Water Storage
Big camp outs should always have water sources, but you should bring some kind of water bladder that's minimum 2L so you don't have to constantly be hiking to the water source when you empty your 20-32oz water bottle. You'll be thanking yourself later too either when you get back to your tent, or in the morning when you need to make breakfast.
Bring your own Food as Backup
Rally food is often times overpriced and the line is long, and worst case scenario they run out of food. Do yourself, your wallet and your grumbling tummy a favor and pack your own food, or stop in at the grocery store in town and load up. Supporting local food vendors can help the rally grow financially, which means it will continue to happen!
Not to mention if you make a bunch of pancakes or food to share, you can often make fast friends if you went to the Rally Solo!
Bring Layers
Weather can change quickly. Touratech Rally West last year started 50 degrees and pouring rain and ended 85 degrees and sunny. I’ve been caught trying to put my rain fly on my tent in the middle of night when a freak rain storm started during a drought.
Temperatures at night drop fast, especially in the desert and forested areas. Better to bring the things to be prepared than be caught unprepared and be miserable.
Don't hesitate to bring some luxuries
For instance a bigger tent, a camp table, and a camping chair. Perhaps even a thicker sleeping pad or a cot. Things that may seem silly to bring on a trip where you’ll only be in camp a few hours to catch some shut eye, but do bring a little more homey-ness to a campsite you may be calling home for 3-5 days.
Flip flops or walking shoes, shorts, and a hat can help you be more comfortable.
Push yourself, don't be scared to talk to strangers
Riding into a Rally by yourself can be really intimidating. If you can get friends to go it can enhance your experience, and make you feel a little more relaxed. But if you can’t find people to go with, reach out online beforehand and see if you can meet other people at the event. Even if you can’t find anyone you know who’s going, you shouldn’t let the idea of going alone keep you from going and having a good time. It can be hard to put yourself out there and talk to new people but you know you’ve already got ice breakers in your pocket because everyone there has one thing in common: you all like motorcycles.
In some ways, it's better to go by yourself. You're more likely to meet new people by yourself than if you're with a well known friend group.
Do your Research before you Go
A lot of bigger events will publish schedules and programs, rides, and vendors before the event. Talk to riders who have already attended, or get feedback online on what to expect from the atmosphere and things to see. If you do all your research you can be sure to take advantage of all the things that are available to you including workshops, bike games, and speakers. Good rallies post an event schedule online so you can research it before you go. No event schedule? Call or email the organizers.
Once you know all the even can offer, don’t forget to research the good riding in the area, or some cool things you’d like to visit while you’re at the event. Hotsprings, Ghost towns, Monuments, National Parks, Museums could all be good things to research nearby. That way you don’t find out later that you were less than 30 miles from a National Park and had no clue until it was too late.
Bring Cash and set yourself a Budget.
It’s a little easier to stick to a budget when you can literally see how much cash you have left in your hands. Also! Quite a few Rallies and Vendors end up only taking cash at big events because their little square readers are starving from data, or there’s just no service period.
Do Your Maintenance EARLY
Make sure you bike is in tip top shape at least a month before just in case there are any parts that you have to order last minute. Carry spares and tools. Getting a flat at a rally is less of a hassle than on the side of the road but it’s still a hassle.
Don’t forget your camera!
You’ll kick yourself if you get home and you only have 5 photos. Take photos of everything. Better to have too many photos than not enough. I mean it, take photos of your food, where you ate, every pit stop, where you pitched your tent, and maybe more importantly, get photos with the people you meet. You’ll be amazed how many memories just one photo can bring back, and how many you can forget without those photos.
Go with an open mind.
Every rally is a little different. Be open to meeting new people, trying new things, and having a great time! You probably paid for it so it would be a shame to not enjoy it!