Race day only gear

[cberg]

The days of the dedicated race day only tubular wheels seem to have passed, but what other race day only does people on here have?

For me it's mostly clothing that I save for races, like aero socks and baserlayers and my newest speedsuit :p
Maybe some TT tires for specific events?

[CampagYOLO]

Aero shoe covers such as VeloToze. They're just too fragile to use outside of races.

[TobinHatesYou]

You two have covered everything.

Lycra-type aero socks...I use Silca's woven aero socks daily.
Aero baselayers like the Rule 28.
Velotoze for cold/wet races.

[Nereth]

- Pull off the lights and, depending how serious I am, also the light mounts.
- I have kit that fits well and less well. Make the combination of everything that fits the best. I don't have a speedsuit otherwise it would just be me putting that on.
- Clean the damn bike.

I wear aero socks occasionally in training rides, just for fun. I wear aero gloves every day because they are the most comfortable yet well-priced gloves I've found. So no changes there.

[LanceLegstrong]

The days of the dedicated race day only tubular wheels seem to have passed, but what other race day only does people on here have?

For me it's mostly clothing that I save for races, like aero socks and baserlayers and my newest speedsuit :p
Maybe some TT tires for specific events?

I actually still have a race day wheelset and everyday wheelset. Except it's the other way around. My everyday wheelset is the really nice carbon spoke wheels while my race day is a cheaper set that I don't mind crashing.

Other than that, I'll only wear aero socks on race day because they're not as comfortable. Skinsuit on race day for the same reason.

[CampagYOLO]

- Pull off the lights and, depending how serious I am, also the light mounts.

In the UK now it's a case of remembering to put on the lights when it's a TT or hillclimb!

[Aress]

Yea basicaly the same
Aero everything for race day

[maxim809]

For road races with Feed, I use my throwaway bottles and keep the nice bottles at home.

[JMeinholdt]

- Pull off the lights and, depending how serious I am, also the light mounts.
- I have kit that fits well and less well. Make the combination of everything that fits the best. I don't have a speedsuit otherwise it would just be me putting that on.
- Clean the damn bike.

I wear aero socks occasionally in training rides, just for fun. I wear aero gloves every day because they are the most comfortable yet well-priced gloves I've found. So no changes there.

Literally this is it for me. I run my "race wheels" year round. I run race tires year round (not the fragile TT tires though).

I remove extras like lights and sometimes the mount. I typically run one bottle cage when racing so I remove the extra. Then clean and lube everything. Ready to race.

I do save my skin suit for racing. Nothing else really.

[jcrr]

Not trying to be a negative contributor here, but responses so far are all road-centric. Not saying that is a bad theme, but currently it is CX season for many, and that is a WHOLE unique topic (and actually the reason I came here, to see if anyone had any new ideas/solutions). I get that most of WW are all about road. Perhaps this subject should be separated into different disciplines?

Since I'm waving the CX flag and want to contribute, I'll say bring an extra set (or 2, if you own it) of just about everything so you step on the start line with fresh/dry kit and clean hardware (raceday-wheels/proper tires, clean drivetrain). Aside from how ridiculous that may sound to those that never race in rain/cold/mud, focus on base layers to cover wide range of temperatures and conditions (pay good attention to socks and gloves). And have a cold beer waiting for you at end- applies to all disciplines.

[TobinHatesYou]

I race in the rain/cold/mud, but there is road underneath the mud. TBH when you're racing for 4 hours in freezing rain on the road, nothing really works. I dress in as few layers as possible. I have different gloves for every 4C range or so. I use VeloToze and duct tape the upper cuff to my calf and duct tape all the vents on my shoes closed. If it's freezing cold, I wear my windvest underneath my roadsuit because I know it won't be coming off.
'

[OnTheRivet]

For road races with Feed, I use my throwaway bottles and keep the nice bottles at home.

Funny I used to do this too when I road raced and now always use crappy bottles to start gravel races. Crusher in Tushar used to provide nice Specialized botles in the feed zone but now that Lifetime owns them they are crap not worth keeping.

[maxim809]

Not trying to be a negative contributor here, but responses so far are all road-centric. Not saying that is a bad theme, but currently it is CX season for many, and that is a WHOLE unique topic (and actually the reason I came here, to see if anyone had any new ideas/solutions). I get that most of WW are all about road. Perhaps this subject should be separated into different disciplines?

Updated the board theme to include all of racing.

CX, Hillclimbs, MTB, downhill MTB, Track, Dutch Headwind, Everesting, Ultra Endurance, TTT, etc etc. Yes, even Tracklocross. All racing is welcome.

No worries, I don't think you are being negative at all. You should feel empowered to share CX wisdom. Tangentially, imo, Roadies think they know everything but they have LOTS to learn from CX, MTB, and Track disciplines. Non-road-centric threads are absolutely encouraged.

[crazy brit]

For racing gravel:
Race only tyres: Conti Terra Speeds, light, fast rolling and grippy but wear quickly.
Pedals: Time ATAC Titan Carbon, from 2006(!) - I have a several pairs of ATACs but these light ones only come out to play on race day.

[GONE4ARIDE]

For me, race day only gear includes:

- Wheelsets
- Entire kit including socks
- Helmet
- Bottles

This applies to both road and cx for me.

Aside from actual performance gains (training vs race gear), for me there has always been the mental boost I gain by knowing I am using the "good stuff" for race days. I have been pinning numbers for 36 years, so maybe I am old-school.