Trip Kit – On The Bike
- Bikes__And__Mountains
- Mar 19, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 7, 2023
It’s easy to underestimate the weather in the mountains. It’s all blue skies, snow capped peaks in the distance and perfectly tarmac’d roads zig-zagging through sun drenched green meadows. Right? Sadly, this isn’t always the case and sometimes it’s not the same case from day to day or even hour to hour. So how do you pack to ensure you make the most of anything that might be thrown at you?
Before diving in to specific kit suggestions, let’s consider some of the most likely conditions you might encounter:
Heat – The mountains – particularly the valleys – get very hot. Avoid riding at the peak of the day.
Storms – storms can hit quickly, bringing heavy rain, thunder, and, sometimes, massive hailstones.
Cold – changeability and wind chill specifically. Prepare for heat generated whilst climbing and a cold stops/descents?
Valleys – mountains and valleys tend to ‘hold’ their weather. Always check the weather where you’re heading.
Easily the coldest I have ever been. Freezing fog and rain high in the Italian Dolomites (Passo Sella), the day after baking heat.
There’s obviously a limit to how much you can pack and (having made this mistake) I’m not suggesting you take your entire wardrobe. What you do want though, is the ability to adapt and for that, some key items can really make a big difference:
Knee and leg warmers – flexible, sometimes waterproof, easy to roll down when warm or stuff in a pocket
Toe warmers and/or overshoes – great when there’s a chill but you don’t want/need full overshoes
Best bib shorts – your best shorts. Mountain days are long, so make sure you’re sitting comfortably
Lightweight jersey – heat is unavoidable and effectively wicking away sweat is essential
Base layer – if you wear summer baselayers, stick with it. But also a good layer option on chilly days.
Mitts – unless you’re name is Tom Boonen. Add comfort and good for comedy tan lines!
Quality waterproof – quality is key. One that 1) fits in your pocket 2) is waterproof 3) is breathable
Gilet – a versatile and underappreciated piece of kit. Great for chilly starts and long, fast, descents
Shoes (obviously) – YOUR shoes is the important message. Pack them in your hand luggage!
Helmet – Protect your lid with a lid. I’m not descending anything at 50-80km/h without it
Gabba – a genius bit of kit! I’ve worn my Gabba through everything. Other brands offer similar tops.
Sunglasses – essential in all conditions. As well as sun, they’ll protect your eyes from bugs etc. on descents
Funky socks – plain socks won’t cut it. Up your sock game and thank me later!
How much of each thing you take is for another blog. Maybe I’ll cover it next time I pack for a trip in a post-Covid-19 world, but in the simplest summary, I’d say you need less than you think. You can wash and dry cycling kit quickly, so there’s no reason you can’t re-wear. A full set of kit can do two days riding no problem and can help travel light. Obviously, if you’ve got some amazing jerseys you want to show off, bring them all and enjoy!
Proper kit + epic socks = happy riding! Allez!
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