From the orientation I understand that a some food will be provided. I have some specific diet requirements. Does anyone know what food will be served? (vegan would be nice).
i think you might want to call them and ask... I'm sure at the rest stops there will be snacks and water/drinks... I'm presuming there is more substantial food also for lunch/supper?
I went to the JGH meeting and the only spoke about every 25km(ish) re-fuel stops, there will be NO lunch stop, reason being that it will take too much time and people might not want to get back on the bike. But like DDK says, give them a call.
One of the fuel stops will be the lunch stop (bagged lunch, probably a sandwich and a fruit).
They do have vegetarian, you need to call ahead of time to make sure, and when you check in on day 0 you will get a "veggiesaurus" wrist band.
NOTE - wrist band doesn't mean "choice", it means you get the veggie even if you decide that the carnivore food looks better (which in my case would never happen as I don't ever eat meat).
I don't know about vegan, but usually a vegetarian supper is pasta and tomato sauce and you can just not put any cheese on it.
Fuel stops will have things like fruit, cookies, granola bars, and sports drinks - the usual marathon type stuff.
If you have specific issues like needing gluten free, lactose free, no traces of egg, peanuts or treee nuts, then you definitely need to call and make sure they have stuff you can eat, and pack some emergency fuel in case things get goofed up.
My understanding is that there will be hot breakfast & dinner provided and a bag lunch. I don't know how the lunch will be arranged. I sort of assumed that they'd give you a bag lunch at the start of each day so that you could enjoy it at your leisure when and where you might be inclined to stop at a nice spot. However some of us have extremely limited cargo capacity and no way to keep food cool. On the other hand, if lunch will be provided at a particular rest stop location, there will be hordes of people eating all at the same place, and there will be big differences in arrival times at the designated lunch location. That doesn't sound very practical or nearly as pleasant.
Anyone who has particular needs or is just "fussy" would be well-advised to ask questions. If we would know what food will be provided, those with special requirements could begin to make alternate arrangements. Personally, I find that there has been very very little information given out on any aspect of the ride. I don't know if the organizers haven't settled many aspects of the arrangements, or they just figure we don't need to know. The starting point is still a mystery, though there are rumours that it will be at the Olympic Stadium. Return transport to Montreal is also in the realm of "top secret" - maybe bus, maybe train, perhaps by magic carpet? There has still been no determination of the cost of the return trip, but it's unlikely to be free. The organizers have hinted at $20. The route is still supposedly undecided though it has to be on the north shore because the overnight stay is supposed to be in Trois-Rivieres. Even the number of riders registered seems to be classified. I asked, but didn't get as much as a hint of an answer. Don't even think of asking about what percentage of funds go for expenses, or if it's a fixed amount, what that amount is. The company organizing the event (a for-profit company, by the way) must have answers for almost all of these questions, because they've done these rides before. Even if certain points are still being negotiated, I think we're entitled to at least sketchy, preliminary information, clearly labeled as subject to change.
OK, that's my rant. I'll get off my soap box now.
-- Edited by comsoft on Tuesday 26th of May 2009 09:04:11 AM
According to the material I was sent, if you are at a pit stop at "turtle time", i.e. you are too slow, you will be taken by a sweep vehicle to lunch or camp.
That implies that lunch will be handed out at one specific rest stop.
If you're not hungry yet when you get to that stop, you could stow some or all of it. I have a camelback that has a web top for transporting small items, and I will fill it with ice to keep myself cool, so any cargo will also be slightly chilled.
I hope they have ice at some of the pit stops, so we can get cooled off if we need to.
I heard it could be up to $50 for the ride back (they hinted it might be bus)... Also heard it's probably the Olympic Stadium for departure. They said about 2,000 riders to me... although not everyone will reach their financial goal... In Montreal it's the same people organizing the ride as it is organizing the breast cancer walk in August. I think they might have bitten off a bit more then they can chew. In the meantime - I don't think it's fair to not tell us anything now less than 7 weeks from the event. My rant is now over - gotta go ride!
Having done the Weekend to End Breast Cancer - I can guarantee you all that this organization is amazing and everything from the food, the medical service, the volunteers who follow us along the way making sure we were ok, the hot showers at camp, the show, the tents,the MASSAGE..oh the massage.
This is the way the pit stops worked for the Walk: pit stops for pee & to replenish/alternate your drinks (water or gatorade)(coolers filled with ice as well), and bigger pit stops with sweet or salty snacks (bagels,peanut butter, granola bars, chips,popsicles, cut up bananas & oranges), along with medical tents. We had a lunch stop - and according to what you put down in your registration (noted on your ID-given to you on DAY 0/Friday), you could get either the meat or vegetarian meal-which were equally delicious and included a salad,desert and drink. Dinner was a huge bbq with chicken and veggies and tons of deserts. Breakfast was hot with pancakes, bacon, etc..Trust me when I say this-if its anything like the Walk-by the end of the weekend you will be feeling like you've spent your entire time eating!
Again-if anything like the Walk: in June, you should receive your Agenda for Day 0, 1 & 2, explaining the procedures for registering your bike, your luggage/sleeping bag, tent assignment, bringing in last minute donations, and any other information, including cheering stations-camp location for families/friends to join you - although with bikes & road closures the cheering stations must be far and few in between..no matter. Hope this helps.
