On this pre-ride day, the staff introduces themselves, registers all riders, provides emergency contact information, discusses safe riding techniques, and explains what to expect on the ride: SAG support and staff functions (mechanic, sweep, float, SAG set-up). Riders receive their ABB jerseys and other kit when they register. Also on this day, the mechanics help everyone assemble their bicycles and ensure that everyone can demonstrate changing a tube and airing up a tire (without ripping the stem out).
Once riders have their bikes assembled, they ride as a group or in small groups to the ocean to dip bike front wheels in a time-honored cross-country ritual. Since we are up the Columbia River a bit, this requires about a 26-mile round trip to Clatsop Spit near Fort Stevens in Warrenton. Here riders take photos of themselves with the skeleton of The Peter Iredale a four-masted steel sailing vessel that ran ashore October 25, 1906.
In the evening we all get acquainted over a delicious banquet provided by the hotel. It's early to bed for both staff and riders, all anticipating eagerly the first day of riding tomorrow.
Below are some pix of bike assembly and of Astoria and the Astoria Column.
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