Essential Travel & Packing Hacks
The Tubeless Air Rule: If your bike uses tubeless tyres, never deflate them completely for transit or you risk the bead breaking away from the rim and leaking sealant. Instead, let out just enough air to make them squishy.
The Travel Pump: Pack a micro floor pump or an electric pump in your bike box so you aren't hunting for a track pump around the event village on arrival. Electric Pump Battery Warning: Electric pumps must go in your hand or cabin baggage rather than the hold to prevent them from accidentally turning on. Check that the internal battery is under 100 Watt-hours (Wh).
Protect Your Mechanicals: Use a chain holder (dummy hub) when packing your bike. This maintains chain tension, prevents twisting, and protects your rear derailleur hanger from getting bent.
Secure the Loose Items: Don't leave loose items floating around in your bike box where they might chip your frame. Use internal pockets, or wrap tools securely in bubble wrap.
Disc Brake Spacer: Place a piece of folded cardboard (its free!) or a plastic spacer between your disc brake pads. This stops the pads from squeezing together if the brake levers are pressed during transit.
Mark Your Fit: Before removing your seat post or flattening your handlebars, use electrical tape to mark your exact position. On the handlebars, mark where the front faceplate aligns so you know exactly how to rotate your hoods back to your perfect setup.
On The Ride: Smart Preparation
The Night Before
Lay Out Your Kit: Put your energy food directly into your jersey pockets, pack your saddlebag, and lay out your exact clothing. Saving yourself from hunting for a stray sock at sunrise means you can focus entirely on eating your pre-ride breakfast.
Bottles on Bikes: Pre-mix your energy drinks and put the bottles straight onto your bike the night before. Don’t leave them in the fridge — it is incredibly common to forget them in the early morning rush.
Want to keep your drinks cool in the midday heat? Use an insulated bottle.
The Don'ts
DON'T put sunscreen on your forehead: Put it on your cheeks, necks, nose and ears. When climbing in the heat, sweat will carry the sunscreen straight down into your eyes, it stings and makes your eyes water. Use a cycling cap or a sweat-wicking headband to protect your scalp.
DON'T wear brand new gear: Never wear new kit on event day that you haven't ridden in before. Test your jersey and bib shorts on a long ride prior to leaving to ensure there are no hidden chafing points.
DON'T tarry at feed stations: Mass sportives have incredible food spreads, but if you stop at all of them for 20 minutes, you’ll add an extra hour or more to your day, letting your legs seize up. Treat stops like an F1 pit crew: refill bottles, restock pockets, use the toilet, and roll out in under 5 minutes. Pick just one critical stop to spend up to 20 minutes at, and set an alarm on your watch to remind you to get moving.
DON'T pack heavy tubs: Grab single-use travel sachets or a small refillable travel tub instead. Keep a backup sachet in your saddlebag for mid-ride emergencies.
DON'T eat the same flavour bar/gel/drink: Avoid getting sick of your nutrition and flavour fatigue. Mix sweet gels with savory bars, and bring a wide variety of gel flavours so your palate doesn't get overwhelmed, (our bundle deals allow you to mix and match your flavours).
DON'T spray water directly into your face or blindly over your shoulders: If want to feel cool. Spray plain water on the back of your neck. Your body's temperature regulation center (the hypothalamus) is highly sensitive to the temperature of the blood flowing here; cooling this area tricks your brain into feeling instantly more comfortable, reducing your perceived exertion. As the moving air hits the water on your neck and arms, it evaporates rapidly, creating a highly effective, instant cooling sensation.
The Do's
DO set a hydration alarm: Remembering to take a few sips every 30 minutes is hard to do, especially at 7am in the morning. You can make a note on your top tube, stick a label on your handlebar or use your computer to set an alarm. We’ve added a step-by-step, custom setup below.
DO pivot to real food: After 4 or 5 hours of synthetic energy drinks and gels, your stomach can easily revolt. Grab real food at the feed stations — pieces of banana, salted crackers, or a bit of local cheese and bread — to quickly settle your stomach.
DO research the profile: Check the specific gradient profiles of your route's big cols. Knowing if a climb has a brutal opening 2km but eases off later, or if it hides a steep sting in the middle, allows you to break the mountain down mentally and manage your energy.
DO dress for the mountain freeze: Mountains get significantly colder the higher you go, dropping an average of 3.5°C for every 500 meters of elevation. When you start speeding downhill, the wind hitting your sweat-soaked clothes causes rapid evaporation, stripping heat from your body. A packable wind cape or gilet is mandatory to block the chill.
DO shift early on climbs: As you approach the foot of a climb, drop into your easiest gear before the gradient ramps up to avoid clunking your chain under load. Climbs like Alpe d’Huez are notoriously steep in the first few kilometers. Start light to settle your heart rate, find a rhythm, and focus on a smooth 80–90 RPM cadence before trying to build your pace.
DO wear a baselayer or apply suncream on your back and shoulders: If you wear a lightweight, breathable mesh jersey. These thin fabrics stretch and let UV rays pass straight through to your skin. Apply a water-resistant, SPF 30+ sunscreen under your jersey if you aren't wearing a base layer. Do don't want sore skin in the evening after hours in the saddle.
DO look through the turns: When climbing or descending alpine switchbacks, look deep around the corner to where you want to go, not at the guardrail or the drop-off. The bike always follows your eyes.
DO switch your phone to Low Power Mode: Flip your phone into Low Power / Battery Saver mode in the morning. You are likely to be down at the start line for at least 45 minutes before starting plus the time for stop. Check you haven't got any location services running in the back ground. If you need to call friends or the officials you'll have plenty of battery.
How to Set a Hydration Alarm on a Wahoo or Garmin
When you are pushing hard, your body naturally suppresses your thirst cues. By the time you actually feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Dehydration will completely derail your alpine ride. Use custom alerts to chime every 30 minutes as a reminder to take a few sips.
For Wahoo ELEMENT Users
Open the App: Open the Wahoo Companion app and ensure your phone is connected to your bike computer.
Select Your Device: Go to Devices > [Your Wahoo device name].
Choose Profile: Tap Workout Profiles and select your current profile (e.g. Cycling).
Add Alert: Select Alerts > Add a custom alert.
Set the Trigger: Choose Time and set it to repeat every 30 minutes.
Customize Text: Type a custom message up to 50 characters (e.g. "Drink!" or add a water drop emoji).
Create: Tap Create.
For Garmin EDGE Users
Access Settings: Select Menu or Settings on your device screen.
Select Profile: Tap Activity Profiles and select your current profile (e.g. Road).
Find Alerts: Select Alerts and Prompts (or just Alerts).
Select Type: Tap Drink Alert and turn it ON.
Set the Trigger: Select Time and set it to remind you every 30 minutes, or choose Smart to let Garmin automatically adjust reminders based on current temperature, elevation, and your tracking effort.
Shop Summer Alpine Favourites
Camelbak Podium Chill Insulated Water Bottle
Camelbak Podium Chill Insulated Water Bottle
Halten Sie Ihr Wasser kühl.
Condor Thru Axle Frame Spacer with Quick Release
Condor Thru Axle Frame Spacer with Quick Release
Unser Abstandshalter mit 12 mm Durchmesser eignet sich für Rahmen mit Steckachse und sorgt dafür, dass Ihre Kette während der Fahrt unter leichter Spannung bleibt.
Sale
Chamois Butt'r Original
Chamois Butt'r Original
Chamois Butt'r Original ist ein nicht fettendes Hautgleitmittel, das von Radfahrern für die Verwendung mit allen Arten von Sitzpolstern entwickelt wurde.
Condor Essentials Sleeveless Baselayer
Condor Essentials Sleeveless Baselayer
The Condor Essentials Sleeveless Baselayer is a lightweight, breathable and sweat-wicking base layer for hot conditions.
Sale
Assos Chamois Creme Man
Assos Chamois Creme Man
Die legendäre Chamois-Creme von ASSOS ist vor jeder Fahrt unverzichtbar.
Sale
SiS GO Isotonic Gel - Mix of 12
SiS GO Isotonic Gel - Mix of 12
Mix, match, and save.
Maurten Gel 100 12-Pack
Maurten Gel 100 12-Pack
A 12-pack of Maurten Gel 100.
Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HP-Pumpe
Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HP-Pumpe
Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HP-Pumpe.