The Basics
Two of the most important items to bring are water and sunscreen. Bring more water than you think you are likely to drink. It is always better to be safe than sorry! In years past, it has been recommended that you bring at least 2 liters. Do not assume that the water wagons will be where you expect them! You may be lost, they might be lost, they may have blown a tire and not made it to the stop, or they may have had to run in an injury. The bottom line is that you are ultimately responsible for not running out of water. A basic water filter can be a valuable piece of equipment on this ride.
Sunscreen is a definite necessity for when the sun is scorching down on you. When it rains you just get wet and will soon dry out. But sunburn will last for days and be quite painful and encourage dehydration. We do not recommend going topless, a good shirt or jersey will help cut some of the water loss you get through dehydration. We typically have extra sunscreen at the rest stops; however, as in the case of finding water, if you don't find the rest stop, you won't find the sunscreen.