Cold and wet Weather Gear
Riders must carry sufficient clothing to enable them to multi-layer and so withstand wind chills and heavy rain on high moorland plateaus and mountain ridges:
Waterproof Outer Shell: High performance waterproof jacket and full waterproof rain trousers.
Insulated Mid-Layer: A packable down jacket or synthetic puffer jacket for emergency warmth.
Base Layer: Long-sleeve thermal base layer, leg warmers and a beanie or balaclava.
Gloves: Warm cycling gloves and one separate pair of fully windproof / waterproof gloves.
Sleep System
Riders should proceed with the assumption that something will go wrong and that they will be stranded on a remote stretch of moorland and so this kit is non-negotiable:
Sleeping Bag: A down or synthetic sleeping bag rated to comfort levels 5°C (41°F).
Bivvy Bag or Tent: A weatherproof, protective outer layer such as a micro-bivvy or a lightweight mountain tent.
Insulated Sleeping Pad: An inflatable or closed-cell mat to insulate the rider from the cold ground.
Emergency Space Blanket: A backup foil survival blanket or foil bivvy bag carried separately and easily accessible in a top tube bag.
Navigation & Tracking
Riders must navigate completely unsupported across the single stage fixed route:
Satellite Tracker: A GPS tracker provided by Follow My Challenge will send live location telemetry to our tracking 'dot watching' map and allow event organisers to follow your progress.
Primary Navigation: A dedicated GPS bike computer e.g., Garmin loaded with the offline GPX route.
Backup Navigation: Via a smartphone.
High-Power Lighting System: A powerful front light, an independent rear light, adequate power banks to survive a long overnight stretch where a rider may have to push their bike off remote moorland tracks down to the valley floor and a nearby settlement.
First Aid, Tools, & Self-Sufficiency
Medical Kit: A standard first-aid bundle containing sterile wound dressings, re-hydration salts, painkillers eg paracetamol / ibuprofen.
Water Purification: Inline water filters or chemical water-purification tablets to process open mountain water safely.
Repair Kit: A heavy-duty multi-tool, chain breaker, tubeless repair plugs, tire boots, spare brake pads, a pump, zip ties and electrical tap.
Hydration & Nutrition: A minimum of 3 litre of water capacity, inline water filters, and continuous calorie intake to maintain core body heat
This might be your shelter for the night so it is of upmost importance to pack accordingly.
Riders should work on the assumption that their bike becomes mechanical unsound to ride and so they are required to push / walk a long distance off a remote track with no vehicle back up / no emergency rescue. In this situation a rider might have to ‘hunker’ down for the night and proceed forward the next day.
A rider might have booked a bed in cosy Inn in the market town 20 miles away but be unable to reach it and so they need to seek shelter in a woods or in the lee of a wall.
