PACKING FOR THE ATLAS MOUNTAIN RACE – PART 1

In this article I aim to outline what I am taking / carrying on my Bike for the AMR and explain why.
I will give more and exact details of the specifications and equipment make / model in a future post. Sorry this post does not have many photos, but I will leave those for Part 2.

Packing for any trip is always a bit of a nightmare – What shall you take?, Will you need this or that? Can you fit it in?

But for the Atlas Mountain Race it becomes a bigger dilemma because on one hand there is so much you need to take because there are limited re-supply points, very remote stretches with literally nothing for miles, massively varying temperatures between night and day and its 830 miles, but on the other hand, the terrain is not just incredibly hilly, in fact mountainous, but its also very hostile conditions with over 60,000 feet of accent to be covered withing the time limit of 8 days 6 hours and physically every gram extra you carry will feel like a ton once you get tired.

The considerations for kit fall into the following main areas;

• Clothing / Protection
• Sleeping / Bivouvac
• Food / Water
• Sanitary / First Aid / Personal Hygiene / Medical
• Tools / Spare Parts
• Lighting / Electrical / Safety
• Bike Spec / Modifications
• Bike Luggage

So where do you start? … Well firstly you need to ensure you have the basics in each of the above areas – the things you simply cannot do without.

The other consideration is YOU – your ability, your fitness, your ability to sleep outside or not, your endurance, your personal reaction to cold and heat, and even your mechanical skills.

Being brutally honest with yourself about these elements will determine in which areas you can cut back or which you need to maintain.

A couple of for instances are, you do not need many spare parts or tools if you have no mechanical ability or if you need comfort to sleep, at least take a blow up sleep mat and a pillow. Each person is different so this list is what I need / want and you may be different and have different needs. A for instance on this is my good friend Michael Collins whose idea of a ‘sleeping mat’ is literally a 4mm x 2’ x 3’ piece of fold up plastic board !  Another example is how hot or cold you get to determine what clothing to take.

On top of all this, when you take your Bike on Ryan Air they have a limit of ’30kg’ and the organisers will take your travel bag to the finish line but only to the size of a Cabin Bag.
You are therefore limited not just on volume, but also weight.

I’ve got Lists of LISTS !!!

The other considerations are your clothes for traveling out and back and also a change of ‘civilian’ clothes for the couple of days before and after the event start / finish.

Let’s start with

Clothing / Protection.

To keep weight down you cant afford a change of cycling kit. That’s it once you are in it its going to be 8 days before you are out of it.
You need a quality pad in your shorts that’s for sure.
The weather can be incredibly warm with a burning sun, but also very cold at night. On previous editions they’ve had it very hot, very wet and last year incredibly cold with snow !
Because of this the organisers put in the rules that you MUST take at least a Waterproof jacket and also a Padded Quilted Jacket.
My list includes a gilet as well as arm and leg warmers and both gloves and mits.
My other important item is a Buff which can also be used to protect your lungs from the harsh freezing cold and the dust.

A helmet is compulsory and Ive actually gone for an MTB style one. Its slightly heavier than my Road bike Aero helmet, but it also has many more air vents and I hate getting a hot head.
Ive also had a neck cloth protector made, that hangs off a cap strap to protect your neck from sunstroke if it becomes really sunny.

Sleeping / Bivouac

The rules of the event actually allow you to stay at any ‘commercially available’ Hotel, hostel or Riad, but these cannot be booked in advance, and the other problem is you just never know what your progress will be, and in all honesty, you don’t exactly have enough time to stay a full night from dusk to dawn.

With this in mind, unless I am incredibly lucky to fall on a place at the right time, my aim will be to sleep in my Bivvy under the stars. This kit includes a Waterproof lightweight Bivvy Bag, Sleeping bag, Silk Liner for the sleeping bag (these give an extra layer so you can have a thinner / smaller sleeping bag but also protect your sleeping bag from body oils and getting smelly), a lightweight self inflating Sleeping Pad and an inflatable pillow. Ive also made a foil backed insulated pad which goes under my Bivvy bag to protect it from cuts on rocks, insulates you from the cold and also gives a tiny layer of extra comfort.

I was given advice last year to take a set of ‘Sleeping Kit’ … this is merino legging, merino top and warm socks and a hat … if I was an Elite athlete with a chance to win it, I would ignore this as not only would you hardly be sleeping, but also this is weight and volume that you could make a saving on. Another huge advantage of taking ‘sleeping kit’ is to be able to get out of your Cycling Kit for just a few hours giving your body and crevices chance to recover and breath !

Food / Water

I’m taking 4 x Water Bottles all fitted to the bike.
Food is mainly snacks but I also have a couple of Porridge and Muesli Packs for emergency if I cant find a hot meal or a re-supply point.  Ive also got some excellent Resilient Nutrition High Protein Nut Butter Pouches .

This year, more for mental wellbeing, Ive got a tiny Alpkit fold up stove and small titanium mug so I can brew either a Tea (Yorkshire Tea bags only) or an OXO

Ive ordered a 100ml GAS canister that will be delivered to my start hotel and this will be enough so when I stop, exhausted and probably in need of comfort, I can at least make myself a hot drink under the Stars ! This IS extra weight, but I think its worth it.

Sanitary / First Aid / Personal Hygiene / Medical

In order: You can get caught short and even if you do find a toilet, they may not be the cleanest by our standards … a few sheets of the Andrex Puppies’ Best and some Wet Wipes for extra cleaning and not forgetting your hands, could be invaluable.

Ive cut down on my First Aid Kit from last year, not in the range of products, but the quantity. Even to save weight Ive used a lighter zipped plastic bag rather than an actual First Aid Kit Bag and Ive made sure any tablets are cut down from their plastic card to save weight and space. Antiseptic Wipes are a must, clean dressing and plasters as well as plenty of tablets in case you pick something up or injure yourself.

It must be remembered that even though you have a Spot GPS Tracker with an SOS Button, in the event of an emergency, it is so remote often in places vehicles cannot get to, rescue could take days . I also take some tablets for a upset tummy.
An Emergency Foil blanket is a must. Just in case.

The water is not drinkable for us non-locals and bottled water is always used … but in the event of having to re-supply with Tap Water, chlorine Tablets are kept as an emergency to stop you getting a sick or tummy reaction there, or worse diseases such as Typhoid and Hep A.

I take a small light spray on deodorant, toothpaste and brush and also insect repellent roll-on as you don’t know where you will be sleeping.

If you don’t know me, I do have a couple of medical conditions that just need keeping on top of. With my Asthma, I take two inhalers to keep me controlled, but if I did happen to get a debilitating attack (Ive only ever had 2), I take my emergency Steroid tablets as a precaution.

My other medical condition is a little more personal, but I don’t mind talking about it as I think its very important for Males to get their prostate checked, especially as they get older.

The top and bottom of it was after a delay in a referral I ended up with a distended bladder from an enlarged prostate and this weakening means I have no idea how much I need to wee. This can result in an over full bladder even after Ive weed so to ensure Im empty I sometimes need to use self catheter tubes. These are not particularly bulky until you need to take 16 of them with you. Without these I may be OK and wee normally, but equally I could get very ill or just get an infection.

I take some rash creams and antiseptic, but I also take Veloskin Travel Pouches to help keep my pretty backside stay pretty.

Health is so important. Look after your body and to the Men reading this, its not embarrassing, go get checked out if you have any worries or any change in your waterworks.

Tools / Spare Parts

Firstly, good pre-preparation is key, but things DO go wrong. Just yesterday on the Bike’s last shake down a special bolt broke inexplicably on my seat post which had only done 300 miles. I fixed it temporarily with a spare bolt I was carrying and with basic tools.

To save weight Ive cut my Tool Kit right down, but quite often without the right tool you simply cannot tighten, loosen, remove or repair things and you could get stuck and stranded with the smallest mechanical.

Im using tubeless WTB Nano tyres, but just in case of a vicious unrepairable rip I carry tyre boots and 2 x spare tubes .. but to save weight Ive gone TPU tubes for a massive weight saving especially on 2 tubes on 2.1 x 29″ tube size.

But just incase I happen to get a big BURP and lose some sealant, I do take about 100ml of WTB TCS Tubeless ‘TIRE’ Sealant with me .. its good stuff … read here.

Ive got an incredibly light hex / star key interchangeable tool that also has a chain splitter. Im going to ensure this new super-light tool can actually get to all the bolts it needs to, and I also will change some Star Heads to Hex Heads for standardisation.

I take a small length of chain, 2 x split links, pliers, tape, ‘bacon strips for tubeless repairs, Spare tubeless valve, spare fluid, valve centres, string thread and a needle and most important a spare mech hangar. I take spare bolts and tie-wraps. I even take 2 x spare sets of brake pads as forgetting wear, you may just have a failure.

I also am taking some Chain Lube – I’m using NZERO organic bio -degradable liquid wax because Vanguard Cycles (stockist) asked me kindly to try it out …. Ive already used it and so far its really good .. Ill let you know after the event, but 800 miles on dusty hard trails, under load needs to be kept well lubricated !

Lighting / Electrical / Safety

My main lights are powered by a Son Dynamo from my front wheel and my excellent Sinewave Beacon 2 light will also charge anything I have whilst Im on the go. Even when the light is operating if need be.

I have a bright front light and even though you are often miles from nowhere, I always like a rear light. I also have two helmet lights and a tiny rechargeable rear light just in-case I end up riding in traffic or poor conditions. Overkill, but so light. Better to be safe.

This is a major weight saving from last year when I had two huge heavy battery packs with two lights and also needed a charger plus adaptor. It was a huge worry as I never really knew how long the lights would last.

This new dynamo light also runs from a power pack if the dynamo happened to fail.

Ive got a new large 12800mAh Voltaic V50 Power Pack which can also take charge as its giving out charge … brilliant. I can charge my phone, powerpack and other rechargeable batteries / lights whilst on the move, even at slow speeds.

I have a head torch fitted under my helmet peak which can be used as an extra Riding light, or just as my light when setting up camp … I take a spare battery, but this Alpkit Qark Head Torch is great because you can also swap the rechargeable lithium battery with 3 x AAAs.

If I get to a café / restaurant or hotel even, I have dot USB adapter charging plugs, but went for the two pin Euro plug fitting so I saved weight and volume from not needing to take UK / Euro adapter plugs.

Its important to take enough cables to charge as much as you can . Ive 4 USB charge ports and also you must check which cables you need.

My bike is Sram AXS (for those non-cyclists – the gears are controlled by Bluetooth and the derailleur requires a battery) so Ive been deliberating whether I need to take a charging unit or not ? …. Its daft really as these little batteries last for months … and Ive even got a spare. The fear of not having a charger is madness because in theory, a couple of tiny AXS battery packs could last you for thousands of miles, but its an extra 40 grams to take the charger !

Bike Spec / Modifications

I will do another post with the full and exact bike and component Specification and details later.

Some of the items are fitted to the bike rather than carried and Ive made certain modifications to help me.

To start with I’m using 29” x 2.1” WTB NANO SG2 120tpi tyres … they roll great on the road, great puncture protection and are tubeless. I run WTB Fluid, Rim Tape and Valves.

WTB have been great to me and I’ve a plan to thank them later in the year. Ill keep you informed.

As previously mentioned, a Son 28 Dynamo Hub to drive the front and Rear Lights

My wheels have been professionally built by Beespoke Wheels Ltd and Ive gone 32 hole for strength and a Hope Pro 5 Rear Hub.

My Bars have been changed to Alpkit Confucious (great value) and the width cut down. The ‘front frame on the Bars not only holds and supports my Front Bag but also acts as a semi -Tri Bar position to give my hands another option for position.

I had to modify the ‘front’ loop to fit the brake levers in the correct position and this loop also mounts my front light nice and high and my Wahoo mount.
Ive fitted ‘Bar Ends’ not just to help with climbing, but also as a third position for my hands.

I love to keep my PHONE safe and within reach and where I can see it and grab it if I need to take a photo … so I use a QUADLOCK Out Front Mount on my Bars.  They are excellent, robust and the Quadlock case is a brilliant phone protector too.

I ensured all my Dynamo wire connectors are soldered, protected from water and where possible routed through the frame.

For comfort I have fitted a Cane Creek EEsilk+ Alloy suspension seat post and a brilliant, comfortable, light WTB Devo Saddle which has a nifty cut out to aid lifting and pushing the bike on Hike-A-Bike sections.

Ive got a Bell for safety. They are a must.

Bike Luggage

Carrying equipment is an art. It important not just to be able to fit it in and carry the weight, but ease of access and stability is also an important factor.

When I went on my Dads’s 1924 mile Stalag IVB Ride I needed some quality bags and rack and I sought out Tailfin Technical Bikepacking Equipment.

Im not going to lie, I am bias. Not because they sponsor me .. but because it was Tailfin who I sought out as the equipment is just so awesome, in my opinion its the best there is. I cant tell you how pleased I was when they made a decision to support me.

Anyway, enough of the sales pitch.

I have different options with my Tailfin equipment and the only thing I have which is not Tailfin (yet) is my Front Roll Bag which I carry the Camping equipment.

I could have actually fitted it all in my Tailfin 20 litre Top Trunk Bag, but I decided that I wanted to equal out the weight distribution for such an epic trip.

BTW Tailfin are soon releasing their own Front Bag after intensive development and testing, but it was just not ready for the ATLAS.

So Ive gone with my excellent Tailfin rear Rack which holds their 2 x 10 litre Panniers and then strapped a 5L Tailfin Cage Pack to the top of the Rack to hold my both my warm quilted jacket and my GOREWEAR Shakedry waterproof jacket.

The Front forks are suspension forks but Tailfin have an excellent clamp which I have used to mount 2 x Cages on.

These carry 2 x 750ml water and I fit another 750ml water bottle into my frame and have a 500ml Water bottle on my bar in a canvas water bottle carrier which is in easy reach and will be refilled from the others.

On the other side of the Bars I have another canvas bag which holds sweets and snacks.

Underneath my down tube I have a 1.7 L Downtube Pack that I carry my ‘medical equipment’ in.

On my Top Tube I have one of the best nits of kit I own and I regularly swap it between all my bikes .. it’s a Tailfin Flip Top Top Tube bag which I can access on the move and I store y cables, money, Power pack, sun cream, lip salve etc. I also have a whistle in here to ward off dogs and in the event I need help.

The packing of my Side Panniers is important with one side having spares, tools, equipment, charging electrics etc and the other which I will open more often has my food and clothing options in it. On the outside of the one I use least I also strap my Foil under Bivvy Protection Mat as its hard to fold small or roll up.

It sounds like an easy job packing a bike, but this has taken me weeks and weeks of preparation and sourcing the right gear.

My next post I will lay it all out for you, literally , on the floor and list it individually and show you it packed up.

PRACTICE SET UP

Just a couple of changes made

I’m also very excited to soon to be able to bring you some news of another fantastic sponsor who is keen to support and follow me and I cant wait for them to join Tailfin and WTB

I hope you have found this interesting and for those setting off on their own BikePacking journeys, helpful.

Finally, I decided that this year is more serious and ‘Little Rapid’ has had to be told he’s staying at home … but luckily Andrea who made him has decided that she can make me a little ‘Good Luck’ Potato to keep me safe. Cant wait to meet him.

Oh I almost forgot …. Im also packing a number of ‘Rapid Rich’ Stickers that I can hand out to the Children who descend on you in some of the villages all asking for ‘BonBon’ (sweets) … but not only does that mean you either have to carry more, but also you may be giving away some sweet sugary nutrition that you may rely on later …  So I’ll take a few of my Stickers that Marc at BlueStrawberryElephant (my website designer)  sorted out for me.

Thanks for reading.

Rapid Rich