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@adman
As RPM made a point in 2 threads... it's important to remember when a trackie or track coach refers to a gear, they refer to it in "old money" as in 27 inch wheels. Never assume they mean working out the correct ratio for your 700c wheels...
:-)
As for what gear you should look at having access to for racing, here is a little list:
On a budget (Chain rings: 48, 49, 50 - Sprockets: 15):
48x15 - 86.4 (good warm-up/training gear for HH)
49x15 - 88.2 (good race gear for HH)
50x15 - 90 (good A group race gear for HH on wind free days)
Ideal set-up (Chain rings: 48, 49, 50, 51 - Sprockets: 14, 15, 16):
48x16 - 81 (good warm-up/training gear for Calshot)
49x16 - 82.7 (good race gear for Calshot)
50x16 - 84.4 (good warm-up gear for HH)
48x15 - 86.4 (good training gear for HH)
49x15 - 88.2 (good race gear for HH)
50x15 - 90 (good A group race gear for HH)
48x14 - 92.6 (good pursuit gear)
Other options:
51x16 - 86.1
52x16 - 87.8
51x15 - 91.8
52x15 - 93.6
So what I have in my track box:
Chainrings : 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52
Sprockets: 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Gear chart (unless you can remember all the combination)
2 x 1 1/8th Chains (different lengths for different combinations)
Chain breaker
Chain whip
Wheel spanner (15mm)
Chain lube
Chain ring bolts (never know when one might break or bounce off while changing a gear)
Allen Keys (5mm most important - 4 & 6 also useful)
Screwdrivers
Safty pins (for your number)
Bar end plugs (these can often go missing in transit)
Valve adaptor for disc wheel
Wetwipes
Plasters (for when you take the skin of you knuckles getting a stubborn chainrin bold lose)
Think that's it.
:-)