The season is coming to an end – and with it all the cool events that were taking place over the summer. The final Enduro One stop in Bad Endbach was a blast. We had a really good time and lovely autumn weather. Shortly before the last race, I was asked for a packing list for those kind of events. Thus, this weeks’ #quicktiptuesday will be all about prepping for your next race weekend.
How does your race kit look like?
What do you bring to a whole weekend of training, prologue and race adventure? Well, the equipment often varies from event to event. What I take with me depends on the type of race, weather forecast, vehicle of choice and other factors. It is easy to pack lighter over the summer, so pre- and post-season races are a bit tougher.
We did not own a car for the last six years (until last autumn) so I needed to come up with other ways of travel. I tried to be as environmental friendly as possible. Thus, getting to (the somewhat remote) places wasn’t easy. Over the four seasons of Enduro racing, I used trains, buses, rental cars and planes to get to event spots in Austria, Germany, Italy and the UK. So, stating the obvious – the easiest (by far) was travelling by car. The toughest was carrying everything on the train and bus (e.g. to Wildschönau and Brixen). It works, when planned out properly. But even though I packed the bare minimum, the journey with a bike and heavy bag on train and bus was quite challenging.
The following list is an example of stuff I would pack for an average two day race, traveling by car.
…
The race weekend packing list
Papers
- ID card
- Credit Card / Debit Card
- Driver’s License (if needed)
- Currency
Clothing
- Jerseys 2x
- Thin Shirts 2x (for layering)
- Merino 2x (long/short)
- Bike Shorts 2x
- Padded Shorts 2x
- Bike Leggings thin (if cold)
- Bike Shoes
- Gloves 2x
- Fleece (if cold)
- Fluff Jacket (if cold)
- Arm Warmer
- Goggles
- Shades
- Bandana
- Cap and/or Beanie
- T-Shirts 2x
- Jeans
- Hoodie
- Underwear/Socks
- Sleeping Shirt & Shorts
- Flip Flops
Protection
- Knee Pads
- Elbow Pads
- Fullface/Enduro Helmet
- Protection Shorts (depends)
- Protection Shirt (depends)
Tools & Equipment
- MTB
- Evoc Backpack (w/protector)
- Air Pump
- Suspension Pump
- Repair Kit
- Tubeless Kit
- Extra Tube
- Extra Brake Pads
- Chain Lube
- Multitool / Leatherman
- Tool Box
- Spare parts (replacement derailleur hanger, chain power links, extra chain, gear cable…)
- Hydration Bladder
- Water Bottle
- Nutrition Bars/Bloks
Toiletries/Medicine
- Shampoo & Shower bar (e.g. Duschbrocken)
- Tooth Brush
- Tooth Paste
- Brush
- Hair Ties
- Mascara
- Sunscreen
- Skin Cream
- Ibuprofen / Asprin
- Magnesium
- First Aid Kit
- Disinfectant spray
Convenience Stuff
- Camera / iPhone & Charger
- eBook Reader & Charger
- Pen & Notes
- Headlamp
- Battery Pack
- Ear Buds
- GPS watch / Heart Rate monitor chest strap / Charger
- Lightweight towel
- Sunglasses
Thats all for now. Of course this list can be extended and also downsized even more. When travelling by train, I usually cut down the heavy stuff (electronics & tools) and also get rid of some of the clothing, which means washing things and hoping that they get dry over night.
Ok, folks – let me know what you usually bring to your race weekend in the comments or on Instagram. It might also be time to overhaul the super old travelling light blog post and packing lists. :) So stay tuned and happy riding!
