What to buy for a 24-hour race

A 24-hour race needs more than bikes and race numbers. You will need supplies for registration, course marking, timing, overnight visibility, communications and basic bike repairs. Plan equipment for the full event, including the hours when shops are closed and volunteers are tired. Use this shopping list alongside your race plan so nothing essential is left to buy on the morning of the start.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 4
Foldable tablesqty 12
Folding chairsqty 40
Registration tablesqty 3
High tablesqty 6
Storage cratesqty 20

Sports equipment

Bib numbersqty 120
Bib holdersqty 120
Traffic conesqty 80
Crowd barriersqty 40
Course tapeqty 12
Directional signsqty 25
Kilometer markersqty 10
Spare bike pumpsqty 4
Spare inner tubesqty 20
Bike tool kitsqty 3

Equipment

Timing laptopqty 2
Round countersqty 2
Stopwatchesqty 4
Walkie-talkiesqty 12
Mobile chargersqty 8
Portable sound system
Microphone
Printer
Extension cordsqty 10
Power stripsqty 8
Generator

Lighting

Work lightsqty 8
LED string lightsqty 6
Headlampsqty 16
Reflective vestsqty 20

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
AED
Fire extinguishersqty 2
Work glovesqty 12
Safety scissorsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 180
Reusable platesqty 120
Cutlery setsqty 120
Coffee potsqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 8
Serving Cupsqty 12

Kitchen

Coolersqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knifeqty 4
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 8
Food containersqty 20

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 10
Mop setsqty 3
Cleaning bucketsqty 4

Decorations

Bannersqty 8
Stage-free finish arch
Prize table decoration

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 8 packs
- Tea - 6 boxes
- Sugar - 3 kilos
- Milk - 24 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Still water - 120 liters
- Sparkling water - 60 liters
- Cola - 24 liters
- Cola Zero - 24 liters
- Orange drink - 18 liters
- Isotonic sports drink - 60 liters
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Bananas - 15 kilos
- Apples - 12 kilos
- Grapes - 8 kilos
- Oranges - 10 kilos
- Muesli bars - 240 pieces
- Energy gels - 180 pieces
- Raisins - 6 kilo
- Currant buns - 120 pieces
- Wholemeal bread - 18 loaves
- White rolls - 120 pieces
- Multigrain rolls - 120 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 3 kilo
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Young cheese - 4 kilos
- Ham - 3 kilos
- Hummus - 3 kilos
- Cucumber - 8 kilos
- Tomatoes - 8 kilo
- Eggs - 120 pieces
- Bacon strips - 6 kilo
- Potatoes - 20 kilos
- Pasta salad - 15 kilos
- Chicken satay - 12 kilo
- Vegetarian burgers - 60 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 120 pieces
- Lettuce - 5 heads
- Onions - 5 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 4 liters
- Ketchup - 4 liters
- Mustard - 2 liters
- Barbecue sauce - 3 liters
- Paprika chips - 8 kilos
- Plain chips - 8 kilos
- Nut mix - 5 kilos
- Cookies - 8 kilos
- Cupcakes - 120 pieces
- Salt - 1 kilo
- Pepper - 500 grams
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Spice mix - 5 sachets
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 3 rolls
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Dish soap - 4 liters
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Disinfectant gel - 6 bottles
- Cleaning wipes - 12 packs
- Trash bags - 150 pieces

Tips

Buy or prepare at least one spare bib holder and a small reserve of bib numbers for every 25 registered riders. Lost or damaged numbers are much harder to replace once registration is open.
Plan lighting for the entire overnight section: work lights for the start and finish area, headlamps for course staff, and LED string lights where participants and volunteers gather. Test every light before setup.
Keep at least two spare bike pumps, several compatible inner tubes and one complete bike tool kit at the repair point. Check tube sizes against the bikes expected in your race rather than buying a random assortment.
Allow one mobile charger per key communication or timing device, plus extension cords and power strips for the registration and timing areas. If mains power is uncertain, arrange the generator before race week and test it under load.
Pack course supplies in separate crates: cones, barriers, course tape, directional signs and kilometre markers. Label each crate by course section so volunteers can place the materials without searching through boxes.

Frequently asked questions

What equipment do I need for a 24-hour race?: At minimum, plan bib numbers and holders, timing equipment, course markers, walkie-talkies, lighting, power supplies and bike repair tools. Add registration furniture, a printer and a microphone if you are handling sign-in and announcements on site.
How many spare inner tubes should I buy for a 24-hour bike race?: A practical starting point is 1 spare inner tube per 10 registered riders, with at least 6 tubes available even for a small field. Match the sizes and valve types to the bikes in your registration list, then add more if the course is rough or remote.
How much lighting is needed for an overnight race?: Provide fixed work lights for every operating area and at least 1 headlamp for each person working on the course after dark. Test the full setup at least 7 days before the race, including generator capacity, extension cords and charging points.
When should I buy supplies for a 24-hour race?: Buy non-perishable course and event equipment 2 to 3 weeks before race day. Finish the final shopping run at least 48 hours before the start, leaving time to replace missing batteries, damaged cables or incorrect bike parts.

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