I received the participant's guide part II, and its gear list, and have a few questions about some items:
Dog repellant - What brand is recommended? Any particular size, style, etc.? I'm familiar with bear spray, but not dog repellant. Last summer I sought dog repellant spray in pet stores, and could not find any. Where can this be purchased? How do folks carry the dog repellant so that it is accessible?
Cleat covers - What are these? I know what shoe covers are. Are these to make protruding cleats walkable, so this wouldn't apply to SPD cleats and shoes that can be walked in?
Toilet paper - I assume there is TP at portable toilets at rest stops and restrooms at the campgrounds so this is just for breaks along the route in the woods. Is that right? If so, a small amount is sufficient. An entire roll would be overkill.
Stakes and mallet Will the campground soil be too hard to use skewers?
Having ridden many of these rides, I would say dog repellant is not needed. A quick shot from a water bottle will startle most charging dogs enough to stop them. Also, any loose dog is usually tired after chasing the first 50 or so riders of the day.
A small supply of emergency TP is all you'll need. No cleat covers needed for SPD cleats. If you need a mallet for stakes, there are always plenty around to borrow. Screw-in type devices could be difficult in dry, compact soil.
