Things you should bring 

• Helmet purchased within last 5 years (preferably last 2)
• Two water bottles or a Camelbak/equivalent which we’ll fashion to your trike
• Lightweight gloves -it can get a little cold.  It can get a little wet
• Light Rain Jacket (preferably with hood)
• Light Rain Pants (optional)
• Sweater/jacket -both for under your rain jacket and for our two outdoor dinners
• Shorts/pants with zipper pockets (loose change, keys, wallets fall out of trike riders’ pockets)
• Closed toe and heel shoes or SPD-cleated shoes/sandals
• Sunglasses
• Pedals and Shoes (in the unlikely event you have custom pedals!)
• If you forget anything, there are plenty of shops in Friday Harbor

Before your First Ride   

• Watch this handsome man’s safety video
• Read the Things to Bring list
• Please make sure you’ve attended both Janet’s safety instructions and completed the RPDX waiver form
• Your assigned trike needs to be fitted. This doesn’t take long. Find Mel, Janet or Paul to help you with fit.
• In addition to the trike, you’ll receive
  • Key to motor kit battery (Mechanic Paul has a 2^nd key)
  • Two Safety Flags
  • Water bottle
  • Safety Lights (in case we find ourselves in the dark)
  • Lock and key (optional)

Janet leads a shakedown ride

• Take your time learning the trike. Practice shifting, steering and braking
• Confirm that you can comfortably keep your feet on the pedals. Find one of us -at any time before or during a ride- if you encounter any limits to keeping your feet on the pedals.  
• Tell Paul or Mel if there’s ANY problems with your trike’s performance

Before each Day’s ride

• Give all three tires a squeeze. They should be very firm (55-65 PSI, if you’re gonna be picky about it). If a tire’s low, let Paul or Mel know 
• Two safety flags should be mounted on your trike
• Lights should be mounted -preferably on both safety flags
• Check the test light on your motor kit battery to confirm it’s fully-charged. Ensure the battery is properly-mounted and locked on the trike and that the battery’s key is secure in the seatback pocket of the trike.  Power up the motor kit and confirm it provides assist. 
• You’ve should have at least one full water bottle on the trike
• Got Snacks?
• Got Sunscreen?  Get your shins and ankles!
• We’re always happy to wait. Ferries aren’t.  Make sure you’re in the ferry line at least 12 ½ minutes before departure (inter-island ferry travel is free, so no need to get a ticket).

During the ride

• We’ll carry spare tubes/tires/components/tools. You are fortunate-enough to be riding with three of the most skilled recumbent mechanics on the planet (plus Mel)
  • Paul Heijn (RPDX mechanic) 971 413 8881 cell
  • Dana Lieberman (Bent Up Cycles owner) 310 779 6853 cell
  • Zach Kaplan (Zach Kaplan Cycles owner) 510 239 1918 cell
  • Mel Birge 312 835 0604 cell 011 881651479169 sat phone
• We’ll generally putter along at 6-8 mph. We’re in the islands, so we’re in NO hurry (fun fact #1: No matter HOW slow you ride a trike, you won’t tip over). 
• Only for the longer day -Orcas/Mt. Constitution- will battery management be crucial -if you decide to complete the entire 40 mile/400 vertical foot ride. Most of the time, you won’t even need power.  If you do use it for hill climbing, keep the battery on a low setting (“1”) and the trike in an easy gear.  As a rule of thumb, whatever gear you’d use to climb a hill without a motor, that’s the right gear for climbing with a motor.  That will produce the least amount of strain and drain on the motor/battery. 
• There’s a battery gauge on the motor kit display. If you run the battery down under 30%, find Mel or Paul and we’ll get you a fresh battery. 
• Don’t ride faster than you feel comfortable (Fun Fact #2: Regardless of how slow we go, none of us will miss a meal!)
• Orcas Island (Monday) is the only day we’ll have a support car.
• Speaking of juice. These are hilly, but still very manageable rides.  But, you’ll still need to stay hydrated and well-nourished while riding.  Keep your bottle filled and snacks on the trike
• A GPS-based nav system (i.e. Garmin) will give more reliable ride data than your cell phone. Cell service ranges from splendid to spotty to non-existent (on Constitution). Here are maps to familiarize yourself with the Islands
  • San Juan Island Biker’s Map
  • Orcas Island Biker’s Map
  • Lopez Island Biker’s Map
• Wander off and explore. These islands aren’t that big -it’s hard to get too lost.  We have reasonable times to make the Ferries on Orcas (Monday) and Lopez (Monday), so relax and enjoy.  If you want to turn around and head home (Or, head to Lopez Ferry Terminal or Orcas Hotel, depending on the day), go ahead.  Just confirm with Mel to minimize panic.
• There will be a few times when Mel will want to stage video segments. This may be irritating will be irritating.  You will curse Mel under your breath.  You will grouse with others about how Mel’s “killing the whole vibe again” and “how you all wish you’d just stayed home.”  Then, you’ll smile and wave at the camera (or just act naturally as instructed by the tyrant director of photography).

End of ride

• Remove your battery and charge it overnight
• Take flag indoors
• If lights were in use, charge them (or give them to Paul/Mel to charge)
• If cameras were in use, let Paul/Mel know so we get them recharged
• Lock trikes and cover with rain tarps
• Pound water. You’re more dehydrated than you think and you will need to be fresh for tomorrow morning’s ride
• If you decide to skip riding tomorrow and go whale watching or relax, just make sure your trike is sufficiently-secure and you confirm with Mel that you’re not riding (he tends to get anxious when riders just vanish).

Special Notes for Orcas Ride

This will be our longest ride day.  Smart money -motor assisted- will have coffee and take the 8:30 am ferry and motor across Orcas). Un-motored will take the 6:05 am and start slogging!  For climb portion of the ride, we have enlisted Wild Life Cycles to support everybody. Our direct contact is Dan (360 317 5641) They will have

• Fresh water bottles
• Cans of nauseatingly-sugary starbucks cold brew coffee
• Snack bags
• Tubes/tires
• Fresh batteries

They’ll support us from 9:30 until everybody’s at the mountain top!  We’ll have their number, but reception can be spotty, so they’ll be running up and down throughout the ride.