WonderMonkey

I am doing my first 100 miler this Saturday. I have the route identified and different places along the way that we can stop and replenish "whatever". I am making a trip ticket and would like to hear from others who have done the same as to what information is on it.

Here is a sample of mine. Mine is in Excel with pretty colors and grids though.

Total Distance = 101

... etc

carpediemracing 

I've written directions, sort of like your spreadsheet thing, and then taped both sides with clear packing tape. Slip under the leg band of my shorts and it's easy to get to, don't have to stop to read it, can read it at speed or while climbing, etc. If it's short I tape it to my stem, meaning cover the paper in clear packing tape and then use something like electrical tape to tape to stem. Electrical tape is easier to remove.

With smartphones it's a bit different, I try to remember simple routes (6-10 roads in 100 miles) but I'll pull out the phone if something doesn't feel right.

The problem with the route sheet is that if you end up on the wrong road then it gets difficult to figure out where you are. That's happened to me here and there, usually when numbered roads aren't as significant as I expect. In Europe we missed a "Route 33" because it was about one and a half lanes wide. In Minnesota I missed a turn because, again, it looked like a driveway. In SoCal I went back and forth on a section of road because it was supposed to be some major road and at home it'd be a backroad (the SoCal road was, in fact, a major road). Etc.

WonderMonkey

Thanks for your thoughts. I won't have any problem with the route as it is all bike paths. While I COULD make a wrong turn I probably won't have an issue with that. I'm thinking of using this to know when and where I can stop and get water, etc. and to know "how far I have to go" in case I start to get tired. 100 miles is a distance I've never done.

wahoonc

I can't say I have done a "trip ticket" I have used plenty of route sheets over the years, usually put them in the map sleeve on my handlebar bag. I still print route sheets, but quite often use a smart phone (what an oxymoron) for backup routing. Worst trip ever... we were off route and looked at a road map, took the most direct route back to the base camp... 6 miles damned near straight up versus the planned route of 10 miles of gentle climbs. Lesson learned; check the topo maps FIRST!

Aaron

StephenH

On our randonneuring rides, we have a cue sheet with that information, but it's more for directions.
On some local cross-town rides, I've made up cue sheets- not check points, just "Left at 4th Street, right at Ave. B", etc.

WonderMonkey

Route sheet is a much better term. I'll have my phone, etc. with me and it will be on tracking the event but I prefer not to use up the battery to just know when the next known water/whatever spot is. The "route sheet" will hopefully handle that.

WonderMonkey

The happens to be one small stretch I may do that for as I've never been on it. I figure if I am going to have the sheet it would be smart to have too much on there than not enough as long as it doesn't make it too hard to use. Route, etc on the front, possible tricky part on the back.

Machka 

They're usually called "cue sheets". I have used them on randonneuring events, but not on my own personal rides. For my own rides, I use a map.

SpeshulEd 

garmin = cue sheet.

brianogilvie 

What Machka said. A "trip ticket" is something that AAA produces, but when cycling, they are "cue sheets" because they give you the cues for upcoming turns, points of interest, dangerous stretches, etc.

If you want to make your own without a lot of hassle, websites such as RideWithGPS.com will do much of the work, and they can be used even if you don't have a bike GPS.