Cramic

Hi all!

I think it’s a “gran fondo” rather than a race, but coming from the running world we call everything organised a “race”.

This is an organised ride of 210km and 2500m of elevation. I’m hoping to do in about 8 hours, but with a few stops I might be out for 10 hours (even more).

There are 5 water/electrolyte/2xgel/banana stops inc. 1 lunch stop.

I’m running tubeless, but will have 2 x co2 and 1 x tube, a multi tool.

2 x water bottles - both electrolyte/energy I think and several gels. Probably a bag of sweets.

They meet us with our own gear at 140km and I’ll put more sunscreen, a change of top (I sweat a lot), some electrolyte drinks I like, salt tablets, and bananas.

This will be the longest I’ve ever ridden and also longest I’ve been out exercising. I’ve done marathons before, but always finished much faster than 8 hours haha

What am I missing? What else would people take?

I know there’s no right answer and everybody will have different ideas so hopefully can stay civil! It’s just an idea generating exercise/making sure I don’t miss anything more experienced riders have found very useful/essential.

Conditions will be quite cool (autumn here in Australia), maybe a little wet, and there’s usually a wind here.

Thanks!

79pmooney

Is there a chance that you could see unexpected cold or rain? Planning to bring something warm? If it gets cold over the last miles, you may be unabloe to go fast enough to generate enough heat. That will cost you a lot of time (and quite possibly sickness afterwards).

Lightweight, easy to stash warm items - Armwarmers. Hat. Light single layer jackets. A folded sheet of newspaper. (Don't laugh. That's been done and still is by the pros. Go to a major stage race and watch the entire peloton, not just the big shots at an alpine summit. You'll see lowly domestiques stuffing newspaper for the cold descent because they gotta finish warm and healthy to start tomorrow in good shape and they have no team cars anywhere around. And newspaper works! Fits in any jersey pocket.)

skidder

Another tube . . or two. I've only had the odd, infrequent flat on daily rides, but I make up for it with plenty of flats on longer rides in unknown areas. I have flatted three times in one day so I take three extra tubes on long rides (normal rides is two), especially if you're riding with a non-popular-sized wheel (650B comes to mind). Also take a mini pump if you have one, I'm not a fan of CO2 cartridges.

Troul 

snickers

Gresp15C

Indeed, no point in carrying more tubes than cartridges.

Barry2 

Bring more food than you think you'll need.

Barry

tomato coupe

Tire plugs.

Sy Reene

Credit card

teejaywhy

Ibuprofin

roadcrankr

You got good advice here and you sound prepared.
Draft other riders whenever possible.
Don't feel compelled to stop at every organized point.
Or, if you must stop, don't dilly dally or eat too much.
Enjoy the scenery. Good luck, pal.

Eric F 

I’m doing an 80mi gravel event on Sunday. I expect it will take about 6 hours, and there are well-supported aid stations at 15mi (or less) intervals. I’m taking…

Tools - 2 TPU tubes, 3 CO2s, mini hand-pump, levers, multi-tool, Dynaplug tool, and about 18” of duct tape.
Snacks - 6 Clif gels, 2 protein bars, 2 packs of Skratch gummies, and 2 rice crispy treats. I will start with 2 large bottles of endurance/fuel mix and a 2L hydration pack of water. I expect to refill along the way, and lean on the aid stations.

Russ Roth

A lot of endurance riders will bring a dill pickle or two, isn't much nutritionally but if you start to cramp the pickles help with it, haven't heard a good explanation why but I can say it works, easy to grab prepackaged at larger gas stations. Otherwise I'd toss a mini patch kit in to go with that extra CO2 cartridge, when did you last top up the tubeless sealant? If its been 2-3 months maybe toss a half amount in, I find there's an ok enough amount in at 3 months but by 6 its pretty much dry but for a longer ride where I wouldn't want a flat I'd want the typical, fresh install level of sealant.

veganbikes

Bring whatever you would normally take on a ride like this. It is way way way waaaaaaaay to late to start messing with things. You want to figure this stuff out long in advance so you know what works and what doesn't well before a big ride or race. An experiment on an unknown ride could end poorly. Nutrition is not something you want to do a big change of a the ride.

I would bring whatever food and drink work for me while riding and enough for the length of time I need it plus maybe a little extra. I would bring the clothes I need for my body and if I thought it might get cold or wet. If you are getting a SAG wagon or drop-offs then you can have extra clothing and food with them and any repair items or whatever.

CAT7RDR

If you sweat a lot, when you change your jersey, also re-apply chamois cream.

Cramic

Thanks all, plenty of great advice there and I availed myself of quite a bit of it.

Race didn’t go quite to plan and I had to switc to the shorter course after pulling something in my quads. It was a relatively cold day and disaster struck just after the lunch stop. Might have been able to nurse it home on a flat course, but there was no hiding here due to the hills.

Still a very enjoyable day and the actual gear prep certainly didn’t let me down!

datlas 

Kudos and smart move to make the adjustment.

Nachoman

How do you carry spare duct tape? Just recently broken spoke and could have used some.

roadcrankr

I like electrical tape a little more.
I wrap it around one of my frame tubes or on the bars, close to the stem.
If you choose duct tape, use electrical tape as a base layer.
Otherwise the duct tape leaves a gooey residue, especially in hot weather.