Garbage Run riders guide

RIDING GEAR
HELMET – Obviously you want a road legal helmet, with eye
protection, be it in the way of goggles or visor. A neck tube such as a
Buff is also handy for keeping the chill off your chin.
JACKET and TROUSERS – It’s obviously advised that you come with
some protective gear but I won’t be tapping on your elbows and knees to
check for it. It’s up to you what gear you bring. The main thing is to be
comfortable in what you’re wearing as you’re going to be spending a lot
of time in it.
BOOTS – Given the rain we’re likely to have at some points throughout
the run it’s perhaps advisable you wear waterproof boots. Nothing worse
than soggy boots to put on in a morning. If you don’t have waterproof
boots and want to save a penny or two then waterproof socks are a good
option and will at least keep your feet warm and dry, though your boot
is going to be a bit squelchy in the morning. Let me know if you’re
looking for boots and I’ll try and point you in the right direction.
WATERPROOFS – These are a must and invaluable for when the
weather turns. A one piece suit is probably the most effective if not
always the most practical. You don’t have to spend a fortune. An
army surplus store is often the best place to pick up an effective and
affordable set of two-piece waterproofs, though not necessarily the most
fashionable. Try and look for a jacket that has a bit of length in the waist
in order to give good coverage over the top of your trousers. A nice high
neck collar is also welcome to keep the cold and wet out. But let’s hope
for sunshine.
Hi-VIS clothing – There’s no mandatory requirement here. If you want
to wear it do so, if you don’t then you don’t have to. It’s a personal choice.
GLOVES – I would advise you bring two sets of gloves. There’s nothing
worse than a long bout of rain and having to put wet gloves on after it. A
second pair allows time for the others to dry. It could be nippy up in the
north so maybe a pair of thick winter gloves wouldn’t go amiss.
CASUAL CLOTHING
It’s fair to say that we’re going to be spending most of the days on the
bike in our riding gear. You can in theory get away without bringing any
casual clothes if you’ve got good waterproofs. A pair of trousers under
your riding gear can be stripped down to at night, your boots – if
waterproof – can be worn and a jumper under your jacket will do for the
pub. That’s the bear minimum, though in practicality it’s probably worth
bringing a pair of joggers or casual jeans, some lightweight footwear and
a spare jumper. On most evenings, if we’re camping, then we’ll be on the
campsite, so you’re not really going to need to get dressed up, although
we do on occasion frequent the local pub but shabby chique is currently
en vogue.
Pants and socks, well that’s down to your own tolerance of self odour,
but being on the road all day for 8 days tends to make you care less than
usual, so stretching out the undergarment change for a day or two is
all part of it. If you are going for a daily change, a good tip is to bundle
a set of socks, pants and top together for each day; either rolling them
together into daily ‘parcels’. It just helps you to keep organised.
EAR PLUGS – Always a good thing to wear even if a bit weird at the
beginning. Consecutive days of riding can lead to temporary ringing
and tinnitus, and especially for the long ride back down it’s best to have
something in your ears to cut out wind blast. Even the cheap foam ones
are better than nothing, with cheap options available from hardware
stores and DIY outlets, or eBay.