Race Checklist

by Garry Birch

This list is designed to be completely comprehensive for road and track racing (not off road) and covers all types of weather conditions. What is does not cover is if you are on a multi day tour away from home or stage race. From personal experience, I can tell you that putting on wet shorts from the morning race for the afternoon stage is really gross, especially if you use chamois inserts. The same goes for shoes and socks. If you have spares and space to carry, then why not use them.

It also does not include some of the little things that can really improve the days outing. Items such as chairs, sun shades, beer and cooler, masseuse, good books and music for the interludes. How about a camera to capture those Kodak moments.

Don't forget to put gas in the car the night before.

Head

Helmet
Skull Cap for cold weather.
Sweat Band(s) or Bandana
Cotton Cloth Cap with peak. (For wet weather)
Shades with alternate lenses

Body

Skin suit
Under shirt / vests (Maybe need two or more if doing more than one race)
Long sleeve medium layer
Short Sleeve medium layer
Long sleeve race jersey
Short Sleeve race jersey
Arm Warmers
Long finger gloves
Fingerless gloves
Race cape / jacket, Windbreaker.

Legs

Race Shorts
Knee warmers
Leg warmers

Feet

Socks
Race Shoes
Over shoes
Sandals, footwear for hanging out

Skincare

Leg rub goop for cold weather
Baby oil for the knees in wet weather
Sun Tan lotions
Lip Balm.
Towels, wet wipes, etc.
Chamois cream to put life into tired shorts and ease possible discomfort in the saddle area.
Toilet paper

Towel(s)

A large towel is very useful to save your blushes when you need to change.

Mechanical

Bike
Spare wheels
Flat repair kit, tubes, CO2, patches.
Pump
Tools if required (Hex wrench, track spanner)
Alternate chainrings and cogs for the track. Gear chart
Rollers, Trainer
Chain Lube and cloth.

Paperwork

Racing license
Race number if going to a league race
Money, Checks.
Directions to venue
Itinerary for the day

Food

Drinking bottles and goop to go in them
Fresh water
Food for the race, before, between and after.

Other

First aid kit
safety pins
Heart Rate Monitor (Band and readout)

Change of clothes

Clean change of civvies for after the racing and discussing the day's fun in the pub.

And finally...

A huge bag to put it all into, including plastic bags for dirty laundry. Plastic bags can also be stuffed up inside the front of your jersey in cold wet weather emergencies to fend off the chill.

This was 2009!

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