WATCH IT
While participants are gobbling performance fuel, spectators at 24-hour events can dine in high outdoor style with the propane-powered Coleman RoadTrip Grill ($170; 800-835-3278; www.coleman.com). Featuring both grill and griddle surfaces and a rocket-like 20,000 BTUs, it’s nicer than most people’s home grills yet impressively portable. Set it up on its sturdy, fold-away stand, or detach it for use on a tabletop.
If the grill doesn’t make you the envy of the spectator crowd, this luxe mansion of a tent will. The Eureka Kahuna ($635; 800-572-8822; www.eurekatent.com) has 82 square feet of space (dividable into two rooms), sleeps up to six and offers accessory poles that transform the vestibule into an awning for shelter in foul weather. The fly also sets up alone as a perfect team-support tent.
Let’s just drop the tough-guy posturing and admit it—coolers full of ice, beer and other weighty perishables are damn heavy. Enter the Igloo MaxCold 60 ($62; 800-364-5566; www.igloocoolers.com), yet another example of the inherent goodness of the wheel. Not only does it keep things cold, it holds ice for five days and sports a pull-handle and wheels.
The Liquid Solution Hector Press ($22; 800-753-5647; www.liquid-solutions.com) liberates you from coffee filters and teapots. Simply put coffee or loose tea in the huge, 20-ounce, stainless steel mug, add hot water, press down the ultra-fine screen when you’re ready to drink and, viola—fresh, hot coffee or tea.
—Aaron Teasdale
DO IT
Two golden rules for 24-hour racers: never underestimate your need for calories and never forget the magical powers of caffeine.
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| 1) Powergel |
ONE> Nothing gets into your system faster and fuels you more efficiently than a carbohydrate gel like POWER GEL ($1.29; 800-587-6937; www.powerbar.com). Caffeinated flavors such as Chocolate, Strawberry Banana and Tangerine (with double caffeine!) offer that extra kick.
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| 2) Niterider Cyclone |
TWO> Another thing you can count on in any 24-hour race is night, and when darkness falls, you'll need light. The helmet-or-handle-bar-mountable NITERIDER CYCLONE ($500;800-466-8366; www.niterider.com) isn't cheap but with its blazingly bright Metal Halide light, up to six hours of burn time and a long-lasting LED backup, its the ultimate go-all-night race tool.
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| 3) Specialized Optics' Chicane Sunglasses |
THREE> Just because the race lasts 24 hours doesn't mean you can afford to stop and change out your lenses. Save precious time with SPECIALIZED OPTICS' CHICANE SUNGLASSES ($140; 408-779-6229; www.specialized.com) These new shades lighten and darken with solar intensity, making them equally excellent in the woods or on sunny mountaintops. LIghtweight and durable, they also feature innovative lens ventng that virtually eliminates fogging.
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| 4) Garmin Forerunner 201 |
FOUR> Keep track of your speed, distance, pace and location with GARMIN FORERUNNER 201 ($160; 800-800-1020; www.garmin.com). A wristwatch GPS unit, the Forerunner is light-weight, accurate within feet and offers all the usual features of a performance sports watch - stopwatch, lap times and estimated calories burned.
