The 2023 edition of the Transcontinental Race starts on 23rd July, and will see riders tackle 4,000km across Europe, carrying everything they need on their bikes.
We caught up with three competitors to find out their kit lists for the mammoth challenge.
Jaimi Wilson
Cumbria
I’ve done a fair few ultra-cycling races before, like Transiberica, GBDuro, All Points North and I’ve also cycled around the world, so I’ve pretty much streamlined my kit now.
I’ve always wanted to do the TCR [Transcontinental Race] since I heard about it in 2020, because it’s the big one. I’d love to win, but is it realistic? Who knows? I don’t know who else is riding but I’m aiming to ride 18 to 20 hours a day. I’ll be trying to minimise the times I stop, as even short stops really rack up. Taking off your gloves, going into a shop or refilling bottles can add up to two hours.
My bike is a Salsa Warbird; I’ve ridden it for about three years now and I really love it. It’s a gravel bike, so it isn’t really fast, but I think what you lose in speed you gain in comfort. I’ve invested in a dynamo hub for the front this year because my last long road race was in Spain and I had a nightmare charging stuff. I definitely don’t want that to happen again.
With my kit there’s always going to be some compromise, but I do think lighter is better, especially when it’s hilly. Then again, to not take something really important like a waterproof, which might weigh 300g, is just daft. I take as little as possible without being totally stupid.
I’m using Ortlieb bags, and I’ve gone for a saddle bag on the back, a top tube frame bag and then a couple of snack bags. I really don’t want to take too much. I’m sponsored by 7Mesh so I’m wearing their kit, which is great, and I’ve got some Lake gravel shoes that I really like too.
As for the smaller things, my spares are pretty basic and I’ll eat off my credit cards. Caffeine tablets are handy; I’m taking a little packet of electrolytes in case I get into trouble and some chlorine tablets too in case I have trouble with water. I’ve got such long hair I’m taking my Tangle Teezer, which is quite rogue as I don’t like to take anything other than essentials.
As a general rule, I like to wait until the very last minute before deciding whether to take things like a bivvy as it depends on the weather and how I feel. I think I might just lie on a bench and sleep in a down jacket.
Kit list
Spot tracker, Wahoo Elemnt Roam, Anker Power Bank, Lezyne rear and front lights, cables, Exped 5l dry bag, cable ties, quick links, lube, mech hanger, multitool, pump, Park Tool emergency tyre boot patch, valve, tyre levers, spare brake pads, inner tubes, puncture repair, tube sealant, Dynaplug tool, 7Mesh Skypilot jacket, 7Mesh Horizon jersey, 7Mesh socks, 7Mesh cargo bibshorts, Boardman legwarmers, Dhb base layer, 7Mesh long-sleeve jersey, OEX Traverse IMX sleeping mat, Alpkit bivvy bag, Snugpax sleeping bag, Ortlieb QR seat pack, Ortlieb frame bag, Carmex lip balm, deodorant, Lake MX176 shoes, Dhb armwarmers, Endura gloves, first aid kit, paracetamol, Ultra-Sil Nano day pack, chamois cream, Julbo Fury glasses, passport, cash, toothbrush, Tangle Teezer, Giro helmet
Mark Kowalski
London
My kit has been building up over many years. When I started, it was just about getting stuff that I could afford and keeping it within budget. I think that is exemplified by the bike I’m planning to take, which is my workhorse – a 1987 Raleigh Royal steel bike. It’s not the flashy carbon people might be used to, but it’s got so much sentimental value and I know it inside out so it’s easy to repair when things go wrong.
It’s an old and heavy bike, but it’s pretty easy to find weight savings on other things. I recently added treadless tyres and I’ve noticed I can get way more speed with them. With the old bike and its down tube shifters, I can’t use frame bags, and the way the saddle works means saddle bags don’t usually fit, so I’ve gone for a 12-litre pannier at the rear, which I’ve used plenty of times, and also a Vaude bag underneath the top tube, which still gives me room to reach the brake levers.
For clothing, waterproofness is the top of my list, but there’s no such thing as a perfect piece of kit, as something won’t be quite right, or something will break. I once invested in a nice pair of Assos shorts that were about £200, and then the fine print said the chamois would only last 10,000km, which is about £5 a ride for me.
I’m comfortable riding with just one set of clothes; it’s easy to rinse stuff out so I can’t really rationalise bringing two tops. A lot of my kit I’ve got second-hand and I try to buy as much as I can on Ebay, as that helps keep costs within reason. I want to show that you can do this kind of thing and not spend an absolute fortune. It’s still an expensive sport but you don’t need the latest and greatest stuff. My sunglasses are £4 from Decathlon.
I was recently cycling in Taiwan and I forgot my shoes, so I found these ones from Northwave and they’re really nice. I’m also bringing a tiny face towel I picked up from there for some sponge baths. I intend to keep as clean and fresh as possible as I think it’s great for the mind.
As for a little home comfort I’m aiming to have one espresso in the morning as a reward if I get to a coffee shop.
Kit list
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, Exposure Joystick Mk13 light, Zendure 10,000mAh battery bank, Shure wired headphones, USB charging cables, inner tubes, spokes, Wiggle caffeine gels, Clif bars, Snickers, SaltStick salt tablets in a recycled vitamin bottle, 2x 0.71L bidons, electrolytes, Eastpak pencil case (tools, spares, first aid), Hiplok, sliders, jersey, flannel towel, Life Venture silk liner, Decathlon ST 100 MTB Transparent Sunglasses, Kask protone helmet, clothing cube (Assos bibshorts, Dhb leg & armwarmers, Sealskinz winter gloves, buff, emergency foil blanket, extra latex gloves), GoreWear Shakedry jacket, Northwave shoes, Uniqlo hooded synthetic down jacket, Ortlieb pannier, Ortlieb City Roller pannier, Vaude Cruiser frame bag, Altura Vortex 2 top tube bag 1L, drawstring bag, Sol Escape bivvy, Wyldness inflatable sleeping mattress, Vango Microlite 50 sleeping bag, Revolut bank card, ziplock bag (wet wipes, toothbrush/paste, vitamins/medication), passport, Assos chamois cream, Adventure medical kit, Ultrasun lip balm, Light My Fire titanium spork
Jamie Isaacs
Hampshire
I’ve done a number of Ironmans, half-Ironmans and sportives, so I thought I would jump right in at the top of the ultra-racing events by taking a punt with an application for the TCR this year. It’s my first ultra-cycling race so I’ve hired a coach for it. I think it will be quite exciting to see what works the best, and to see how I cope when things go wrong.
I spent hours and hours researching the right bike for me and I also had a professional bike-fit to help me choose the right frame. I bought this Handsling CEXevo specifically for the TCR. My focus is on comfort so I’ve gone with a gravel bike frame as it’s quite forgiving. The company is based about 30 minutes from where I grew up and I’m keen to use kit from local brands wherever I can.
Again because of comfort, I wanted a suspension stem for the handlebars just to take some pressure off, so I’ll swap in a Redshift ShockStop stem for the event. I just want to be able to tap out the miles all day, every day, rather than speed off like a rocket.
For the bags, I’ve got a Tailfin rack and bag, then a combination of under-frame bag, top tube bag and under-tri bars bag. My kit is also a combination of things, such as my GoreWear C5 jacket and VeloToze waterproof boot covers.
I’m just taking a down jacket and some legwarmers for when I sleep out and I’m hoping in the height of the European summer that I should be able to get away with it. About one in every two or three nights I’ll be sleeping in a hotel for comfort and sleep value.
I’ve got a Son dynamo hub and I’m taking two 10,000mAh power banks. I’m hoping my charges will last a couple of days and then I’ll be able to boost up at a hotel. I’ve got a Garmin 1040 Solar to try to reduce some of the battery usage I’ll need, and I’ve splashed out on a new phone too as my old one had rubbish battery life.
I work on yachts and spend a lot of my time off in Mallorca, so as a treat I’m taking a little hip flask of local rum called Amazona to have a hit in my coffee. It’s a bit of rocket fuel and it’ll be nice to have a little slice of Mallorca on the road.
Kit list
RVCA boardshorts, Rab microlight down jacket, Albion leg warmers, North Wave extreme pro bibshorts, Birkenstock Arizona EVA, Rapha Pro Team socks extra long, Assos Spring Fall Arm Warmers EVO, paracetamol, plasters, ear plugs, Garmin Edge 520, Sram AXS batteries, toothpaste, toothbrush, charging cables, Sram battery charger, Maurten drink mix 320, Maurten gel 100 caf 100, SiS Go Hydro pink grapefruit tablets, Exposure Diablo Mk13, LifeLine C02 tyre inflator cartridges, earphones, North Wave extreme jersey short sleeve, Eurohike survival blanket, Anker 10,000mAh battery, Leatherman Charge Plus multitool, Garmin Edge 1040 Solar, Exposure Boost-R ReAKT, VeloToze shoe covers, Wet Ones hand wipes, tyre levers, Revolut debit card, Schwalbe inner tubes, spare derailleur hangers, Bollé Shifter glasses, Assos winter gloves EVO, Void cycling gilet, Sapim spokes, Topeak multitool, Assos Chamois Crème, GoreWear C5 Shakedry jacket, eye mask