Important Information for DALMAC 2024
Please be sure to read this information before check-in.
Arrival and Check-In
For those arriving Tuesday, Padre's camp at MSU will be set up by early afternoon that day. Feel free to come get checked in any time after 4:00 pm. For those arriving any other day, we should be ready for check-in around 3:00 most days. Just find the Padre’s flag and shaded guest area in camp. You'll need to complete our online waiver before checking in with Padre's.
If you've signed up to stay with us for the full 5-Day West, 5-Day East or 4-Day West route, and won't be camping on your route’s first night at MSU, you'll have a couple of options to drop your luggage. You can check in either your first night at MSU to get your luggage tags, or you can do it the next morning before 8 am. You can drop your luggage with us at the same time so your luggage is taken directly to your tent in the first overnight town.
Here's a picture of our flags, which will be on site:
Wristbands and Baggage
When you check in, you’ll receive your tent number. You'll also receive a packet with a wristband and two baggage tags for Padre’s Cycle Inn, each with your tent number. If you are sharing a tent, each guest will receive their own packet when checking in - please be sure that both occupants sharing a tent do check in with us. Please verify that you have two baggage tags and one wristband, and that the number written on these matches the tent number you were assigned. These items are in addition to your event rider band. The wristbands in your tent packet signify that you are a Padre's guest. Only Padre's guests are permitted in the Padre’s Zone or to use any of our amenities. Please attach your baggage tags to your two bags immediately, using the zip ties included in your packet. Please also wear your Padre’s wristband all week. Here's a picture of a sample packet and its contents:
Each guest is allowed two bags, each weighing 40 lbs or less. As you begin to pack, you'll realize that you’ll have ample space for what you need. Remember, you don't need to pack a tent, mattress, pump, chair, or even towels. These are all provided for you. So, what you really end up needing to bring will be less than you may think. If you are undecided between one and two bags, opt for two and split the weight up. Bags over 40 lbs are tough to carry and are subject to additional fees. Consider leaving some space in your bags to come back with souvenirs you may acquire throughout the week. As with any camping event, we could have bad weather at times. We’ll do our best to store luggage in a dry location, but at times it’s impossible to keep everything clean and dry. We recommend you keep this in mind when bringing luggage and when packing your bags. If your bag isn’t weatherproof you may want to pack your items in zip lock or other bags inside your luggage. You may also want to avoid bringing luggage that you don’t want to get dirty.
You should pack your bags as if you were boarding a plane. Since all baggage goes into a truck or trailer, Padre's cannot transport items not in a bag or case designed for transport. Additional fees will be assessed for overweight baggage or loose items, so be sure to weigh your items before you arrive. If you absolutely need to be over the limit, contact us in advance to make special arrangements. All checked bags must have a Padre's Baggage Tag affixed with the provided zip tie. Please note that overweight bags, extra bags, untagged bags, and/or loose items are subject to a $40 baggage fee per item. Bags will be weighed, and each overweight item will be tagged as such and be subject to the $40 fee. Additional baggage, such as bike bags or boxes, may also be stored in the baggage truck for the duration of the event for $40 per bag.
Tents
You will have a high-quality Kelty tent with a twin size air mattress (per guest), fully set up for you daily. You’ll use the same tent and mattress each day, and your tent number will be on your Padre’s wristband. You should have no issues with your tent, but if you do, please find a Padre's crew member. Crew members will be easy to spot in their bright yellow Padre's shirts or vests. Any crew member should be able to help you resolve any issues. Please do not wear cycling cleats inside your tent. The cleats will damage the bottom, which will result in you waking up with water on your tent floor if it rains. It's best to remove any shoes before entering. It will prevent dragging in grass and debris into your home-for-the-week. A pair of flip-flops works in camp, as you can easily slip them off and on.. Please do not eat, drink, or smoke inside the tent. Open food inside the tent will attract ants, and you’ll have them in your tent all week. We’ve seen issues with food attracting ants on past events, so please be careful. Here's a picture of our tent village:
Mattresses
If your air mattress needs more air when you first enter your tent, you can write your tent number on the "Mattress Top-Offs" board in the Zone. If your camp has the Padre's cargo trailer, you'll see the "Mattress Top-Offs" on the front of Padre's baggage trailer. Here's a photo of that mattress top-off board:
If you have an issue with your air mattress in the middle of the night, there will also be handheld inflators set out all night in the Zone, in case you want to top yours off. Here's a photo of the mattress inflator being used to top off a mattress:
It’s a good idea to check your air mattress when you arrive in camp and set a piece of luggage on top, which will help identify if there are any leaks or issues. If there is an issue, we can get it resolved before you are ready to retire for the night. You’ll need to bring your own bedding. We recommend a set of twin mattress sheets, blanket or sleeping bag, and a pillow. For reference, the mattress dimensions are about 75”x39”x10”.
Padre’s Zone
After a long day’s ride, you’ll enjoy the Padre’s Zone. Under our canopies or occasionally, some shade trees, you’ll find a chair to sit in, complimentary snacks and refreshments, cooling fans, and more. Our goal is to have this area setup each day by 1:00 pm and to have your tents and luggage ready to go by 4:00 pm. Each morning, in the same area, you will find freshly brewed coffee, starting at 6:00 am. There will also be water, ice, and sports drink powder. One cooler will be solely for clean ice. When getting ice from the clean ice cooler, please use the ice scoop, and sanitize your hands before doing so to avoid the spread of germs. Do not grab ice while wearing cycling gloves. If you are in this area after 10, please be respectful of other guests who may be trying to sleep.
Charging Station
In the Zone, you’ll also find our electronics charging station. There will be more outlets than guests, so everyone should have an outlet to use at any given time. But please remove your electronics once they are fully charged. Your phone will charge faster if powered off while charging anyway. The charging station is not monitored, so please do not leave your items unattended. Padre’s is not responsible for lost or damaged items left on the charging station. If you are riding an e-bike, you can charge your removable batteries at the charging station. If your e-bike battery doesn’t come off, please bring a 50’ extension cord so that you can charge your bike outside the Zone. The charging station will run from approximately 6:30-8:00 am, and from around noon until 10:00 pm, when it will be secured until morning.
Early Items Bins
If you think you'll arrive in camp before the 4:00 baggage time, you might consider using our Early Items bins. Each morning we'll set out plastic totes that you can put your shower items in for immediate access. Please use a sling bag or similar - nothing larger - to place a clean set of clothes and any toiletries needed at the showers. These bins will be the first items unloaded when we set up the Zone. Here's a photo of an Early Items Bin:
Reducing and Recycling
Help us keep our carbon footprint as low as possible. Please consider using your water bottle when getting water, lemonade, or sports drink, rather than using a disposable cup. Feel free to also bring an insulated cup for your favorite in-camp beverages. Please also place only plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the green trash bags; put all other trash in the clear trash bags.
Bikes, Racks, and Maintenance
We will have bike racks for Padre’s guests to hang your bike each day. This is the best place to put your bike while in camp. Please do not bring your bike inside your tent or lean it against your tent. This can damage the tent and get grease inside, which will ultimately end up on you and your things. If you have mechanical issues with your bike, there will be a maintenance stand available for you to use, along with a limited set of tools to borrow. Please do not move the tools from the maintenance area. Your used shower towel will work well for wiping things off at this time, and you’ll have plenty of dust and grit from the ride each day. We will also have several bike pumps available. You may find that some of the bike pumps we have in camp don't function like yours. If that occurs, feel free to ask for help or choose a different pump that suits you. Please keep the bike pumps in the maintenance area as well, so that we can keep track of them.
Showers and Towels
Each evening, you'll be provided with two new shower towels. The towels are eco-friendly, recycled, and disposable. But have no fear; we have used these towels many years with virtually no complaints. The towels are strong and absorbent, but to ensure that they do the trick, feel free to take two daily. Save a used towel after your shower. They are ideal for wiping your bike or other gear down in the morning or should you need to work on your bike at any time. Don’t forget to grab your clean towels on your way to the showers each evening!
Daily Check-Out
Our crew will begin breaking camp around 7 am most days. Please plan to be out of your tent with your gear no later than 8:00 am most days. When you are finished inside your tent, please open the valve on your air mattress. This will allow the mattress to self-deflate by the time the crew breaks down your tent. Do not fold or roll the mattress up. Just let it lay flat in its place. Also, please have your gear out of your tent as early as you can so that the crew knows your tent is ready to be taken down. In order for our crew to break camp, transport everything to the next town, and have the next camp ready for you, we must begin taking tents down as early as possible.
Text Alerts
We’ll send out a few text alerts throughout the week of the event as reminders or important updates as needed.
Please sign up for our text alerts by texting the appropriate option for your route:
5 West Guests:
@DALMAC5W to 81010
5 East Guests:
@DALMAC5E to 81010
4 West Guests:
@DALMAC4W to 81010
Final Day Procedures
On the last day, we will load all bags onto the DALMAC luggage trucks for you to pick up at Mackinaw City High School. The bags will be with the other DALMAC rider bags and will have your normal luggage tags/bands on them. We will be breaking camp while you are riding the final day so your gear will need to be packed up and removed from your tent before you leave for the ride. We hope to be on our way back to St Louis before many riders finish so be sure to pack your towels in your gear Sunday morning so that you can shower when you get to Mackinaw.
Final Night Meeting
We will have a meeting on Saturday at 4:30 pm. This meeting will explain how to access your luggage the last day and any other information you may need for the final day. Please try to attend, the meeting will be in the Padre's Zone.
Gratuity & Crew
The Padre’s crew will typically be wearing bright yellow Padre’s Cycle Inn shirts or vests when they are working. They’ll be hauling luggage twice each day as well as setting up and tearing down camp. If you need anything, feel free to grab one of them. Since our crew begins working before 6:00 am, we give them most evenings off, but we will always have someone around the Zone that is there to help you until 10:00 pm each evening. There will be a tip jar out in the Zone at the end of the week to recognize the staff for their hard work. The tips are for the crew (all workers, not Dave or Jimmy). If you’re wondering what an appropriate tip amount would be, our crew typically averages about 15% in tips. If you need to leave before the last day and want to leave a tip for the crew, please see Suzie, Jimmy, Dave, or the crew leader of your camp.
Suggested Items
Please click here for a list of suggested items.