Clothing & Kit by Kenny Riddle
At this time of year choice of clothing is critical especially if you’re climbing up to heights such as the top of Glendoe (
King of the Mountain stage) where the weather can turn very quickly.
In summer I still always carry a waterproof or windproof jacket rolled up in my back pocket in case of poor conditions or if you get a mechanical problem and are standing about for a while, during which your body temperature can drop considerably.
For event day it’s worth keeping an eye on the weather forecast and seeing what the early morning temperatures are expected so you can kit yourself up correctly.
Temperature on the mountain top can be cooler than sea level and you have a long descent where you may cool down quickly so a gilet or light wind/showerproof jacket could be beneficial to stay warm.
Check out our mandatory and recommended kit list below.
Mandatory Kit
Please be aware that weather conditions can change and deteriorate rapidly in the Scottish Highlands and you should bring appropriate clothing to keep warm in any adverse weather.
- Make sure that your bike is in PERFECT working order – road bikes are preferable, but mountain and hybrid touring bikes are acceptable. Please note that fixed wheel bikes (bikes that use pedals as a brake) are NOT permitted
- Helmet – the wearing of hard shell helmets conforming to CE standard EN1078 is mandatory and must be worn at all times when cycling
- Filled water bottles & energy snacks
- Mobile phone (with Event HQ number added)
Basic bike repair kit that includes:
- 2 inner tubes
- puncture repair kit (with glueless patches)
- tyre levers
- multi-tool with chain splitter
- chain speed links (to join a broken chain)
- pump or air canister inflator
There are plenty of YouTube clips on how to change a tube, it’s worth practising at home!
Recommended Kit
Other items we recommend that you carry:
- waterproof jacket
- small first aid kit
- sun screen
- sun glasses
- emergency money/credit card
In cool or adverse weather conditions, we also recommend:
- warm base layer
- windproof jacket
- warm long or 3/4 length leggings to keep the leg muscles insulated from cold conditions
