What are you bringing to the ToC?
I thought it might be interesting for the noobies of the ToC, myself included, to show/list what we will be riding for the week. And hopefully, any of the experience peeps will let us know, nicely 
, if we are in for a world of hurt with our choice.
My bike setup will be:
- Orbea Orca
- SRAM Red Compact
- SRAM Force 12-28 Cassette (would go with the 12-36
if I thought the rear derailleur would support it) - Velocity Deep V with Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase 700x23
- Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow saddle
I think that is it. Hopefully it and I can survive the West Coast. At least we will have fun trying
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Comments
First word of advice to the noobs, do NOT bring any fancy schmancy deep dish wheels that reauires special tubes or tires. No one cares about how hot your bike looks when you've got a flat that no one can fix and you are holding up the whole group as a result.
Trek WSM 1500, the "clown bike" as Rich likes to call it.
Velocity 650 wheel with a spare tire and lots of tubes (I realize I'm likely the only one on the tour riding 650s so I gotta be self sufficient)
Ritchy Compact Crank with a Shimano everything else, a 12-28 on the back and a K-edge chain drop guard (mutch needed addition I discovered last year)
Terry Butterfly seat and I'm planning on throwing the Selle Atomica in my suitcase for a little variety on my tush.
Layers Layers Layers Layers. Lots of Layers. The one thing I think I need to buy before I get there is a good pair of glove liners. I've got a pair of warm gloves I like, but the liners would be helpful on the warmer days.
I'll be riding my basically new (had it 3 weeks) Specialized Tarmac SL2 comp. This sucker is so new that most of the cassette is still bright and shiny.
Ultegra compact crank, 11-28 cassette, Velocity Deep V Powertap laced wheel, Body Geometry Romin Comp saddle (hoping my butt is used to it by ToC).
A couple tires, about 5 tubes, 5 or 6 CO2s. Me and flats run in streaks. Hoping I'm on a flat free period but if not I'll be ready.
Been trying to ride and shift it lots to get the cables broken in / stretched so I can tune it up before getting out there.
Will be bringing layers and basically every piece of cycling clothing I own. My biggest concern is going to be keeping my fingers and feets warm if the weather is like what Nemo posted in her pics on Facebook. Wool socks, booties, toe warmers, gloves, gloves and gloves.
It'll be warm, chilly, wet, perfect, awesome. Mostly awesome. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll hurl. It's a hard ride if you ride hard.
Bring rugged wheels. Compact and 27 or 28. Bring flexibility, as it always changes. Listen to Nemo. She knows.
What a great week.
Compression socks for recovery is helpful too.
If you deathly allergic to anything (anaphylatic shock from bee stings, eating peanuts, etc), bring an epi-pen.
Also, I'll note that while it's tempting to pack a lot of stuff, keep in mind that YOU have to lug that piece of luggage from your hotel room to the van in the morning and back again to the next hotel room in the evening after spending a looooong day of biking. So as much as you want to bring everything you own, do yourself a favor and pack light.
What you don't need: Lots of "after ride" stuff. You need a recovery/post ride kit that you'll wear every day after the ride on the way to the next hotel. Fresh undies for proper undercarriage care of course, but otherwise just bring a pair of jammies, sweats, recovery socks, whatever and plan to use that every day after the ride. Then have maybe 2 evening outfits for after you are showered up at the hotel. And the only reason I say 2 is because the weather will vary, so maybe 1 pair of shorts and 1 pair of jeans. You will NOT be in this stuff for long 'cause what your really gonna want to do is eat dinner and go to bed! We get a chance to do laundry about half way through the week, so you just don't need much in the "non-riding" side of things.
Great tips everyone! I would have forgotten the butt cream and recovery socks.
One question I have is what do you all normally do about your legs on rainy days? I have a Gore Wear jacket that I planned on bringing for the top half. Not having done much riding in the rain, I typically just tough it out on the bottom half. Not sure if that is the smartest idea when it may get cold as well.
Also, it might be a good thing to bring your can of Embrocation by Soigneur!
Repeat after me:
There will be no rain
There will be no rain
There will be no rain
There will be no rain
There will be no rain
There will be no rain
There will be no rain
Bring:
For Riding:
For you, for after:
I will bring my rain coat anyways. I can use it as a pillow :-)
I am totally in for the running as well. Need to keep the running legs for CdA.
If we pack stuff in our bike boxes (i.e. tubes, tires, CO2, helmet, bottles) can you throw the stuff in the van and bring up to Sacramento when you pick some us up from there?
Also, any chance you will have received the cycling kits before ToC? I saw somewhere you were expecting to receive stuff in May. I ordered a pair of bibs and could save the hassle / cost of shipping but picking them up there and riding in them that week (otherwise I have to go buy another set before I leave).
They go under the bibs.
SoCal telling Jersey how to wear winter kit....