What to Bring to the Race

Competing in a 24 hour mountain bike race requires planning for not only a bike race, but a camping trip as well.  How do you plan smartly, recognizing that travel methods and the size of your vehicle can limit what you can take to the race?   Here are some suggestions.  First & foremost, plan ahead carefully.  Pay attention to the layout and rules of the race site – you should try to find out where the water sources are, whether you can keep your car at the site, how much space you have, etc.   Don’t forget a few creature comforts for the crew – especially if your crew is a highly supportive spouse or SO.  You don’t want your first race to be your last, do you?

Living Arrangements

In a perfect world, you have an RV with a nice rollout sun screen, a spare bike, mechanic, a picnic table and crankin stereo to keep you pumped & the crew entertained.  Nobody I know lives in this world.  Some teams are able to set up such a sweet pit area, and if you are on such a team, then you are stoked.  If you are more on your own, here are some suggestions on how to make the pit area workable for you and livable for the crew:

- A small camp table of some kind – Your old “card table” will work fine. If you have a wagon or SUV and you can keep your car at your site then the back end can substitute if necessary.  
- Folding chairs.  You won’t be sitting in yours very much (hopefully) but your pit crew sure needs them.  
- Lighting – A small battery powered lantern and one of the headband lights (e.g. Petzl Tikka) work nicely.  You will have your helmet on in transition and can use your bike light if necessary (be careful not to blind your crew) but if/when you duck into the tent for a change of clothes the lantern or small light works well for finding your way around.  The LED hiker headlamps are small & light enough to double as an emergency light to carry along out on the course.  
- A “family” camping tent – No lightweight backpacking tents, if at all possible.  You will be way more comfortable if you can stand up in your tent to change, and your crew can set the chairs in there to stay out of the sun while you are beating yourself up on the course.  By the time you get your entire cycling wardrobe in there, laid out neatly so you can find things quickly, you will need some floor space.  
- Nutrition – Keep your food & drinks easily accessed & have your sports drinks pre-mixed.  I drove to the race at Laguna Seca so I had all of my drink mixes blended at 2x strength at home, at the race site my wife would just throw in the right amount of water & energy drink mix, give it a quick shake, and I was off.  No mussing with powder & measuring scoops.  If you can't travel with the drinks pre-mixed, be sure to have a wide-mouth bottle to make mixing easy in the pits.  The Nalgene bottles work well.  
- Stove, pots, coffee mug, bowls – go for easy lighting propane stoves.   Bring cooking utensils for whatever you need for comfort food (I like soup at night – warm, hydrating, salty).  Hit up your backpacking friends for lightweight gear that will travel easy if you will be flying.  
- Collapsible water jug  
- Random stuff – Handi wipes, a small first aid kit, of course a camera.  Also trash bags to keep the place neat & the race promoter happy.

Tools & bike gear

It goes without saying that a spare bike, set up identical to your “primary bike”, is the best.  This way you can swap at every lap and have your mechanic give the bike a once over so you start every lap with a clean chain, dialed in brakes, freshly lubed pedals, etc. etc.  Likely you will have to make some tradeoffs.  Here are my suggestions for tools & spare parts, generally in order of priority:

- Spare set of wheels  - this will allow you to swap out & get a clean cassette & brake surface.  While you are swapping wheels you can do a quick wipe down of the drive train, lube your fork, & inspect for any looming equipment breakdowns.  An ounce of prevention.....
- Tubes & tires – including tires for different conditions if you aren’t sure what to expect weather wise
- All of your standard lubes – including chain & pedal lubes for different conditions (wet, dry, etc.), and also spray lube for the fork.  
- Spokes & nipples – clearly labeled with where they go (e.g., rear wheel, drive side), &  prepped with Spoke Prep.  
- Cables – I prefer not to pre-cut these to length because they usually have soldered tips that make them easier to install.  Cut them after you get them installed.  
- Brake pads
- Cassette
- Chains – the new quick-link type chains make swapping easy.  Have at least one, preferably two spares on hand.  Don’t forget to take them out of the box & measure them to the right length before you head to the race.  
- Tools – You can do a lot with a full set of hex keys, a chain whip, spoke wrench, and cable cutter.  Also good to have a set of wire clippers or whatever you use to cut zip ties, screwdrivers for the set screws in the derailleurs, and pliers.   Remember a pedal wrench if your pedals don’t take a hex key.  Bring a chain tool, although you should not really need it (see note above).  
- Workstand
- Floor pump
- Pump(s) for your shocks
- Hydraulic oil for shocks/brakes
- Spare light system – Bring an old system just in case your new high-zoot system should crap out.  
- Zip ties & duct tape – don’t leave home without them
- Cable housing – go ahead & pre-cut these
- Pedals & cleats
- Saddle & seatpost

Clothing & body care

This is easy.  Bring every piece of cycling clothing you own.  If it rains, changing into dry gear can be a nice boost early in the morning.  If pressure points or sore spots develop, changing out to a slightly different piece of gear can bring welcome relief.  You want the ability to go modular & adjust your clothing to match the conditions.  

- Spare shoes, plenty of socks for all conditions
- Shoe covers
- Spare helmet. You can have on set up with your lights to swap into at night, & have your crew clean the nasty one you just raced 9 hours in.
- Knee warmers, leg warmers, arm warmers.   Be nice to your knees – cover them below 65 degrees or use an embrocation.  
- Short & long finger gloves
- Plenty of variety of base layers.  I like the ultralight coolmax type stuff by day and a warmer base layer at night
- Vest, long sleeve wind jacket, impermeable rain jacket
- Muscle rub (not lame-oh Ben-Gay, a real muscle rub like Born #1). When it's wet go for heating rub & a good outer layer of protect oil (I like Freddy's Choice).  Keep a towel or handi-wipes around to wipe this stuff off your hands - it is HOT & will agitate other body parts.  
- Chamois cream
- Sunscreen, lip balm