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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Floor Pumps and Chain Lube


YOUR FLOOR PUMP IS AS ESSENTIAL AS YOUR HELMET TO BRING WITH YOU

You will need to bring your own floor pump, chain lube, and rags with you to inflate your tires and lube your chain in the morning. Our floor pumps, chain lube, and rags are for use only in response to specific mechanic problems encountered and will not be available for general participant use in the morning before the ride.

First, we simply do not have enough floor pumps, chain lube, or rags to offer to all participants. Relying on us to provide these items takes way too much time to go around and be used by everyone in the morning, and they will inevitably get lost or misplaced. All this when your number one priority in the morning to get your stuff together to be able to begin the ride!

In addition, the inherent, unavoidable problem with floor pumps is that they will break. Becuase it is extremely important to maintain working floor pumps for both the comfort and safety of all participants, we COMPLETELY and ABSOLUTELY disagree in every way with other events who provide common ones for general participant usage in the morning before the ride. Whoever the stupid clueless worthless idiot was who first decided that participants did not need to bring their own floor pumps to cycling events was wrong, dead wrong, because it's simply too risky for everyone to depend on common floor pumps. Not if, but when a common floor pump breaks it affects EVERYONE - and EVERYONE gets screwed. It can be an absolutely horrible time keeping floor pumps in operating condition because too often participants either didn't know how to correctly attach the pump nozzle to their valve stem or were too harsh with the pump and ended up breaking it. In addition, we unnecessarily spend time repairing it, we would also have to assume that any necessary repair parts for the pump would not be available in town in which case we would have to buy a new pump if one was even available, which can't be guaranteed.

The more floor pumps and chain lube available, the better, and the best way to accomplish this is by having as many particiants as possible bring their own. If someone forgets to bring a floor pump or chain lube, or if your floor pump breaks, there is always someone else who has one available. In addition, everyone is will be much more careful with their own floor pumps than ours, and know how to operate and maintain them the best. And don't worry, we have PLENTY of extra room in our baggage truck to carry everyone's floor pump!

On the road, floor pumps will be available at every rest stop upon request for tire pressure top offs. This is particularly convenient if you get a flat tire on the road and are unable to fully inflate your tire with your hand operated frame pump or CO2 quick tire inflator. Pumps will be able to accommodate both Presta and Schrader valve types and have built in pressure gauges.

Participants may not operate our floor pumps themselves to prevent misuse and breakage. Only staff members are allowed to operate them.

P.O. Box 8454 • Chicago, IL 60680 • (877) TOUR-ILL [868-7455]
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