Food & water at event rides
Most event rides / charity rides have plenty of rest stops. The well-run ones won't run out of food for the slower riders, but it could occasionally happen at one of the stops. There's usually something to eat, but the "good stuff" may be all gone. I'd carry one energy bar "just in case".
(A few years ago, the Kentucky Horsey Hundred had their resupply truck stuck in a traffic jam. They drove out, parked in the highway median, and transferred the food off the truck. That's a well run ride!)
I'd bring two water bottles, even if the distance between stops is short.
Drafting
Like the previous posts, I like jumping onto the draft on a big group that passes by. Fun! And it often bumps up my speed by 3 or 4 mph.
But:
It's so easy to get caught up in the faster speeds, and work too hard.
Most of these groups are just random riders that grouped up on the road, and some of the riders may be a little sketchy. If I see riders not holding their line or the group isn't safely passing solo riders, I'll get off.
Riding with just a couple of other riders is easier.
Last edited by rm -rf; 08-05-16 at 06:33 AM.