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 paper¹

Towel(s)

A large towel is very useful to save your blushes when you need to change².

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 (Brian may need a little extra)
• 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.

Additional contributions

¹ Mike Zuerlein
² Richard Brockie