Dang, first topic in the LDP area! I thought someone would have beaten me to it.
Something I've been working on refining has been my distance kit. I look at LDP like trail running, and I like to have a pretty refined set of gear for going out on skates that are over 10 miles or so. So far, my kit conists of my setup, safety gear, wearables, and nutrition/hydration. Here's what I've been using lately, and it's been working really well!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Setup
Pantheon Supersonic XL / Paris 150mm 50-43 split / Riptide Bushings / Cloud Ride Hurricanes 90mm 78A / Bearings of some sort
The Supersonic is one hundred percent my go to now. I was using a Wiggler as a bracket setup, but I'm just too heavy to make it work well. I scraped a LOT. I'll probably be swapping out the Hurricanes for some Karmas, pretty soon.
Safety Gear
I'm wearing an Outdoor Master cycling helmet. It has plenty of ventilation, and fits really well. I also rock a reflective running vest on early mornings / late nights. People drive like shit in my neighborhood and I don't want to die. I also carry a pair of slide gloves, but I pretty much never wear them.
Wearables
I've got a marathon vest for rides under 15 miles that'll hold a 2 liter bladder, and a larger trail running vest that's got 7 liters of storage on the back for longer rides. These have been a lifesaver. Both have plenty of pockets for nutrition, phone, wallet, keys, etc. If I'm really pushing it, or I'm going somewhere unfamiliar, I wear an Osprey cycling pack. It's about 20 liters, I think, and it allows me to pack a bit more food, water, an extra pair of socks, and a jacket.
I carry a knee brace, because I've got a pretty bum knee thanks to an old injury. I don't wear it unless it gets tweaked, but it is a wearable, so I'm including it here.
I've been using Xero barefoot shoes for the last 100 miles or so, and they're fantastic! Shirts/shorts are always something that wicks sweat. I prefer sun hoodies but short sleeve shirts work, too.
Nutrition/Hydration
I think this is largely an individual thing, but I figured I'd share what's been working for me. I pop a Nuun electrolyte tab into 16oz of water before I skate. This typically works really well for me, and helps with hydration. For any distance under 15 miles, I carry about 2 liters of water. Over 15 miles, I carry 4 to 6 liters of water, depending on where I'm skating. The longer trails around me are pretty rural / remote, with no water available, so I have to carry about as much as I can (this is where the 20 liter pack really comes into play).
Nutrition is tricky. I like Jelly Belly Sport Beans, which most people probably don't really like, haha. I like to bring some jerky, too, for salt and protein. Clif Bars are always good, too! If I'm planning on stopping for lunch, I'll bring some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or some wraps, too. I also like to have caffeine with me, so I'll occasionally bring some preworkout in a little baggy, or a Celsius.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's where I'm at so far. I'm skating Ladiga this summer, so I've got about a month to really dial things in further, which I'm looking forward to. Should be easy, since I'm shooting for the 400km tier in the IDSA's May Warmup Challenge.
What are you guys doing for your distance kits? Always interested in what everyone else is carrying or riding!
