Double Bay Double 5 / Dolly Renegade Ride

Last updated June 6

This year's ride will be the culmination of a partnership between Different Spokes San Francisco, Project Inform and a group of like-minded AIDS/LifeCycle riders including The Dollys. This ride takes place over the weekend of September 12 and 13th and takes a beautiful, at times challenging, 100 mile route from Sports Basement Sunnyvale to Marina (Monterey Bay). This grassroots fundraiser asks that participants raise at least $300 (and hopefully more!) for the lifesaving work of Project Inform (www.projectinform.org). It is a supported ride in that one’s bags are carried, there are sweep vehicles, rest stops where you can get water, sports drinks, snacks from amazing volunteers but use the facilities of a Starbucks or other commercial entity. What makes it different than a ride like ALC is that we ask that you buy the lunch of your choice on the route and you pay for your hotel room in order to maximize the fundraising for Project Inform. Sound like a great time while strengthening the community and reducing the negative effects of HIV? Join us in the active fun!

FAQs:

Do I have to be a member of Different Spokes San Francisco to participate in DBD?
No, but anyone who wants to can join DSSF here.

Is there a rider limit?
Yes. The event is limited to a maximum of 50 riders. Sign up before it fills up. Instructions for registering here.

What is the fundraising minimum?
The fundraising minimum is $300 but we are hoping that each rider sets their goal as $1000 so that we can reach a goal of $50,000 for this ride! That is huge for an organization of our size! By 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 10 each rider should have at least $300 credited to their account in order to ride. If you're still short at that point, you can donate the remainder yourself, but you will not be reimbursed if additional donations come in later. Because corporate matching donations can take several months to process, these might not be reflected in your Day 0 total, but we cannot count uncredited matches toward your Day 0 total unless you provide us with your paperwork.

Are volunteers required to register and fundraise?
No; there is no cost for non-riding volunteers to participate, other than the supplies you bring (including gas) and your own meals and lodging. If you wish to fundraise as a volunteer, you can register via the registration link but please let Philip (415-580-7304 or pwalker@projectinform.org) know that you plan to be a volunteer and not a cyclist so that we don't count you toward the 50-rider limit.

I want to volunteer. Where do I sign up?
Please contact Emily at emarikosanders@projectinform.org. You can tell us what you're interested in doing to be part of the event. The most common volunteer roles are SAG driver (including caboose), rest stop volunteer, and bike tech, although we're open to any other good ideas that you might have.

What's the weather going to be like?
Weather in Northern and Central California can be especially fickle, and we will be traveling through many of the region's microclimates. Almost anything is possible, ranging from chilly drizzle at the coast and in the mountains to dry heat inland. Winds are generally out of the north or northwest, which usually helps us on Day 1 and slows us down on Day 2. Coastal fog is common. Be advised that every year of the event so far has featured unexpected weather (heat, cold, wind, rain) of some type at some point during the weekend but the fact that the ride is earlier this year might mitigate against that.

Where do I stay at the end of Day 1?
Day 1 officially ends at the Ramada Marina in Marina. You are responsible for booking your own room and, if you wish to share your room with someone else, making your own roommate arrangements. You are also free to stay elsewhere; the Holiday Inn Express and Motel 6 are within easy walking/cycling distance. Also, you can choose to return home for the night -- but, if you do so, make sure you are back in Marina before our 6:45 a.m. meet time on Day 2. Be sure to book your room as early as possible because the Monterey coast is a popular weekend destination!

What do I do with my bike at the end of Day 1?
You take it with you to your room, or back home if you're not staying in Marina. If your bike becomes especially dirty during the day, please clean it before taking it into your hotel room, and please do any necessary maintenance outside so that the hotels are pleased to see us next year!

Where do I eat at the end of Day 1?
As in past years, ad hoc groups of riders and volunteers probably will form to go to specific restaurants. Denny's is within walking distance of the event hotels, but most of the other restaurants in Marina will require either a long walk or a short ride. If you require any other supplies, 7-Eleven and a large Walmart are located within walking distance of the event hotels.

How much can I pack?
There is no weight limit, but please limit your packed belongings to one small bag, preferably backpack-size. Because we are staying in hotels, you do not need any items other than something to wear to dinner, your Day 2 cycling apparel, any special nutrition that you use, toiletries, medications, a couple of spare tubes, bike lights if you plan on riding into town, and any specialized (not the brand necessarily, just anything particular!) bike products not easily found in a tiny town. Our space to transport bags is limited, and with a full ride expected, we need to transport as many bags as possible in a small space. Please label your bag so you can find it easily.

What if I can't finish a day in time?
We will have SAG vehicles on the route that can transport you to the end of Day 1 or Day 2. Depending on the demand for SAG services, there might be a delay before you can be retrieved. You can choose to call someone else to pick you up -- but if you do, you must notify a DBD official so that we are aware of your situation.

Can I ride after sunset?
Sorry, no, not even with proper lighting. The route closes at 6:30 p.m. sharp each day. If you are still on the route at sunset, you must stop and wait for a SAG vehicle to retrieve you. We have rest stop closing times throughout the day that will be enforced to help you finish each day in time. If you choose to ride around Marina on your own after sunset, legal lighting is required.

Can I get a ride to skip part of the route?
Possibly. If SAG vehicles are not being used for anything more urgent, they might be able to give you a lift if you are running behind schedule.

What types of support will be available?
We will have several volunteer SAG drivers stationed along the route and at most rest stops. Most will have basic supplies such as water, ice, light snacks, and some basic bicycle equipment such as a floor pump and extra tubes. You are responsible, however, for obtaining and paying for your meals and snacks along the route and at the end of Day 1. In some cases, the SAG vehicle can transport you to a nearby location if you are unable to continue riding. Please note, however, that the SAG vehicles are not a personal taxi service, and if you decide to leave the event, it is your responsibility to get transportation for you and your bicycle back to Sunnyvale or other location. Depending on volunteer availability, we might have one or more bike technicians available for at least part of the weekend. Please respect and thank our volunteers who are donating their time and supplies and are helping make your ride a success.

What happens on ride morning?
You will bring your bike, spare tubes, snacks, gear, full water bottles, shoes, helmet, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc. to Sports Basement Sunnyvale. Use a carpool if possible. You should plan to arrive at the meeting place in Sunnyvale (near US 101 and Lawrence Expressway) by 6 AM so that you have plenty of time to unload your bike and gear, check in, attend a safety training/route overview, and get route sheets. We will ride out as a group at 7 AM sharp. If you arrive late and still plan to be part of the event, please call event dispatch to let them know that you are still on the event.

Where do I park during the event?
Sports Basement Sunnyvale is providing us with free parking for the duration of the event. Please make sure that you park BEHIND the building (on the Lawrence Expressway side) as that is the space they have allotted for us.  This is an open parking lot so just to be safe, don't leave anything valuable, especially in plain sight, in your vehicle.

Are toilets available at Sports Basement and along the route?
Project Inform is springing for a porta-toilet in the parking lot, but in case of a line, you might want to take care of things at any of the nearly gas stations or McDonald's. Like ALC, we encourage riders to use only facilities like porta-toilets and regular restrooms. Most of the rest stops coincide with businesses where we might use the facilities, so that shouldn't be difficult.

Will we ride if it's raining?
Probably yes. We will cancel a day of the ride only if there are severe conditions that pose an imminent danger to riders and volunteers.

What's the route?
Here are the route sheets you will receive on each morning of the ride:
Day 1 | Day 2

For riders with GPS devices, here are links to the preliminary (and subject to change) RideWithGPS routes for each day of DBD5. A couple of caveats: Navigation around our rest stops is not precisely spelled out, so you still need a printed route sheet; and the route is still subject to last-minute changes that might not get reflected in these files.
Day 1 | Day 2

How much of the route duplicates AIDS/LifeCycle?
This year, hardly any. The exact numbers are subject to change, but we estimate that Day 1 of DBD will overlap about 1 mile of the ALC Day 2 route around Aptos and about 4 miles heading into Marina, and DBD Day 2 will overlap about 8 miles of the ALC Day 2 route between Marina and Salinas. Even if you're a veteran ALCer, you'll get to see plenty of new territory!

What rules of the road do we follow?
Although we are not AIDS/LifeCycle, we completely follow the ALC Code of Conduct and Safety Guidelines. Specifically, we stop at all stop signs and red signals, we ride single-file at all times, and we do not do pacelines. Please help us set a good example in the areas through which we ride.

Is the route marked?
No; there are no pavement arrows, signs, or other markings. You will need to refer to your route sheet frequently during the ride; consider a map holder or binder clips. On some parts of the route, you will see pavement arrows of various colors and styles; these are for other events to other destinations, and you should not follow them. Navigation is as much a part of the event as is pedaling!

Will we encounter other events along the route?
Unknown at this point but we will keep participants aware as things develop.

How fast do I need to ride?
This ride is designed for riders who can maintain an average pace of at least 12 mph on flat to rolling terrain. We love all cyclists, but the 12 mph pace is necessary to complete each day's route before sunset.

Are hotels available near the meeting location?
If you are coming from far outside Sunnyvale, you might want to consider getting a hotel for the night before the ride, so that you can arrive on time. Several hotels are available in a variety of price ranges within five minutes of Sports Basement Sunnyvale; any of the online booking services can steer you in the proper direction.

Can I transfer my DBD registration to someone else?
No. If you are unable to ride in DBD for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible. If we reach our 50-rider limit, we will maintain a waiting list, and we will contact the person at the top of the list. That person must register and fulfill their own $300 fundraising minimum before September 10.

Who is the DBD staff?
DBD is fully volunteer-run with minimal help from Project Inform staff so please be patient if we don't answer your question or resolve your issue right away. Project Inform processes DBD registrations and handles fundraising through Everyday Hero. Questions? Contact Emily Mariko-Sanders at emarikosanders@projectinform.org or 415-580-7306.