Your bicycling adventure will present a variety of conditions, but it is possible to take all you need and still travel light. Layer your clothes for versatility. When possible, make your gear do double duty. Be creative about what to take and what to leave home. The key words for the week are comfort and casual.

The following list covers what you will most likely want or need. The list is the same for the NEC 550 and the 150 – you’ll just need more for the seven-day ride! There are laundry facilities in some (but not all) of the dorms and/or hotels. Modify the list based on your own needs and experience.

Clothing and equipment for riding

  • A bicycle (preferably one that you truly love because the two of you are going to be incredibly close for the next several days)

  • Helmet (can’t ride without one)

  • License or other ID and insurance cards

  • Cycling gloves
  • Cycling shoes
  • 2 water bottles
  • Riding shorts (2 or more)
  • Cycling jerseys (3 or more)
  • Long sleeve base layer
  • Underwear and socks (lots)
  • Rainwear/cool weather gear
  • Sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses
  • Spare tube and patch kit; small toolkit
  • If you have specialty spokes, bring backups
  • Tire pump/CO2 cartridge, cleaning rags

Clothing for Comfort Off the Bike

  • Shorts and/or jeans
  • Comfortable shirts, t-shirts or jerseys
  • Walking shoes, sneakers or sandals
  • Outerwear for cooler evenings
  • A hat (provides shade post-ride and hides helmet hair if necessary)
  • Swimsuit

Other essentials

  • Toiletries
  • Prescription medicines
  • Chamois cream, Bag Balm or Vaseline (you will be in the saddle for a long time)
  • Debit/credit card or cash for lunch, shopping, repairs, etc.
  • Eyeglasses (bring a spare pair if you have one)
  • Reading/writing material, pens
  • Cellphone, charger and batteries if needed

Note that all support vehicles have first-aid kits on board for emergencies, but we ask participants to bring your own aspirin, Tylenol, ACE bandages and other personal first-aid supplies.

What NOT to Bring

(and We Really Mean it!)

  • Enough spare parts to build an entirely new bike
  • Large electronics (if it’s bigger than an iPad, leave it home)
  • Heavy books, big fans, rocks….
  • Fancy clothing (yup, won’t need it)
  • Bottles of perfume, cologne or wine packed in your luggage (trust us, this is a REALLY bad idea)
  • Blankets, sheets or sleeping bags
  • Winter coats (yes, it’s Vermont but it IS July)
  • Ice skates, roller blades, skateboards, hoverboards, scooters, surfboards or drones. Nothing with sharp edges, engines or wheels, other than your bike
  • Squirt guns, cowbells, tape or clingwrap (yes, there are reasons – ask us)
  • Food or snacks that need to be refrigerated
  • Pets. That means no dogs, no cats, no fish, no hamsters, no rabbits, no goats, no llamas, no miniature horses, no snakes, no lizards and most definitely no tarantulas. We love Rover and Fluffy too (and whatever you call your tarantula), but they can’t come along on your cycling adventure.

We hope this helps inform your packing adventure. Our mechanics are prepared to make most typical and predictable repairs, and we even have the “Rolling Room of Requirement” in case you’ve forgotten some little necessity.

But please pack responsibly – which means, bring everything you think you’ll need, but ONLY what you think you’ll need. Remember, the Gear Truck transports your luggage from the starting line to each day’s finish line, but YOU carry it to and from your room. If you’re unsure about a particular item, just call or email us and we’ll happily give you more advice!

Take your Preperation to the next level

Participate in a practice ride.