🧰 What I Packed in My Travel Tool Kit for the Wild Bear MTB Stage Race (Serbia)

Travelling internationally for a stage race forces you to pack with discipline. You’re not bringing a workshop — you’re bringing only the tools that keep your bike running perfectly for multiple days with zero external support. Serbia’s Wild Bear MTB Stage Race demanded reliability, precision, and smart redundancy.

This is the exact tool kit I travelled with, based on what was in the photo — refined with the real‑world reasoning behind each item.

---

🔗 Drivetrain & Chain Care

Waxed SRAM Eagle Chain (Anthem)

A spare waxed chain is mandatory for stage racing. Mine was prepped, labelled, and ready to install. Waxing keeps grit out, reduces friction, and maintains efficiency across consecutive race days.

AbsoluteBLACK Graphenlube

Used daily to maximise friction reduction. Serbia’s dust and long climbs reward a low‑friction setup, and Graphenlube delivers exactly that.

Cotton Cleaning Rag

A simple cotton cloth used for:

• Dry‑cleaning the chain

• Wiping stanchions

• Removing dust

If airline weight limits allowed, I would’ve packed silicone spray for stanchion lubrication, but the rag became the daily solution.

---

🔋 AXS Battery Management (Critical for Air Travel)

AXS Batteries (Stored Off the Bike)

None of the AXS batteries were left on the bike during the flight.

Reason: movement in the plane wakes them, causing slow drain.

All batteries were:

• Removed from the bike

• Stored safely in the tool kit

• Covered with protective caps

• Paired with red port covers to protect the bike’s battery slots

This ensured:

• No accidental activation

• No terminal damage

• No risk of sparking

AXS Charger

Packed as insurance.

I used it once after Day 3 to top everything back to 100% — more paranoia than necessity, but worth carrying.

Spare Coin Battery

The bike uses three coin cells, so I carried:

• One spare in the tool kit

• Another spare in the CamelBak

Redundancy matters when your shifting and suspension rely on tiny batteries.

---

🔧 Tools for Assembly & Adjustments

Mini Chain Pliers (Quick‑Link Pliers)

Used during bike assembly, then moved into my CamelBak for mid‑race use if needed.

Essential for:

• Chain swaps

• Quick‑link resets

• Emergency drivetrain fixes

Torque Wrench (Full Hex & Torx Kit)

Not just a preset wrench — it had all the fittings needed for the bike.

Used for:

• Cockpit reassembly

• Seatpost adjustments

• Any carbon‑critical bolts

Feeler Gauge

Critical for spacing new brake pads.

New pads have extremely fine tolerances, and any rubbing adds unnecessary drag.

The feeler gauge ensured:

• Perfect rotor clearance

• Zero pad rub

• Maximum efficiency on long climbs

---

🛑 Brake System Spares

Two Sets of AbsoluteBLACK Brake Pads

Carried as insurance.

Stage racing can destroy pads unexpectedly due to:

• Long descents

• Dust

• Heat

• Contamination

Having two spare sets meant I could replace pads without relying on local shops.

---

🚰 Tyre & Tubeless Gear

Giant Tyre Sealant

Carried for two reasons:

1. If I needed to swap to the alternate tyre I packed

2. In case of a mid‑race repair

Valve Cores

Two spares — tiny, weightless, essential.

Valve Core Remover (Red Tool)

Simple, reliable, and essential for tubeless maintenance.

Digital Tyre Pressure Gauge

One of the most important tools in the kit.

Used daily to:

• Set precise pressures

• Adjust based on terrain

• Drop pressure by 2 psi after Day 1 for better cornering grip

Tyre pressure is free speed — and Serbia rewarded precision.

---

🛠 Assembly Compounds & Misc

Giant Carbon Assembly Gel

Used for seatpost and cockpit parts after reassembly.

Prevents slipping, reduces torque requirements, and protects carbon interfaces.

Sharpie Marker

Carried in case we needed to label gear — especially important when multiple riders have identical components like AXS batteries.

Electrical Tape

Used for:

• Packing the bike down

• Securing loose items

• Emergency fixes

Zip Ties

Lightweight, versatile, and always useful for:

• Securing cables

• Emergency repairs

• Packing the bike safely

---

🧳 Why This Kit Worked

This wasn’t a “bring everything” toolbox. It was a travel‑optimised, race‑specific kit built around:

• Airline weight limits

• AXS battery safety

• Daily chain maintenance

• Brake pad redundancy

• Tyre pressure precision

• Serbia’s terrain and dust

Every item had a purpose. Nothing was wasted. And across the entire Wild Bear stage race, the bike ran flawlessly — exactly what a good travel kit should deliver.