So …… last minute packing/organizing …. what have I forgotten/need?

Quiche.

Or other 3am type foods.

Have you packed all of your cycling kit – every single bit? If not, pack it 🙂

A bucket?

I packed all my cycle gear in 2 bags and left the one with all my favourite gear by the front door
Also packed 2 left wellies and no rights

I survived…just

bottle opener
bog roll
buff/hat to keep the bugs away in the evening (I always get bitten on my scalp)
pillow
wellies
torch/lantern/head torch

Lots of socks, shorts, gloves. Easy to eat food at 3am. Jelly is easy.

Oh, Jaffa cakes. Lots of Jaffa cakes.

Sandals/flip flops type shoes for the shower…

Have you packed all of your cycling kit – every single bit? If not, pack it

+1

Baby wipes? Towel?

Something warm to wear when hanging about waiting for your team mates at 3am.

Cuddly toy, err fondue set, decanter and glasses….
😀

Bike?

Stove top coffee pot and stove that’ll heat it.

Folding chair

+1 for baby wipes and bog roll.

If you plan on getting some sleep then ear plugs and a sleep eye mask thing are nice to have.

gin
bitters
bitter
sherry
lager
whisky
wine
crisps

A book to relieve the tedium?

Is your garage/shed empty?
Is your bike clothing drawer empty?
Is your car straining at the seams?
if not, then you have forgotten something.
Oh,& regularly check your sense of humour is handy–I lost mine at Mountain Mayhem a few times during the swamp years–not nice–

Bike washing kit
Canoe
Back up sense of humour

good bog roll and that alcohol hand cleaner stuff
spare batteries.
spare lights.
radio?

Fence posts, rope and rolls of plastic tape for keeping others from encroaching on your team village space.

If you drink recovery shakes made from powder, the shaker and it’s internal grill. Lumpy powdered shake, lovely. NOT.

Fitness?

Towel.

Bike.

Cycling shorts.

Lights.

All things I’ve known people forget over the past 15 years…

ah flamejob… that’s exactly what I’ve forgotten!!

Fat, tick
Balding, tick
Middle aged, tick
More bike than I need, Tick
More kit than fits in an XC 90, Tick

thing I can’t buy.. dooh!

*gets the excuses book out

Hmmmmmm

2 members of a 5 man team dropping out (well, 1 has gone AWOL!) less than 48hrs before the start… Check
Huge traffic jam all the way home this afternoon after putting up our tent at Gatcombe today (had to come home anyway), meaning we’re several hours behind schedule… Check
Complete lack of preparation due to being so busy at work recently… Check
Everything bar tent (that’s at Gatcombe already) sprawled over the dinig room floor, waiting to be put into various bags and into the car still… Check
Completely inappropriate bike… Check
Lack of any mud tyres given the expected conditions… Check
Sat on the internet at 1am, drinking cider, chatting b*ll*x on STW when I should have been in bed hours ago, car packed and ready to roll first thing in the morning… Check

All I can say is an ENORMOUS thank you to the 2 guys stepping in at the last minute to help out. One is a long time friend who’s jumped in at short notice, and the other (in the best spirit of internet forums) I’ve not even met yet!

After the last couple of days, the next couple riding bikes round a muddy field is going to seem like paradise! 😐

See you all there in the morning!