May 29

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!