Gear
Any roadworthy bike will do: road, gravel and touring bikes all turn up at the start. What matters is being comfortable for most of a day, seen in the dark, and able to fix what goes wrong on your own. This is the kit that gets you there.
What’s required
- A helmet. Irish events require one.
- Front and rear lights for any riding in the dark, fixed to the bike, with at least one rear light on steady. Some winter rides make them compulsory all day.
- Reflective clothing on rides of 300 km or more, and whenever you ride in the dark.
- What the law asks of any bike: a red rear reflector, a bell, and front and rear brakes.
Organisers can refuse a start without the right kit. The detail is on lights and being seen.
Your bike
A 200 can take up to 13½ hours, so small discomforts grow. A bike fit is worth it if something already aches on long rides.
- SaddleThe most personal choice there is. Test yours on long rides; more padding isn’t always more comfort.
- HandsChange position often. Good bar tape and padded gloves help; aerobars too, but not while riding behind someone.
- Tyres28 to 32 mm is comfortable on Irish roads, and fewer pinch flats. Check your frame and mudguards have the clearance.
- MudguardsNot required, but worth fitting for the wet months. The riders behind you will thank you.
Getting the route onto your bike
A few days before the ride, the organiser emails the route as a RideWithGPS link or a GPX file. Load it the night before and check it opens, then charge everything.
- A GPS unitThe easiest to follow. Most last a 200; for a 300 and up, bring a power bank or pick a long-battery unit such as the COROS Dura, rated over 100 hours.
- Your phoneWorks with the RideWithGPS app, but eats battery, glares in sun and struggles in rain. Keep it for photos at controls if you can.
- A route sheetSome organisers send one. Worth carrying as a backup, in a bag that keeps it dry.
Get lost and you find your way back: what matters is reaching the controls.
What to carry
There are no feed stations between controls: you carry what you need, and buy the rest along the way. Your phone is how you prove you passed each control, with a photo in the ride’s WhatsApp group on most Irish rides.
- Spare tube, tyre levers and a pump
- Multi-tool with a chain breaker, and a quick-link
- A tyre boot, or a plug kit if you run tubeless
- Food for the stretches between shops
- A card and a little cash
- Phone, charged
- Your brevet card, somewhere dry
- A rain jacket
- A second tube
- A power bank and cables
- A spare light
- Reflective clothing
- Warm layers and full-finger gloves for the night
- More food: savoury helps after a few hours
Keep the card in a small zip bag. A shop receipt is the fallback proof of passage if a photo won’t do.
From the road: Test your whole setup on a long training ride first. What goes wrong at 400 km usually shows up by 150 km. The training guide covers food and riding through the night.
Bags
For a first 200, jersey pockets and a small saddlebag are plenty. Add more as the rides get longer.
| Bag | Size | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey pockets | – | Phone, food, the card: what you need without stopping |
| Saddlebag | 5–10 L | Spare layers, repair kit, a rain jacket |
| Handlebar bag | 3–5 L | Food and small things; keep lights and GPS clear |
| Frame bag | Half or full | Tools and power bank; a half frame keeps bottles free |
| Top tube bag | Small | Snacks within reach; check it clears your knees |
Sources and further reading