Thursday, May 11, 2017

Double Bay Double 6 / Dolly Renegade Ride

Last updated July 28

Support a Rider!

To support a rider please go to the Everyday Hero site.
Click Find a Friend, and then type in the name of the rider you want to support followed by the text, "Double Bay Double." If the rider you want to support does not appear on the list, contact them for a link.

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It’s time again for a Double Bay Double/Dolly Renegade Ride the weekend of August 12th and 13th 2017! Different Spokes San Francisco and Project Inform have teamed up once again to commemorate 35 years of Different Spokes San Francisco with a recreation of an AIDS ride that DSSF put on 30 years ago and we hope you can be a part of this historic ride going north from Sports Basement Presidio to Guerneville, staying overnight then back to SF!

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 and all of that support from amazingly compassionate, lovely and fun volunteers most of whom have A LOT of ALC and volunteer experience.

What makes it different than a ride like ALC is that:
  • It is an intimate affair because we top out at 50 riders. It's almost like a 2 day training ride with camping!
  • The overhead is minimal because the riders and roadies pick up more of the expenses (camping fees, lunches), so all the donations go directly to Project Inform's policy, advocacy, education and research work.
  • It’s only a weekend so it’s easier to fit into one’s schedule
What makes it like ALC is that:
  • Most of the participants are ALC alumni and have that background and experience
  • It will be courteous and safe
  • There is an emphasis on 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 and will support a range of policy, healthcare, research and educational activities! We use Everyday Hero for our fundraising platform. Click here for details.

Each rider should have at least $300 credited to their account by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 10 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 Roadies/volunteers to participate. In order to ensure the maximum fundraising, we do ask that volunteers pay for their own meals and lodging. We can reimburse for gas and other incidentals if necessary. Some volunteers do fundraise (incredibly awesome!!!) 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 cycle 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 in the pasturelands. 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 Casini Ranch right on Russian River, just outside Guerneville. The campsite has been paid for the group and this way we will be able to camp together. You will simply have to pay $15 camper fee when you come in and to bring a tent (don’t worry if you don’t have one. Ask around particularly of those of your friends who aren’t able to sponsor you! They can support you with their tent! Additionally some of our participants have 2!) and figure out roommate arrangements. Grown up sleepaway bike camp! There are plenty of hotels, BnBs, and other accommodations in the area if you want to ‘princess’ it but book IMMEDIATELY as it is a popular area. I used hotels.com and the search was really fruitful!

What do I do with my bike at the end of Day 1?
You take it with you to your tent. The campsite only allows their guests into the area so it’s pretty safe and it seems that the rides that use the campsite seem to be casual about it. If you are particularly nervous feel free to bring a bike lock.

Where do I eat at the end of Day 1?
We will have a catered meal at the campsite where we can regale one another in biking tales!  If you require any other supplies, there is a store in the campsite.

How much can I pack?
There is no weight limit, but please limit your packed belongings to one small bag, preferably backpack-size, your tent and sleeping bag. Because it is only an overnight trip, consider something to wear to dinner, your Day 2 cycling apparel, any special nutrition that you use, quarters for the showers, toiletries, a towel, medications, a couple of spare tubes, bike lights if you plan on riding into town, and any bike products not easily found in a tiny town. Please label all of your gear in a secure way so that the label stays on and you can find it easily. I'm going to profile by saying...many tents and sleeping bags look exactly alike.

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 the route 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 to Guerneville on your own after sunset, be forewarned as it is a narrow road with limited street lighting and 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. 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 San Francisco 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 Presidio. Use a carpool if possible. You should plan to arrive at the meeting place at Sports Basement 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 Presidio is providing us with free parking for the duration of the event. We will send along details as to where exactly to park. It 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?
Yes. Like ALC, we encourage riders to use only facilities like porta-toilets and regular restrooms and we are planning with this in mind.

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?
You will receive route sheets on each morning of the ride. Here is the route as of now but please know there may be last minute changes:

Day 1 | Day 2

A couple of caveats: Navigation around our rest stops is not precisely spelled out, so you will still need a printed route sheet; and the route is still subject to last-minute changes that might not get reflected in the on-line cue sheets.

How much of the route duplicates Jon Pon?
Thanks to the work of genius ride planner Chris Thomas who designed the Jon Pon route and Master Ride Leader David Gaus' tweaks to make it more Double Bay Double ride-like we will have a similar but slightly different ride! Let the good times roll!


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 San Francisco, 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 ten minutes of Sports Basement Presidio along Lombard Street; 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 August 10.

Who is the DBD staff?
DBD is fully volunteer-run with support 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.

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