What to Carry
By Chris Carmichael

In a bike race, you can tell a lot by looking at a rider’s jersey pockets. Team leaders might have some food with them, but nothing else. If you spot someone carrying a jacket, vest, or arm warmers, you’re looking at a support rider. While you might aspire to climb or sprint like your favorite star, take your jersey-packing cues from the workers.

When you spend your life on a bike, you learn to minimize the number and weight of the things you carry while maximizing their usefulness. You don’t have to look like a pack mule, but the right clothing and tools can mean the difference between riding home and hitch-hiking. So, what’re you packing?

Tools of the Trade
One of the unavoidable laws of cycling is that if you ride a bicycle, something on it will eventually break. As an added insult, it will most likely happen in a downpour or 20 minutes before sunset. To get going again fast, carry the following:

• Kick-butt multi-tool: look for models with Allen wrenches (3, 4, 5, 6, 8 mm), screw drivers, chain tool and spoke wrenches. They’re a little heavier, but worth every ounce.
  • Specialized EMT Comp, Mini, or Race
  • Park MTB-3 or MTB-7 Rescue Tools
  • Topeak Alien II
  • Crank Brothers Multi-17 or Multi-19 Tools
• Reliable inflation device: CO₂ cartridges are quick, but also a one-shot deal. Either have a pump as a backup or as your primary source of air.
  • Specialized Air Tool models
  • Innovations Second Wind hybrid CO₂ pumps
• Tube, 2-3 tire levers, glue-less patches, and a tire boot: put a tube (Specialized T-R Racing Tube is good for both puncture resistance and light weight) in a thin sock to keep tools and jostling from wearing a hole in it. You can also use the sock to wipe your hands when you’re done changing a flat. A wrapper from a bar or gel makes a great boot for cut tires.

Dress for Success
At the 2005 Tour of Courage fundraiser in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the morning ride began with a few inches of snow on the ground. Partway through the ride, I was with Lance Armstrong and George Hincapie when, even though he had retired several weeks prior, Lance asked George to go back to the team car to deposit his heavy gloves and bring back a lighter jacket. It was a natural exchange, now between friends instead of leader and worker, although I poked fun at Lance by reminding him there were pockets in the back of his jersey.

A windproof vest or jacket and a cycling cap or skull cap are the most important garments to put in your pocket because keeping your core and head warm are your primary concerns if the temperature drops. If there’s a reasonable chance you’re going to get wet, carry a rain jacket. Beyond that, layer properly for the temperature and remember… the weather can change rapidly and you can always take a layer off, but you can’t put it on if you don’t have it with you.

In addition to the normal shorts, socks, helmet, glasses, etc.:

• 40-50 degrees: base layer, long-sleeve Windtex-front jersey, full-length leg warmers, cycling cap or skull cap, full-finger gloves, insulated booties (optional)
• 50-60 degrees: base layer, long-sleeve jersey or jersey and arm-warmers, knee warmers, shoe covers (optional)
• 60-65 degrees: base layer, jersey and arm warmers, knee warmers
• 65 +: base layer, jersey

Feed the Need
Whether you’re training, racing, or touring, you can almost always carry all the food you’ll need. You’ll have to refill water bottles on long rides, and the table below assumes you only consume one bottle of sports drink. Though you may not eat it all, leave the house with the following amounts of food so you have the 30-60 grams of carbohydrate you need each hour.

Last Updated: 10/8/2007