You're my hero. I hate going into a new situation without knowing what to expect, and I think you've covered all the bases. I think our info packet said something about swim suits too, yes?
2010-06-04 01:26:49
8
First time in the MS150? Check here!
So, last year was my first time doing the MS150 and there was a bunch of stuff I was unsure of, so in order to help out some of the new folks, I wanted to throw out some inside baseball so you didn't end up drying yourself with a sweatshirt after your shower. Not that I did that. But I know what its like.
In chronological order:
Wake up saturday morning. Don't worry about breakfast! You will get fruit/bagels/donuts/coffee/juice at Cooper's Lake, care of the ms150.
Saturday morning, meet at Cooper's Lake. You should have received your day-of rider info packet with parking instructions. If you joined Team Thick Bikes, we meet at Thick and carpool up. Chris carries the bikes in his van, so if you just need a ride up, you're covered. If you have joined another team, I'd check with your team captain before trekking up to check out the situation.
When you arrive at Cooper's Lake, there will be tents with folks you can give your info packet to, in exchange you get four rider numbers: 1 for you, 1 for your bike, 2 for your bags. Once you're tagged up, you give your bags to one of the big-rigs and they carry it to edinboro for you. Head to the start, get on the road!
There are rest stops every 5-8 miles, you aren't required to stop at all of them. They have small sandwiches, power bars, gatorade, water and rest rooms. Some rest stops didn't have water last year, but they notified us of that the rest stop before. There is lunch somewhere halfway through the day with larger portions of food.
SAG (support and gear) wagons will be going up and down the route the whole time, don't worry about carrying too many extra parts and pieces incase something breaks. There are so many people you're mere minutes from a ride if you're injured or a repair if you're broken.
Saturday night, pull into edinboro. Bring your bike to the gymnasium, where it will be locked up for the night. Make sure you pull anything you need for the night off of your bike, you wont be able to get it until the next morning.
Somewhere in the same building you'll find tables with maps of the university and the schedule of events. There will be another gymnasium where your bags will be arranged by number, grab them and head to the dorms or the camping field, whichever you picked when you signed up. Again, if you're with a team, check with your captain, you may all be camping together. If you're with team thick, we camp together, look for the van. If you're not on the team, stop by and say hi anyway!
Get your tent/sleeping situation setup, head to dinner or a shower. On that note, bring a towel, some toiletries and a change of clothes.
They have some new events planned for the night this year, you'll hear all about it once you get to the university.
Go to sleep, wake up, get breakfast, go to the trailers, drop off your bags, go to the gym, pick up your bike, hit the road again!
At the end of the second day, after you cross the finish line, you are required to have a smug feeling of satisfaction. You done good.
Once you're done feeling smug, find the trailers/ busses. Your bags will be unloaded, and an empty trailer will be taking bikes. Grab your bags, give up your bike, put yourself and your bags on a bus, and then head back to Cooper's Lake.
Once you get to Cooper's Lake, you might have to wait a minute for your bike to show up, and then you're all set to go come.
I think I covered all the nitty gritty, if anyone has input feel free to add something, and I'll see all you crazy cats on saturday 
2010-06-04 01:20:48
Not to detract from your otherwise fine advice, but if you go to Moraine SP, you're going to be very disappointed. Almost everyone else is going to Coopers Lake.
Edit: oh, bring sunscreen. And, the medical staff tell me that the most frequent complaint is serious abrasions of the grundle. Something to keep in mind if your longest previous ride was 40 mis.
2010-06-04 01:37:49
Also, at the end of the second day, they throw your bags out of the trucks onto the ground. So put everything in waterproof bags if you expect it to be dry (it'll rain. trust me).
2010-06-04 01:38:57
nochas: There is a pool you can swim in, you'll get details on that with the paper that has the schedule for the night.
Lyle: Edited 'cuz sometimes I'm special. Thanks!
2010-06-04 01:53:16
I should also mention that there is no reason to bring a bike lock. The only time your bike is left, is on saturday night, where it is locked up inside a gymnasium with everyone elses bikes.
2010-06-06 22:43:33
One more pro-tip: If you purchased a tent for the ride, or haven't used the one you'll be camping in in a while, take it out and set it up in your living room.
Its a lot easier to figure things out when its not getting dark out and raining.
2010-06-11 18:04:06
I just sprayed mine down with 303 Fabric Guard last night--good thing I did because it made me realize I didn't pack stakes with the tent.
2010-06-11 18:28:57