Bruzer

I am planning to do my first cross race and I am wondering what I need to bring besides the bike, shoes, helmet, and myself.

I am guessing a change of clothes in in order for after the race.

Do cyclocross races usually have washing stations for after the race is over? Should I bring my own bucket and cleaning supplies?

Any other good ideas to bring to the race for during or afterwards?

- Bruzer

jfmckenna

They don't typically have washing stations unless it's a UCI race and then it's a requirement. I always bring a bucket and a brush. Been thinking about getting one of those bug sprayers for trees that can shoot a stream of water like 30ft high. Other thing to bring is a towel and some wet one's or baby wipes. A cow bell is always nice to have too.

simonaway427

Unless it a large event, no, there won't be cleaning stations.

What I bring:

- bike
- pit wheels
- tool kit (all the standard stuff - including lube, rags)
- pump
- shoes (bring spare cleats and ratchet straps!!)
- helmet
- 2 of everything cycling clothing wise (in case I get dirty during warmup laps)
- cold weather riding gear (for the warmups)
- bike stand (so I don't have to lay my bike down or lean it against something all the time)
- licence
- safety pins
- base layer clothing
- post race warm athletic clothing (sweater and workout pants - race is over, i'm not throwing on my sexy jeans and precious J-Pow tshirt when I'm covered in mud)
- arm/leg warmers
- towel and baby wipes - at least get your face clean for the podium!!
- toque and gloves
- food (clif bars, gels, NUUN tabs, lots of water)

Nothing gets cleaned until I'm back home. The races I go to, there's never any provision from cleaning/washing.

Commodus

This is a good list!

I would add rain gear, and beer.

CliftonGK1

My list is similar to simonaway's

Warmup/cooldown clothing includes:
- wool baselayer top and bottoms
- jacket and rainpants
- rainshell insulated gloves
- woolie hat for non-helmet activites

My race gear:
- shoes
- gloves
- skinsuit
- numbers (bring the ones for the right race series if you're in more than one!)
- helmet
- sunglasses (with change of lenses for conditions)

Cleanup gear:
- baby wipes
- 2 towels (one for wiping down my muddy self with, another big beach towel for doing a surfer's change at the team tent. The muddy one then doubles for a footmat to change into dry socks/boots)
- hand pumped pressure sprayer

Additionals:
- Tool box
- Pump
- med kit (any personal meds like inhalers or crap they might not have at a medic station)
- ginger ale (I don't drink beer, and I'm not paying food truck prices for a watered down Pepsi)
- post-race grub; I always have some fruit and a sandwich for after my race

Andy_K 

My car generally looks like a homeless bicyclist is living out of it on race day. Anything I can possibly imagine needing I bring. One race I was having problems shifting while warming up. Upon closer examination, it turned out that my cassette was loose because the thin washer that's supposed to go behind it wasn't there. Luckily, I had an extra wheel with cassette and the tools I needed to change it. At another race I saw a guy break his rear derailleur warming up, so now I always bring a spare rear derailleur. If I'm traveling for a two-day race weekend, I bring a spare bike.

That said, most of the time I don't need most of the stuff I bring. I'm a back-of-the-pack C racer and I bring all this stuff mostly for the fun of participating in the tradition. Once in a while, I'll just take the bare necessities.

Since Simon and Clifton gave such good comprehensive lists above, I'll offer a minimalist list:

Weather appropriate clothes for the race (worn to the race and home again, since we're feeling minimalist)
Bike shoes
Helmet
Gloves
Bike
License (unless you're purchasing a day license on site)
Cash for the entry fee (unless you pre-registered, which you should)
Pump
Water/sports drink for before and after the race

FWIW, nearly every race in my area has a bike washing station (i.e. a hose designated for this use). I often just throw the bike on the car and wash it when I get home to avoid the lines. It is easier, though, to wash before the mud dries.

GrayJay

Bring (belgian) waffels, beer and heckeling impliments!

aggiegrads

After forgetting something my first two races (Glasses the first, HRM the next) I made a checklist of all the things I want to bring to a race.

The only thing that I have on my checklist that I don't see above is keys to my rook rack. I would be super-pissed if I drove 45 minutes to a race only to discover I can't get my bike off the roof.

Don't forget dry socks with the change of clothes.

pmt

Yeah, all the races around here have had a wash station. Still, since I take a junior with me, he has to wash the bikes when we get back and put stuff away.

flargle

Those are two things you don't need to race cross.

Bike, shoes, helmet, license, cash, kit. Those are things you need to race cross. The rest is optional.

aggiegrads

I don't disagree, but the OP didn't ask what was absolutely necessary. He asked for other good ideas of what to bring. I still raced without glasses and an HRM. My point wasn't to include those things, but to make a checklist so that he can remember the things that are important to HIM.

You don't need kit to race cross either.

pmt

Yeah, but then my big brass pair clangs on the top tube too much.

aggiegrads

That's a good thing right? You have your own cheering section.

Drakonis08

More cowbell

fietsbob

Once it starts snowing .. such as it has in the NE,
plan on hypothermia as a situation to me dealt with..