100 Mile Pre-Ride Check List: Cold, Windy, Rainy Edition

🔋Century rides are awesome, but they can quickly turn into some "type 2 fun" if you're not prepared. That's extra important when the forecast includes 40-degree temps, wind, and possible rain. Preparation is 🔑.

This checklist is designed to help you get ready and feel confident to fuel your fun, not scrambling at mile 60 because you forgot a layer, under-fueled, or are dealing with avoidable mechanical issues.

TBH this is good advice even if you're not riding 100 miles. Take a read as there's some good practices in here for any ride.

Bookmark this, save it, and send it to a pal or your local ride group peeps.

Know the Conditions (and Plan for the Worst)

Forecast:

• 🌡 41–54°F

• 💨 Windy at the start, easing throughout the day

• 🌧 Rain likely mid-ride (not at the start)

Translation:
You’ll start cold, warm up gradually, and may get wet later. The goal is staying comfortable and fueled, not perfectly dry. Take a look at the forecast the night before, since forecasts can change. This way you'll have the best bet of getting your gear right as close to your ride as possible.

Bike & Tech: Handle This the Night Before

Dead electronics and avoidable mechanicals are serious bummers, especially in bad weather.

Night-before checklist:

• Charge your Di2 bike

• Charge bike computer, shifters, lights, phone, radar, power meter, power bank, anything that needs ⚡️⚡️⚡️ Charge it! 🔋

• Check tire condition and pressure

  • You'll find PSI recommendations on the side of the tire but remember, THE TIRE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT YOU (i.e. your weight, the conditions you're riding in etc.) so make appropriate changes

  • Use a tire PSI calculator like this one

  • In wet weather, slightly lower PSI = better grip and comfort 
    

• Lube or wax your chain (if you're not using wax, then switch to a wet lube)
  
• Quick bolt check: stem, seatpost, bottle cages etc. 

All of this takes less than 10 minutes to do in the comfort of your own home. But it will be much more uncomfortable to deal with any of this on the side of the road. So take a second and do it now! 

Clothing: Start Cool & Stay Dry as Long as You Can

The biggest mistake on cold centuries? Overdressing.

If you need to remember one thing, BE BOLD. START COLD. You should feel slightly chilly rolling out, because you’ll warm up quickly once you’re riding.

Cold + Windy Start

• Thermal or long-sleeve base layer

• Jersey

• Wind vest or light shell

• Arm warmers (easy to remove later)

• Full-finger gloves

• Toe covers or winter socks

• Knees or tights
  
  

• Buff or neck gaiter (I personally love a bandana as it's easy to take off while riding) This one is my favorite! 

• I also ADORE this, it's called The Burner and is a great insulation layer on your chest, helps keep your whole body warm. It's genius and packs away to nothing.

Rain Contingency (Mid-Ride)

• Packable rain jacket (and make it easy to access, so in a back pocket or bar bag)

• Waterproof or spare gloves (don't under estimate the power of some surgical gloves. They weight nothing, take up zero space, and can be an epic layer in some full finger gloves

• Cycling cap to keep rain out of your eyes (I adore this waterproof one from Gore)

Pro tip: Dry hands = warmer hands. Gloves matter more than you think.

Fueling: This Is Non-Negotiable

Cold weather takes more energy, and can also mess with your hunger and thirst cues. TLDR: Fueling is EXTRA important, and lean to more...not less. 

Our recommendation:

• 60g of carbs per hour (minimum, but go as high as you can handle comfortably)

• Hummingbird Fuels is a great option (😜) 

• For a 6–7 hour ride: 360–420g total carbs

Plan it out

• Do the math. If you have 60g of carbs in your bottles, then take the appropriate amount of food to get your closer to 70-80+ grams of carbs per hour
  

  • Could be a cookie an hour, some candy, pastries, whatever
    
    

• Pack one “emergency” snack you hope you won’t need (because you never know, might not be you that needs it, could be a pal!)

Set reminders if needed on your bike computer. Eat early. Eat often.

Spares & Safety: Rain Finds Weak Points

Wet roads = flats. All the crap that comes up on the streets nails your tires. It happens. So make sure you have the basics to keep you moving. 

Bring:

• 2 tubes and some tubeless plugs (Dynaplug FTW)

• CO₂ or a mini pump (or electronic pump) aka something for air

• Tire levers

• Multi-tool

• Chain quick link

• ID + emergency contact info

• Cash or card (because plans change, and no one ever hated having an emergency $20 on them)

Ride Strategy: How to Think About the Day

• Ride conservatively at the start. It's a big day, you’ll thank yourself later

• Adjust layers before you overheat (having a spare pocket that can hold a layer or two is great)

• Remember: finishing warm beats starting warm (so bring layers over one big, bulky item)

Have fun. Century rides are mini adventures. Embrace the spirit of the day, chat with a new pal. Take pics (safely of course) and lean into the vibes.

Final Night-Before Wins

Before you go to bed:

• Lay out your cycling kit head-to-toe

• Pre-mix your bottles (with Hummingbird Fuels perhaps?!)

• Load the route on your bike computer (seriously, do this now!)

• Recheck the weather and make any final adjustments

• Eat and drink well, don't has a massive meal at dinner, but eat your carbs throughout the day so you're not digesting everything while you sleep)

At The End of the Day...

Bad weather doesn’t ruin century rides.
Underfueling, poor layering, and lack of preparation do.

Show up ready, ride smart, and embrace the adventure.

For more riding fun, check out our other articles.
See you on the road.

Drink Your Fuel. Fuel Your Fun. 🐝

Written by Lisa Charlebois, CEO of Hummingbird Fuels and randonneur (ultra cyclist) riding over 10,000 miles per year, in all kinds of weather. She's completed multiple 1200km rides. Her next adventure is in August 2026 where she'll ride from Lands End to John O'Groats on the iconic length of the UK. It's a 1400km ride with a 4.85 day time limit.