Mountain Bike Racing - Gear for XC Race

I'm going to do a few races next year and wanted to find out what you take with you when you ride. I'm looking at a 24hour race, a one day race, and if the wife will let me spend the cash I'd love to do Intermontane in BC. I plan on riding my Stumpy and on getting my butt kicked.

I believe in being prepared so I've been putting together a list of things that I think I should take. My plan is to take bike and riding gear (duh), spare camelbak bladder, extra change of riding clothes and shoes (stay dry = stay happy), extra batteries for lights, and GPS. For support I will take my repair stand, second wheelset, spare tubes/tires, extra chain, rear derailleur, derailleur cables, brake pads and rotors, and tools necessary to change out parts. Camelbak will carry multi-tool, tube, tire boot, tire levers, CO2, and SRAM Power Link. I'll throw this in the back of my truck with an EZ Up, table and chairs, ice chest, and whatever camping gear I might have to take. I think I've got what I need to be pretty self sufficient.

Looking at my list, is there stuff you would add or leave at home? Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Mike

Wow, looks like you've thought of most all of it. If you have or can borrow a 10x10 awning, I'd for sure take that along (with enough weight or good stakes for wind) - - shade or shelter from the rain can be priceless sometimes.

Much as I love CO2, you might think about a mini-pump or combo 'just in case' - - things go haywire right when you can least afford them to. Always. Oh, and throw in your floor pump for base camp.

Make an actual checklist and actually check it off when you load. Things we take for granted (helmet? duh!) have been known to be left behind when not double-checked off a list.

If you have ISIS cranks, toss a spare crank bolt in with your PowerLink, etc. in the CamelBak. Ya never know.

Sounds like fun - -enjoy!

Yeah, the EZ Up is 10X10 with concrete buckets for the corners. I did forget to list the suspension pump, mini, and floor pump. The suspension pump and mini stay in the Camebak. Normally I pop a CO2 then use the mini to get the exact pressure I want.

Something else that occurs to me. The Roval wheels that are on the bike are super light at 1400g with 24 spokes up front and 28 in back. I've been debating building a set of 32 hole wheels with DT Swiss hubs and rims for longer endurance races. I'd would hate to taco a lightweight wheel at 3 in the morning on the back side of a 15 mile course. Just a thought.

Mike

Good thought.

EZ Up - - that's why that name was vaguely familiar - - doh! See, if I bought brand-name stuff like that, I'd know these things :o (Mine is a season-ender clearance special from Fred Meyer)

I would take many extra pairs of clothing. As much as you have available. and socks.

And a tub of but butt'r and or zink oxide paste, etc. Take care of the bum

duct tape on the seat tube for in the field blister relief and wound repair, if neccessary

If you are running discs, bring extra rotors. If you bend on on the trail, you can semi fix it, but trust me, after 2-3 hours of Shhh Shhh Shhh it gets annoying (I just about went mad, and it was just a 6 hour race, that I was doing with a team mate).