May 29

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!