Required and Recommended Gear

BEAST #2 (May 14, 2008)

Racers are required to have certain gear to participate. The required items may change a little from race to race.

Each participant, required:

• Needed during biking part of course only: a mountain bike, a helmet, and a bike lighting system, including a blinking red rear light and a white front light
• Optional: needed during possible optional water activity only: a personal floatation device (also called a "PFD" or "life jacket")
• trekking shoes suitable for pavement and dirt trails
• light for use on foot. This can be the same as your bike light (provided it can be detached from your bike); the important thing is that you have a light with you for travel after dark.
• capacity to carry at least 16 oz of water or sports drink at all times (bottles, bladders)
• personal identification (driver's license or Road ID, for example)
• emergency contact person (ideally reachable during race) and phone number for race staff

Each participant, recommended:

• For optional water activity: a towel, clothes you don't mind getting wet, and a change of clothes
• a little energy food, such as Clif Bars, gels, drinks, trail mix, etc.
• reflective or light colored clothing
• extra clothing appropriate to the weather: for example, a waterproof jacket or shell if there's a chance of rain; hat and warm layers if it's cold
• plastic bag or map case to protect course map (each participant who wants a map will receive one)
• emergency and medical information (to be carried on emergency reference card in case of injury on course):
  • emergency contact person (ideally reachable during race) and phone number
  • any allergies (for example, peanuts or bee stings)
  • any drug allergies
  • important medical conditions that could affect emergency treatment
  • HMO information

Each team, required:

• a bike odometer/computer, set to measure in kilometers to two decimal places. This is not absolutely required but it is strongly recommended, and teams that do not have this will want excellent distance estimation skills.
• one emergency (mylar) blanket for every one or two people (one blanket for solos and teams of two; two blankets for teams of three or four)
• one folding blade knife or scissors
• tire pump, tire levers, and an extra tube or patch kit (biking part only)
• time piece
• writing implement (pencil or waterproof pen)

Each team, recommended:

• plastic bag or map case to protect passport
• compass
• map holder for bike handlebars
• cell phone for emergencies