If you're planning your first ultra-distance cycling event, one of the questions you're likely to ask is: What do I actually need for an ultra ride? 

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With so much cycling equipment available with a seemingly unlimited maximum  cost, it's easy to assume that you need a specialist ultra-distance bike, expensive wheels, the latest GPS computer and a collection of bikepacking bags before you can take on a long-distance ride. 

For most ultra-distance cycling events, you don't need a particularly expensive or specialised bike. What you need is a reliable bike that fits you well, is comfortable over long periods and can carry the equipment, food and fluids you need. 

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​In this guide, I'll look at the best bike for ultra-distance cycling, the equipment you should consider taking and how to make sure your setup is ready for the demands of a long ride. 

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What is the best bike for an ultra-distance ride? 

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There isn't one bike that is perfect for every ultra-distance ride. The best bike depends on the route, road surface, amount of climbing, distance and whether the event is supported or self-sufficient. Most importantly, you should consider the bike you may already have. If you own a road bike that is comfortable, reliable, and suitable for the route, you may not need to buy another bike at all. 

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Road bike 

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For an ultra-distance event on paved roads, a road bike is an obvious choice. A road bike is generally lightweight and efficient, making it well suited to covering long distances. 

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However, don't judge your bike purely by how fast it feels over a short ride. An ultra might mean spending 10, 15, 20 or even more hours in the saddle. 

A bike that feels fast for two hours isn't necessarily the bike that will be most comfortable after 400 miles, and if it isn't comfortable, it is likely not as fast as initially thought! 

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Before using your road bike for an ultra, consider: 

• Is the riding position comfortable? 

• Are the tyres suitable for the roads? 

• Is the gearing low enough for the climbs? 

• Can you carry enough food and equipment? 

• Is the bike mechanically reliable? 

• Are you comfortable riding it for many consecutive hours? 

A lot of these points can be fixed by a bike fit, maintenance or changing some parts. 

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Gravel bike 

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A gravel bike can be an excellent choice for ultra-distance cycling, particularly where the route includes rough roads, gravel or unpaved sections. 

The wider tyre clearance can also provide additional comfort on poor road surfaces. 

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A gravel bike can therefore be a particularly versatile option if you want one bike that can handle both road riding and more adventurous ultra-distance routes.  

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Gravel bikes are becoming the most common bikes ridden for long events. Especially if the events are on roads that are not in great condition or have sections of trail with no tarmac. Plus, gravel bikes also have very small gears for the hillier routes. 

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Touring bike 

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A touring bike can work extremely well for a long-distance cycling adventure. 

Touring bikes are generally designed around stability, comfort and carrying luggage rather than outright speed. 

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If you're planning a self-supported ultra where you need to carry significant amounts of equipment, this can be a major advantage. 

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Do you need an expensive bike for an ultra? 

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A more expensive bike isn't automatically a better ultra-distance bike. 

For long-distance cycling, comfort, reliability and suitability for the route are often more important than having the lightest possible equipment. 

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I personally ride an endurance bike that costs £350 second-hand which I love! I maintain it well and have it set up well for me, so it is comfortable. I know the bike well and feel that it is very reliable. This gives me peace of mind on longer rides knowing that the bike should be ok. 

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If you already have a bike that works well for you, I'd generally recommend getting plenty of experience riding it before considering a major equipment upgrade. 

 

Get your bike comfortable before worrying about speed 

One of the most important parts of preparing for an ultra is getting your bike comfortable. Problems that seem insignificant on a two-hour ride can become extremely painful after eight or ten hours. Your saddle, handlebars, cleats and riding position all need to work together. 

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A professional bike fit can be worthwhile if you're experiencing persistent discomfort, but even without one, your long training rides are an opportunity to identify and resolve problems. 

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Don't wait until the event to discover that your saddle doesn't work for you. I know from experience! 

 

Choose the right tyres for ultra-distance cycling 

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Your tyres are one of the most important pieces of equipment on your bike. 

For an ultra, you need to balance: 

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Speed + comfort + puncture protection + grip 

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The fastest possible tyre isn't necessarily the best option for a long-distance event. A slightly wider tyre can provide greater comfort on rough roads, while a robust puncture-resistant tyre can give you greater confidence when you're many miles from the finish. Puncturing on a ride is annoying on short rides, but being 400km into a 600km ride is no fun what-so-ever! I see puncture resistance as the highest priority. Grip should also be a consideration. If it is all on half decent roads, then tread can be zero or minimal, but if there will be some unpaved road, or poor quality road, then some tread will add some much needed grip on the corners and hills. Comfort comes next. Although speed is my lowest priority, it is still a consideration. 

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Tubeless tyres are another option worth considering. However, if you're going to use tubeless tyres for your ultra, make sure you've used them extensively in training first. The event isn't the place to discover that you don't know how to repair a tubeless puncture. 

 

Don't overlook your bike's gearing 

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Ultra-distance cycling often involves considerable climbing. Even if you're a strong cyclist, climbing can become increasingly difficult as fatigue builds. Having a sufficiently low gear can make a significant difference. 

Rather than worrying about having the biggest possible gear for descending or high-speed sections, consider whether you have a gear that allows you to keep your cadence reasonably comfortable on steep climbs late in the ride. Remember, that during the event your bike will be fully laden and therefore much heavier than many/most of your training rides. You will definitely be grateful for the 36 teeth cassette when hitting a 20% hill in the latter stages of your ultra! Being able to spin an easier gear when you're tired can save a considerable amount of energy. Look at the elevation profile of your event before deciding whether your current gearing is suitable. 

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Ultra cycling equipment checklist 

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Once you've chosen your bike, you'll need to consider what equipment to carry. Your exact requirements will depend on the event, but a basic ultra-distance cycling equipment checklist should include the following. 

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1. Bike lights 

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If there's any possibility you'll be riding in darkness, you need reliable front and rear lights. Don't just consider brightness, think about battery life and reliability. 

You need to know the runtime of your light, and how long it takes to charge it. You will also need to be able to charge it on the road when it runs out too, so working out cable management and storage of your powerbank is important also. 

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You must also have a backup light. Failure or loss of your primary light would be a disaster without one. The backup must be a decent light also. If your ultra is likely to continue through the night, your lighting strategy should be part of your training and preparation. 

 

2. GPS and navigation 

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Good navigation can make a huge difference on an ultra-distance ride. 

A GPS cycling computer can be extremely useful, if not essential, particularly when following a GPX route, which pretty much every event provides. However, don't rely completely on technology. Devices can run out of battery or fail, and you can still make mistakes when following a route. 

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Make sure you know how to use your navigation device before the event. Practice using it a lot in training. Build GPX files of local training routes, then go and ride it. You will learn how good they are, and their limits. 

Always carry your phone as a backup and have a way of charging it. 

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For longer events, it's also worth understanding the route itself rather than simply following a line on a screen. If you can't get out on the route physically, then get online and read previous race reports if you can find any. Get on Google maps also and analyse the course. This can take a long time with such long routes, but can be hugely valuable on the day. Knowing where the major climbs, towns, food stops and isolated sections are can make the ride much easier to manage, physically and mentally! 

 

3. Bike bags 

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You'll need somewhere to carry your equipment, food, electronics and spare clothing. For many ultra-distance rides, a combination of: 

• Saddle bag 

• Frame bag 

• Top-tube bag 

• Handlebar bag 

is enough. 

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Think about what you need to access regularly. I like to have a few different coloured drybags inside my saddle bag so that I can separate groups of items for simplicity.  

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Food, for example, should be somewhere you can reach easily while riding, whereas spare clothing or tools can be stored somewhere less accessible. 

Practice riding with your bags before your ultra. Make sure they don't swing around or affect the bikes handling badly. If the handling is bad, consider trying to balance the weight roughly over the length of the bike. Too much weight on the back with little on the front will not be good!  

 

4. Repair kit and bike spares 

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You should be prepared to deal with common mechanical problems yourself. 

Your ultra cycling repair kit could include: 

• Spare inner tubes 

• Tyre levers 

• Pump or CO₂ inflator 

• Multi-tool 

• Chain quick link 

• Tyre boot 

• Tubeless repair kit if applicable 

• Cable ties 

• Small amount of tape 

The exact contents will depend on your bike and the event. 

But there's an important distinction between carrying a repair kit and knowing how to use it. 

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Before your ultra, practice fixing a puncture. If/when you get a puncture when out training, don't call your partner or a taxi for a lift home, fix it on the road. It is a simple skill to have, but essential if you are planning a long-distance self-supported event! 

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If you're riding through the night, consider having to carry out repairs in the dark. For these scenarios I also carry a small head torch! The more familiar you are with basic repairs, the less stressful a mechanical problem will be when it occurs! 

 

5. Clothing for changing conditions 

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Weather can change considerably during an ultra-distance ride. You might start in warm sunshine and finish in cold, wet conditions several hours later. 

Depending on the event and forecast, your clothing and equipment might include: 

• Waterproof jacket 

• Gilet 

• Arm warmers 

• Leg warmers 

• Gloves 

• Spare socks 

• Base layer 

• Warm layer 

• Hat or cap 

 

My feet and hands suffer quite a lot in the cold, so a spare pair of gloves and thermal overshoes are essential. If there is any possibility of having to stop and sleep at the side of the road, then you will need some sort of insulation as your body temperature will drop quickly as you stop riding. I learnt this the hard way during any 800km race! I didn't have enough warm kit for the nights, and this meant that I had to keep riding all through the dark and sleep during the warmer daytime. 

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6. Hydration 

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How much water you need to carry depends heavily on the route and conditions. If you're passing through towns regularly, you may only need enough water to get between stops. If you're riding through remote areas, you'll need considerably more carrying capacity. 

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Before your event, when you are doing the recce, whether on the course itself, or on online mapping, you need to identify where you will be able to top up your supplies. Shops, cafes, garages, fast-food restaurants etc. Wherever will sell drinks or have a tap. You will then need to calculate where the biggest gaps are where you need to make sure you have full bottles before starting these 'deserts'. 

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Your hydration strategy should also be tested during training. 

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7. Nutrition 

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Your bike setup needs to allow you to carry enough food. This is one reason a top-tube bag, handlebar bag or frame bag can be so useful. You want to be able to access food easily and regularly rather than waiting until you're desperately hungry. I store the bulk of my nutrition deep in my saddle bag, and 6-10 hours' worth in my jersey pockets and top tube bag for easy access. 

The same principle applies to nutrition as to equipment: Don't experiment on event day. 

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Use your long training rides to work out what foods and drinks work for you and how you are going to carry them. Most people need some variety over the multi day rides, so it is worth making sure that you don't just have loads of the same type and flavour gels!  

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Your contact points become more important as the distance increases 

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There are three contact points between you and your bike: Hands, Bottom and Feet 

At the beginning of an ultra, everything might feel fine. Several hours later, a small problem can become a major one. 

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Your saddle 

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The most expensive saddle isn't necessarily the most comfortable. What matters is finding a saddle that works with your anatomy and riding position. This can take lots of trial and error! 

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Make sure you've spent plenty of time riding your chosen saddle before the event. Ideally on long rides of multiple hours to get the best impression of its true long-distance comfort. 

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Your hands 

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Changing hand position regularly can help reduce pressure and discomfort. Handlebar shape, bar tape and gloves can all contribute to comfort. I have a set of aero bars for the longer days purely for comfort and being able to swap positions and not having to have so much of my upper body weight going through my forearms and hands, not just my hands. 

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Your feet 

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Your cycling shoes should be comfortable and well tested. An ultra-distance ride is not the time to experiment with new shoes, cleats or socks. A small rubbing problem can become a serious issue after many hours. Lots of people use SPD pedals so that they can wear shoes that are suited to walking also. Many people suffer with numb feet on longer rides. I had this and seem to have fixed it by getting some adapters that allow me to move the cleats a lot further back on the shoes and this has taken the pressure off the front of the foot.  

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How much equipment should you carry? 

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One of the biggest mistakes people make when preparing for an ultra is carrying too much. You start thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong, and before you know it, you've packed half your garage. But carrying unnecessary weight for 200 miles isn't going to make the ride easier. 

Before putting something in your bag, ask: Do I really need this? 

There is a balance between being prepared and carrying excessive equipment. Your final setup should reflect the route, weather, event support and your own experience. 

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I think, generally people overpack at the start, then as they gain experience over each successive event, their packing list gets refined. I think this is better than starting out with too little and building up to the optimum. 

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Test your ultra bike setup in training 

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This is probably the most important piece of advice in this entire article. 

Don't wait until the event to test your equipment. Your long training rides should be full equipment rehearsals. Each section in this article I have repeated that everything must be well practiced or used before the event. No new untested things on the day! 

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If you're going to ride through the night, practice riding at night. 

If you're carrying bags, train with the bags, loaded. 

If you're going to eat certain foods during the event, use them during training. 

You want to arrive at the start line knowing that your equipment and systems work. This will give you confidence on the day when you cross the start line! 

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It's easy to become distracted by equipment when preparing for an ultra-distance ride. You see somebody with an expensive carbon bike, deep-section wheels, electronic gears and a collection of specialist bikepacking equipment and start wondering whether you need to upgrade everything. 

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The best ultra-distance bike is one that is comfortable, reliable and familiar to you. 

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Your preparation, pacing, nutrition and ability to manage fatigue will have a much greater impact on your experience than whether your bike weighs another kilogram. 

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If your current bike is suitable for the route, comfortable and mechanically sound, concentrate on learning how to ride it well over long distances. 

Ultra-distance cycling is about more than your equipment. Having the right bike and equipment is important. But equipment is only one part of preparing for an ultra. 

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You also need to consider: 

• Pacing 

• Nutrition 

• Hydration 

• Training volume 

• Climbing 

• Recovery 

• Sleep 

• Navigation 

• Riding at night 

• Managing fatigue 

• Dealing with setbacks 

 

An ultra-distance event is very different from riding a fast 50-mile sportive. The challenge is not simply how quickly you can ride. It's how well you can manage yourself and your bike over a very long period of time. 

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Preparing for your first ultra ride 

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If you're planning your first ultra-distance cycling event, don't feel that you need to have everything figured out immediately. Start with the bike you have. Make it comfortable. Make sure it's reliable. Learn how to repair it. Then gradually build your equipment around the demands of the event. 

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Most importantly, use your training rides to practice the whole process. The goal isn't to have the most impressive bike at the start line. The goal is to have a bike and equipment setup that you trust when you're 100 miles into the ride and still have a long way to go. 

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Need help preparing for an ultra-distance cycling event? 

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Preparing for an ultra isn't just about getting fitter. You need to know how to pace yourself, fuel the ride, manage fatigue and deal with the inevitable highs and lows that come with spending many hours on the bike. At Neil Bryant Endurance, I help cyclists prepare for the demands of long-distance and endurance cycling with structured training and practical guidance tailored to the individual. If you're planning an ultra-distance event, get in touch to discuss your goals and find out how endurance coaching could help.