Clothing & Kit

See below for our mandatory and recommended kit lists.

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.

I always carry a waterproof 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. I recommend a warm base layer with a wind block fronted jacket on top and warm long leggings to keep the leg muscles insulated from cold conditions.

Accessories such as insulated waterproof gloves, skull caps for underneath your helmet and over boots on top of your cycling shoes are also highly recommended.

For event day it’s worth keeping an eye on the weather forecast and seeing what temperatures are expected so you can kit yourself up correctly. The early start means temperatures have been chilly at the start line the last three years and at the top of the King of the Mountain stage it is generally cold too. It’s easier to take a jacket or gloves off if you’re getting too hot rather than the discomfort of shivering from the cold. Then your performance will certainly take a dip as the muscles stop performing due to blood going to the vital organs.

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 and has been serviced prior to the event.
• Road bikes are preferable, but gravel, 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
• 2 filled water bottles & energy snacks
• Mobile phone (with Event HQ numbers added)

Mandatory basic bike repair kit which 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
• spare gear hanger specific to your brand and model of bike (this is the item that is most likely to bend or break during travel or a crash and without this our mechanical teams are unlikely to get you back on the road if it’s badly damaged)

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
• clear lens glasses
• emergency money/bank 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
• insulated waterproof gloves
• skull cap or buff for underneath your helmet
• over boots on top of your cycling shoes

eBikes

Please ensure all eBikes are fully charged the night before the event. Take chargers with you and ensure electronic gear shifting systems are fully charged the night before as they can be prone to discharging during travel if the levers are getting touched.