The Croco Trophy Survival Checklist

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Having done my first Crocodile Trophy, the list below is intended to make your Crocodile Trophy adventure more enjoyable. It is a tough race on both you and your gear. The list may seem long, but recovery and spare parts are important to a successful Crocodile Trophy.

General:

  • The Crocodile Trophy is a tough race. It is hot, and the average temperature every day was above 30 degrees C.

  • First time at the Crocodile plan on survival, and if it goes well then you will be racing.

  • Tent service - I paid for the tent service and it was very easy having someone else put up and take down the tent each day. It also included a camp stretcher as well, but this costs Euro400. For far less, you can buy a small tent, a cheap, air mattress and sleeping bag in Cairns, and still have E300 left over. You also get to pick where you want to pitch your tent each night.

  • If you are gluten intolerant, or vegetarian, bring food to self cater

  • If you buy bike spare parts in Cairns, keep your receipt as you may be able to return them if they are in good condition and unused.

  • Train on lots of hills as that is generally were the pack splits, if you can hang in on the hills makes the flats a lot easier.

Before the start

  • Plan on arriving 3-4 days or more pre start. This is important as you need to acclimatize to the heat, even if you are just planning on surviving. Your survival will be more enjoyable, once you are used to the heat. In theory it takes 7 days to get used to it. You also need to buy a lot of stuff to kit yourself for the race.

  • I booked a small 1 bedroom apartment. Lots of space, and I could do my own breakfast and lunch. If you book a hotel room or hostel, make sure you have plenty of space for bike, and all your kit.

  • Buy a Telstra SIM card for your phone and/or tablet, they have the best coverage.

  • During the race

  • Stage 1 (if it is at Smithfield), do not expect any food post race. Bring your recovery food, and everything you need for this. Bring recovery shake and food.

  • Energy food and drinks. Plan this in advance, and I would recommend buying online and having them deliver to where you are staying. Otherwise, bring it with you. Last resort is buying in Cairns as it will be 3-4 times more expensive than at home, and no guarantee you can get what you want as it may be sold out.

  • Race with the nutrition you train with, don't experiment with new products during the race.

Recovery each day

  • This is really important and if you can get your recovery properly dialed, then it will make your race much more fun.

  • Plan your recovery food out in advance. Shakes and food. This helps for the next day.

  • The organizers put on pasta and post ride food. I would recommend thinking about what extra recovery food you would like.

  • If you are vegetarian, or gluten intolerant, you need to self cater

  • Get a massage every day.

  • Bring cash for massages and spare parts

  • Sweets for post dinner snacks

  • Bring high calorie breakfast cereal if you want good breakfasts. The organizers provided basic muesli, corn flakes, eggs and toast.

The Bike...

  • I used a Cannondale F29 C1, and it was great.

  • Garmin GPS, to record just how hot it is, and your distance.

  • I carried 4 CO2 canisters. Next time 2 CO2 canisters and a small pump.

  • Camelback vs bottles - the field was split

  • 2 bottles, but some stages I had a third in my back pocket

  • 2 spare tubes, and and puncture repair kit. 1 tube under the seat and 1 taped to the top tube

  • Tires - tubeless with latex. I used Racing Rhalps. Something that is pretty hardy, and has good nobbles. You need them. Also better to have new tires, as at the end of 9 days they will be dead!

  • Spare chain joiner

  • Spare chain links

  • small sleeve to repair tire slashes

  • Expect to get punctures, and if you get one on a stage, expect to get more. Some people got 4 flats in one day.

  • The spares I would take next time around

  • 5 spare tubes

  • 6 CO2 canisters

  • 2-3 spare water bottles, as you people lose bottles all the time due to how rough the roads are

  • Small pump, taped to the bike

  • Spare brake pads, 4 pairs. If the weather forecast is for rain, bring a lot more.

  • Spare spokes (2 for each size)

  • spare chain

  • Latex (lots) for tubeless tires. Your tires will dry out, so expect to have to top off the latex mid race

  • Chain oil

  • Spare cleats

  • Spare wheels - if you can, it would be helpful. My guess is that 15% of the field had serious wheel problems, from bearings, to broken spokes, to destroyed wheels.

  • Multi plug for plugging in and charging

  • Electrical tape for securing tubes, CO2 etc to your bike.

  • Cable ties for temporary mechanical repairs.

  • Duct tape for temporary tyre repairs when the sidewall has been slashed.

  • Use "dry" chain lube as "wet" attracts too much dirt. (Mixed opinions on this as I also heard use “wet” lube as it lasts longer on the chain.)

Other camping kit

  • Bucket (buy in Cairns). Used for laundry and washing the bike

  • Rags for cleaning bike and chain

  • Pegs - to stop your clothes blowing away as they dry

  • Cord for a clothes line

  • Laundry detergent

  • Camping chair - it is so nice to sit down in something soft at the end of the day

  • Sleeping bag. You WILL need this as it is cold at night on the tablelands

  • Torch and spare batteries

  • The luggage service allows you to have more than one bag

  • Ear plugs for sleeping

  • First Aid/ toiletries

  • Sun block - lots

  • Lip sun block

  • Hydrogen Peroxide for cleaning scraps (everyone falls at least once)

  • Betadine spray for protecting scraps

  • Something to cover open wounds, as it is EXTREMELY dusty

  • Chamois butter

  • Something for post ride chaffing

  • Soap

  • Something to scrub yourself with to get the dust off

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Gastro-stop or Imodium, the electrolytes in your drinks and gels can play havoc with your insides.

Bike clothes

  • 3 pairs of bike shorts

  • 3 bike tops

  • 2 pairs gloves

  • 3 pairs socks

  • Bike shoes

  • Helmet

  • Light weight rain jacket, as you never know, (plus it can be used at night if it is cool and windy)

  • Under helmet hat or headsweat if you are sporting the no hair look.

  • Other clothes

  • Shorts

  • Something you can swim in

  • Long trousers, as it gets cold at night

  • Sweater - for at night

  • t-shirts

  • Rain coat, as it does rain, and you are camping

  • Underwear

  • Sun hat

  • Flip flops

  • Other shoes

  • Long sleeve top for evenings

  • Towel

  • Post Race

  • Take an extra day and go out to the Great Barrier Reef. A good forced rest day, with plenty of food.