ride Leader

 

So, you're asking people to sponsor you, you're logging the miles on your bike and your cycling friends have convinced you that spandex is a flattering material. You're nearly ready to gather your things and head to Boston, but you're not quite sure what to expect on the Ride. Well, for all you "AIDS Ride virgins" out there, this article's for you!

After cycling in four AIDS Rides- eating, sleeping and camping with nearly 3,000 people on each one- I finally feel like I have a good AIDS Ride system down! I wrote a similar article last year, but since then have done two more Rides, learned even better ways of doing things, and I have added a few more tips. The one thing which remains at the top of the list as the number one essential ingredient for any successful AIDS ride is-- PLASTIC. Ok, the riders, crew, volunteers and donors all have their places ahead of this wonderful invention, but none of the above will keep you dry if it pours all over your Ride. So, here are some AIDS Rider Secrets to help dispel some of the mystery of what it's like on the Ride:

 

Secret #1 Pack everything in plastic bags. Line the inside of your pack with a durable garbage bag and then begin packing your stuff. This way, even if your bag gets wet (and it will) the clothing inside stays relatively dry. Even if it doesn't rain, there will be dew each morning and early evening, which can soak everything you own. Do not underestimate the power of dew! You'll wake up in the morning, touch the inside of your tent and soak your PJ's because of all the condensation on the tent-more about that later. It's also a good idea to pack your sleeping bag in a plastic bag before attaching it to your gear bag. Better yet, pack it inside your gear bag. And remember-your bag is going on a truck and will be buried in a huge mountain of wet gear bags and then unloaded off that truck and onto the ground before you get to camp that night. If the ground is wet, your gear will be, too.

 

Secret #2 Pack nearly every article of clothing in large Ziploc bags. Even better, pack each day's ride clothing in its own bag. This way, you're not rummaging around in your gear for those great hill-climbing socks. They're in the same bag with your shorts and jersey for that day-dry and ready to go.

 

Secret #3 Bring two large pieces of plastic (9X12 size). Most hardware stores have this and it's pretty inexpensive. You'll want one over your tent and one under it. The tents are not waterproof. Even if it doesn't rain, your tent has been collecting that dew I mentioned earlier, and anything that touches the walls of the tent will get soaked. Make sure the plastic reaches all the way down the sides of the tent. This will keep the inside walls fairly dry and even keep a little heat in. If the ground underneath your tent turns into a mudfest, at least you'll have your new best friend, plastic, between you and your new swamp.

 

Secret #4 Bring another large piece of plastic to wrap your bag in at night. The tents are small, and if you have a big bag, you may have to leave it just outside your tent. Completely wrap it in a large piece of plastic so dew doesn't soak it. One last thing about dew-pull your gear away from the inside walls of the tent, or line some plastic between your stuff and where it may touch the tent fabric so it doesn't get wet. Same goes for your sleeping bag.

 

Secret #4 ½ Bring clothespins to keep the plastic from blowing off your tent.

 

Secret #5 As you may have gathered by now, things just don't dry on the Ride. Plan on bringing three complete cycling outfits. There are several reasons for doing this and the first is obvious-you don't wear cycling clothing two days in a row. If you want to make new friends on this ride, wearing the same unwashed outfit is not the way to go. The laundry lines can be long and do you really want to stand in one more line? One last thing- it'll never be dry by morning. Nothing ever is. Don't even leave it hanging up after 8pm, because when you come back from dinner to reclaim it, it will be even wetter than when you left it.

 

Secret #6 Bring more than one towel. The towel you use for your shower at night will still be wet the next day and you'll have to pack it in your gear that way. A squashed up, wet towel sitting on a hot gear truck all day doesn't make for a fresh, sunshiny smell that evening. In other words, you won't want to use it again. You can bring two cheap towels and throw them out each day as you use them. You'll have a dry towel each night and won't have a mildewy mess in your gear bag. Another option is to buy one pack towel, which you can buy at most camping/outdoor stores. They absorb a lot more than cotton towels even when damp and dry a lot faster. These still won't dry out completely, but it'll do the job a second night and won't smell.

 

Secret #7 Don't bring a pillow. Instead of taking up room in your pack with your favorite pillow, just bring your favorite pillowcase and stuff it with (clean) clothes. (Sleeping with your face in the shorts you plan to wear the next day could be a positive bonding experience as well.)

 

Secret #8 Bring a small plastic bag with you when you ride, so when you arrive at bike parking that night, you can cover the seat to keep the rain or dew from soaking it. Same goes for your electronic cyclometer attachments-take the actual computer with you when you leave your bike for the night and cover the attachment with a small bag.

 

General Camp Secrets:

 

Camp Secret #9 Fill your water bottles and/or Camelbacks at night. After you eat, fill the bottles and Camelback, when the lines for cold water are fairly short, unlike the mornings when everyone is racing around getting ready. When I get back to my tent, I mix my Cytomax powder as well, so everything is ready to go in the morning.

 

Camp Secret #10 Bring your toothbrush and toothpaste to dinner. This is not to snack on as you wait in an endless food line! On your way back to the tent after eating, stop at the sinks for your evening "wash up". In general, food and showers/sinks tend to be pretty close to each other and you don't want to trek all the way to dinner, then back to your tent to get your toiletry bag, and then back to the sinks again. (I usually wear my Camelback with my toothbrush and paste stuffed inside to free up my hands through the food line.)

 

Camp Secret #11 Bring your flashlight and your jacket/fleece pullover with you to dinner. By the time you stand in line, eat and stay for the nightly entertainment, it will be chilly and dark, so you want to be prepared and have your stuff with you so you're not running back to your tent before the nightly show.

 

Camp Secret #12 Get to breakfast early. Ride out begins at 6:30am and last Ride Out is at 8:30am. This doesn't mean you should sleep until 7am! Four AIDS Rides later and it still takes two hours to be ready to go. There's the breakfast line, the sink line, getting dressed, packing up your gear, being careful everything you need for the day is out and ready, dragging the bag to the gear trucks, taking your tent down and taking it to the tent truck, going to your bike and giving it a last minute check, and waiting in a long line of cyclists who also thought they had plenty of time to get everything done. If you go to your bike after 7:20am or so, you will be waiting a very long time to actually get on the road, and with the mileage and hills, you can't waste any time just getting out. My personal suggestion? GET UP EARLY. I wake up at 4am. You will hear a LOT of alarms by 4:45am, so you may as well get up. You didn't come on the Ride to sleep anyway, did you? I go to the sinks and do a bit of washing up just to wake up. Then back to the tent to get my toothbrush and tent-mate and on to breakfast as it opens. (They open at 5am, but usually start serving a few minutes early, especially if people are waiting.) After breakfast, take your toothbrush/paste that you carried with you and hit the sinks on the way back to your tent. Then you can pack, take the tent down and get everything to the right truck. It's all about being efficient and saving time. There's never enough time to do and see everything on a Ride and then it's over. So, save time on little things like these and spend more time with your friends in camp and on the road.

 

Camp Secret #13 Fill your tires with air at night when you come in. The lines at Bike Tech are long in the morning, when riders discover problems they didn't check for the night before. Check your tires and give them a once over to make sure there isn't anything stuck in the tread, which can cause a flat the next day.

 

Pit Stop Secrets:

 

Pit Secret #14 Don't stay too long. This isn't to say you shouldn't enjoy them, though. The pit crews are a creative, energetic and positive group and they'll take your mind off those new saddle sores. But, staying too long can eat up valuable riding time-time you'll need to ride at a slower pace as you climb the many hills of Connecticut. Plan on staying no longer than 15 minutes at each pit and you should do okay.

 

Pit Secret #15 Never underestimate the length of the Port-O-John line. The lines are long. Very long. 3,000 riders are arriving at the pit stops within two hours of each other. They've all been hydrating for the past 15-20 miles and this translates into a lot of riders with full bladders lining up for the green boxes. One way to use your time in line effectively is to go to the food and drink tables first. Stock up and then eat and drink while in the bathroom line. Please be courteous to the owners of the land who have generously provided the pit stop site and don't create a public urinal. This shows a complete lack of respect for the owners, the Ride itself and reflects badly on your fellow cyclists. It also puts the site in jeopardy for next year's Ride, if the owners refuse to invite us again.

 

Pit Secret #16 They may not have the food you like. The organizers are feeding 3000+ people and not everyone will like what is served. The food is pretty good, but if you know you have a picky palate, bring some of your own food. Bring some goodies snagged at breakfast, bring some snacks from home (my favorite thing is Fig Newtons), stop somewhere along the route to get something extra, but please keep the whining about the food to a minimum. No one else wants to hear it, and if taste still matters to you that much after cycling 100 miles, then you're not hungry enough and should get back out and pedal a few more miles.

 

A note to the speed demons:

 

As one of my rider friends said, riding at a slightly slower pace will not cost you the Day One Time Trial. In other words, "It's a ride, not a race". If you speed through the day, you will get to camp before camp services open and you will wander around with not a whole lot to do. You will get to cheer other people as they come in, but you will not be able to share in the stories of all that went on out on the road-you weren't there, because you were too busy trying to be the first one into camp. There are people who dress up, there are little "shows" the crew puts on, there are stickers and blasting music and loads of fun things that you won't see if you're at lunch by 9am. Strike a balance. Ride with your friends, and make new friends by riding at a pace which is slower than usual for you. You don't want to be hanging around camp at 1pm when all the fun stuff is happening on the road.

 

Stuff to consider bringing:

 

An extra set of brake pads and an extra set of cleats if you have clipless pedals. The bike tech guys are fabulous, but they can't stock everything. If a shoe cleat breaks, or a screw falls out, you need to be prepared with a replacement. (And carry these with you when you ride-a replacement cleat buried in your gear bag isn't going to help you on the road.) You may consider an extra bladder and mouthpiece for your Camelback if yours decides to burst. I thought this would never happen to me, but there I was at 4am on Day One of the CAR6 Ride, using tube patches on three punctures to the bladder system. They lasted the day and I found a bike shop and bought a new plastic bladder that night.

 

A note about the route:

 

It's hilly. Very hilly. Get out and do as many hills as you can to train. (You've been going on the training rides anyway, right?) Day One is the longest, hardest day of any Aids Ride I've ever done, but it's the most satisfying one to finish. You're starting at sea level-where can you go but up? Don't be afraid of the hills. If you've been training-and training on hills-you will find it very difficult but not impossible. You can always do about 30% more than you think you can. So, when you're about to stop and walk, reach for the extra 30% and it will most likely put you over the top of that hill. Anyone can do something easy-it takes heroes to tackle what you've taken on, and that's what you all are.

 

A few "fun" things to consider:

 

The AIDS Ride is a celebration as well as a moving memorial to those we have lost to AIDS. If you've never done an AIDS Ride, you may not know that riders attach the names of who they're riding for to their bikes, helmets, Camelbacks and tents. It's inspiring to cycle behind someone struggling up that steep hill and to read the names of the people the rider is trying so hard for displayed down his or her back.

To stand out in a sea of blue tents at camp, you may want to bring a few decorations from home. I've seen just about everything adorning an AIDS Ride tent. Battery operated lights, blow up animals (even a blow-up TV set!), pink flamingos, toy taxi cabs, white picket fences, flags, banners and mobiles-the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Now's your chance to let the "real you" shine through. Just give the gear truck people a break and don't weigh your bag down too much.

 

Last thoughts on the Ride:

 

Don't miss it because you're too busy riding. The actual Ride is three days long, but it really started the day you signed up and made the commitment to do it. The Ride is happening now. It happens when you go on a training ride and you help someone fix a flat. When people you just met offer you their last Powerbar. When you started making friends with your fellow riders on the training rides. When you talk about the Ride to family and friends to raise sponsor money and awareness. The Ride is an ongoing event which has already become part of your life.

So, when you're on the Ride, look around for ways to make things easier for your fellow riders. If you're a fast rider and tend to get into camp earlier than most, you can set up your neighbor's tent. It doesn't matter if you know them or not. It doesn't even matter if they know you did it. Your thank you is in the expression on their face when they drag themselves and their gear to the tent space and find their tent fully assembled. When you're a slower rider and you've had a difficult day, this simple act of kindness can make the Ride for you.

Help someone carry their bag to their campsite. Stop to help fix a flat. Do a difficult hill twice just to cheer people on as you ride up a second time. They'll see you, be inspired by your spirit and push themselves to do something they may have given up on. Stop at the top of the hill and yell and cheer for the riders behind you. It takes just a few minutes, but for some, the memory of strangers cheering at the top of the hill is one they will carry for a long time. If you've already showered and eaten, offer to set up someone else's tent while they get in line to shower. Pick up your campsite before you head off for the day. Don't leave it for someone else. We are all doing this Ride together and we shouldn't expect anyone else to clean up after us. Thank the crew. They are selfless individuals who probably work harder than anyone else on the Ride. They are our caretakers and we should make sure someone takes care of them.

 

I'm sure there are many things I've overlooked, but I hope this helps you have an enjoyable, inspirational and successful Ride. Your success means finishing the Ride, but it also means helping other people finish, too. Remember your reasons for doing this. Remember what the Ride is all about. We're all on the same journey together. You'll be out there pedaling, and my thoughts will be with all of you that weekend. I did the California Ride 6 this June and won't be joining you for BNY5, but you can bet my voice will be among the hundreds cheering for you when you pedal those last few strokes into closing ceremonies. Good luck and have a wonderful Ride!

 

Kimberly Sorrell

Training Ride Leader

BNY3 #478
CAR5 #2727
BNY4 #381
CAR6 #2927

 

 

 

 

 

! why should you train with trl's ?!

come and ride with the training ride leaders
you will have a lot of fun and become an informed,
trained and a prepared cyclist.
learning to ride in a group with a trl leading and sweeping will make sure
that the next aidsride will be
one of the best events of your life

ahh. the age old question
"which bike is best.?"

ok there are really only 2 bike types most individuals ride the aidsride on 80% of all bikes are either Road Bikes or Hybrid Bikes.

Once you decide which one of these 2 are best suited for your other needs outside the Aidsride you can go ahead and narrow down your search.

I recommend a Road bike.
99% of our training is done on Roads ergo
a Road bike is well optimized for these needs.
In addition most Trl's recommend a triple crank set which will narrow down your selection substantially. This year (99) The Cannondale R300 is a good deal ( for around $800 ) . The Spezialized Allez Series is a bit more pricey but has better components , etc etc, as are many others. Since there are over 6000 bikes on the market by approx. 50 main manufacturers the selection gets quite overwhelming.

A little bit of advice.

1) Buy it from a bike store which is within walking distance from your home ( you know 20 blocks or less). Why ? Just because.
2) Most bike shops will give you an aidsride discount ...use it, demand it etc.after you got the sticker price...
3) Get a better ( croch saving) saddle than what the bikes comes with (Terry Liberators, etc etc ).
4) Request 1-5 years of free tune-ups from the shop. They will usually offer it without blinking.
5) Get fitted for the bike..when standing over the bike you should have at least 1 inch clearance between your crotch and the bar.
6) Some bikes will be best suited for long torsos (aka men) versus long legs (aka women)which means you may have to adjust the Handlebar stem so that you get a more comfortable fit. Since you will spend over 5 hours a day on this for many days comfort is not a luxury but a "cyclist-human-right".
7) Don't let some new sales guy tell you what to buy ask to speak with someone who's worked in the store for over 2 years. Maybe even the owner.
8) ask them to put in the HUFFY liners . It will cost $15 more add 15gramms in weight but save you $50 in inner tubes and hours of changing tires . Needless to say it was invented to reduce the amount of flats you get by 60% !!!
9)Register the bike with you local Police Precinct They'll engrave the bike with a serial number and precinct number.
10) Don't by a lock for your bike. Stay with your bike at all times. If you need to go shopping take it into the store with you. If the Guard in the store gives you a hard time ask them if they allow Baby strollers in the store and then simply say Well this is my baby and I'm not locking up $1000 's on the streets of this town .

 


 

getting strong(er) = smart(er)

 

21+ gears now what ? ooo *******

ROAD

GEARS

 looking at the 2 illustrations above

1) I usually ride on flats (ROAD# 1) in
Middle crank (GEAR 2 ) and GEAR 1) in the rear
2) slow inclines (ROAD 2) I tend to
stay in my Middle crank (GEAR 2) and downshift
according to the incline from (GEAR 2) in the rear all the way to (GEAR 7) in the rear

3) if I still have some steam I stay in GEAR 2/7 when I get to a steeper part in the ROAD such as ROAD3 but eventually I downshift to GEAR 3/7 to make it easy on my knees.

4) once I make it to the top I drink some water and slowly upshift to get some momentum until I eventually wind up in GEAR1/1 which is the biggest ratio.

5) by the time I get to ROAD5 I have a lot of steam and momentum and will plow all the way

to attack an upcoming hill. I may have to downshift slowly ( ie over several points

such as ROAD6 and ROAD7 until I downshift on the next hill Practice makes perfect...


 

how do I get to...?

Statue of Civic Virtue,Queens NYC
located at Queens Blvd. and Union Turnpike
in Kew Gardens, Queens.
Take the E/F train to Union Turnpike
(6th stop in Queens / theses trains are on 6th and 8th Ave in Manhattan) 
Get on one of the cars in the front of the train. Take the left stairs upon emerging and you will be at the statue
( or if you use your other left you'll be right across the street from it )


 

day zero

 there are many ways to survive day zero and keep your sanity. the easiest way to do it is get there early.
I found checking in at 9.00 AM allows me to meet all my friends, check out a good tent-mate ...( although I've yet to get the thrill of the tent mate my dirty soul lusts for )
finalize my pledges, watch the safety video, buy some gear, tune up my bike, take pictures, make some calls, get a decent lunch, etc etc. It takes about 3-4 hours or 6-7 if you get there at 11 am

It's your choice. Early birds catches the worm .

  I'm buying a new bike - what do I need to know about gears?

There are only a couple of suppliers of bike gear components, essentially Shimano (Japan) and Campagnolo (Italy). (There are other suppliers, but you would be spending multiples of $1000.) The name on the frame is usually just the name of the frame builder, and has nothing to do with the gearing, which is supplied, I hope, by one of these other manufacturers. If it isn't, don't buy the bike, because only parts from Shimano and Campagnolo (sometimes called Campy) are generally available. If you have a breakdown on the ride and need something other than Shimano or Campy, the bike tech people will not be able to supply it. (Though, may I say, the tecchies are often good at pasting together some kind of repair that relies on existing parts and gets you through the day.)
To find out which manufacturer made the gears on a particular bike, look on the rear derailleur -- the thing that actually moves the chain onto the sprockets, where the brand name will be inscribed. Both make high-quality components, though Campagnolo has a better reputation for durability and Shimano for innovation.

What is more important than the number of speeds a bike has is what those speeds are. The 14-speed is reasonably up to date, although there are now 16 and 18-speed bikes. If you count the number of teeth on the smallest sprocket in the back, on the hub, and the number of teeth on the two (or three) chainrings up by the pedals, you will have a much better idea of what kind of ride you are going to have.

If you are a beginner, the largest sprocket in back should have at least 25 teeth. If not, you are going to have trouble getting up hills, unless you weigh under 120 lbs. or have very strong quadriceps. In front, one of the sprockets should have no more than 39 teeth -- same deal. The large cog in the back, with the most number of teeth, and the small cog in front, with the fewest number of teeth, are your low gear.

The smallest number of teeth in the back and the largest number in the front don't make as much difference, because those are your highest gear, and should be used only on flats or downhills. The smallest rear sprocket should be around 13 or 14 teeth anyway, and the biggest front one should be around 53 or 55.

You can stress your knees if you use too high a gear on a flat or uphill. Be aware of your level of conditioning -- don't use the big front ring at all unless you're in decent shape! If you do use the big ring and you're not in condition, you'll feel soreness in your knees afterwards.

If you think you're a good rider, try using 9 or 11 teeth in the back and 63 in the front, which is what world-class racers use, and see how it feels -- be careful you don't injure your knees!

by Bob Nelsoan Fast & Fabulous Cycling Club @ www.fastnfab.org

Can I do the ride on a mountain bike?
 ANSWER:
Most people who do the ride on a mountain bike do the ride the second time on a road bike. If you are well conditioned, you will certainly have no problem completing the ride in good time on a mountain bike. To get the maximum from your mountain bike

  • 1. Keep your bike and the load you carry as light as possible.
  • 2. Use narrow road tires.
  • 3. Use toe clips or clipless pedals.
  • 4. Lock out any front or rear suspension.

Thanks to Larry Hobson for his input

 

what do I need to bring on the ride ?

ANSWER:

  • your bicycle
  • bicycle decorations
  • your helmet
  • helmet decorations
  • spare tubes
  • tire irons
  • patch kit
  • water bottles
  • pump
  • cycling gloves
  • cycling shoes
  • cycling shorts
  • cycling jersey
  • sunglasses
  • fanny pack. seat bag, handle bar bag with
    • photo id
    • watch
    • camera
    • film
    • journal
    • pens
    • money
    • credit card
    • rain gear
    • windbraker
  • sleeping bag
  • pillow
  • inflatable mattress w pump
  • earplugs
  • alarm clock ( battery operated )
  • flashlight w batteries
  • regular shorts
  • regular shoes / sneakers
  • clothing for camp
  • clothing for sleeping
  • T shirts
  • underwear
  • socks
  • sweat pants or tights
  • long pants
  • sun block
  • butt balm
  • painkillers
  • petroleum jelly ( Vaseline )
  • antacid
  • bandages
  • gauze with tape
  • lip balm w sunscreen
  • insect repellent
  • sanitary protection
  • flip flops
  • zip lock plastic bags
  • toiletries
  • towels
  • washcloth
  • toothpaste
  • toothbrush
  • mouthwash
  • moisturizer
  • nail clippers
  • shampoo
  • soap
  • razor
  • shaving cream
  • small mirror
  • deodorant
  • hair ties
  • plastic tent cover
  • tent stakes ( plastic ones )
  • tent decorations
  • extra zip lock bags ( 1 gallon size )
  • a carry around in camp back-pack