What you need for a Christmas bike ride

A Christmas bike ride needs more than bikes and festive decorations. You will need warm drinks and snacks at the meeting point, safe route marking, visible lighting and basic repair supplies. This shopping list covers the equipment and serving items for registration, bicycle parking and a post-ride gathering. Use your participant count to scale food, cups and seating, and check power access before buying electrical lighting or warmers.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 50
Bicycle racksqty 6
Tableclothsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 100
Soup bowlsqty 60
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 60
Serving spoonsqty 6

Equipment

Hot boxesqty 4
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
LED lampsqty 8

Decorations

Christmas treesqty 2
Christmas baublesqty 40
Christmas garlandsqty 8
Christmas table decorationqty 6

Sports equipment

Route signsqty 20
Conesqty 20
Reflective vestsqty 12
Bike pumpsqty 3
Repair kitsqty 3
Spare inner tubesqty 10
Bike lightsqty 10
Route mapsqty 60

Kitchen

Soup kettlesqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knivesqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 6
Serving traysqty 6

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Waste binsqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Tomato soup - 12 liters
- Vegetable soup - 12 liters
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Cheese slices - 2 kilos
- Back ham - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Mandarins - 5 kilos
- Christmas cookies - 5 packs
- Speculaas - 4 packs
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Party nuts - 3 bags
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Spa Blauw - 8 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Hot chocolate - 10 liter
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Whipped cream - 6 cans
- Cinnamon - 2 jars
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Lemons - 2 kilos
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Cleaning sponges - 2 packs
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls

Tips

Plan for 2–3 drinks per person during the first hour, then add one drink for every additional hour. Include hot drinks as well as chilled options, especially if riders will be outside for more than 60 minutes.
Buy one reusable cup per participant plus 10% extra, so 50 riders require 55 cups. Add soup bowls, plates and cutlery for each person expected to eat at the finish.
For route safety, prepare at least one route sign at every turn and junction, plus 10% spare signs. Pack cones and reflective vests for volunteers working near roads or parking areas.
Allow one basic repair kit, one pump and at least two spare inner tubes for every 25 bicycles. Check that bike lights work before departure and bring replacement lights if the ride continues after dark.
Count power sockets before buying lighting or warmers. Keep extension cords and power strips away from wet ground, and reserve enough tables, chairs and bicycle racks for the busiest arrival period.

Frequently asked questions

How much food and drink do I need for a Christmas bike ride?: Plan 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour and one more drink per person for each extra hour. For food, provide one snack portion per rider and one bowl of soup or equivalent warm food for each person eating at the finish.
How many cups should I buy for a Christmas bike ride?: Buy one reusable cup per participant and add 10% extra for losses and visitors. For 50 riders, that means 55 cups; match the number of plates, cutlery sets and coffee cups to the people you expect to serve.
What bike repair supplies do I need for a group ride?: Pack one bike pump and one basic repair kit for every 25 bicycles, plus at least two spare inner tubes per group of 25. Add more if the route is long, remote or likely to be used in wet winter conditions.
How many route signs do I need for a Christmas bike ride?: Use at least one sign at every turn, junction and point where the route could be misunderstood, then buy 10% extra. Count the route in advance and prepare cones and reflective vests for volunteers at busy crossings.

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