Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - What's Ideal stuff to carry for my 1st 600k

Hey guys,

On 10th September I have a 600k Brevet lineup. As of now I have my new bike all set for the ride. But a few questions since this will be my first 600k...well this is the 1st 600k for this country ;). From my earlier 3 brevets & reading a lot here, this is what I can imagine I'd need.

1. the regular stuff - tubes, patchkit, pocket tool.

2. Clothing - since it'll still be monsoon in India, I'm thinking of carrying a jersey & Bib. So that I can have a bath & change into fresh clothes at 300k.

3. Food - Roasted nuts, cookies, electrolytes.

let me know if I'm missing anything??

As of now I've yet to buy a Bar bag or Panniers as such; Nothing is available locally so these are the few which I can look at....


http://www.evanscycles.com/products/altura/dryline-bar-bag-ec008430

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/altura/arran-36-panniers-ec008436
Which one should I buy?? I think it'll be a good idea to get myself fenders for this ride too.

KK

I would say that fenders are a good idea. I am inclined towards handlebar bags. A clean set of bibs is a good idea. Since you expect rain, a dry set of socks or two might be nice as well. You might consider shoe covers. A lot of people like Rainlegs. I take it there is no drop bag for this ride?

Lights for riding at night?

Some of the longer rides around here have multiple loops where riders can circle back by the start point (which is a hotel) and swap off clothing, etc.
Some rides here have a drop-bag service as UH mentions.
Some rides have controls manned and food furnished, on others, you buy stuff as you go, and that would affect what you take.

Hopefully your "regular stuff" includes a pump. I also carry some tools/parts that some might not consider "regular stuff", like zip ties, a chain tool, a few spare links of chain, and a fiberfix spoke (http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fiberfix.htm).

The things that I often forget and regret: sunscreen, ibuprofen, a camera.

The big question I usually struggle with is How much food? And that depends on the route and availability of food along the way. I try to rely on convenience stores along the way as much as possible so I'm not carrying any more than necessary.

I've got a 600K checklist so long, I'm embarrassed to post it. PM me if you'd like it.

If it's going to rain, fenders are probably a good idea. :) I think 300k is to soon to be changing your shorts. ;) Typically, here in the states, most 600kms have a rest stop or place where you can sleep somewhere around 400kms. Is there a scheduled stop on your 600k where you have a bag drop of some sort?

As far as what to carry, I wouldn't take much more than you did on the 400k. Just make sure you got all the clothes and food/drinks you need. The rest should be the same. Have you taken your new bike out on a test ride yet? If you have and everything is working I would leave all the spare parts and tools behind. I keep my bike in very good mechanical working order and stopped carying things like chain tools, master links, and spokes many years ago. Why carry it if you don't need it. ;)

Lights for riding at night?

?????? Who uses those?????? ;););)

I think you have a pretty good list already. Whenever I go for a long ride I just try to think through the whole ride and imagine just what I will be doing and what I might need for each leg of the ride.

This means that I plan out what i will eat for the first eight hours of riding and then also add what i hope i can carry for snack food during the whole ride. The I think of all the possible clothes I might need, and then I settle on whether I take on any "extra stuff" for the more rare situations like certain extra cloths or certain extra tools.

If it's going to rain, fenders are probably a good idea. :) I think 300k is to soon to be changing your shorts. ;) Typically, here in the states, most 600kms have a rest stop or place where you can sleep somewhere around 400kms. Is there a scheduled stop on your 600k where you have a bag drop of some sort?

As far as what to carry, I wouldn't take much more than you did on the 400k. Just make sure you got all the clothes and food/drinks you need. The rest should be the same. Have you taken your new bike out on a test ride yet? If you have and everything is working I would leave all the spare parts and tools behind. I keep my bike in very good mechanical working order and stopped carying things like chain tools, master links, and spokes many years ago. Why carry it if you don't need it. ;)Spoken like a competitor. :thumb: We carry spoke wrenches, master links, patch kit, tire levers, etc., for the unfortunates we may encounter along the side of the road. Maybe the next time, the they'll bring their own.

?????? Who uses those?????? ;););)

It takes all kinds to make the world interesting. It guess safe to say you're over on the right edge of the '600k moving average speed' bell curve. :)

I think 300k is to soon to be changing your shorts. ;) I was going to say something about this, but I'm guessing they are running it as an out and back.

On the subject of how much to carry, I was waiting for someone for an extraordinarily long time at a controle that was about 300k, and it turns out he was changing his kit. He was very happy. I probably wouldn't have bothered at that point, but I bet if it was raining all day that would have done something for my spirits as well.

It takes all kinds to make the world interesting. It guess safe to say you're over on the right edge of the '600k moving average speed' bell curve. :)

Thought you'd all like that since I have (in that other thread) apparently branded myself as the guy who doesn't need lights. ;) I've done 600k's in less than 23 hrs but that is not quit fast enough to not need lights. ;) I've done them in just under 40hrs too, getting 7+hrs of sleep in the process and having good hot meals along the way. Now that's the way to do a 600k!

By regular stuff I meant - pocket toolkit, chain power links, few spare tubes, tyre levers - but wont be needing those for my 35mm tyres, Pump. Its the first time I heard of fiber fix!!! but it looks really useful.

Not sure how many are up for the 600k & I don't think we will have the Drop bag facility, but yes we will have some manned checkpoints; but there aren't many volunteers so the sameone might circle around, though this brevet is not out & back. But I like the idea of being independent so I'll prefer to carry the stuff.


Lights.. oh yeah, how can I forget. I do have the lights a Dlumotec Oval and a Lumotec Lyt on a Shimano 3N72. Have tested both the bike & the lights too. The bike is simply amazing & I love the Down Tube shifters, The lights I'm happy, I tested them individually in the beginning & have done a nice long ride with both connected in series. here's the setup...

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr102/kkiyer27/20082010262.jpg

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr102/kkiyer27/20082010260.jpg


they did better than I expected & when together they give out a good light, but then this hungry heart is never satisfied... I felt that the beam on the lyt sucked big time. It's like a box of bright light. but it's quite bright at close range. I get a feeling that my $47 I paid for them would have been better utilized on another Oval; which has a much better spread, or may be something better even. But it's too early to say anything & too late to buy another one & get it shipped here, since my friend is also moving in a couple of days out of the US.

I have ordered an Altura HBB for now. I guess it should suffice for the 600k, The rain here in India is torrential & I'm not sure if the stuff that I carry would be dry till he change. Socks is a good idea I'll carry those too.

I have the Endura Overshoes, they do the job pretty well even in our kinda rain. But the feet gets soggy by the water from the top :). What are Rain legs?? are they like Leg warmers???

Rain Legs (http://www.rainlegs.co.uk/) - (I expect they would be too hot for this ride?).

By the way, I'd love to read accounts of randonneuring in India - especially with photos, maps, etc. I doubt I'm alone in this desire...

well Randonneuring is still in it's nascent stage here. With only a few riders joining in... actually "Cycling" as we know it, as a hobby & a sport; itself is yet to mature.

Are there sleeping accommodations? If not, an emergency bivvy sack is nice to crawl into for a few minutes if it's chilly and you're trying to take a nap on a bench or something. I don't generally bother with a change of clothes on a 600k, especially if there's no drop bag, with two exceptions: socks and gloves. If it rains, clean, dry socks are absolutely wonderful, even if you're just going to put your wet shoes back on. And bring warmer clothes than you think you need; when you're tired, you get colder than you otherwise would, and keeping yourself warm takes energy as well. Plus, for those of us who live in urban areas, 600k's often get out into areas that are much cooler at night (especially around 4AM, and especially when there are mountains) than what we're used to at 9 or 10 PM in town.

For ways to carry it, I like to use a small handlebar bag for food and stuff I want to be able to grab easily while riding, and a saddle bag for everything else. That way the food's all right there, but I'm not shoving my wet, grubby hands into my dry warm clothing or getting it covered with food. I like my rain jacket to be accessible without stopping, as well. And I like to bring as wide a variety of food as I can, because I know that my stomach can be sensitive and picky on long rides, and having a bunch of choices really helps.