Equipment You'll Need

Mandatory

Human Powered Vehicle: You'll require a well-maintained, road worthy bicycle, unicycle, trike or recumbent. Aero-bars are forbidden. Motorized vehicles are forbidden.

Helmet: A bicycle helmet is essential for all our rides. No helmet, no ride.

Reflective Vest: A reflective vest is mandatory when riding in low-light conditions unless specified otherwise for a particular ride.

Rear Light: A red rear non-blinking light is mandatory when riding in low-light conditions unless specified otherwise for a particular ride. You may not use a white light as a rear light. You may not use a blinking red light as the sole rear light.

Front light: A white front light is mandatory when riding in low-light conditions unless specified otherwise for a particular ride.

Note: Low-light conditions can exist even during daytime, for example, during rain. In these conditions, it is mandatory to possess and use the reflective vest, rear light and front light.

Essential

Speedometer/Cyclocomputer: You'll require a speedometer (or equivalent) to measure the distance you've travelled and the speed you're travelling at. Remember that the route is unmarked and you have to follow directions given in your cue-sheet.

Cue-sheet holder: You'll need something to hold your cue-sheet so you can refer to it while riding.

Puncture-repair kit: You can always take a punctured tyre to the nearest cycle shop, but you may find there are no bicycle shops nearby. Therefore you must always carry a puncture-repair kit and know how to fix a puncture (aka patching a tube). If you've never patched a tube before, practice removing and putting back your wheel and tires before you ride on a long distance ride. A puncture repair kit consists of:

• 6" Adjustable Spanner (only if you do not have quick release wheels)
• Tire levers (to remove the tire, optional if you can remove your tires without levers)
• Patches (use good quality ones, Omni are among the best patches)
• Rubber Solvent (COMET)
• Piece of Sandpaper (60 grit or thereabouts -- stick a small piece to an icecream stick)
• Mini-Pump (or equivalent to pump up your tires after patching)
• Spare Tube (highly recommended to carry a spare tube in case patching fails)

Clothing: Wear comfortable clothing designed for athletic activities. Choose cycle-specific shorts, remember you will be in the saddle a lot of the time.

Communications: A cell phone is usually a good thing to have along. Make sure you have the contact numbers of the organizers stored.

ATM card: You may need extra money for contingencies. Some brevets will use ATMs as unmanned controls. You will need to produce a transaction slip taken out at such points to validate control entries in your brevet card.

Optional

Rain-wear: Note that randonnées continue in the rain, so you may want a rain jacket or the equivalent to ride in the rain.

Additional lighting (Torch, helmet light, etc.): To read the cue sheet or make repairs when it is dark.

Navigational Aids: Navigational ability is one of the key skills required in bicycle touring. A map can be very helpful; a GPS a luxury.

Timekeeping: A good water proof watch with a backlight, stopwatch and a timer.