Must haves for your trip

Pack smart, pedal far, play more!

When you’re cycling through the wild beauty of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, being well prepared makes all the difference. Our support vans carry a fully equipped workshop, but it’s a very good idea to pack any brand-specific tools or spare parts you might need as the remote areas we visit are somewhat short of bike shops!

Layered, weatherproof clothing in breathable fabrics is paramount to your well-being and safety in Scotland’s changeable weather conditions. Remember: it is better to have it with you and not use it, than to have it sitting in your drawer at home when you really need it.

We’ll leave the personal bits and bobs to you, but for your cycling holiday essentials, please have a good read through the lists below. Don’t skip the miscellaneous section: small things, like insect repellent and pocket money in the local currency, can go a long way to keeping you comfortable on every leg of your adventure.

Essential bike gear

Spinning your wheels

  • Bike. Your bike should be in good mechanical order. Ideally, have it serviced before your trip. If you require a hire bike, please let us know. We can provide a variety of different bikes including eBikes.
  • Any brand-specific tools or parts that you may need
  • Rear derailleur hanger. These sometimes get damaged in transit
  • Brake pads to suit your bike. We carry rim brake pads for alloy wheels, but we do not carry disc brake pads
  • Lights – rear and front
  • Electronic shifting charger and spare batteries
  • Battery charger – eBike only
  • Pedals and saddle – both for hire bikes and your own bike (you’d be surprised how many people forget!) 
  • Spare inner tubes. We have a supply of inner tubes for sale
  • Spare tyres. We have a supply of tyres for sale
  • Mini pump, tyre levers, multi tool 
  • Saddle pack for emergency repair items
  • Small bike lock
  • Cycling bidon (water bottle)
  • GPS device – if you don’t have one don’t worry we will provide detailed route notes. You can also upload our GPS routes to your smartphone

Essential clothing and personal kit list

No such thing as bad weather …

  • Helmet – no helmet, no ride
  • Cycling shorts / bib shorts
  • Knee / leg warmers and / or cycling tights
  • Arm warmers / sleeves
  • Cycling shoes / cleats
  • Cycling socks
  • Waterproof overshoes
  • Base layer and / or mid layer
  • Cycling jerseys – short-sleeved
  • Cycling jerseys – long-sleeved
  • Gilet / body warmer
  • Waterproof cycling jacket
  • Gloves – short-fingered
  • Gloves – long-fingered
  • Snood / buff / neck warmer
  • Sunglasses
  • Suncream – yes, really!
  • A small rucksack or closable bag for items you want to access during the ride each day

Miscellaneous

The wee extras that make a big difference

  • Cycling-specific nutrition eg gels – we do not stock this
  • Cables and chargers, especially for GPS devices
  • UK socket adapters 
  • UK currency (GBP / £) – some places have limited wifi coverage and a minimum spend
  • Insect repellent – Smidge is a good brand to keep the midges at bay

Read the small print

Top tip!

If you’re flying to Scotland, pack your cycling clothes, shoes, helmet and pedals in your luggage, not your bike box.

If your bike is delayed, we can source a replacement for you, but we can’t provide clothing or helmets.