chapter 2
My TBR clothing strategy was built for one thing: handling every weather condition the Balkans could throw at me.
Seven days. Freezing nights at altitude. 35°C valleys. The same race, the same day — cold at dawn, roasting by noon. The Trans Balkan Race doesn’t give you one climate to pack for. It gives you all of them.
This is exactly what went into my saddle bag. What I wore. And what I never touched.
The rule: saddle bag is for clothes only
One bag, one function. The Apidura Saddle Bag carries clothes and nothing else. Everything packed in order of use — what you need at night goes in last, so it comes out first. No digging. No improvising at 2am on a mountain pass.
What the TBR weather actually does to you
Above 1500m, temperatures drop fast after sunset. A gilet and windproof jacket are non-negotiable — even in June. The karst plateaus hold no heat. By midnight you’re in full layers.
Six hours later, you’re descending into a valley at 35°C.
Same race. Same day. Freezing at dawn, roasting by noon. You cannot pack for one extreme and hope the other doesn’t show up. It will.
What I took
2x Rapha bibs · 1x Rapha jersey · Rapha gilet · Rapha windproof jacket · Albion waterproof jacket · Gloves · Overshoes · Socks · Beanie · Leg warmers · Neck gaiter.
One bib on, one bib spare. Everything else: insurance.
What I actually wore vs what I didn’t
Albion waterproof jacket: never left the bag. Overshoes: never used. Gloves: worn once, for one hour.
My edition was hot. But you cannot know in advance — pack for the worst, hope for the best. A dry TBR is rare. An unpredictable TBR is every edition.
The principle
You’re not packing for comfort. You’re packing for every possible version of the next 7 days. The saddle bag is your insurance policy. Every item in it is a scenario you’ve already thought through before the start line.
This is part of The Ultracyclist Files TBR series — written for mid and back of pack riders who want to finish, not just start. Next post: sleeping strategy.
Follow the journey on Instagram → @gravel_bikeandride📸📲