Proper Clothing for Ultra-Endurance MTB Racing

Equipment & logistics can be an important factor in a 24 hour race, so I thought it worthwhile to comment on one important aspect of your equipment - clothing. Staying comfortable is key for ultra endurance events, and because you might have to race right through various stages of weather in one event you need to prepare properly. Here are a few suggestions:

1) Go modular. Leg warmers are better than tights, and armwarmers are better than a long sleeve jersey. This will let you adjust on the fly and eliminate the possibility of having to remove your helmet & hydration pack just to get into a short sleeve jersey as things warm up in the morning. Being able to pull down the arwarmers on long climbs can be a big relief.

2) Cotton = death. OK maybe it's not that bad, but there is no reason to be in anything cotton. I like the Duofold base layer T-shirts that you can buy online for around $7 at some of the outdoor stores. You can pay a lot more for name brand base layers at the bike shop but I have had great luck with these, and at $7 I can afford to have a drawer full of them. You can also find good deals at places like the REI outlet

3) Shorts - I am a bib-short only kinda guy. Most pros are as well, for a good reason. Bibs are just way more comfortable. If you have never tried bibs you owe it to yourself. Only problem is you will never go back to regular shorts. Two of my favorites are Exte Ondo and Nalini, which both offer great value. In fact their bibs are frequently cheaper than the plain shorts of the "designer" brands that you see more often. Of course if you have the loot, buy Assos, but remember, a luxury once sampled...

4) Chamois cream - Use it! Your butt will thank you. Despite the availability of many pricey concoctions I frequently just use Noxzema (or the store brand version of Noxzema) when it is dry and Vaseline when it is raining. I have also had good luck with Paceline's Chamois Butt'r. Bag Balm and Udderly Smooth also work nicely. Bag Balm is more greasy so I reserve it for super long events, and stick with Udderly Smooth for shorter rides. Assos makes a great cream but it is way pricey (see a trend here?). This will help eliminate friction and reduce saddle sores. In the rain a little Vaseline directly on the saddle can help prevent the shorts from "grabbing" on the leather, which can become kinda sticky when wet. Within one 24 hour race you can develop a wicked saddle sore that will truly impede your performance. So don't be a victim. The main thing is to experiment in training & find something that works well for you.

5) Plan to change clothing at least once during the race. It can be a nice mental refresher to roll out of the pit in dry clean clothes and depending on how cold it gets at night might be a necessity, especially at altitude where the temperature swings a lot from day to night. This will also give you a chance to do a refresh on the chamois cream.

6) I like full zip jerseys, which allow you to get major ventilation on long climbs by unzipping completely. This is nice when a hydration pack is on your back and things heat up.

7) For torrential rains the clear plastic rain jackets you seen worn by the pros offer total protection. They don't breathe but if it is really cold & wet they can enable you to survive, and they are pretty cheap. Many have a velcro closure so they are easy to open up on climbs & close up for descents.

With the right planning & proper clothing you can stay comfortable in almost any set of conditions. Remember as you are packing for the race to bring along every piece of clothing you own. You never know what can happen.