Distance Cycling Must Haves

[BGD]

Hello all

I am due to participate in the Beach to Beach ride from Bournemouth to Brighton in just under two weeks. Two legs at around 70 miles a time.

Until just under two months ago I hadn't been on a bike for twenty years. So it'll be punishing.

My question, to the more experienced of you is what should I take? There are a couple of stop off points offering sustenance plus a campsite on the first night, to which they take your bags.

So as far as I can fathom I am taking these items:

Overnight bag:
Sleeping bag
Change of clothes
Toiletries

Bike Bag:
Water/ gels
Spare inner tube
Waterproofs
Money etc

Wearing:
Padded shorts
Breathable top
Trainers
Sunglasses

Do any of you older hands have any additional magic ingredients that will make the trip more manageable to a less-than-fit, creaky boned person like myself?

Many thanks

BGD

 

[snorri]

http://www.glenmorangie.com/


PS Don't forget to take a glass, nothing worse than drinking out of a paper cup, and it melts plastic.

 

[rich p]

I'd take more than one tube.
Cap
Suncream
Pillow of some sort

 

[BGD]

Thanks gents, love to have a roadside tipple (as well as on the night of the stop-off point) but need to make sure it will add and not detract from the pretty small storehouse of energy I'll be taking!

 

[rich p]

Ibuprofen to numb the pain!
Gloves but you probably have factored those in

 

[willem]

Mattress? Some basic tools, like tyre levers. Pump. Helmet. Reflective vest. Basic first aid kit, including emergency blanket. Telephone.
Enjoy,
Willem

 

[BGD]

Thanks again guys.

The Ibuprofen was prob covered by Snorri's suggestion Rich!

Yep, first aid a good point Willem.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

dry bag -- no good having clean wet clothes.

 

[BGD]

As a supplementary question .. if I may. Are there any recommendations for transporting the items above? As I mentioned the main bag will be taken by the organisers. But the carry with items, is there a preferred method? Rucksacks I'd assume are not ideal, but in looking for alternatives it seems I need to fit saddlebag frames and then saddlebags and so on. Handlebar bags look less ideal due to drop bars. Had a look at Carradice just now. That'd add another near £100..

Any tips? Many thanks.

 

[rich p]

a largish saddle bag like this plus the pockets of your jersey should do for a 70 miler
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/deuter-bike-bag-ii-14-litres/

 

[BGD]

Excellent, thanks again Rich

 

[BGD]

I'm adding some additional items here that others have suggested to me as a general reference and for anyone else who is wondering the same and stumbles across this thread.

Seamless boxer shorts
Chamois Cream
Bum bag / Cagoule bag
Spare pair of socks
Go Outdoors or CostCo water rucksacks

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Does your bike have a kickstand? If not, they make life a lot easier when you're touring on a fully loaded bike.

 

[martint235]

Water, cashcard, two tubes, co2 cannisters (much easier than trying to pump up a tyre), tyre levers and a multitool. Put the tubes etc in a small saddlebag. This should do you for 70 miles as you can stop and buy things to eat as and when.

I think there is a tendency to overengineer these things which could take some of the enjoyment out of it. With the organisers delivering your stuff to the campsite, a carradice is certainly overkil imo.