Sea-to-Sea Nicaragua

1. Who is participating?

The group is limited to 30 riders and support staff, because this is a manageable size for a new initiative. It’s a cross section of Nicaraguans, expatriates, and North Americans coming down for the trip.

2. What do I need to bring?

* Bike: Each rider needs to be self-sufficient in terms of their bike. Repair tools, and general spare parts will be provided and accessible.  However you will need to bring three spare tubes (including tools & accessories needed to repair flat tires along the way), a small pump, a helmet and reflective material.  We encourage you also bring biking gloves and other replacement parts that might be specific to your bicycle
* Bags: We recommend taking a small, lightweight backpack or some bicycle bag to carry items during the day (such as small hand sanitizer, power bars, etc). Each person will be able to take a personal supply pack with them on the plane, and that will be transported to each station by trucks.  It is unclear how much extra room there will be in each of the trucks for secondary personal supply packs.  For those bringing extra supplies, as requested by the organizing team, there will be room for those packs.  Be prepared though to reduce your number of additional items to be taken on this trip when you arrive.  We will only then have a clear view into how much space is available. Please refer to the Blog ¨What to Wear and What to Prepare¨ for more information on the luggage.
* Clothes: It is recommended that you pack three sets of clothes plus biking outfit. T-shirt and shorts are fine during the day. One pair of long pants / shirt is also recommended as temperatures at night are cooler on the East coast. There is the possibility of washing clothes at just about each stop. Pack light clothing, a light rain jacket could also come in handy (this could double as a long sleeve shirt). A swimsuit is a good idea, as well as a light towel.
* Other: Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, power bars, a personal size hand refillable hand sanitizer, and any favorite snacks keeping in mind the luggage constraints. In addition to this being a physical journey, it will also be a spiritual journey-so bring your Bible, a notebook, and writing utensil.

3. What will the sleeping conditions be?

One night we will be staying in a school, however, most nights will be in small local towns with minimal facilities. We will be taking advantage of small local hotels along the way, but they will be basic.  Everyone will become well acquainted with the Bucket Shower!

4. What will the food be like?

We’re going to take advantage of local restaurants. The food will be very typical of the area. Count on eating a lot of rice and beans.  Dave and I (Kevin) can assure everyone it is very good food, but yes lots of rice and beans.

5. What will the terrain be like?

The first 350km will be rough gravel and hills. The second half of the trip will be on asphalt with some hills and a fair amount of challenging climbs.  As some of the pictures show these gravel roads are a little more adventurous than most people are used to, also be prepared to maybe cross a small river or two as bridge repairs are a constant obstacle on this route.

6. What kind of bike do I need?

You will need a good mountain bike that will hold up on the rough terrain of the first half. If you’re purchasing a bike, plan to spend at least $300.

7. Will there be support vehicles?

Yes. All of the gear and baggage will be transported by a truck each day. We have a cube van, an ambulance, pick up truck, and a motorcycle.

8. What is covered in terms of costs, and what should I expect to pay in addition to the $500US?

This is a new endeavor, and obviously we’re making a lot of assumptions. Given the best information at this time, flying to the east coast is about $200US/person including their bike. We’re budgeting $25US/day per person for lodging and food. The remaining hundred dollars is for the support vehicle system. In the event that we go over budget, we are counting on the bikers pitching in to absorb unanticipated costs. However, we do not think that it will be necessary at this point.  We recommend about $40.00 – $50.00 American Dollars be brought along in cash.  This will be changed by Mark before the ride into small change of the local currency for use along the route.

9. How should I make travel arrangements?

If you are flying into Nicaragua, you need to arrive on or before Saturday, December 27. This is to ensure that you, your luggage, and your bike arrive in time to pack them for the flight to the coast. Given that it’s happening during the holidays, flights are already filling up and baggage is given second priority. Hence, you will need to plan to arrive early enough to compensate for late or lost baggage. Carol Sybenga from ServiceLink Canada will be arranging and coordinating all the international flights. The sooner you have your flights booked, the better, so check with her well in advance and make sure of luggage restrictions so you can be certain the airline can carry your bike. (sybengac@crcna.ca or 1-800-730-3490 ext. 249)

10. What will a typical riding day look like?

We probably want to do as much biking as possible in the early morning, as it does get hotter in the afternoon. Lunch will be on the road. Due to different paces, we won’t try to do a communal lunch.  Bikers will pack their own lunches for the ride. From what we do know, biking will commence early each morning.  Support staff will head out to set up the check points at about 1/3 and 2/3 along the route.  Supper will be around 5:00 pm each day with devotions and debriefing to follow.

11. Do I need any special vaccinations or to prepare myself medically in anyway?

The recommended vaccinations include the following:
1. Updated tetanus (if not done in the last 10yrs.)
2. Hepatitus A (Twinrix covers both A & B)
3. Typhoid
4. Rabies
5. MMR – if born after 1956 (check with your Dr.)
6. Anti malaria medication – chloroquine is the recommended antimalarial drug. It is suggested that you check with a specialized medical travel clinic for what you will personally require – vaccinations vary form person to person depending on one’s medical and travel history. Carol Sybenga from ServiceLink Canada is a good resource for further information.

Other suggestions include:
a. Pepto-Bismol pills
b. Imodium
c. “Butt Balm” (is that a scientific term or what)

Please remember these are only suggestions.  Everyone knows themselves the best and should plan accordingly to your own needs.

12. How do I direct pledges that I have raised?

See the donor information page.

13. Can donors receive tax benefits?

See the donor card. We encourage donors to donate through the Canadian CRWRC office to be eligible for the 4:1 matching.

14. What if I get sick along the way?

We do have a paramedic signed up to assist with any complications. However, realize that this type of trek will expose you to numerous challenges (i.e. heat, viruses, bacteria). We cannot possibly ensure protection against these challenges.  With the exception of a few towns we will stay in, most will have a well stocked pharmacy and possible clinics.

15. Will there be any opportunities to communicate with N.A. along the way?

While a number of the small towns likely have internet cafes, the connections are weak at best and most of the time these cyber cafes will not have any connection. You should be careful to make no promises to maintain daily communications, and should advise those back home of this situation.

16. Is there anything else that I need to know?

This is a new event. Possibly the first group to ever bike across the entire country. We’ll be going through some isolated areas. We can’t anticipate everything that is going to happen, so you need to be flexible.