Every gear bag starts organized and ends as a pile of damp socks and zip ties. The fix isn't a bigger bag — it's a shorter list. Here's what earns its space.
The non-negotiables
- A second pair of goggles, already torn off and ready
- Spare tear-offs or a roll-off canister, plus the tool to change it
- Zip ties and safety wire — half of all trackside repairs are one of these
- A spare clutch and brake lever, because you will drop it in a corner
- Electrical tape, which fixes more things than it has any right to
- Cash, for the gate, the food truck, and the guy with the tire you need
The stuff that's dead weight
A full socket set you never open. Three jerseys for a one-day ride. A tire iron with no spare tube to go with it. Chain lube you apply in the pits and then immediately coat in sand. Be honest about what you actually used last season.
The layer question
Morning practice is cold, midday is not, and the drive home is cold again. One heavyweight hoodie handles all three better than three thin layers you'll lose track of. It also doubles as a pillow in the back of the van, which is not nothing.
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