What To Bring
Setting up your trike
You don’t have to do ANYTHING to your trike. But, here are a few things you can do
- Add a rear rack. It’s great to be able to have saddle bags -also called panniers- to haul your stuff in -whether that’s a picnic or a sweater/rain jacket or even a 2nd battery
- On the subject of “2nd battery”. You can rent one from RecumbentPDX if it would make your trip easier
- Seatside bag. I have a seatside bag for easy access to my camera for fabulous photos -owls, hawks, eagles, whales -not really. I’ve never gotten a whale photo -but I do have my snacks handy!
- Bring LOTS of water. I really like the TerraCycle FastBack Hydration Pack -it holds two liters, it’s insulated AND located out of the sun. Best of all, the bladder hose is easily accessible while you ride -the easier it is to drink, the more you’ll drink. The more you drink, the better you’ll feel. Honestly, I couldn’t make the Mt. Constitution climb without it.
Things to bring
- Helmet (current within 5 years)
- Sun Screen -anytime between May and September the sun will definitely burn the tops of your legs! I can’t overemphasize this. Get the blockiest sun block you can find. Re-apply during your ride
- Lightweight gloves (could get chilly. Could/will rain)
- Light Rain Jacket (with hood) and/or sweater (if not in use, you can shove it behind you on the seat or dump it in your pannier)
- Light Rain Pants -optional (Showers Pass is a well-liked brand)
- Shorts/pants with zipper pockets
- Closed toe and heal shoes
- Sunglasses
- Rear rack and pannier bags -it’s nice to be able to store your jacket/sweaters/lunch and -maybe- an extra battery right on your trike.
- Bike lights -you can get caught in the rain. You might even -briefly- get caught in the dark. Good lights are smart policy
- An Extra Flag -fashion one yourself or buy an RPDX or Catrike flag here at the store
- Comfortable evening wear. If you bring just one outfit and wear it for 5 straight days, exactly NO ONE will judge you (on the contrary, we’ll all admire your economy of packing)
- Getting sufficient fluid is super-important while touring -it’s vital to your muscles to drink MORE than you think you need. So, If you don’t use the hydration pack we suggest above, have at least two full water bottles on the trike or in a pannier. You can keep bottles in your bag. We can absolutely help you mount multiple bottle cages to your trike
- Snacks -of whatever variety you like. I make an extra big batch of “Mel Bars” you’ve all enjoyed in the shop -they’re pretty-low sugar and have lots of nuts and dates! If I haven’t yet posted it to thetriketour.com, you can email me for the recipe
Fixing Flat Tires
Flat tires give people angst. They shouldn’t. I’ll start with pointing out that the island roads have decent shoulders free from debris and we don’t consider them flat hazards. Also, we gave you spare tubes when you purchased your trike -definitely carry them. And, we’ve got a flat fix video on the maintenance page of our website. You can watch the video, get our flat fix tools and your angst should vanish. Finally, you can always stop in the shop and have us install puncture-resistant Marathon Plus tires!
Rear Luggage Racks and Panniers
I’ve covered this above, but it bears some repeating. If you’re going to ride onto the ferry, I can’t overemphasize how helpful it is to have a rear rack installed. If you already have a set of bike bags -commonly-known as panniers- they’re perfect for everything you need to pack. And, once you’ve emptied them at your hotel, they’re great for holding all your day’s riding supplies. By the way, if you don’t have bags for your rack, we stock them here at the shop.
Extra Batteries
Except for the ride up Mt Constitution, you should be able to make any of our suggested rides on a single battery. If you still have range anxiety, we can help you overcome it:
- You can purchase a second battery to double your range. And,
- For the motor kits we’ve sold, you can rent a second battery for your tour!