Call time: 5:00 to 5:30am is a good call time for assembly. This gives one enough time to check out sponsor booths, have photo ops with your fellow cyclists, to meet and greet new friends, be part of the program and position yourself well in the peloton before ride out at 6:30am.
Sleep well: Rest well the night before. Get your 8 hours of sleep. This helps one be focused and alert during the ride.
Bike Check:  An easy way to make sure your bike is in good working order is to do an ABC Quick Check. (source: League of American Bicyclists)
Air: Be sure you have enough air in your tires
Brakes: Look to see that your brake pads are not worn
Chain and Cranks: Pull on your cranks to see that they are not loose and look to see that the chain is not rusted and it is free of gunk
Quick Release: Make sure all quick releases are closed
Check: Take a slow brief ride to check that your bike is working properly
Cycling wear check:
From Head to Toe
1. Always wear a helmet to protect your head in the event of a crash
2. Be visible. Wear brightly colored clothes.
3. Make sure that your clothes won’t interfere with your pedaling prowess. Roll up your pants or use a leg band to avoid cuffs getting caught on the chain.
4. Be comfortable. Snug and close fit will keep fabrics from rubbing against your skin and causing irritation.
Hydration:  Drink lots of water before, during and after the ride to avoid dehydration.