Do... prepare your kit in advance
Do... prepare your kit in advance
Having signed up, paid your entry fee, and put in the training miles, everyone’s worst nightmare is arriving at the event HQ without the necessary paperwork… or having left your Garmin at home… or with only one water bottle… or no inner tubes. The list goes on.
Put together a checklist of everything you need and prepare you kit the day before the right, particularly as you’re likely to have an early start. You’re far more likely to forget something when scrambling around in a panic at the crack of dawn.
Generally, you will need your kit (look at the weather forecast and prepare accordingly – and always take a spare layer in case you encounter an unexpected shower), shoes and helmet (compulsory at most sportives), two bottles and bottle cages, food, two spare inner tubes, tyre levers, pump, bike computer (upload the route if you have a Garmin or similar and a GPS file is available), mobile phone, identification, money (take some with you on the ride in case you need to make an emergency stop at a shop if you get the hunger knock, or if it all goes horribly wrong and you need to catch a taxi).
It’s also important to make sure you your bike is in good working order. Are your gears running smoothly or do your brake pads need replacing? Are your tyres worn out and likely to attract punctures? If you’re targeting a major event which comes after months and months of training then consider getting your machine serviced. You don’t want a mechanical to ruin your ride.
Also make sure you have enough gears for the ride. Looking at the route profile in advance should give you a good idea of the terrain and the severity of the climbs. If it’s a particularly long or hilly event then fitting a cassette with a larger sprocket (providing your rear derailleur will take it) will give you an extra ‘get out of jail’ gear. Your legs will thank you for it – just make sure you make any changes well in advance of the event and not on the day before.