Team Event Kit List

Here’s a quick kit list and a few things to be prepared for, that we pass on to all the racers for the Cotswold Mountain Bike Team. This list is by no means perfect, but it does cover all the basics. Its very easy on these events to take far too much but to still forget the essentails. What you definitely need Mountain bike Lights good enough to ride off road for 2 hours (rear light is not essential) Helmet Cycle clothing (shorts, ss jersey, ls jersey, socks, shoes, gloves) 1-2 spare inner tubes (these can be bought at the event) 1 pump Water bottle or camelbak (way to attach bottle to bike if needed) Warm clothes to hang around in Waterproofs to hang around in Towel and wash kit Head torch for use in and around camp and as a spare (recommended - the cyberlite) Food for 24hrs (there is food available at the events, but what food I don’t know) Tent Sleeping bag Sleeping mat Camping chair (well worth getting one if you haven’t got one already) Pans, kfs etc. Stove + fuel Sudocreme or Vaseline to help with the chaffing What might be useful but not essential Camera Mud guards, front is more important than the back Riding glasses Spare cycle clothing (shorts, ss jersey, ls jersey, socks shoes, gloves) 1 set is enough but if you have 4 sets I would bring them Mud tyres (if we all bring these then it might not rain, sod's law and all that) Race tyres (low rolling resistance, the conti speed kings are good value ) Bottled water (water is available at most events but if you bring bottled less chance of stomach upsets and some events water is not available on site) Spare set of break pads Any bike tools specific to your bike Chain lube + wd40 / gt85 Large communal tent Cleaning bucket and brushes BBQ / raised fire What you will definitely need to be prepared for Energy to ride at least four 10km laps in a 24hour period (the first and last are the easiest, it’s the ones in the middle that hurt). Enthusiasm to ride / push bike in all conditions day or night, it will rain at some point. To prepare for the unexpected, everything and anything seems to happen at these events. Sleeping is a luxury, expect no more that 2-4 hours sleep during the night of the race, you might get the odd hour here and there if you are lucky. Enthusiasm is infectious; if we all keep positive then we will all make it through the event. What’s worth doing to your bike before the race Clean and lube chain Clean / lube gear + brake cables (if you have brake cables) Check brake pads to see you have some braking surface left on them. Make sure handle bar grips are attached securely (a bit of hair spay works well or a couple of zip ties) Check you have all gears working especially the granny ring, don’t worry about the big ring unless you have legs like Lance Armstrong (we can help if you struggle with this, getting the gears working that is not getting legs like Lance) Source