May 15 Deadline for Registration Changes

Please remember that if you want to cancel, or add meals and/or bus rides, we need to receive your requests by May 15.  if you need to cancel, please send us a signed request by regular mail, including a stamped self-addressed envelope so that we can send you your refund. The easiest way to order meals and/or bus rides is to print out a copy of the first page of the application.  There is a link on the left side of our home page.  Then just fill in your name, indicate the meals or bus rides you want, and send the order and your check to PALM, PO Box 7161, Ann Arbor MI 48107.  Please include another stamped self-addressed envelope so that we can send you a new, corrected confirmation.  We need to receive your request by May 15.  Thanks.

What to Bring on PALM

First, please pack in duffels; they pack well on the luggage trucks.  Be sure that each duffel weighs less than 50 pounds.  It is advisable to put all gear and clothing in plastic bags.  We try to keep the luggage dry when we unload on rainy days, but we can't make any guarantees.  Some riders put each day's outfit in a separate ziplock bag.  Be sure to put your sleeping bag in a waterproof bag or stuff sack.

What to bring:

Helmet.  A rearview mirror is advisable, either helmet or handlebar mounted.
A small pump for carrying on the bike (the repair shops have regular pumps)
Extra tube and tire levers.  Good to also have other simple tools, like a bike multitool or the correct sized hex wrenches for your bike.
Some way to carry stuff (jacket, snack, tools) while biking -- either a handlebar bag or a back rack and straps.  Much better than wearing a backpack while cycling.
One (preferably two) water bottles for the bike
Lock (and cable) for securing bike
Sleeping bag and some sort of sleeping pad
Small pillow, if desired
Tent, rainfly (usually comes with the tent) and stakes.  Ground cloth under tent is good.  Small mallet for pounding stakes into hard ground is helpful.

Toiletries and medicines
 Sun block, lip balm
mosquito repellent
Towel, washcloth (some participants use the quick dry camping towels)
Shower Thongs
Flashlight, batteries
Earplugs, if a light sleeper
swimsuit
clothes line and pins
Small packages kleenex
t-shirts and/or biking jerseys (one for each day or plan to wash out at night)
Cycling shorts (make for a much more enjoyable week -- at least two pair so that you can wash one at night)
Cycling tights if prediction is for cool weather
Regular shorts for warm evenings.
long sleeved shirt and long pants/sweats if days or nights will be cool
Rain gear -- at least a rain jacket for cycling.
Underwear
Socks
Cycling gloves (with padding)
Camera, if desired
Cell phone and charger, if desired (some schools no longer have pay phones)

Preparing for PALM

For those of you who have never participated in a multi-day ride, you may be asking yourself: How do I get physically ready?

PALM is geared toward families and beginners and the daily mileages reflect that. However, how easy the ride will be for you, and especially how much you enjoy yourself, is directly proportional to how well you prepare.

The first thing you should do is to be sure your bike is in good working order. If you don’t work on your own bike, take it to the local bike shop. While there, ask them to see if the bike is properly setup for you. Have them look at the seat position, as well as the handlebar position to be sure everything is set up properly for you when you sit on the bike. Remember that these are starting points and as you ride you may want to make additional adjustments. Ask the shop what adjustments affect what so you might be able to do them yourself.

Now that your bike is ready for you, you need to get ready for your bike. There is no magic involved here. It basically comes down to spending as much time in the saddle as possible. I hope you've already had a start riding in this great spring weather we've been having. Try to ride at least 3 times a week. How far for each ride is up to you, but in the beginning, try for at least 10 miles. After 2 weeks, add 5 to 10 miles to each ride. Again, after a few weeks add another 5 to 10 miles per ride. Continue this gradual building up until you get to at least one 50-mile ride each week right up to PALM.

The “secret” is to not only build up your muscles and aerobic capacity, but to become comfortable in the riding position and especially the saddle. Everyone, even the pro’s, gets a sore posterior. Remember, PALM is not a race. Take a “butt break” every 15 minutes or so while riding. Stand on the pedals and stretch. Get off the bike for a few minutes every 10 to 20 miles. Take in the sights along the way. Stop for lunch or to do some shopping.

Post back if you have any questions.

2012 PALM sites

Here are the sites where we will be staying each night on PALM. Please realize that all plans are subject to change.

Saturday, June 23. Upton Middle School, 800 Maiden Lane, S. Joseph, MI 49085

Sunday, June 24: Paw Paw Middle School, 313 West Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw, MI 49079

Monday, June 25: Harper Creek High School, 12677 Beadle Lake Rd, Battle Creek 49014

Tuesday, June 26: Leslie High School, 4141 Hull Road, Leslie 49251

Wednesday, June 27: Perry High School, 2555 W. Britton Rd, Perry 48822

Thursday, June 28: Brandon High School, 1025 S Ortonville Rd, Ortonville 48462

Friday, June 29 (ending site): Anchor Bay Middle School North, 52805 Ashley St., New Baltimore 48047

Alternatives to PALM

As many of you know, PALM again filled very quickly this year, and we have turned away a large number of potential riders. I think that PALM is a fairly unique ride in that we keep most of our daily distances to a maximum of about 50 miles, and we try to have a ride that appeals to a wide variety of ages and abilities. However, there are other rides in Michigan and our surrounding states that you might decide to try as an alternative to PALM. Perhaps some of our registered riders will also enjoy trying a second ride this season. I will list some of them in this entry and also on our website blog. You can get details on the events by checking out the web sites. As far as I can determine, none of these rides are filled yet.

The Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure. www.goba.com. June 16-23, a 7 day loop ride. From what I have been told, this ride attracts the same variety of participants as PALM does. Like PALM, each year GOBA follows a different route, and this year's ride is rolling with some more significant hills and takes place in the area south of Columbus. The 7 days include 5 riding days of 45-54 miles each, with 2 layover days that include optional loop rides or alternate activities. The ride limit is 3000, and the fee does not include meals. GOBA has an excellent web site, with lots of details about the ride and an excellent rider handbook.

Rides sponsored by the League of Michigan Bicyclists. www.lmb.org. The League sponsors several rides, including the Pedal and Paddle on June 2-3, the Sunrise Adventure June 15-17, MUP July 14 - 21 (60+ miles each day), and Shoreline West Aug 4-11 (longer days and lots of hills).

If you want even more options, you can go to www.bicycletournetwork.com, the web site for the National Bike Tour Directors Association, and search for rides all over the country.

Another option for trips that involve several days of cycling and are based at a hotel or conference center are available from the Road Scholar organization (formerly called Elderhostel). These programs are for mature adults, and most participants in the bicycling programs range in age from 45-70. So these are not options for families. I have participated in each of the programs listed below, and I enthusiastically recommend all of them. Check out the details and dates at www.roadscholar.org. You can also email me at www.palmbiketour@yahoo.com if you want to know more about these programs.

Program #13922. Bicycling Through Amish Country. Rides of 20-40 miles each day on the flat, quiet country roads in northern Indiana.

Program #9947. Bicycling on the Great Allegheny Passage. Bike a 30-40 mile section of this beautiful rails-to-trail route south of Pittsburg each day.

Programs #18629 and #13306. Biking the C & O Canal Towpath. Bicycle sections of this bike path that stretches from Washington, DC to Cumberland, MD.

We sincerely hope that all of you find a biking adventure that you can enjoy in 2012.

Ellie, PALM Mail Granny

Education Suggestions

Last year I provided links to various videos about cycling safety and how-to's on bike maintenance. I recieved little feedback as to how much this helped people prepare for PALM.

So, this year I am looking for specific suggestions. What would you like to see? Let me know and I'll do my best to either publish a link or provide the information myself.

PALM Fills

We posted the PALM 2012 application for download on Jan 12. It was supposed to be at noon but I put it out there earlier so that the server wouldn't be bombarded. I  picked Jan 12 so that people would have two days to mail in their applications before the MLK holiday. We would be able to tell by the Saturday mail whether people knew that the application had to be downloaded from the website or whether we had to call/email people over the weekend to tell them about it. We needn't have worried. We received the applications for 629 riders and 53 staff postmarked Jan 12. We received the applications for 137 riders postmarked on Jan 13. We decided to accept all the riders postmarked Jan 13. That gives us 766 riders, well over our 700 rider cutoff. PALM filled in two days. Amazing.

Using the email address on the applications, Ellie sent out emails for every application that was accepted. She returned the checks with our regrets to everyone whose application had a postmark after Jan 13. Everyone who mailed in an application should know by now whether they are on PALM or not. It's nice to fill quickly but we really don't like telling people that they can't be on PALM. We all live for PALM and can imagine what we would feel like if we couldn't do it. But we are limited: we stay at schools and they can only handle so many people comfortably. There is just so much you can ask an all volunteer staff to do. Still we hate to say no. We don't keep a waiting list. Instead we accept more riders than our limit to cover any cancellations that may occur.

   So looking at the numbers, I am 833 behind : 766 riders and 67 staff/SAGs. So much for New Years resolutions. There are basically three of us doing registration. Vickie checks the applications (Were the waivers signed? Were sizes picked for the tshirts?  Is there an emergency contact? Is the check amount correct?) and does the paper work for the accountant while Judy and I key in the applications, create and send out the confirmation letters. (The meal, bus, and tshirt counts and the meal and bus lists come from this.)

   Vickie has the tougher job. Any mistake means she has to contact the rider by email or phone to straighten it out. Any mistake with a check means she has to mail the check back and get a new one. This takes time. It also means that your check won't be cashed for a while. Vickie processes the applications in the order received and doesn't cash the checks until the application has been verified. There are roughly 500 applications. It's a good thing Ellie sent out emails telling people that they are on the ride because it may take weeks before they receive a confirmation letter or even have their check cashed.

Download PALM Application Now

You can download the 2012 PALM application by clicking this link. If this link is busy then click this link.

Winter Day

   I did make it to the First Dozen in Dearborn on Jan 1. It was very windy: I was almost blown over by a gust while waiting at a red light. Fortunately the wind was against us on the way out and with us on the way back. There is nothing worse than riding, thinking you are in good shape, only to find when you turn around that you had a strong wind at your back and now have a long way back. It happens to me every year. The temperature was in the 40s so there was no chance of the predicted snow. There was a brief shower at the start but none during the ride. That would have been brutal.

   I checked the Weather website. The average high in January is 33 and the average low is 18. Up until now we may think it's cold but it's not. We've been 10-15 degrees above normal. Until now that is.  Tuesday was a real winter day: it started out at 17 degrees and didn't make it out of the low 20's with a 10-15 mph wind from the northwest. I run in the morning. Running the first time that it is below 20 is hard for me. At the end of the winter when I've done it for 2 months I don't even think about it. But that first time...

   We still haven't had a real snow. I can still see the grass so I know that winter hasn't actually started yet. And yet next week you will be able to download the 2012 PALM application starting at noon on Jan 12. It doesn't seem possible. Generally we are in the depths of winter when the PALM applications go out. So don't forget and tell all your friends: Jan 12 starting at noon download the 2012 PALM application, winter or no winter.