Application
Baggage Transport
Bicycle Repair
Bike Shipping
Camping and Private Housing
The Argus Leader Tour de Kota Etiquette
Emergency Medical Treatment
First Time Bicycle Tour Riders
Food and Hydration
First Time Support Vehicle Drivers
Information Centers
Lost and Found
Meals
Minors
Legal Drinking Age
Young Children
Official Rider Benefits
One-day Passes
Parking at the Starting Town and Ending Town
Participant Packets
Wristband Instructions
Refunds and Selling or Transferring Tags
Ride Hours, Daily Route and Traffic Control Ride Hours
Daily Route Maps/Marking
Sag Service
Severe Weather Guidelines
Training/Preparation
What to Bring
Tips to Help Insure Proper Helmet Fit
Personal Hygiene Precautions
You may apply online or print an application from our registration page here. The deadline for pre-registrations is May 31, 2012. If you are not able to print an application, you may request one by mailing a self-addressed, business-sized envelope to The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™, PO Box 5034, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5034.
The event is six possible days of riding.
A week-long rider fee is $150 November 1 - January 31, 2012 • $170 February 1 - April 15, 2012 • $185 April 16 - May 31, 2012
Instead of registering for the week, participants may register for day passes. A rider fee for one day is $30 November 1 - January 31, 2012 • $40 February 1 - April 15, 2012 • $45 April 16 - May 31, 2012
Registration for the one-day ride starting and finishing in Sioux Falls on Sunday, June 10, 2012 is $25. Those who register for the weeklong ride are automatically registered for the one-day TdK 73K (45 mile).
Although the capability exists to register online, due to South Dakota law, The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ Waiver of Liability must still be completed by hand and a hard copy must be signed at check in before your registration can be considered complete.
All bags must have an official Tour de Kota™ registered rider tag.
The baggage tag permits you to put your bag on the Tour de Kota™'s baggage truck. Your bag must be clearly marked and can be claimed only by showing that the number on your wristband matches the number on your baggage tag.
Two medium sized bags may be brought on the tour. We cannot accept wood or hard plastic luggage or bike cases; only standard cloth or canvas bags are permitted.
Be sure to have your gear at the Tour de Kota™ baggage truck by 8:00 a.m. Your baggage will be unloaded for you in the afternoons. A horn will sound 15 minutes before leaving time. The trucks will load where they unloaded the day before. We will not be responsible for baggage left at the truck in the mornings before it is open nor after 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon. Baggage security is provided until 5 p.m.
Be sure to include money for bicycle parts and repairs and other incidentals in your planning for the week. Pack an extra tube or two in your bag. Bicycle repair will be available along the route each day and in the campgrounds. Campground hours for bike repair are 5-6 a.m. and 5-8 p.m., or as needed.
To signal that you need help on the route, turn your bicycle upside down or "wheels up" and motion a "thumbs down" signal to let an approaching sag wagon know that you need help.
Goat heads or Texas sand burs can be a real problem in this part of the state. Watch your tires, especially off pavement.
Be sure to have a safety check done on your bike before you arrive to ride!
If you will be shipping your bicycle to the starting town, or shipping it home from the ending town after the ride, here are some helpful suggestions to follow.
Bikes should be shipped by UPS 3-Day Select. It is just a bit more expensive, but saves a lot of guesswork. Bikes arrive in much better shape because of reduced handling.
Bike boxes should be marked "ASSEMBLE" or "DO NOT ASSEMBLE." This saves the receiving shop confusion, time and money for you when you arrive to pick up your bike.
Boxes AND bikes should be labeled to identify ownership. This is very important to verify owners during pickup.
Phone numbers and email addresses should be included with labeling. A quick call or email to the owner is sometimes necessary to confirm shipment or report damage.
Check the Mechanical Support link on our website to find bike shops who will handle bike shipping.
Tent-camping areas will be set aside and are large enough to accommodate most participants. The official tent camping areas are not equipped to handle RV camping or campers. Tents only please.
Additionally, if you will be operating a generator in the campgrounds, please be courteous of your fellow tent campers.
Campgrounds must be quiet after 9:00 p.m.
Dorm rooms at many of the overnight stops will be open to bikers. There is a limited availability at each location. Bikers must provide their own bedding. Cost is $25 per person/per dorm room at each college or university. All dorm rooms have two beds. If you wish to share a room with another rider, that person also must register seperately for dorm rooms. To ensure that you are placed in the same room, please list that rider's name in the appropriate box on the registration form.
The Shuttle Guy can make your Tour de Kota™ camping experience and life easy! They offer the following camping services for our riders at a separate charge:
• Tent use and set up for the week
• Air mattress use and inflation
• Chair service
• Towel service
• Cold beverages after you ride
• A canopy for shade
• Coffee each morning in real mugs
• Cold water and Gatorade powder
• Luggage transportation
• Cell phone charging
• Use of pumps, rags, lube, tools, insect repellant, sunscreen and first aid
For additional information about the Shuttle Guy camping and hotel services, please click here.
The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ Etiquette
The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ participants are guests everywhere they go and should treat their hosts with respect. Make sure you are a good guest.
Don't litter. Pick up your own trash in the campground and along the way.
Respect the property of others. Don't damage fences and crops, and leave campgrounds in better condition than you find them.
Keep the campground quiet. Most riders want to get a good night's sleep. Please, no noise after 9:00 p.m. Late night noise-makers will be asked to leave the campground.
Be courteous to those around you if you're an extremely early riser.
Camp only where directed. Groups or individuals who camp outside the designated areas create security and safety concerns for them.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol, as well as local law enforcement, will be patrolling and assisting with the route. They will also provide general public safety and respond to any medical emergency. For immediate medical attention, please dial 911.
First Time Bicycle Tour Riders
Concentrate first on learning how to ride safely and with endurance. The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ likely will be one of the most difficult things, physically, that you've ever attempted.
Always stretch before and after riding.
Have your bike in the best mechanical condition possible. A touring or road bike is going to be the easiest to ride and is the most common type found on bike tours. A hybrid bike will be easier to ride than a mountain bike.
Safety involves several items. The first is your helmet. DON'T GET ON A BIKE WITHOUT A HELMET. Safety equipment also includes gloves. If you fall they protect the palms of your hands. Riding safely is very important and very difficult to learn because there is no other ride like the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™. Have a mirror on your helmet or your bike and use it.
Carry a spare inner tube in case you have a flat. Even if you do not have the knowledge to change a tire yourself, someone will be glad to help.
The threat to your well-being on the route is not only cars or trucks but other cyclists. Many riders may be riding for the first time surrounded by other cyclists. And, while this circumstance promotes a certain euphoria, it also holds hidden dangers, i.e., running into each other and falling down.
Before you stop, make sure no bicycles or motor vehicles are immediately behind you. Stop at the right edge of the roadway and immediately move to the shoulder. Stay clear of the roadway. Stopping is especially dangerous at the crest of a hill or on a curve.
Call out to fellow cyclists when you are going to pass on the left or right or up the middle, or are pulling off or pulling on.
Be predictable and don't weave. Ride in a straight line to make it easier for those riding behind you.
Don't draft. Drafting in a crowd is dangerous to yourself and others around you. There is no place for it on the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™. Drafting vehicles is also dangerous and will not be tolerated on the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™.
Ride to the right. Leave room for others to pass on your left. In other bike tours there have been many close calls and serious accidents because a passing rider was forced into the lane with oncoming traffic.
While on your bike, be sure to carry with you at least enough money to buy the all-important food. Food, both standard fare and the unusual, is available at every turn. The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ is a small economic boost to every church, Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop, 4-H club, VFW post, etc. that it passes. Remember you "eat today to ride tomorrow."
You also should carry some type of high energy food. (Usually food is available when you want it, but there are always times when you may need a boost.)
Don't put yourself in danger because you're not drinking enough fluids. The temperature, wind, distance and previous day's events all will determine your need for fluids. One rule of thumb is that a bicyclist should drink water every 15 minutes, but water is not enough. You should carry at least two water bottles with you. Because we sweat and lose those precious minerals when we exercise, we have to replace them through sports drinks and other fluids. And since certain beverages can hinder the effectiveness of some important vitamins and minerals, it's a good idea to have some vitamins on hand.
Sugar and carbohydrates keep your body going on the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™, but don't try to eat them all at one sitting. It's much better to eat several times a day than to try to pedal on a full stomach.
First Time Support Vehicle Drivers
Bring a South Dakota state road map along. It can be very helpful to assist you in determining on which roads you should be driving.
Make sure you check in with the Tour de Kota™ Information Center if you have any questions. The Information Center can help your group find out where you're camping, and also gives the Information Center volunteers an idea of where to find you if they should need to notify you about someone in your group.
Please be courteous. You are a guest in the community and should act like one. Turn your generators off when they're not needed. It is hard to enjoy the great outdoors with the fumes and noise of multiple generators.
Be patient. There may be lines everywhere you go, even when you're driving.
Be careful. When driving a large panel truck or pulling a trailer, be especially aware of what or who is behind or beside your vehicle. Overhead clearance is critical. Remember, you may have a bike rack on top of your vehicle that could hit tree branches or signs.
Share. You are sharing camping sites. Give everyone his/her space.
Be neat. Encourage your group to pick up after themselves. Have garbage bags on hand for trash. Before you leave in the morning, walk your area. You'll find the misplaced billfold, watch, sunglasses and bike computer. Your group will appreciate your efforts.
Always buckle up and don't drink alcoholic beverages if you're going to be driving.
Make sure you're getting plenty of rest the night before driving so you stay sharp. Drowsiness can lead to becoming distracted and inattentive.
Have a safe and fun trip!
The Information Center for each campground is always located in the main tent campgrounds. This is where you can leave notes for people, find information about the town, ask riders questions and find Information Center staff. The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ staffers will be happy to answer all your questions.
The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ vehicle in the campground also serves as the Lost and Found site during the ride. If you have misplaced something during the ride, be sure to check periodically at this vehicle. Sometimes found items may be reported to the the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ office after the ride ends, so you can also call the the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ office at 605-331-2200.
Food and drink will be available in the campgrounds, community centers, in churches, restaurants, and along the route.
Minors on the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™
All minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by responsible adults during the ride, preferably their parents. Permission Statement; A waiver must be signed by parents of 16 and 17 year olds.
We will include a medical release form in the participant packet for each minor under 18 years old to be signed by his or her parent or guardian. The minor must have the form in his or her possession at all times during the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™. Without the information, there could be a delay in medical treatment.
If you plan to have an alcoholic beverage during the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™, be prepared to prove that you are of legal age. Legal drinking age in South Dakota is 21 years. Local establishments and community-sponsored beverage tents where alcoholic beverages are sold will not accept the excuse that bikers wearing biking gear have no way to carry the necessary identification. They may issue a colorful wristband to individuals who are of legal drinking age but have a youthful appearance. If you are under 21 and are found with alcoholic beverages in your possession, you will be prosecuted and sent home! We appreciate your cooperation.
It's a rare child who can pedal all of the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ before the age of 11. Children recover quickly, but a day of adverse weather will wipe them out.
It takes a truly superior child to pedal a mountain bike with knobby tires this far. If a road bike isn't in your budget, consider buying slicks for the mountain bike.
You just about have to force a child to eat well to have the strength for all days.
Push water.
A colorful T-shirt will help child and parent keep track of each other on the route.
Helmet mirrors are a great investment to keep an eye on the children (or even adult riding partners).
Have firm meeting places.
Traffic is controlled by the South Dakota Highway Patrol throughout the tour.
Baggage is transported from overnight-to-overnight community campsites and is unloaded for participants at the end of each day.
Free sag service, patrols the route to pick up riders who break down either physically or mechanically.
Bicycle repair on the route, and additional repair services are available in the campgrounds. Participants will pay for their own repairs and accessories.
Provision for tent camping. (Bring your own tent)
Portable toilets with hand-washing stations at the campgrounds.
Route maps available each day at the Information Center.
Colorful and distinct route signs that mark the bike route.
A free Campground Edition of the Argus Leader each day.
An Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ t-shirt and water bottle.
A free century patch for registered participants who complete the 100-mile route from Sioux Falls to Brookings on Sunday. Please see a TdK staff member for your century patch.
One-day passes may be purchased for one to four days only. They may be purchased by completing the regular Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ application form and sending it to the the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ office or completing the form online.
Day passes are valid only on the day for which they are issued. One-day pass holders are entitled to sag services only on the day of the one-day pass. These services are not available on any day for which a day pass is not purchased. For example, if you have a one-day pass for Monday only, but continue to ride, you would not be entitled to sag service.
One-day pass holders are provided with use of the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ baggage service for the day of their pass. You may stay on the grounds of the tent camping site for one night - either the night before or the day of your ride.
The Argus Leader and the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ do not provide hotel shuttle service or bus service to or from the tour. Please see the Shuttleguy link on our website and the bus transportation link and contact the provider directly.
Parking at the Starting and Ending Location
Parking will be provided for participants wishing to leave their vehicles at the starting location and will be issued a parking tag to identify the vehicle with the Tour de Kota™ event. Liability for damage and/or stolen goods is the responsibility of the vehicle owner.
Please check our site for updates on location and fees.
You will receive your participant packet at check-in which will include a rider wristband, two luggage tags (check to make sure the numbers match), and information packet. Tickets for mechandise will be provided at check-in and items can be picked up at registration.
Any correspondence to the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ office should include the unique identification number assigned, along with the person's name, address and telephone number.
To confirm your registration, Please email tourdekota@argusleader.com or call 605-331-2200.
NOTE: Do not put the wristband on until the day you are beginning your ride on the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™. The only way to remove it is to cut the band or ruin the snap. If the snap was ruined in the mail or a part of it is missing, stop by the Information Center in the campground for replacement. The wristband is to be worn on the wrist-not attached to the bike, an ankle or hanging from a key chain.
Refunds and Selling or Transferring Tags
A full refund of registration fees can be made up to 30 days prior to the first day of the tour. A refund of 50% of your registration and other fees will be made up until the day prior to the beginning of the tour. Because of the assignment of numbers on the bands that coincides with the waiver and release of liability that you signed, tags may not be privately re-sold or transferred. If for some reason you cannot attend the ride, you must return the wristband and baggage tags (if applicable) to the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ office.
The Argus Leader is not responsible for lost, delayed or misplaced application forms. Call the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ at
605-331-2200 if you have questions about this procedure.
Ride Hours, Daily Route and Traffic Control Ride Hours
6:00 a.m., is considered the official Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ sunrise when you may begin riding. Safety and support services monitor the route between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
If you race ahead, lag behind or leave the official bicycle route, services will not be available to you. Riding in the dark on unknown roads without support is foolish, even if you have lights.
Ride at a speed that will enable you to finish each day well in advance of sundown.
The complete week of daily route maps, with mileage between pass-through towns and other information, will be available at the campground Information Center. The route is not closed to vehicular traffic.
The bike route will be marked each day with arrows and patrolled by a repair person, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ personnel.
Traffic Control/Rider Safety
Whenever possible, we select roads with low traffic volume for the bicycle route. The South Dakota Highway Patrol and local law enforcement patrol the route to ensure the safest ride possible. They do not lead the riders on the route.
Be sure to obey all South Dakota traffic laws and be courteous to motorists and other riders. A helmet is required, ride predictably, sound off when passing another rider, don't stop on the roadway, don't cross the yellow line, and please keep to the right if you are traveling more slowly than others! Most importantly, RIDE RIGHT, it's right! Please ride in single file and do not block roads or motorists.
To learn the rules of the road for riding safely in The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ and at any other time of the year, please read and follow the RIDE RIGHT® rules online. (provided courtesy of Ragbrai® and RIDE RIGHT®).
Sag wagons patrol the route to pick up riders who break down physically or mechanically. There is no charge for this service if you show your rider wristband. You will be asked to sign on when riding a sag wagon. Non-registered riders will be asked to sign a waiver. Again, to let the sag driver know you need help, turn your bicycle upside down or "wheels up" and motion a "thumbs down" signal.
Sag wagons do not provide taxi service from campground to campground, nor should riders make a habit of using them. If you aren't in condition to ride the distance, you should not come on the ride.
Weather in mid-June in South Dakota is typically mild with temperatures in the 70s. But the weather in South Dakota is also unpredictable, it is not uncommon for temperatures to dip to the low 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening. Weather is very unpredictable and rain is a very real possibility. The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ continues to move along on schedule despite poor weather conditions. You should pack accordingly.
Please check the overnight-communities links for emergency shelter locations.
In case of lightning on the road
Take immediate shelter at a farm house, if available.
If no shelter is available, find a clearing away from trees. Never stand near a tree. Lightning strikes the tallest point and travels downward, sometimes arcing to things - including people nearby. Once you find a clearing, squat on your toes with as little of your body touching the ground as possible.
Staying on a bike is an individual choice for each person. It's not the safest place to be, but sometimes it's the safest place at the time. The rubber tires won't protect you from lightning. But you're traveling and not high up, so chances are extremely slim of getting hit.
In case of hail on the road
A bike helmet will protect your noggin from getting hit. If the hail stays on the ground and you're riding your bike, you could slip and fall. If there is no lightning, get under a tree. Generally if there's hail with a severe storm, that probably means lightning in which case standing under a tree is not advised.
In case of a tornado on the road
A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. It doesn't necessarily mean a tornado has been spotted.
A tornado warning means that rotation has been spotted in the clouds or a funnel has actually touched down. If there's rotation and there is a warning, take cover immediately.
A tornado will generally come from the southwest moving northeast. Most injuries and deaths from a tornado are the result of being hit by flying debris. A tornado can force a blade of grass into a fence post, so obviously it can kill a person. Tornadic storms can produce more than one funnel, lots of lightning, rain and hail. In this storm, everyone should take immediate action and find shelter.
If there are no homes, caves, etc., find a culvert and lie flat. Better yet, find a large drainage ditch to crawl into.
In case of lightning in camp
If there is a storm with lightning, people who are camping under trees should leave their tents for safer places. Go to a building, picnic shelter, car, etc., away from metal and power poles with conductors in them.
In case of hail in camp
In camp, there's not a whole lot you can do. You are okay in your tent unless it is large hail, which will go right through. The biggest problem here is that if you have hail, you have a severe storm coming.
In case of a tornado in camp
If there is a need to evacuate, move quickly but safely.
The safest places are basements, inside rooms (never near windows) on the northeast corner of the building, under stairs and in bathrooms.
Depending on your local weather service, you should have 10-15 minutes after a tornado has been spotted to evacuate.
The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ is a leisurely ride-not a race. You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you have trained for the ride. Plan on riding at least 400 training miles as you get ready for the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ week. The route is always challenging, so the more miles you put into training, the more you will be able to enjoy the event.
The daily mileage averages more than 71 miles a day, and ranges from 42 to 100 miles per day. The South Dakota terrain can vary from flat to very steep hills.
The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ should not be your training, but a culmination of your training effort. The biggest cause of injuries is lack of conditioning. If you are unable to complete the ride, you are responsible for your own transportation home, but The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ personnel will advise with travel logistics whenever possible.
Find your helmet, make sure it fits correctly, and pack it now. Wear it whenever you are on a bike during the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™.
Bicycle Equipment: Bicycle shops can handle most any mechanical need you have, but you might consider bringing a small repair kit that includes a tire, spare tube, tire irons and small wrenches. In addition, a rear view mirror, bike gloves, pump, bike bag, rain gear, bicycle lock and water bottles are necessary equipment.
Camping Equipment: For camping you'll need a duffel bag, sleeping bag, pillow, pad, tent, ground cloth, rope, stakes and a flashlight.
Toiletries: Pack a towel, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, skin lotion, shampoo, soap, razor, nail clippers, brush/comb, hair ties/barrettes, deodorant, mirror and toilet tissue.
Clothes: T-shirts, shorts, a jacket, pants, rain gear, warm-up suit, underwear, socks, shoes, sandals or flip-flops, sleepwear, swimsuit, and sweatbands/bandannas should get you through the week.
First Aid: Pack aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamins, Band-Aids, gauze, tape, first aid cream, lip balm, sun block, insect repellent, safety pins, special medicines, Campho-Phenique, and sanitary protection if needed with disposable bags.
Miscellaneous: Bring an alarm clock, spare glasses, sunglasses, a scouting knife, camera, film, watch, earplugs, ID, money, traveler's checks, credit cards, journal, pens, pencils, stamps, address book, several plastic trash bags for rain protection and zip-lock bags. Be sure to enclose everything in a water-tight plastic bag.
Please put identification on everything you bring along on the Argus Leader Tour de Kota™.
Tips to Help Insure a Proper Helmet Fit
Here are some tips to help make sure you and your helmet are meant for each other.
The shake test. Put the helmet on your head and move it side to side and front and back, making sure the fit pads hold the helmet securely to your head.
Make sure the helmet sits level on your head. You should have about a finger's width between your eyebrow and the bottom of the helmet when the straps are tight. If the helmet tends to creep up where it looks more like a sunbonnet, the straps in front of the ear will need to be shortened.
Most importantly make sure that your straps are adjusted correctly. The straps should feel somewhat tight so that when you open your mouth, you feel the helmet press firmly against your head. You also should not be able to pull the helmet off when the chin strap is tightened.
There is always a possibility for incidence of food-borne illness causing gastrointestinal symptoms that spread among the riders. A ride in another state suffered an outbreak of diarrheal illness, which might have been better controlled by riders practicing improved personal hygiene habits. A few tips to prevent you from becoming ill include:
Frequent washing of hands can wash away the germs picked up from other people or from contaminated surfaces.
Always wash your hands after using the rest room and before eating.
Carry a small bottle of antibacterial hand-washing solution - the kind that does not require water to be effective. Use when hand-washing facilities are not available.
Do not reach into a tub or container of water or ice to retrieve a canned beverage or other food item. The water or ice may have been contaminated by others who have reached in before you.
Before purchasing any food from a vendor along the route, note whether they are taking precautions to prevent the spread of food-borne illness.
The Argus Leader Tour de Kota™ is working closely with the overnight and pass-through towns to help them provide adequate facilities for hand washing, which is the most effective way to prevent food-borne illness.