Equipment List
Below is a list of recommended items for the trip. You are allowed ONE (no hard suitcases, only duffel bags) bag for the duration of the trip!
Items that each RIDER is REQUIRED to bring:
- Sleeping bag
- A Towel (small and quick drying ones are great)
- An old blanket in your bike box (and use this space to pack other things in as well – just a travel tip we have picked up along the way). Each rider will need a blanket to protect their bike when they are in the vans. If you have space, bring two.
- Your driver’s license and passport!
- 1 ROAD bike
- Helmet
- Water bottles
- Travel Insurance (we will be asking for these details in September)
- Any medicines you take
Items that each RIDER should have at a MINIMUM:
- Credit card, cash (American)
- A minimum of 6 spare tubes
- Night riding is possible. If you want to ride at night you must be equipped with: (1) front headlight, (2) rear red light, (3) reflective vest.
Items that each RIDER should have for a more comfortable trip:
- Sunglasses with lenses for different light conditions (clear, yellow, red, bright)
- Base layers. T-shirts are not ideal, as the cotton will soak up sweat and get you cold.
- Jerseys (short and long sleeve)
- Cycling vests (a lightweight one and a thicker one for cooler days)
- Thermal jacket. It will likely be COLD (at or below freezing) in the mornings and especially in the mountains and evenings.
- Cycling gloves. Short finger gloves are the most flexible as you can wear them in all conditions and slip a pair of warmer gloves over them when required.
- Biking shorts and tights
- Arm, knee, leg warmers can be useful
- Cycling caps (these are terrific for wearing under your helmet if it rains)
- Cycling shoes (with clips is recommended!)
- Neoprene shoe covers for when it’s wet
- Rain gear
- It’s a good idea to bring a little of your own laundry soap, then you already have it.
- Something nice to wear to dinner in Austin.
- A bathing suit for any chances to swim.
- Sunscreen
- Earplugs and something to cover your eyes with- remember you are sharing rooms with 3-4 other people!
- A few of those ice packs that you just have to shake and crack (that don’t need to be in a freezer).
- Hand sanitizer (for cleaning your hands before eating on the road).
Items that each TEAM should have (Teams will be assembled in September):
- 6-8 bike tubes per person
- A bicycle pump or else a CO2 inflator pump (I really like the one by Ultraflate) with 2 CO2 cartridges (these are the threadless CO2 cartridges used for BB guns that you can get at any Canadian Tire for cheap).
- Cleaning kit (brushes, degreaser, Dawn dish soap works great for cleaning bikes in addition to plates).
- Chain lube.
- Full set of Allen keys. There should at the absolute minimum be a 4, 5, and 6 mm allen key in the saddle bag. These three wrenches can permit you to adjust/tune 90% of the things on your bike.
- Electrical tape/Duct Tape (fixes almost anything!)
- Lysol Wipes (great to clean off your seat, stuff , cleaning your van..etc)…
End of Ride Gear:
- Casual clothing (long sleeves preferable)
- Hat
- Baby wipes for cleaning up.
- Towel
- Shoes/sandals
- Warm pullover or jacket
End-of-ride ritual:
- Immediately get out of bike clothes, get a body wipe (big baby wipe), and wipe down groin area. Absolutely do NOT hang around in wet, dirty bike shorts, as this is how saddle sores happen. Change into casual clothes.
- Have a specific recovery drink (not plain Powerade, not strong enough) immediately. If you’re having a significant half-way break, drink a recovery drink then too. This must be completed within about 30 min post-stopping for maximal glycogen recovery.
- Unless it is ABSOLUTELY scorching hot, put on a hat, long sleeves and pants.
Bike Cleaning (recommended at the end of each riding day):
- Spray degreaser as needed on chain and cassette.
- Wash bike frame and wheels with soapy (dish soap) water and brush while degreaser is working.
- Rinse off bike with clean water.
- Use rag to clean off chain and cassette. Let dry for 10 min or so.
- While waiting, go through the entire bike and make sure the gears are running and shifting smoothly.
- Check for loose bolts. You should avoid tightening bolts unless they’re needed, as you risk over-tightening and stripping the threads.
- Check wheel is “true” (not wobbling) and adjust as needed.
- Check headset adjustment.
- Check all parts of the bike, for example that the handlebars, stem, seatpost, saddle are snug.
- Check the tires for wear, cuts, bulges, etc.
- Check the brake pads to make sure there are no foreign objects stuck in them.
- Visually check all cables for fraying.
- Lightly lube the bike chain. Spin backwards slowly after lubing for ~1 min to work into the chain. After this, wait ~4 min or so and then use a rag to wipe off excess.
Bike Prep (done each morning):
- Check tire pressure (should be 90-110 psi)
- Check wheels are centred correctly on the bike and that quick releases are tightened correctly.
- Check that the brakes are centred on the bike and that they are not rubbing against the wheel.
- Check that bottles are filled and on the bike.
Other Bike Notes:
- Consider bike tires and tubes disposable and consumable. If in doubt with the tires, REPLACE! Don’t bother patching tubes, they’re cheap ($3 at MEC) and it’s not worth the hassle or wondering if the patch job was good.
- Depending on conditions, expect 3000 km of life on a good set of bike tires.
- Every 1000 km, “rotate” the front and rear tires. This extends their life.
- At about 1500-2000km, replace the chain on the main bike.
Budgeting Riding Food (per rider):
- Estimate 2-3 meals a day (you will eat a lot on this trip).
- Estimate daily need for 5 gels, 3 Powerbars.
- Estimate 1 water bottle per hour, more if really hot. Generally one bottle should be water and other bottle should be Powerade.
- At least 2 servings of recovery drink daily.
