Cycling event checklist: Everything a cyclist needs to bring with them

Taking part in a bike race, gran fondo or event can be great fun. They represent the culmination of months of hard work, dedication and consistency.

However, if you are new to racing or taking part in organised events, they can be stressful as there is a lot to do on the day before your ride gets underway. From signing on and pinning on your numbers to finding where the start is and what time you need to be there, there is plenty to keep you on your toes.

To take some of the event day nerves off your shoulders, being as prepared as you can ahead of time makes a big difference. As well as spending some time looking at the course and all the pre-event info that you will receive, it is also important to make sure you have everything you might need packed and ready to go. Making sure you have everything with you that you’ll need throughout the day can make things a lot easier, but what exactly do you need to take? Lucky for you, Conor Dunne has made a list.

The essentials

Before we dive into the things that Conor thinks are advisable to bring with you, there are the essential items that are non-negotiable and could be hard or even impossible to source on the day. These include things like your shoes which are all too easy to forget, especially if you are driving to the start of the event. Other things include your helmet, cycling kit and bike, a small tool kit and a puncture repair kit as well as the all-important off-the-bike stuff such as a phone, wallet and ID. Lastly, bringing a good quality pump with you will make any tyre pressure changes quick and simple.

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Things like your bike, helmet and shoes are all things that can end the ride before it has even begun if they are forgotten

Depending on the bike that you ride it might also be worth bringing any specific parts or tools that you might not expect to find at the event itself. Things like extra spokes or a rear derailleur hanger would also fall into the essential category.

If you ensure you arrive at a race or event with at least these items, you should be fine. However, there are also various extras that we recommend that you bring to make everything easier, more comfortable and less stressful.

Nutrition

This is something that should not be left until the day of the event. Finding a nutrition strategy that works for you is a crucial part of performance and can take months of trial and error to dial in. Spending time finding not only products that you want to consume, but also working out how much you need per hour, will keep you riding all day without the dreaded bonk. It is important to separate your plan for both fuel and hydration as these can vary independently of each other depending on conditions and how hard you end up riding.

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Bringing your own nutrition and having a plan on what to consume and when is better than relying on event nutrition

Of course, one of the things you get with your entry fee to most events or gran fondos is the ability to stock up at feed stations as you ride around the route with whatever gels, bars and ‘real food’ that they supply. The issue with relying on this is that the products used by the event organisers might not agree with you or be to your taste. Although it is a little more expensive, bringing all the nutritional products that you might want with you will ensure that you can stay fuelled throughout the whole ride.

• Read more: How many calories do you burn when cycling?

Spares and repairs

Most events will have mechanical support stations to help you get back on your way in the event of an untimely mechanical issue, however, depending on the event, you could find yourself in a long line waiting for assistance.

Coming prepared with a good selection of tools that will allow you to tackle everything you might expect to run in to come race day will keep you rolling rather than waiting in line for a simple fix. Naturally, there is some trade-off between carrying enough tools and not making things too bulky. The route, the duration and how far it is between support stations will likely influence exactly what you bring but as a general rule, you can't go far wrong with a basic spares and repairs kit.

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A basic tool kit should be with you and your bike at all times during the event to quickly sort out any issues nice and quickly

This should include a mini pump and CO2 inflator, an inner tube and repair patches, a tubeless plug tool (if you are using a tubeless set-up), and a good multitool that has all the relevant tools specific to your bike.

Clothing choice

Getting your clothing choices dialled for an event is no mean feat. Often, cycling events tend to start relatively early in the morning and as a result the temperature at the start of the ride very seldom reflects the temperature a few hours later. As a result of this, it can be hard to know exactly how to dress.

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It can be hard to find the right balance of clothing for an event but studying the forecast and packing an extra layer is a good place to start

Looking at the forecast for the day of the event a couple of days beforehand will give you the best insight into a rough clothing strategy. For an event that might take most of a day to complete, it is wise to bring plenty of layers that you can take on and off to regulate your temperature. It is easier to cool yourself off than it is to get yourself warm so always bring one more layer than you think you’ll need.

• Read more: What clothing should you wear when cycling?

Tool kit

Along with your spares and repairs that you carry with you on the bike throughout the event, it is also wise to bring a more comprehensive tool kit with you to leave in the car. Although you should be giving your bike a thorough check-over before heading off to the event, things do happen and mechanicals get missed. Having a tool kit with you will save you from having to beg and borrow tools on the morning of the event to get your bike ready to roll.

Exactly what this tool kit will look like is open to interpretation but it should cover all the items required for most basic maintenance jobs. A full set of Allen keys and Torx keys are a must, along with a floor pump, a roll of tubeless tape and sealant, a spare tyre, chain lube, electrical tape and some brake pads that can prevent any ride-stopping mishaps. It is also worth bringing a chain whip and cassette tool, a spare inner cable and your electronic gears charger just in case you get to the event only to find your Di2 has died. Bringing a spare chain and chain links as well as a cassette can also be beneficial but these things can also be done the day before from the comfort of your home.

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As well as the basic tool kit that you should carry with you, having a comprehensive tool kit for before the race can save you from issue

Depending on the forecast for the event, it can also be worth bringing either a mobile pressure washer or something to wash your bike after the event. Not only is this great for the health of your bike but it also saves you from putting a filthy bike in the back of your car to head home.

• Read more: Five essential tools and spares for cyclists

It might seem like a lot to bring with you for a ride, however, it is always better to bring more than you need with you, in the hope that you won’t have to touch it, rather than desperately trying to hunt down a tool you need 15 minutes before the event is supposed to get underway.

Turbo trainers or rollers

Not an essential item but something that can be beneficial for those more race-like events is something to warm up on, whether that be an indoor trainer or some rollers. If you don’t know the area the event is starting from it can sometimes be hard to find a loop to get in a good warm-up. Bringing an indoor trainer with you can allow you to warm up in the car park before heading down to the start of the event.

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Taking something to warm up on makes it nice and easy to finish off you prep without having to find a route ride

Have the route on your head unit

Any good event will have the route well signposted and in some cases even marshalled so getting lost should not be too much of a concern, but knowing where the route goes can help you pace yourself on the day. Most head units will show the elevation profile of the route, highlighting any upcoming climbs as well as any tight corners on descents that might catch you out.

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Uploading the route of the event to a head unit can be great from pacing and to know what is left to come

Spending some time customising a data page for the event can be useful for keeping you on track. Having the distance covered and remaining can be great, and so too can calorie information and elevation remaining. Having all the data you need right in front of you will help you fuel and pace yourself for the whole ride, allowing you to ultimately enjoy it more.

• Read more: How to plan a bikepacking route, with Markus Stitz

Did we miss anything from the list? Let us know what you would pack for a cycling event in the comments section below. For more cycling features make sure to check out the lifestyle section of the GCN website.