Orientation Day Tips

You made it to San Francisco, and you’re reading the directions for how to get to the Cow Palace on Saturday. Not quite sure what to expect on Day 0? Read on for some tips and tricks to help you navigate Orientation Day.

What to bring today?

• patience
• hugs and thank you’s for all the roadies and volunteers, and all your friends
• your bike
• yourself
• your e-ticket
• any extra checks and donation forms (plus your credit card, if you will need to self-pledge)
• jacket - it can get chilly
• sunscreen - lines can snake around the building, and even on an overcast day you could get sunburnt
• big bottle of water, drinks and snacks - you will spend several hours at Orientation, and it’s easy to get dehydrated and hungry. There is a small concession stand, but it’s so much easier to bring your own supply of goodies. Bring enough to share, and you might get some extra donations from those without such good planning advice in return for a snack or drink!
• some extra cash for any goodies that may catch your eye at the camp store! They will have the best selection on Day 0; popular items often sell out then, or shortly after so make sure get anything today that you can’t live without.
• watch, so you can keep track of time and when you planned to meet people
• camera
• business cards or scrap paper and a pen, so you can exchange information with all the cool new friends you will meet while standing in line

What not to bring?

• your gear bag (unless you arrive that day directly from the airport - they will have a temporary holding area for luggage. You will need to take it with you when you leave, and bring it back the next morning).
• high heels (unless you’re Ginger) - you will be standing and walking around for hours. Comfortable footwear is a must.
• your water bottle
• your helmet
• an attitude

Other Notes

• Get there early, so you have plenty of time to make it through the different stages
• There will be a separate line for team tenting; team areas will only be held until 3pm, so make sure you check in WITH YOUR TENTMATE well before 3pm. After that, you MAY end up in a different section of the tent grid.
• You still have to check in with your tentmate, so make sure they’re with you (or within easy reach - cell phone signals can be spotty, so do not rely on being able to call them inside the Cow Palace)

Wear your Team 100 apparel so we can easily spot each other!

Take Me To The Palace Of The Cows!

So you’re in San Francisco, but don’t know your way around - how do you get to the Cow Palace? To your hotel? To or from the airport? All the directions are below, courtesy of Stanley:

FROM SFO AIRPORT

So … you just landed at SFO.  Now What?

1. Take the tram at SFO to BART.  $5.35
2. Take BART and get OFF at Civic Center
3. Walk through the park to Van Ness
4. Take #47 or #49 bus 9 blocks up to Geary.  $1.50

You’re now at the Cathedral Hotel.

FROM OAKLAND AIRPORT

So … you just landed at OAKLAND.  Now What?

1. Take the AIR BART SHUTTLE to BART Coliseum.  $3.00
2. Take BART and get OFF at Civic Center $3.55
3. Walk through the park to Van Ness
4. Take #47 or #49 bus 9 blocks up to Geary.  $1.50

You’re now at the Cathedral Hotel.

SATURDAY, DAY 0  -  ORIENTATION DAY

Would you like to get to the Cow Palace but you don’t have a car?

DIRECTIONS from the Cathedral Hotel to the COW PALACE

• Depart: 1101 Van Ness Ave in San Francisco  (down the street from hotel)
• Then: Go to S.E. Corner Of Post St & Van Ness Ave
• Board: SF Muni Bus #2/Ferry Plaza at 6:06 am (next bus at 6:26 am – runs approx every 15-20 mins)  »ALWAYS ASK FOR A TRANSFER!
• Fare: Pay $1.50, Get S.F. Muni Transfer
• Get Off: Post St & Powell St at 6:12 am
• Go to: N.W. Corner Of Stockton St & Geary Blvd
• Board: SF Muni Bus #9x/City College at 6:17 am (next bus at 6:27 am)
• Fare: Show Transfer To Driver
• Get Off: Geneva Ave & Santos St at 6:45 am
• Go to: 2600 Geneva Ave in Daly City

Total Travel Time: 49 min

Total Cash Fare: $1.50 

DIRECTIONS from the COW PALACE back to Cathedral Hotel

• Depart: 2600 Geneva Ave in Daly City
• Go to: S.E. Corner Of Geneva Ave & Rio Verde St
• Board: SF Muni Bus #9/Main & Mission at 2:07 pm (next bus at 2:19 pm)
• »ALWAYS ASK FOR A TRANSFER!
• Fare: Pay $1.50, Get S.F. Muni Transfer
• Get Off: 11th St & Market St at 4:41 pm
• Go to: N.E. Corner Of Van Ness Ave & Market St
•  Board: SF Muni Bus #49/North Point&Van Ness at 2:45 pm (next bus 2:54 pm)
• Fare: Show Transfer To Driver
• Get Off: Van Ness Ave & Post St at 4:53 pm
• Go to: 1101 Van Ness Ave in San Francisco

Total Travel Time: 53 min  

Total Cash Fare: $1.50

Are You Ready Yet?

Less than two days till Orientation…. here is a final to-do list, especially for all of you last-minute packers!

Getting Ready

• Find and test those extra camera batteries, memory cards, chargers, and any new devices. Making new things work is much easier in the comfort of your living room and the manual at hand.
• If you have pets, make arrangements with your vet and a local emergency animal hospital so they have all the necessary approvals and financial paperwork to treat your pet in case of an emergency. This will make such an event much less stressful for you and your pet sitter, and ensure that any necessary care won’t be held up by red tape.
• If you’re planning to send postcards from the Ride, get them ready now: make or buy the postcards. address them (printed labels are the easiest way). Put a postcard stamp on each one (check correct postcards for any you’re sending overseas). Put them in a small ziploc bag along with a pen. Add to pile of things to be packed soon.
• Make your bag distinctive, so it’s easy to find amongst the other 3000 bags of roughly the same shape and colour! Add an artistic design with masking tape, tie on a small flag, spray paint a smiley face on it, attach a distinctive luggage tag…. Remember that anything in rainbow colours may not stand out as much in this group.
• Charge all of your devices, clear all the memory cards, and put new batteries into anything that needs it.
• Set your Out Of Office reminders.
• Do any last minute laundry (make sure the dryer is working).
• Make sure your house sitter or pet sitter is still available, and knows when to show up.
• Book your transport to the airport.
• Water your plants.
• Pack your empty water bottles. Both of them. And your empty camelback, if you use one.
• Weigh your bag. If it’s over 50lbs fully packed, take out items until the scale drops below fifty; grab a small empty duffle to hold all the extra items and take it as hand luggage. Voila, no excess baggage charges.
• Firmly attach your helmet to your bag so you can’t possibly forget it. But do NOT pack it. Take it on the plane with you, or wear it - just don’t put it in your checked luggage.
• Print out your e-ticket for ALC, your flight ticket, directions to the hotel and the Cow Palace, and any other reservation details you may need along the way. Print a second copy of your e-ticket and put it in a safe place (but not so safe that you only find it three weeks later).
• Make sure your ID, credit card and medical card are where you think they are, and put them somewhere you won’t forget them.

Travelling Tips

• Bring your helmet, but do NOT pack it.
• Bring some extra cash, in case the airline decided overnight to charge extra for bags that were free yesterday.
• Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the airport; wear your ALC shirt and you’re bound to start a few conversations, and probably find some other riders on the same flight.
• Print out the directions to the hotel (or Cow Palace), and a copy of your reservation. If you’re taking BART and/or MUNI, print out a small area map for where you’re going, and bring some cash for the fare into town.

Have a safe trip, and see you in San Francisco! 

Food, Fun, Camp Life And Red Dresses

The final training ride and Shifting Gears send-off picnic was a big success - everybody got to relax and mingle, meet other team members again, the food was wonderful (especially those delicious pastries), and Tony Z had everybody up and laughing as we learned more about who is an early bird vs a late riser, chatty in the morning vs not awake till noon, snorer vs non-snorer, and many other fascinating details.

The final packing clinic of the season followed Tony and Elaine’s hilarious “Camp Life” demonstration, and the long-awaited Red Dress Fashion Show! Thanks to all of our intrepid models who helped to show just how much fun Red Dress Day will be, and to everybody who purchased their very own dress: we raised another 50 dollars for ALC!

Photos from the ride and picnic are available here: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/5031739_pFpJE#302153152_2LQiN 

Send-Off Ride, Picnic And Fashion Show - THIS SUNDAY!

Join us for a last, short ride this Sunday, May 25th to celebrate the end of training season before we leave for San Francisco. We’ll take an easy spin through the Marina into Playa Del Rey, with a lap up Westchester Parkway and return to Helen’s in time for the Send-Off picnic.

ALC Riders and roadies -  please join us for the big ANNUAL POT LUCK PICNIC CELEBRATION from 11am on Sunday May 25th, hosted by Shifting Gears and Helen’s Cycles at the Yahoo Center park (across the street from Helen’s). We will supply side dishes, drinks and dessert so just bring your favourite dish to share. Invite your family, friends and other riders to celebrate with us - you don’t have to be a team member to join in the fun!

We will have a full afternoon of food, fun, facts and fabulous entertainment with something for everybody:

• flat tire clinic
• final packing clinic (2 gallon ziplocs will be available in return for ALC donation)
• extra discounts at Helen’s for all those final accessories and purchases
• and the Not-To-Be-Missed Red Dress Fashion Show And Auction! Brendan and Chris will be presenting the ALC Red Dress Summer collection, modeled by your fearless teammate - and every item will be available for bidding, with all money going to ALC! This is your chance to find your very own red dress day outfit, add some cool accessories, or upgrade from your existing one! We will have something in all shapes and sizes to choose from, and I bet there will be a cute little number that will catch your eye, so bring a little extra cash for that red impluse buy!

Team 100 Jerseys Are Here!

The new jerseys are in, and they’re beautiful! Pick up yours at the send-off picnic this Sunday, or contact Leslie to make other arrangements if you’re away for the weekend.

We will have a few extras available for anyone who didn’t order one, but there are not many left so we will sell them on a first-come-first-served basis. 

Party This Sunday - And Fun-Raise!

With just 9 days to go, now is the time to recover, rest, relax and have fun before the big Ride. Most people even get Monday off, so why not plan a fun evening on Sunday?

We can offer you not one but TWO choices for a wonderful evening that also raises money for ALC, and helps our friends Kristen and Peanut make their fundraising minimum!

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Peanut’s Live Music Party

Peanut (aka rider 6109) is hosting a special evening of music and live performances as a fundraising party for ALC. Suggested donation is $10 (free for all who have already donated to her); bringing your own drink would be highly appreciated. Please RSVP to the number below.

When: Sunday, May 25 starting at 6:30pm

Where: 8686 Lookout Mountain Ave, Los Angeles CA 90046

RSVP/Questions: Please call (323) 650 9522

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Randi Driscoll Live In Concert

Acoustic artist and AIDS activist Randi Driscoll will be playing a house concert on Sunday, May 25th in Altadena as an ALC fundraiser. Come to listen to an amazing artist, and support rider Kristen McFadden in her fundraising efforts!

WHEN: Sunday May 25th, 6pm doors open, 6:45pm concert

WHERE: The home of Teresa Fuller, 606 Barry Place, Altadena, CA 91001

QUESTIONS? Contact Kristen McFadden at 323-793-2974

Sparkle In Your Eyes - And Your Jersey

Are the regular ALC jerseys just not bright and sparkly enough for you? Help is at hand: rider Ali Rahimi (#6069) is offering a beautifully designed and bedazzled jersey with a bright AIDS ribbon of Swarovski crystals, so you can sparkle all the way from SF to LA!

Best of all, the entire proceeds from the sale will go directly to ALC so you get style AND substance! Ali is offering three options:

• Pearl Jersey with beading - $115
  
• Applying the beading to a jersey or T-Shirtyou provide - $75
• Purchasing the beading only (you will have to apply it yourself) - $65
  

For any questions or to order, please contact Ali Rahimi via email: ali@monatelier.com. Payment should be in the form of a check or money order, made out to Ali Rahimi or Cash.

In Silent Memory

On May 21st, 30 riders from all different backgrounds gathered at Helen’s on Broadway for the Santa Monica installment of the Ride of Silence.

This ride was first held in Dallas in 2003, in memory of local cyclist Larry Schwartz (struck and killed by the mirror of a passing bus), and has grown into an annual memorial ride around the globe. With a slow, silent procession of riders throughout a slow, 10 mile route, this ride aims to honor all cyclists killed or injured and to raise awareness for motorists that bicycles have a legal right to share the road with other traffic.

Our route was simple and safe, mostly in bike lanes on Broadway and San Vicente. A few other riders joined the group for a few blocks in solidarity, and most drivers gave us lots of room since the group stayed together - there is definitely strength in numbers!

It was almost eerie to ride in complete silence, only pointing at obstacles without using any voice at all, and just hearing the sounds of wheels, pedals, and cleats clicking into place. It felt like a moving Zen meditation!

Pictures from the ride can be found here: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/4995059_EzzUD#299484364_wim7c