Cycling Holiday Packing List: Which Kit to Bring

For a week-long cycling holiday, pack three pairs of bib shorts, two or three jerseys, a base layer for each riding day, arm warmers, leg warmers and a windbreaker. That fits in one packing cube and covers everything from a cold start to a warm afternoon. This guide covers what to take, what to leave behind, and how to manage kit when you have a luggage limit and no washing machine.

How much kit do you actually need for a week?

Three pairs of bib shorts, two or three jerseys and one base layer per riding day. Bib shorts are the limit: each pair needs to dry fully between rides, so a rolling cycle of one worn, one washed and one drying works. Jerseys dry faster and matter less. Our guide to how many bib shorts you need explains the maths.

How do you cover changing weather in one bag?

With three light items rather than extra jerseys: arm warmers, leg warmers and a windbreaker. Together they cover roughly ten degrees on top of whatever you are wearing, they weigh almost nothing, and they pack into a jersey pocket once the day warms up. The temperature guide shows which band needs which layer.

Check the forecast for the region, not the airport. Mountain roads can be ten degrees colder than the coast you flew into. Browse the arm and leg warmers and the windbreakers if your bag is missing either.

What else goes in the bag?

Chamois cream for every riding day, one spare pair of socks per day, a cap for under the helmet, and something warm that is not cycling kit for the hour after each ride. That last item is the one most riders forget, and sitting outside a cafe in a damp base layer is how a good day ends badly.

A light base layer is the best use of spare space. It weighs next to nothing, and a fresh one makes a reused jersey feel new.

How do you wash and dry kit on holiday?

Wash it in the shower straight after the ride, in cool water with a small amount of mild detergent, then press the water out in a towel rather than wringing it. Hang it on a hanger where air reaches both sides. Pack a few detergent sachets and a travel clothesline so you are not dependent on a hotel radiator.

Avoid hotel tumble dryers and hot laundry services; heat damages elastic and the chamois. The full routine is in our kit washing guide.

What can you leave at home?

A pair of bib shorts for every day, a jersey for every day, and anything you have not ridden in before. A holiday is the wrong week to discover a new chamois does not suit you. Leave thermal bib tights unless the trip is genuinely in winter, because leg warmers do the same job in a fraction of the space.

Riding an organised week with a support van is a different job; for that, see what to pack for a training camp. If you are carrying everything on the bike, the bikepacking kit list is the better starting point.

FAQ

How many bib shorts should I take on a cycling holiday?

Three pairs for a week. The limit is drying time, not cleanliness, and three pairs give you one worn, one washed and one drying.

Should I pack my kit in carry-on luggage?

Yes, if you can. Checked bags get delayed, and riding kit you know and trust is the one thing you cannot buy at the destination on day one.

Do I need a windbreaker on a summer cycling holiday?

If you are riding in the mountains, yes. A packable windbreaker weighs very little and takes the chill off long descents after a hot climb.

Can I wear the same bib shorts two days running?

Only if they have been washed and fully dried first. A damp chamois flattens faster and is less comfortable as the week goes on.

Build your holiday kit from the DTR jerseys.

DTR — performance cycling and triathlon apparel, designed and developed in Ukraine.