I’m packing for a trip and trying to keep it light. It’s tough for me since I like toys and I have a lot of photo gear (four cameras and six lenses, strobes, underwater housings, battery chargers and the attendant BS)…
what stuff do you guys think is mandatory for inclusion when packing the race bag?
that’s your second reference to this trip - this one very overt. Do tell where you’re headed and how long you’ll be away from posting. We expect a detailed itinerary with contact information in case of emergency (like someone’s seat being too high)
Besides race gear??
A book and my MP3 player. If I am away for more than a weekend, my laptop. Lately I’ve been bringing my guitar, but I wouldn’t if I was going to a race.
I’m packing for a trip and trying to keep it light. It’s tough for me since I like toys and I have a lot of photo gear (four cameras and six lenses, strobes, underwater housings, battery chargers and the attendant BS)…
what stuff do you guys think is mandatory for inclusion when packing the race bag?
(off the top of my head)
Swim: two pairs of goggles, wetsuit as appropriate
Bike: shoes, socks/gloves/headsweat/jersey for warmup, helmet, sunglasses; tools (wrenches, double stick tape a necessity, chain whip/socket tool in case I need to swap cassette onto backup wheel, etc.); spare bits (tubes, disk wheel valve hole covers, tire), frame/floor pump, water bottle(s)
Run: shoes, 2pr socks (in case it rains or something), race belt & spare pins, velcro straw (
as appropriate, visor/hat
Your racing gear ofcourse. One pair of boardshorts/day. One T-shirt/day. one hat and one visor. One pair of sandals. extra running shoes. One pair of Jeans and slacks. One maybe two dress shirts. No underwear, that stuff just gets in the way and is to restricting. ***Most importantly CreditCard to buy what you forgot. ***
Oh, I am going here:
I’ll be back Monday. Sarah and I are going SCUBA diving.
I always have a roll of TP in my race bag, always!
Dave in VA
Going to join “The Hundred Foot Club”? 
The first race I went to I brought every piece of tri gear I owned. Now I try to keep it reasonable.
Wet suit, body glide, Tri shorts, Tri top, goggles x2, swim cap, bike (with tool kit, tubes and CO2 on it), gels (just enough for the race not to summit Everest), Sunglasses (for the bike and my usual), helmet, bike shoes, Water bottles full, floor pump, socks, running shoes (with orthotics), race belt, visor, sunblock and a bag to carry it all.
Flip flops, mesh shorts and a comfy cool or warm top as weather dictates. I always pack in this order to try not forget anything I need.
That’s me though. If I were you I would bring half the store, including but not limited to a backup Tri bike, road bike and MTB (for after the race) several wheel choices to account for wind race day, different wetsuits, outfits and shoes. Also I would make sure that Sara brought at least three bikes of her own and at least two outfits for each bike. Add a few boxes of gels powders and a variety of glide and butter and you should be good to go. yep If I were you it would look like the whole Bikesport store just went mobile. Then I would call it a business trip on my taxes and write it all off.
“Swim: two pairs of goggles, wetsuit as appropriate”
I second the TWO PAIR OF GOGGLES motion. I was reminded why I do bring a spare pair just this past Sunday. 6min before my wave is to start, the plastic nose ‘bridge’ of my TYR goggles snaps in half. Uhhhh…shit. No time to panic–>jog .25mi back to transition in wetsuit, grab spare pair of goggles, and jog back JUST in time for the gun. I guess that’s one way to warm up.
After seeing the pcture of whre you are going I retract my previous post and replace it with:
Pack only what will fit into your Scuba Mask - Bathing suit optional.
only thing you must take to a race is a box of condoms - never know when you might get lucky
everything else you can beg, borrow or steal - maybe buy if you have to ;}
.
“Swim: two pairs of goggles, wetsuit as appropriate”
I second the TWO PAIR OF GOGGLES motion. I was reminded why I do bring a spare pair just this past Sunday. 6min before my wave is to start, the plastic nose ‘bridge’ of my TYR goggles snaps in half. Uhhhh…shit. No time to panic–>jog .25mi back to transition in wetsuit, grab spare pair of goggles, and jog back JUST in time for the gun. I guess that’s one way to warm up.
I did the Escape from Ft. Delaware triathlon, in which you are ferried out to an island for the swim start. Getting ready for the race, my goggles broke. We’re a mile from shore. I had a spare pair with me.
Me too. I put it in a Ziploc bag. I also bring a little mini-Petzl headlamp for those before sunrise bike issues and finding my stuff in the dark.
It goes without saying that you bring all your stuff to race, but in addition to that stuff: Hefty One-Zipp bags (the one with the little slider thing) in various sizes. Then, for example, you can put all your stuff for the start of the race in one bag (suit, goggles, cap, chip, etc.) and then, if necessary, T1 and T2 stuff each in their own bags. That way with a glance you can see that you have everything you need and it’s neatly organized.
For example with mountain bike races I’ll have the kit for the race in one bag, and then one bag with “cold” on it containing arm/leg warmer, long-sleeve jersey, etc. and one bag with and “wet” on it containing a waterproof jacket, etc.
I’m a big “ziplock” guy and the bags come from tiny to HUGE sizes so you can use them for anything.
aside from race gear i always pack: headlamp leatherman (with cork screw) thin hat and gloves (even when going somewhere warm) long sleeve capaline shirt extra pair of sunglasses sunscreen and lip balm sandles or flip flops
.
TP is an absolute must…
along with a change of clothes. The wife hates driving home with me if I am covered in sweat and the clothes with salt stains.
I always bring a Grundig mini 100 pe shortwave radio. It’s got all the other bands . Small as a ipod. I can get weather ,news, BBC,radio Cuba. Stretch bands Plam z22 for games and E-books trip info. I bring a raquett ball to play with.
Thom
By race bag I assume you mean the bag you are taking to the race, not the stuff for your vacation. So here goes:
Running shoes
Cycling shoes
Googles
Wetsuit (if cold)
Towel for post race changing
Wear some bike shorts (or whatever you race in) under your cloths that morning, go commando on the way home.
I’m always driving to races so I have the luxury of bringing lots of stuff. I like extra stuff, just in case. I like to bring an extra set of wheels, extra goggles, cold/wet weather gear, Sunglasses with interchangeable lenses for varying light conditions, basic tools, lots of water.
Must haves would probably be race gear, hat, gloves, pump, extra tubes, sunscreen, swiss-army knife and duct tape.