Day Zero... what to expect.

If you've come to one of our official "Meet & Greet" meetings that have been held all over Northern California (yes even Sac!) then you know already what I'm about to talk about. What happens each day of the Ride....

Day Zero- Orientation Day at the Cow Palace. If you are a social butterfly, come early to stand in lines and chit chat with everyone (it's fun!). If you're not a social butterfly, come around Noon and the lines might not be as bad.... be sure to get there by 2pm and no later or there's a chance (depending on what you still have left to turn in) you won't GET through all the lines. Bring your printed "E-Ticket", and your bike-drop the bike off at Bike Parking and proceed to the Safety Video.

There are TWO rooms the Safety Videos will be shown in- one starts at 10 am and goes every 1/2 hour, the other starts at 10:30 am and goes every half hour.

Waiting for the Safety Video to start...

IF YOU'RE LUCKY- you'll get in to the one that I will be "hosting" (introducing) and you'll get to hear all my schmucky Cow jokes... ok no not really, I don't have any Cow Palace jokes...yet.

Then, when you're done with the Safety Video, be SURE to get the safety video bracelet put on your wrist before you leave the room. You will not be able to register if you do not have the bracelet on... and yes you will leave it on for the remainder of the week, so don't cut it off that evening when you go to take a shower.

After the Safety Video, you'll take your E-ticket and your PHOTO ID (required!!) to registration. note: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR MEDICAL WAIVER ON FILE, your E ticket will state that and you will have to fill one out before proceeding to registration... same goes for if you have not yet raised your Minimum $2500.

Once those things are taken care of (do it in advance!!!) then you can proceed to Registration. In your registration packet will be your helmet number and your bike number. DON'T LOSE THESE!!! you will be placing them on your bike (and helmet, at home) soon after. You will also receive ANOTHER BRACELET, to go with your safety video bracelet. Both stay on your wrist all week!

Waiting in the registration line...

After registration, the last thing you will need to do is to be assigned a tent. Even if you are planning to stay in hotels all week, you must be assigned a tent with a tentmate. If you haven't already gotten a tentmate, go to the Tentmater website and you might find one there! Tentmater was originally designed by former ALC rider Dave Kim, and he generously just resets the website each year for folks to use. It is self editing, so be sure to de-activate your posting once you get a tentmate!

Once you and your tentmate are assigned a tent, you will be given a chip that lists a letter and number that corresponds to your place on the tent grid... in each camp they mark out all of the lettered areas and stick little signs in each place to mark where your tent should be. For instance, if your tent chip says "H-22" then you are in section H, and in space #22. The Letter corresponds to the Gear Truck your stuff will be on all week... in this case, your gear truck would be "Gear Truck H". get it? good... its really easy, and don't worry you can ask ANYONE and they will help you out!!

After all of that official stuff, you are now officially registered!! Go pack to bike parking, locate your bike and put your bike number on your top tube. This number MUST be visible at all times (even in bike parking each night!!). (When you get home, put your helmet number on the LEFT SIDE of your helmet)

After that it's time to go SHOPPING!! at the camp store.... so oh, don't forget to bring cash or a checkbook or a credit card. All of the newest ALC 7 schwag will be there for purchase... do it now (Day Zero) because usually they sell out of stuff pretty quick! It will be available for purchase in the camp store during the week, but there's no guarantee that your size will still be there by Day 2 even!

After all that, you're done! Go get some lunch! Or stick around and meet those folks you've been chatting with on the Discussion Forum all year!