Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions with answers that you might find helpful.

Basics and Fundraising
What kind of bike tour is this?
What does a “vehicle supported, no frills” tour entail?
How do I get that much time off work?
What happens to the $10,000 I raise?
How do I raise money?
How can people donate?

Preparations for the Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour
I've never done anything like this before. How hard is it?
Do we ride every day?
What sort of non-physical preparation should I do?
What training should I do to get ready?

Equipment
What kind of bike do I need?
What kind of bike clothes should I wear?
What should I carry on my bike each day?
What gear should I bring along for use at the campsite?
Can I take my bike on an airplane?

On the Ride
Where does the tour begin and how can I get there?
What about hydration on the road?
How is food provided?
What can I expect at campsites?
How we will do laundry?
Sixty-four days is a long time. Can I meet a family member along the way?
Are there rules-of-the-road?
What sort of bike maintenance should I plan on doing? How can I make my bike more maintenance friendly?
What will a typical day look like?
How should I document my trip?
How can I communicate with friends and supporters when on the road?
How do I get home?

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Basics and Fundraising

Q: What kind of Bike tour is this?
A: Sea to Sea 2008 is a vehicle supported no frills bike tour, which will begin with registration and orientation June 28, 2008 in Seattle, WA and end August 31, 2008 in New Jersey. The route will take the participants on a journey across the United States and Canada visiting as many communities with Christian Reformed churches as possible. The focus of this tour is to engage individuals and churches in activities that help the poor and raise awareness and money that support programs aimed at alleviating poverty.

Q: What does a “vehicle supported, no frills” tour entail?
A: Vehicle support means that there will be gear trucks to transport the cyclists’ personal belongings and camping gear from one campsite to the next. Each person will have a space in a truck to store their clothing and other belongings, most likely a shelf with two laundry baskets. In addition, everyone will be allowed one large bag, i.e. hockey bag or army duffel, to store their tent, sleeping bag, camp chair, etc. Vehicle support also means that there will be SAG (support and gear) wagons along each day’s route. These vehicles will carry basic necessities as well as enable direct communication to the tour manager. The SAG wagons will also provide transportation for any cyclists who cannot continue on the daily route for any number of reasons. ‘No frills’ mainly refers to the type of accommodations; most nights the cyclists will be camping.

Q: How do I get that much time off work?
A: You'll want to discuss this with your company soon so they can plan around it. Be direct and open. Get them engaged in your adventure by telling them why this is important to you. Maybe you can take vacation time or use sick time. Or tell them you are willing to take time off without pay. Maybe a short leave of absence works best. Don't wait until the spring to discuss this with them.

Q: What happens to the $10,000 I raise?
A: The goal is that the entire $10,000 raised by each cyclist will go to agencies who work to end the cycle of poverty. Follow this link for examples of the types of projects that will receive support from this tour. If the tour does not generate sufficient corporate donations to underwrite the costs related to the tour, a portion of the money raised by the cyclists will be needed to cover those expenses.

Q: How do I raise money?
A: Reaching and surpassing the $10,000 target will take the support of your sponsoring church(es), family, friends and business relationships. Tour organizers will offer tips and resources to help you. Because the cause—alleviating poverty—is something more than just the church can get excited about, be encouraged to approach individuals and businesses outside of your church community, thereby sharing the financial load and getting more people excited about your journey and the tour in general. Sea to Sea 2008 is under the umbrella of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Donations are tax deductible in both the United States and Canada, and each donor will receive the proper receipt documentation.

Some fund raising suggestions:

Ask everybody.
Ask your family.
Ask your friends at work.
Ask your friends at church or other organizations with which you are involved.
Send out a brief "what's up with me" e-mail to everyone in your address book and conclude with "If the prospect of eliminating poverty is interesting to you, too, you may want to contribute to my ride. Let me tell you how."
Send a more detailed letter to those who you think are reasonably likely to donate. Mention what the ride benefits, the programs the money will support, and the hard work you're doing to get ready.
Ask for donations instead of a birthday gift.
Don't forget company matching gifts. Ask all donors if their companies match charitable contributions.
Ask companies for donations. If they would rather donate products than money, have an auction. What's in your garage, closets, or attic that could be used?
Ask markets or restaurants or caterers to donate food. Invite lots of people, have a good time, and make your pitch.
Network. Your upcoming cross ride makes very interesting small talk, and you may get donations, people to contact, or other ideas when you bring it up with acquaintances.
Ask big. Ask in proportion to how much effort you are putting into this.
Periodically send supporters or potential supporters brief updates. This shows your appreciation for their donations and updates them on the effort you're going through to get ready.
After the ride, thank your donors somehow. It may be as simple as an e-mail with a summary and photos.

Q: How can people donate?
A: Donors can go to the Sea to Sea web site www.seatosea.org and make an online donation. Each cyclist will have their own page where people can donate in their name. Donors can pay by cash, check or credit card directly to you as well. You can download credit card slips from the password-protected portion of the Sea to Sea web site. There you can also find Pledge Tracking Forms to help you keep track of your gifts. Fill out that form and send it, with credit card slips and checks, to the Sea to Sea office on a regular basis so they can be processed and the donors can be sent a receipt. Do not send cash in the mail.

Preparations for the Sea to Sea Bike Tour
Q: I've never done anything like this before. How hard is it?
A: As a familiar saying goes, "If it were easy, every one would be doing it." Make no mistake; this is not a walk in the park. But with dedication and training, it can be done by most anyone willing to put in the time to train and the dedication on the road to complete the trip. When the CRC hosted a similar ride in 2005, the riders ranged in age from 18 to 75, some had lots of experience, some had very little. If you train well and have the desire to do it, you most likely can. Many experienced riders will tell you that a positive mental attitude is your most important possession.

Q: Do we ride everyday?
A: No you will be riding Monday through Saturday with Sundays off. On most of those Sundays, a Celebration Rally will be planned in the area.

Q: What sort of non-physical preparation should I do?
A: A simple rule is: never do anything for the first time on the Ride. You will want to have biked in hot, cold, and rainy conditions beforehand, found out what didn't work, and fixed it during your training time. During a thunderstorm in Oregon is the wrong time to observe, "Gee, this rain jacket doesn't go down far enough in the back." Or that it doesn't keep out the water, or is too hot, or whatever. You don't want to discover that you don't like your seat, shoes, gloves, glasses, helmet, or any other piece of equipment in various situations. Find out during your training rides which energy drink you like (some people find that not all brands agree with them). You'll want to get good at simple bike maintenance—cleaning the chain and gears, replacing tires, adjusting the seat, tightening and tweaking, etc. Do not get your bike tuned up and pick it up from the shop the day before the Ride starts—do your tune up at least two weeks before and ride it to make sure everything works fine. Don't buy your tent, sleeping pad, or sleeping bag the day before the Ride starts—buy them well before the Ride and spend a night using them so you can return anything that you don't like. Having recently set up your tent a few times may save some embarrassment after the first day's ride.

Q: What training should I do to get ready?
A: The average riding day covers 68 miles. There will be at least 4 centuries (daily rides of at least 100 miles), and many days will have significant climbing. Here again, you should have experienced the basics of the route many times before you even start: long days in the saddle, long hills, short but steep climbs, and so on. Some riders may be from flat areas and hill training can be a real challenge. Perhaps you’ll find that highway overpasses are as close as you can get to hills. Sea to Sea 2008 will have substantially more challenging hills, as you can imagine. In brief, you should plan on riding at least 2000 miles between January and the start of the ride. Work out a weekly mileage goal, increasing no more than 10% per week and culminating in roughly 250 miles per week by mid-June. Initially, focus on distance at an easy pace, and increase the intensity during the Spring. Work in several centuries (100-mile rides). Use shorter rides to increase your intensity, and you'll be surprised at the improvement in your average speed on the longer rides. Shorter (30-60 minute) aerobics workouts at the gym are good, too. But be sure to give yourself some recovery time. Remember that your muscles can only get stronger when you're resting. Don't forget to stretch, especially right after a workout. A heart monitor can be a great way to measure your exertion, both to make sure you're not slacking off and to avoid overtraining. During training, you should gradually understand your body as a machine, know what it needs, and learn its warning signs. If something hurts or gets numb, check with your bike shop or bike expert and fix it. When riding, vary your hand positions on the handlebars to avoid numbness. Briefly pedal standing up once a mile to rest your legs. This also helps prevent a sore butt. Cramping usually means dehydration. You should be (gradually) drinking at least one large bottle every hour, and if you don't have to urinate, you're not drinking enough. Remember that carbohydrates need extra water to metabolize. Always drink before you're thirsty and eat before you're hungry. When training, it makes sense to occasionally bike really hard. If your muscles are sore the next day, that's great-you're making progress. But on the ride, you'll back off the intensity, knowing you need to be ready to ride again tomorrow. Look for training rides in your area to help you get ready.

Equipment
Q: What kind of bike do I need?
A: A road bike is preferred by most long distance riders but mountain bikes outfitted with slick, narrower tires will work fairly well. Several recumbent and tandem bikes have participated in Rides. "Touring" or "Sport" road bikes are preferable to "Racing" machines since the super light weight of a pure racing machine often come at a cost in terms of comfort, durability, and expense. There are a great many manufacturers today who make quality road bikes that won't cost you an arm and a leg. If you need a new bike, $1000 is a rough price range to consider. A few tips: be sure you have a wide range of gears on the rear cluster and a triple front chain ring with gears low enough to climb those long hills. A road racing setup is not the best. Also be sure you have a quality set of wheels on the bike since they will take lots of abuse over the duration of a 3700 mile ride. Give us a call to discuss in more detail or see your local bike shop for advice. Once you have your bike, ask the bike shop about getting it fitted. This process makes sure that the seat, pedals, and shoes are all where they should be. A poorly-fitted bike can be uncomfortable or cause joint pain. If you do have pain, don't live with it. Get advice from the bike shop (or other expert) and get it fixed. Most riders use pedal clips. With the appropriate bike shoes, these attach your foot to the pedal. The benefit is that your foot is always in the perfect spot on the pedal and you can pull up as well as push down. Your foot comes free with a twist, but you'll want a little time to get comfortable with these if you haven't used them before. If necessary, buy your new bike, seat, pedals, aero bars, fenders, or other new bike gear soon and work out with them. Very often, new gear needs tweaking, and you'll want to complete your tweaking early. Make sure that all maintenance (new tires, a visit to the bike shop, etc.) is done shortly before the beginning of the ride (but not so recently that you haven't ridden the bike a few more times to make sure everything's OK).

Q: What kind of bike clothes should I wear?
A: After a long, hot climb, riding down the other side with a soggy jersey can be refreshing. If you cool off at the top, a long ride down can be cool or even cold. And that's if you're wearing fleece or other synthetics. If you wear cotton, you can get really cold after a break. Always wear synthetic, moisture-wicking fabrics. Bike shorts should fit well and have padding. You'll be sitting for a long time, and you'll appreciate all the padding you can get. Never wear underwear under bike shorts. Good bike shoes are typically quite stiff to maximize the energy you transmit through your feet. There are many different styles of gloves. Some have absorbent material near the thumb to use to wipe your face. Some don't have full fingers. Some have extra thick padding in the palm. If you're a casual rider who wears sweatpants or shorts, you'll want to consider proper bike clothes. You don't have to look like a peacock, and they make a lot of sense. Beyond the basic shorts and jersey, you'll need a rain jacket and warm fleece clothes. The fleece can come in various forms. Some riders like leg and arm warmers that can be pulled off after the day warms up while others like tights and fleece shirt. You will want at least three pairs of the essentials (shorts, shirt, socks) because washing every day will be inconvenient. Optional: windproof glove covers, boot covers, and headband/ear warmers.

Q: What should I carry on my bike each day?
A: Some suggestions:

A helmet is required, and almost everyone wears biking gloves. A mirror is recommended.
Bring plenty of water (or Gatorade equivalent).
Carry enough food for lunch and snacks.
A cell phone can be a handy piece of safety equipment.
Repair supplies. Bring two bike tubes, tire irons, tire pump, tool kit (an all-in-one tool kit is small), and a tube repair kit (yes, you'll probably want to just replace tubes, but the repair kit is so tiny that it's nice insurance).
Sunglasses keep wind and bugs out of your eyes. Some people bring different lenses or glasses for overcast days.
A bike odometer can give you elapsed mileage to help you decide where you are, as well as speed and time of day. Some report cadence (rpm), which can be helpful for adjusting your riding style.
Don't forget sunscreen and antibacterial hand wash (assume that your hands are filthy and hand wash helps minimize germs).
More on the mirror-attached to the left side of your glasses, your helmet, or your handlebar-lets you see at a glance what's behind you.
Most riders have some small amount of storage-a Camelback, a bike bag under the top tube, a waist pack, or a box on a rack behind the seat-for warm clothes needed in the cool morning air but unnecessary after the first break.
Extra clothes. The expected weather can also make a difference. Is rain or cold weather possible? Remember that a rain jacket can be very welcome during a long, cold descent after a mountain pass.
Route map. After dinner each night, you will be given the route map for the next day. This will be your guide to the next campsite.
Identification and insurance information.
Optional. Consider: sweat band, bell, Bag Balm (or equivalent), first aid kit, lip balm, credit card, camera, pencil and paper.
Some riders will buy something new (gloves, boot covers, seat, whatever), then try it out, learn more about how it should work, but still be dissatisfied. Then they go back and buy another one. Two lessons: save your receipts and expect to learn through trial and error.

Q: What gear should I bring along for use at the campsite?
A: You will be limited by the space allotted in the gear truck. One shelf with two laundry baskets (you do not need to use the baskets, but they provide an easy way to store your belongings) and one large bag to store your tent, sleeping bag and other gear. This checklist will help you find the things you will need in camp. Some are suggestions, so don't feel obliged to bring everything.

Tent, sleeping bag, Thermarest (or other sleeping pad), and sheet. Your tent should work well in the rain and in hot weather. Two doorways will increase ventilation, and one or more vestibules will let you protect more against the rain. The sheet will be handy when it's hot-you can unzip your sleeping bag and lay on it.
Camp chair
Dishes and utensils (for personal use only, cooking gear will be taken care of)
Flashlight or headlamp + batteries
Laundry soap, clothes line, bottle brush and disinfectant (sports drinks can encourage bacteria growth).
Bike maintenance. Chain cleaner, rags, chain lubricant.
Camp clothes: shorts, shirts, and sandals or shoes. You will spend a lot of time in sweaty bike clothes, and your skin will thank you for wearing loose-fitting, airy clothes after your shower. It can get cool at night and mosquitoes are occasionally a problem, so a long sleeve shirt is also good.
Towel and toiletries. This can include shampoo, soap (liquid soap can be less messy than bar soap in a box), first aid kit (including bandaids, blister protection, and antibiotic ointment), toothbrush and toothpaste, manicure set, bug repellant, Bag Balm (or Vaseline), skin lotion, deodorant, razor, ear plugs, prescriptions, and so on. Since we can't give you medicine on the ride, consider Pepto Bismol, Imodium, cold medicine, aspirin equivalent, and other medicine to handle common situations.
Optional. A book or two, journal and pencil, big and small plastic bags (you'll probably rearrange where stuff goes, and bags can be handy for sorting), alarm clock, insurance information, photos of the family, extra eyeglasses, zip ties (to refasten stuff to the bike), shower cap for bike seat at night, extra shoe cleats, extra spokes, airline ticket to return home, details of all the stuff in your wallet (in case it is lost and must be replaced). It's good to write your name in things that might get misplaced. Don't bring: spare wheels or other large bike parts. Don't bring cooking gear or other communal camping gear. Don't bring too much of consumables that you can buy on the way (snack bars, energy drink powder, tubes).

Q: Can I take my bike on an airplane?
A: Yes you can fly with your bike. Most airlines ask that your bike is packaged in a box, which you can get from your local bike shop. There is also an additional fee charged varying from $50 to $95 depending on the airline.

On the Ride
Q: Where does the tour begin and how can I get there?
A: It will begin in the Greater Seattle area. We will provide specifics after the route and orientation location are finalized. Depending on where you are coming from, you can either drive or fly into Seattle. Sea to Sea 2008 will arrange shuttles from the airport on the day or arrival, Saturday, June 28.

Q: What about hydration on the road?
A: Water is very important. You should expect lots of hot days. As a minimum, you should take two large water bottles. Some riders bring energy drink (Gatorade or equivalent) in one or both bottles. Backpacks such as the Camelback are also a good option. When riding, be sure to monitor your water supply and ask yourself if you should be looking for a water stop. Your daily route map will tell you where the towns are.

Q: How is food provided?
A: The Sea to Sea bike tour will provide food for the cyclists. Each day, breakfast and dinner will be served buffet-style at the campsite (unless special arrangements are made by a local church). The food will be prepared by the volunteer staff and the cyclists will be asked to help on a rotating basis. The food for lunch will be out during breakfast for you to pack and take with you.

Q: What can I expect at campsites?
A: Each campsite will be different, but as a minimum, you can expect showers and clean water. With the water, you'll be able to refill your bottles, rinse off your bike if necessary, and do minimal laundry (a bucket with laundry soap, followed by a rinse and line dry). Typically, you'll find electricity and phones. Less frequently, but often enough, you'll find web access and a Laundromat-if not at the campsite, at least in town.

Q: How we will do laundry?
A: In a few ways - We will, on occasion, be near a laundromat that you can ride or walk to do your laundry. On other days you will probably wash out your riding clothes with the water sources available in camp (be sure to bring a small container of liquid soap) and hang them to dry in camp.

Q: Sixty-four days is a long time. Can I meet a family member along the way?
A: Sure! Once the route and accommodations are finalized they will be available for you to share with those who would like to visit you.

Q: Are there rules-of-the-road?
A: There are a few common sense rules that we will enforce. You must wear a helmet and a safety vest when biking, and you must ride safely. Beyond that, we only ask for common courtesy. Some thoughts:

Pace lines (riding within a wheel diameter of the person ahead of you) can be tricky. When there's a headwind, pace lines can be almost essential, but pace lines increase risk. If one person applies his brakes suddenly (a dog darts out, a car looks like it might pull out, the guy ahead slows unexpectedly), a crash is very possible. Besides, if you're in a pace line, you don't have as much freedom to watch the scenery or stop when you want to. Pace lines are a major source of injury.
Watch out for riding abreast. If conditions allow, it's easier to talk this way, but safety and courtesy to drivers comes first. Remember that the driver you annoy may take out his anger on the next biker he sees.

Q: What sort of bike maintenance should I plan on doing? How can I make my bike more maintenance friendly?
A: A big one is fixing flat tires. If you've never done this before, talk with someone who's done it before (in your local bike shop, for example), and practice replacing a tube at home. It's a lot easier learning this in a warm and dry kitchen or garage than by the side of the road. In the 2005 Sea to Sea tour, some riders had many flats, and some (only three, to be exact) had none. This isn't just luck—you can select gear that minimizes flats. Select a tough tire, not a racing tire. A tire width of at least 25mm will give a slightly more comfortable and safer ride than a narrow racing tire. Some riders even use tire inserts (thin strips that go between tire and tube) to further strengthen the tire. Non-standard wheels (650mm rims, long needle valves, nonstandard spokes, nonstandard valves, and so on) will mean that passing riders will be less likely to help you with spokes or tubes. When riding in a group, the lead rider will typically point out any glass, potholes, or other things to avoid helping those behind. Glass typically takes several revolutions to push through the tire, so if you do ride through glass, quickly put your (gloved!) hand on the tire for a few revolutions to scrape off any glass. This technique, especially on the back tire, takes practice. You can repair a punctured tube, but most riders simply replace them, figuring that the cost of a new tube is better than the risk that a repair won't hold. Take the damaged tube to camp and repair it where you can spend the time to do it right. Bike cleaning is another maintenance chore to plan for. Bring any solvents or lubricants you customarily use. Most riders spend some time on their days off cleaning and tweaking their bikes or finding a bike shop for tubes or other supplies. For more complex tasks, you'll find most riding partners eager to share expertise, time, and supplies. In the worst case, where you can't repair the bike by the side of the road, the support van will be able to carry you into camp. We will also have a set of tools and repair stand that can be used to make repairs in camp when a bike shop isn't near by.

Q: What will a typical day look like?
A: Wake up in the morning, dress, then pack up and load gear. Eat breakfast, pack lunch and get the bike ready (check tires, fill water bottles). Find your riding partner(s) and head out; stop where you want to eat lunch. Stop to take pictures, get a snack, jot down a note, or read a highway sign. Enjoy the scenery. Arrive in camp, the time will depend on your speed and the course that day. Grab your gear, set up your tent, shower, and put on your camp clothes. Chat, read, and maybe stroll into town. Dinner, group meeting, small group meetings and then socialize or go to bed.

Q: How should I document my trip?
A: There are lots of approaches, and you'll want to find the right balance of weight, cost, and convenience. Some riders have brought large, expensive cameras with multiple lenses. A better compromise for most of us is a single, small camera, preferably digital. One rider took pictures with a digital camera and then on days off downloaded them to a laptop, composed a summary of the trip since the last day off (with photos), and emailed the summary to supporters. Small video cameras are another option. Be sure to bring along replacement batteries and additional digital storage cards (if necessary). Keep in mind that a camera may experience jarring conditions or temperatures extremes, both on the bike and in the luggage truck. One rider damaged a cell phone when a sudden downpour soaked it through a Camelback, so store in plastic bags any sensitive gear you're taking with you on the bike. However, most riders have no problems at all. A good way to record your thoughts is to jot down notes on the back of your daily route map. That evening, expand on the notes in your journal while the day's events are still fresh in your mind. This will be a big help when you sort your photos afterwards. You can elaborate on the journal in periodic email summaries during the ride or in a photo album or e-mail afterwards. You may also want to consider setting up a blog and document your journey in real time (or close to it) for friends, family and supporters. The Sea to Sea 2005 tour included a satellite dish for Internet access and a handful of public laptops for cyclists to use and this tour could have something similar.

Q: How can I communicate with friends and supporters when on the road?
A: Most riders have cell phones, either with them while riding (a good idea for safety) or in their luggage. Most camp sites should have decent cellular coverage. E-mail is another option: there will likely be some laptops available for the cyclists to use at camp. Due to some locations and terrain there may not be Internet access every day, but the intent is to make it available as much as possible. One rider carried stamps and pre-addressed mailing labels. He stopped every day at a small store to find a few interesting post cards. In perhaps a minute, the post cards were stamped, addressed, given the simple message "Day 23" (or whatever), and mailed. You can receive mail at the five or so stops along the route. The addresses of these “mail drops” will be available to family and supporters well in advance of the start of the tour, along with the dates that the mail needs to arrive at these location. Many riders send home a box of their unwanted gear. This can be stuff they realized is not necessary or warm weather gear no longer needed after the mountains are crossed

Q: How do I get home?
A: You will be responsible for arranging transportation to get home from the finish. There will be shuttles to the airport on the day of depature, Sunday, August 31.

Do you have more questions that weren’t answered here? E-mail us.