What do you take to races

[Mommers]

hi guys,

I have an XC race coming up soon and I was wondering what you's take when you go racing. Also any other info would be great.

Thanks, Matt

[Squidly Didly]

How long's the race Matt? Is it just a club race or something bigger like a 4hr, 6hr, 12hr, 24hr?
Have you raced before?

[McBain]

I have an XC race coming up soon and I was wondering what you's take when you go racing.
A bike, usually. :D

[Mommers]

Its just a Club race and the race will be 2 laps long. Approx 11-12km..and no this is the first time ive raced.

[Grover]

a small bottle of liquid for each lap, or you could get away with one big one. or if you prefer a camel back one of them with about a litre in it.
and then it's your choice as to tool kit. most people take a tube, pump or cartridges, tyre levers if required, and a chain breaker (a quick link is also helpful if u break a chain). thats about it for on the bike. you'll need some food for before and after, bananas are good for before the race and stuff high in sugar like snakes or jam sandwiches are good for after to replace lost sugars quickly. if you have it a track pump and a more complete tool kit are good as well. that's all i can think of now. basically put all you can fit in the car that could come in handy.

:D better to have and not want than to want and not have :D

[Woodsie]

Load the car up with everything you could imagine you could maybe possibly need. Obviously keep what you carry on the bike to a minimum. As you do more races you get a better idea of what you need and don't need.

When you get that down, put everything you need in a big bag or box. Make this where it lives. Then when you have to jump into the car at stupid o'clock in the morning, an hour before you wake up, you only have to throw a bag into the car. You don't need to think of lots of individual things you need to grab. Also handy if you are catching a lift in someone else's car, as you won't be relying on that obscure tool you keep in the ash tray because it also happens to also be handy for tweaking the gizmo on the thingumy under the bonnet. :)

[intense jonoooo]

A bike...and a bottle of water!

[SPyX]

I used a hydrabak (similar to camelbak) during the race (4laps of Thredbo XC track), a powerade before, a redbull after.

Was fine =)

My first race too, just make sure you speed ahead at the start, I got stuck behind too many people!

Good luck!

[BrumbyJack]

Red Bull before would have been better ;)

I'm interested as well as I hope to do some XC racing.

From what I saw at Thredbo on Sunday it would have been a waste carrying a spare tube etc. as it would have almost been as quick to run back with the bike than replace a tube??? I guess on a longer course it would be a good idea, what do you think?

[Gonzo]

Yeah you should have had the red ull before, then the powerade after to replace your sugars.

You should eat a big meal about 2 hours before your race. You should also bring lots of water which you shuld drink before the race so that your body already has lots of water in it. Means you don't have to carry as much on the bike.

[Squidly Didly]

You should eat a big meal about 2 hours before your race. You should also bring lots of water which you shuld drink before the race so that your body already has lots of water in it. Means you don't have to carry as much on the bike.
So the trick is to make you want to take a dump or leak during the race, so it makes you go faster :!:

You should eat a big meal about 2 hours before your race. You should also bring lots of water which you shuld drink before the race so that your body already has lots of water in it. Means you don't have to carry as much on the bike.
So the trick is to make you want to take a dump or leak during the race, so it makes you go faster :!:

mid race turd break +10 minutes onto your run

[LordNikon]

Woodsie has the right idea. Take everything to begin with then take out stuff you don't use for the next race/s.

Better to figure out what you need rather than just take what someone else does. Their bike might not break where yours might.

Good luck!