Hi, new here and learned about Vegas In 24. Rider safety seems to be a very important factor for an even that could last up to 24 hours. How does the support crew help keep the rider safe and what are some of the takeaways and best practices that you learned from Andy's original ride?
Hey Thomas, glad you found Ho'Omau and welcome! Yes rider safety is pretty darn important. It's going to be a long day in the saddle and you really have to prepare for almost any possibility: major fatigue, a crash, a non-fixable mechanical and so on.
As a general rule, if you use your own support crew, you want a car or van or RV behind you at almost all times with emergency lights flashing. When I first rode to Vegas in 2016, the RV was a solid 50-150 yards behind me and that worked very well. However, you will need someone who is comfortable driving a big RV or van and you will need at least 2 drivers to rotate since they will eventually get too tired to drive.
There are a lot of things to think through and I could elborate here for hours, but one of the main reasons we offer a Ho'Omau support vehicle + crew for Vegas In 24 is that we have done this before and know most or all of the potential pitfalls. And ultimately, that is what keeps the rider the safest. In most ultra distance cycling events like these, it's generally the support crew who will make a mistake and delay the rider, not the other way around. If you decide to ride, consider getting the Advance Support package since that includes a 60-min video session with me where we can go over all of the plans for your event.
