Mandatory gear

READ CAREFULLY and THOROUGHLY! 
It is up to you to make yourself familiar with the requirements. 

Fat Viking is a race that most riders can finish without sleeping.
If longer rests are needed we want racers to spend their downtime at one of the checkpoints.

This means that camping gear is not mandatory. Feel free to bring your winter camping gear if you want.
However, we don't want anybody who hasn't got the proper training/ experience to go to sleep outdoors!
(if you are camping during the race you must inform the race director. See race rules)

Know yourself and your abilities and keep track on the weather forcast when race-day is approaching.
If you think that you won't be able to cover the distance between the checkpoints without additional rest you must plan accordingly.
You may be out there for a long time, in very cold or wet conditions and without any help. If you need to sleep on the trail or get into trouble, make sure you can survive!
In other words: BRING MORE than just the mandatory stuff.

Mandatory gear list Fat Viking 50km, 100km, 150km

This is the stuff that you have to have with you from start to finish! All requirements below are applicable to start, duration and finish of the race. 
No start if you don't have all the mandatory gear and disqualification from the race if you fail to present the mandatory gear during the race or at the finish line. Gear check will happen at the riders meeting on friday afternoon. We will perform checks on route and at the finish.

Fatbike minimum tire width 3,8 (manufacturers label).
No ordinary Mountain bikes or Plus bikes.

Helmet. To be worn at all times when you are on your bike.
Fat Viking is registered as cycling race under the Norwegian cycling federation. Helmets are compulsory. End of discussion.
Helmets for skiing or climbing are ok as long as they are made to tolerate similar impacts and protect your brain accordingly. Please make sure that your preferred mode of temperature regulation works with your helmet. Try out what fits or doesn't fit under or on top of your helmet, and what you have to do to neither overheat nor freeze on your head.

Extra emergency clothing
READ THIS THOROUGHLY. 
Emergency clothing is supposed to keep you warm in up to minus 30 degrees Celsius even though you are not moving.
Emergency clothes are NOT additional layers for riding but clothes to put on ON TOP of your riding gear in an emergency situation/ when you have to stop. 
It is absolutely crucial that you bring emergency clothing that is warm enough.  
If you have to ride in your emergency clothes then you didn't bring enough layers and you might get into serious trouble if you actually have to stop. Don't gamble.
-Windproof insulated puffy jacket (down is your best bet. Don't gamble with the thickness. We use oversized down jackets with hood).
(a combination of a thick insulated non-windproof jacket and a windproof shell jacket is allowed.)
-Insulated, windproof trousers, preferably ones that you can pull over your shoes without having to take them off first. We use down or synthetic puffy pants (a combination of an additional thick insulated non-windproof pant and shell-pant is also good.)
-Extreme weather/ expedition mittens.
Again, not for riding but to put on in case of stopping / emergency. 
Remember to put on your extra clothing before you get cold!

Eye protection: Goggles, cycling glasses etc.
A large part of the race course is above treeline. It can be very windy. Note: clear glasses recommended. You will not see a lot in the dark if you bring the shaded ones.

Face protection: Balaclava, face mask or several buffs/ necks.
It needs to efficiently cover and protect the skin of your face against the windchill.

Pogies. If you have never heard of pogies before you probably haven't participated in any winter cycling ultra event. Even a simple version will strongly increase the chance to keep your fingers and dexterity intact. Get yourself a pair!

Chemical handwarmers. Minimum 3sets.
This is the only item that you don't have to bring back to the finish line (use them if needed and dispose of them at a checkpoint. NO littering!). Can be bought at the sports shop in Geilo.

Insulated/ wide-neck bottles or containers to carry water. Minimum 1l.
For example Nalgene bottles, insulated drinking bottles, camelback/ hydration bladder next to your skin underneath your clothing (with the mouthpiece inside, too) etc.
It just mustn't freeze!

Thermos to carry additional hot beverage. Minimum 300ml.
A sip of warm tea, coffee, hot chocolate or alike can brighten your day.

Food
Please bring something that you can eat in the cold. There will be some simple food at the checkpoints, but nothing that is suitable to take away with you. That means that you have to carry your on-trail race nutrition from the start! Please plan accordingly, bring lots of food. 

Emergency Food!
As emergency ration you must carry 1000kcal of food at all times. It needs to be food that you could eat instantly in an emergency situation (ekstra kalories help to keep warm).

Lights and batteries
-Front light for you to see the tracks in the dark and to be seen by others.
(you don't have to carry two front lights, but it is recommended)
-Red rear light to be seen.
Rear light must be switched on during all hours of darkness/ twilight (from start to around 8am and 4.30pm to 8am). Both lights must be switched on when approaching/ leaving checkpoints and especially when crossing a road.
Front light must also be switched on when encountering other traffic .
-Enough batteries/ spares to last you through the event. Batteries are drained fast in the cold. Plan accordingly.

Reflective material front and back on your bike and front and back on your body and/ or helmet. Be visible!

GPS device on which you can upload the track. Needs to be a device that can show the uploaded track on the screen. Enough batteries! This is a GPS based race, so unless you want to wait for another rider you need to make sure that you can follow the exact track on your own! Note that you are yourself responsible to find the right route. Riders who don't follow the correct route are disqualified.

Mobile telephone. You may not have reception in all places on the course, but your mobile phone is the only way to call for help in an emergency situation. It is also the only way for the race director to get hold of you. Keep it switched on and keep it warm.
If you are using your mobile phone for navigation then you must bring a second mobile phone.
Do not call us for anything less than an emergency. Note that nobody will come and get you unless there is an emergency situation. If you want to quit the race you have to get yourself to one of the checkpoints.

Spare tube, pump and minitool. Sounds ridiculous, but nobody is coming to get you if you've got a flat tire or a loose seatpost clamp. You might want to bring a chaincutter, spare chainlink, valve core, cable ties etc. 

Map of the course (will be handed out to you at the pre-race meeting)

As mentioned above: We encourage everybody to bring their full winter camping gear but don't want anybody whithout proper training and experience to sleep outdoors. Use the checkpoints to rest and keep moving while out on the track! You MUST inform the race director if you are planning on sleeping on the track (text message, phone call, WhatsApp)