What to Pack for the Ride
Helmet
You must wear a hard bike helmet at all times on the ride when you are pedaling.
No helmet/no ride/no exceptions.
Really.
Oh yeah, and while we’re being mean, no earphones or cell phones while you’re pedaling either. If you break these rules, we will kick you off the ride and everyone will laugh at you when you’re not looking. No refunds.
Water Bottles
Bring TWO water bottles with you or you will dehydrate and die. Have a nice day!
Gear
EVERYONE should have these items with them at all times during the ride:
A cell phone (if you own one...)
A small tire patch kit
TWO inner tubes that fit your bike
A small tire pump
AND...
99% of bikes today come with quick-release wheels (you flip open a little lever to remove the wheel). If your bike does NOT have quick-release wheels that’s fine, but that means that you should ALSO be carrying a small wrench that fits your wheels. That’s so the wheel can be removed in case you get a flat. If you’re not sure which type of wheels you have just ask your friendly bike shop crew.
Even if you don’t know how to use this gear you should still be carrying it. If you get a flat (and ALL bicycles get flats...) we can get you back on the road in 10 minutes if you are carrying this stuff. It can be 45 minutes or longer (MUCH longer) if you aren’t carrying this stuff.
Locks
Highly unnecessary. We always see someone pedaling with a 20-pound chain on their bike. This does NOT mean that you should leave your bike unattended; it does mean that you can usually get a trustworthy friend to watch your bike for you while you duck in somewhere for two minutes.
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Photo by Stacey Brecher
Luggage
We offer free luggage service to Montauk. Bring one gym bag or backpack per person to morning check-in, and we'll take it out to the finish line for you on our private trucks. We’ll give you a free luggage I.D. tag for your bag.
How much luggage can you pack? You should be able to lift your bag over your head easily. If it’s too heavy... it’s too heavy!
Things to pack in your bag:
A towel (there are free hot showers at the finish line!)
We provide free organic liquid soap for the showers, but if you really want your favorite soap, shampoo, or conditioner, be sure to pack it in your luggage CAREFULLY inside a zip-lock bag or other leak-proof container.
A change of clothes
A snack. (There is a free all-you-can-eat hot meal served at the finish line, but you might want to bring your favorite snack for the trip home)
A book or newspaper for the trip home (assuming that you are not the person doing the driving!)
Do NOT put your house keys, eyeglasses, asthma inhaler, methadone, money, etc. in your luggage. (What if your bike breaks down and you decide to take the subway home? Your vital stuff will be in Montauk!)
Camera
Don’t forget about the Ride to Montauk photo contest. Any picture that you take on September 8th from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. counts. The first prize is two free passes to the ride next year and a $100 bike shop gift certificate.
To enter just email your photos to photos@ridetomontauk.com after the event. Send as many as you want, but please don’t just forward the entire contents of your camera (including photos of your cousin’s wedding).
Don’t forget to include your name and contact info so we can reach you if you win.
Deadline for submitting photos: October 1, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. The judging will be highly subjective and probably unfair.
Note from the Evil Marketing Department: any photos you submit become the property of the Ride to Montauk and Bicycle Shows U.S. We reserve the right to use them to promote any of our rides, and to reprint them on a dreadful series of tacky and poorly made coffee mugs, mouse pads, keychains, and T-shirts, which we will make millions off of. Wah-ha-ha-ha!
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Photo by Steven Farrell
Money
Bring some, for lunch and emergencies.