The Updated First Timer's Guide-Pt 5 (Clothing & Equipment)

You’ve got your bike clothing and equipment sorted out, so now you need to figure out how to fill up the rest of that gigantic duffel bag.

Clothing

While you will want to make your clothing as flexible as possible, there are a few items that you’ll want to bring to wear off the bike. (I acknowledge that my clothing recommendations are rather male-oriented. Two reasons; I’m a guy and I couldn’t ask my wife for help. She does not ride and thinks I’m a daft git for doing the TR year after year. I’m sure female newcomers would welcome the wisdom of any TR veterans when it comes to clothing and equipment.)

• 1 pair long pants (Jeans are a fairly bad choice. They’re heavy, bulky and take ages to dry out. I bring a pair of lightweight polyester/nylon blend pants. They dry in a flash and pack up to almost nothing.)
• 1 pair shorts (Again, a quick drying synthetic is a good choice. Pick a dark colour as you may want to use them as swim shorts along the way.)
• 1 pair fleece pants (The mornings and evening can be pretty cold, and folded up they make a good pillow.)
• 1 fleece vest or down vest (Warm, compact and a good pillow. If you are more sensitive to the cold you may want to opt for a fleece jacket or lightweight down jacket.)
• Small underwear (No, not for the kinky effect, but to facilitate your modesty and the probing fingers of your massage therapist. Boxers allow for plenty of air to circulate and keep you dry and comfy after your ride, but can be a bit restrictive when you want your massage therapist to pound your aching muscles. In 2009 the female member of the tandem team recommended bringing a loose skirt to maintain some semblance of modesty during massages. Great idea and something that never occurred to me.)
• 1 short sleeve tee shirt (I have a great shirt that my first TR partner Jim brought back from La Ruta. Synthetic, quick drying, loose and comfy.)
• 1 long-sleeve tee shirt (Again, synthetic is the best choice. Quick drying and in a pinch you can wear it while riding if the weather turns really cold and nasty.)
• 1 pair hiking boots or shoes (They’ll make a welcome break from your riding shoes. They need to be waterproof as you may have to deal with wet grass and mud around camp.)
• 1 pair sandals or flip flops/ thongs (The interior of the showers can get quite muddy as 500 riders wash off the remains of the day.)
• 1 sun hat (I know, I just mentioned the mud, but this race is through the Rockies and you could be dealing with sun and mud, often in the same day.)

Equipment

For 2012 the Big Agnes packages make some of the equipment decision easier. But if you are bringing your own stuff along here are some things to think about.

• 1 sleeping bag 32F/0C (We’re in the mountains and frost in the morning is not unheard of, so you need to make sure that you’ll be warm at night. I used a synthetic bag for four years, but last year upgraded to a down bag. The lower packed volume made it much easier to fit everything in the duffel bag. If you feel the cold you may want to get a bag rated for colder temperatures.)
• 1 pad or air mattress (Some people are happy with a Thermarest, but I’ve always used an air mattress. I find the extra comfort worth the slight additional bulk. If you bring an air mattress you should probably also bring a pump.)
• 1 towel (Some people like synthetic towels, but I prefer old-fashioned cotton. Slower drying but softer. I know, not a rational choice at all.)
• 1 clothesline (An elastic clothesline is a great addition. It makes it so much easier to dry your riding clothes. Even if you are not going to wear them again during the race, dry clothes in your duffel bag will both lighter and less fragrant. An added bonus, the clothesline over the top of the tent makes it easier to find among the hundreds of identical tents.)
• Toiletries (You know what things make your life a bit more pleasant. Along with the usual shampoo, toothpaste, sun cream etc., I also bring hand cream, lip balm and moisturizer to combat the dryness of the Rockies.)
• Your favourite bum cream (I use Chamois Butter on multi-day races. Some people say that these creams soften the skin and should be avoided. I don’t any cream on my regular training rides, but on the TR it is essential. You MUST take care of your bum. Clean shorts every day, a shower as soon as you get to camp, and some soothing cream all make for a happy backside. Marty’s Magic Butt Cream does work wonders, but you’ll be much happier if you never have to go to the medical trailer.)
• Ear plugs (A good pair of ear plugs will help you sleep. And you never know, your partner, or the jerk in the next tent, may snore.)
• Headlamp (You’ll need the light when you go to the ‘loo in the night. If you are not making a couple of night time trips to the ‘loo, you are not drinking enough.)
• Camera (Even if you don’t take it with your each day, which I would strongly recommend, you’ll be in the midst of some of the most remarkable scenery in the world. People pay thousands of dollars to see these views. And come to think of it, you are one of these people.)
• 1 newspaper (Not for the light reading, but to dry out your riding shoes. I like The Globe and Mail as the newsprint that it is printed on seems to be rather absorbent, and the writing is not too bad. The Saturday edition will probably do you for the whole week. Just stuff your shoes with paper after your shower and they’ll be almost dry by the time you go to sleep. In a pinch the paper can also be used to clean your bike.)
• Rags and rubber gloves (You may need to do some work on your bike. I bring a couple of rags and two pairs of lightweight surgical gloves. You can also wear the surgical gloves under your riding gloves if it gets very wet and cold. Your hands will sweat, but they’ll stay warm.)
• 1 water bottle (Even if you are going to rely solely on a hydration pack while riding you will need a water bottle.  You need to drink before breakfast, at breakfast, when you come into camp, before dinner, after dinner, and probably in the night.)
• 2 large garbage bags - 26” x 36” (You will end up with a pretty grotesque pile of smelly, stinky, muddy clothing. Having a bag to dump all of the used stuff in will keep the balance of your duffel bag clean.)
• 10 large clear zip-lock bags (For the past three years I have used large bags to keep all of my clothes clean and dry. I make up one bag for each day with a jersey, shorts and socks. I print up a label to identify the day. I know it sounds like overkill, but it is one less thing to have to think about in the morning when you are tired, cold and feeling a bit crappy. I use the other bags to keep all of accessories sorted out.)