Bikes of Dales Divide 2025

Amanda Wishart

Age: 38

Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

Bike: Vitus Rapide FS with remote lockout. Schwalbe Rick XC tyres on Santa Cruz Reserve rims. My brakes have no power so I'm relying on the headwind for stopping.

Key items of kit: Apidura bags are all a solid fit, and I'm particularly happy with the 2.5litre full frame pack that fits on my little full sus!

Saddle Bag: Thermarest Hyperion -6deg sleeping bag Klymit Insulated mat Outdoor Research Bivvy Pillow

Frame Bag: Carb mix sachets, homemade flapjack, bits n shts Powerbank and cables

Downtube Bag: Tools, including a full roll of Gorilla tape

Apidura Backcountry Pack (on my back): 2 litre bladder Snacks Trousers Overgloves

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Jade Saskia Simpson-Field

Age: 33

Location: Leeds

Bike: Cube AMS ONE11 TM full sus. It's quite a boring grey and green. Set up with an 10-51 cassette and 30t ring, SON dynamo with a K-Lite ultra V2 light and Alpkit Confucius bars. I've gone with rekon race tires and of course flat pedals for my sandals.

Key items of kit: Sandals, sleeping bag and bivvy, spare clothes, pillow and pjs, water filter and lots of tailwind.

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Richard Hart

Age: 44

Location: Kent, UK

Bike: Sonder Broken Road Ti, SRAM GX Eagle AXS (32t x 10-52t). Rockshox Sid SL Ultimate, X-Fusion Manic Drop Seatpost, Ergon GA3 Grips, SQlabs Inner barends, Favero Assioma PRO MX power meter, Vitoria Mezcal 2.35" tyres.

Key items of kit: Tailfin Bags, Exposure Six Pack front Light, Exposure Boost R & Garmin Varia 515 rear lights. Fenix HM65R helmet light. Garmin 1040 for navigation. Anker 25,000mAH power bank for charging on the go. Salomon Running vest for supplies. Aiming to stay in hotels, but carrying a Durston X-Mid 1 Solid tent, Alpkit Pipedream sleeping bag and Cloudbase mat, just in case. Alpkit waterproofs!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Reece Bezuidenhout

Age: 27

Location: South African

Bike: Mercer Hardtail

Key items of kit: New Tailfin Cargo Aeropack, Son Dynamo with klite lights. GX AXS shifting

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Harry Johnson

Age: 24

Cap number: 0

Location: Southampton

Bike: Giant TCX with some fat tyres squeezed in. Emphasis on the squeeze.

Key items of kit: Tailfin bags, aero extensions to rest my hands and a some sweet Strada wheels

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Liam Yates

Location: Ashdown Forest

Bike: Canyon Exceed! Hutchinson Python 3 tyres in 2.3. New Wahoo Ace computer and some big water bottles for my Styrkr nutrition products:)

Key items of kit: I’ll be carrying a puffer jacket in my small backpack for when it gets cold. Chain lube and rag for mid ride cleaning of the bike. Kodak Black playlist downloaded and ready to go. And a tooth brush / toothpaste to make sure I look after my teeth!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Sam Wilson

Age: 33

Cap number: Unknown

Location: London

Bike: Crux

Key items of kit: 40t with 10-50 casette, we shall see if it’s enough. Exposure lights and fenix head torch. Specialised terra on the front and tracer on the back. Albion insulation and maap bibs. Spare socks! (Bike packed for the trip north rather than race day)

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Chris Ellison

Age: 61

Location: Austwick, Yorkshire Dales

Bike: Salsa Cutthroat 2018 with SRAM Eagle drivetrain, RatioTechnology converted shifting. Vittoria Mezcal tyres on Enve wheels with SON28 dynamo.

Key items of kit: Warm kit by PHD being down bag and down jacket. TerraNova Ulta 1 tent. Most of the base clothing is merino wool. Navigation by Garin eTrex, entertainment by MP3 players once the field of riders leaves me behind! My secret weapons include micro-waterproof-mitts, Gore oversocks and the two ride-makers are my Dales Divide buff and Pat Hall's words ringing in my ears. 😁😁🚴🏼‍♂️🚴🏼‍♂️⛺⛺

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Crispin Hoult

Age: 55

Location: Kiltarlity, Scotland

Bike: Canyon Dude Fat Bike, 4" tyres and Lauf forks

Key items of kit: Zip-tie mudguard extender, bivvi, spare socks, tights, talc & suncream (expecting everything). Pizza slices.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: Other

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Ashley Cordingley

Age: 40

Location: Peebles

Bike: Bike: Fairlight Holt Fork: RockShox SID SL Drivetrain: Shimano xt/xtr throughout Wheels: Custom carbon build

Key items of kit: Custom-made frame bags (originally designed for a different bike)

Lightweight sleep system, carried just in case

Garmin 1040 for navigation

Exposure lights for reliable illumination

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Chris Lister

Age: 45

Cap number: Unknown

Location: Cumbria, England

Bike: Ritte Crossberg Hope 20five wheels with Pro4 hubs, Specialized Tracer 700x40 tyres, tubeless with Vittoria Airliner Garvel lite inserts Shimano Ultegra 36/46 group set with Praxis bottom bracket, 11/34 cassette. Hope RX4+ callipers Crankbrotters pedals Dead Metal blast short tri bars Ritchy Carbon seat post Ritchy WCS bars and stem.

Key items of kit: Hope R4+ light Luggage - ebay specials (hopefully they last)

Saddle bag - general spare clothing. Frame bag - food Top tube bag - power bank, phone, headphones etc.

Clothing - mostly Castelli road Fluid - 1 liter bike bottle, 2x Salomon Soft flasks in Jersey pockets

Frame type: Other

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Charles Carr

Age: 54

Location: Winchester, UK

Bike: A tried and tested Scott scale 930 - safe bet!

Key items of kit: Tailfin rack, frame bag and too tube bag with a revelate bar bag. Nemo tent and a mountain equipment down bag for comfort. Lit by the ever amazing exposure 6pack. Packed for comfort not speed!!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Alex Berry

Age: 43

Cap number: N/A

Location: Disley

Bike: Pipedream S6 Sirius Ti, Roost Ti Bars, Specialized Roval Wheelset, Conti RaceKing 2.2 Tyres, Hope Brakes, Custom Homemade Framebag, Tailfin Top Tube Bag. Going for a fast and light approach - no sleep system being carried...go big or go home.

Key items of kit: Just carrying Food and key spares, 2 x waterbottles (one in framebag). No backpack, just stuffing my pockets of my carbo bibs.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Dan Bannister

Age: 43

Location: Rotherham

Bike: Trek Checkpoint, Lauf fork, chonky front tyre

Key items of kit: Sleeping kit in the back, frame bag full of food and determination. Exposure MAXX D and link+ helmet light.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Oliver Glen

Age: 21

Location: Durham

Bike: Fairlight Sedan 2.5

Key items of kit: Plenty of food and enough layers to hopefully keep me warm!

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Alexander Stramma

Age: 32

Location: The Hague, Netherlands

Bike: Basso Palta 2 with GRX 820 1x12, DT Swiss CR 1400 wheels with Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 45 mm, Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow

Key items of kit: Apidura bags + race hydration vest. Ryzon bib shorts and Albion insulation & rainwear. G8 insoles & metdomes for comfort. Supernova B54 light & couple of other electronics. Sleepkit is a SOL bivvy.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

David Riley

Age: 63

Location: Stoke - on - Trent

Bike: Niner SiR 9

Key items of kit: Restrap Frame Bag . Revelate Saddlebag

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Courtney Currier

Age: 33

Location: Cambridge

Bike: Crust Bombora 1x11 (38x11-42) with 2.1” Teravail tires

Key items of kit: packs to hold soooo many Snickers bars! Swift zeitgest pack + feed bag, Rogue Panda blue ridge handlebar harness + bag, custom frame bag sewed by my buddy Sam.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Paul Robertson

Age: 48

Location: Northampton

Bike: Scott Scale 910, 2013

Key items of kit: Spin carbon wheels, hookless, 76 projects hiflow valves, Mescal 45's. 34t chainring, 10-50 cassette. Old skool stubbie l bend bar ends with heat shrink grips. 2nd hand but brilliant Porcelain rocket seat pack. Bespoke Wit Slinger frame bags. Apidura 3l bladder but can only use 2l due to space. Knog blinder front light with remote, bespoke 76 projects computer and light mount.

Most of my bag space is taken up with food so hopefully will lighten up along the way.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Jared Linden

Age: 34

Location: Edinburgh

Bike: Kona King Kahuna (2012). RS Recon Gold fork, WTB rims on Hope hubs, 2.25 tyres (Thuderburt rear, Ardent front) 12Speed SLX groupset, Exposure lights. Ortlieb bar and seat bag, tailfin top tube bag. I do have bivvy kit but kinda hoping not to use it.

Key items of kit: I have been appreciating the (very basic) aerobars on the road, those and the Ergon grips mean my hands should get some respite. Favero Assioma MX power pedal to track the phat watts ill be pushing at 3am.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Niall Shannon

Age: 40

Location: Edinburgh

Bike: Brother Big Bro

Key items of kit: Brother fork, Tailfin bags, Lightweight rims on DT-Swiss hubs rolling Maxxis Aspens 29x2.25, XT bits.

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Si Howard

Age: 43

Location: Lincoln

Bike: Mason Bokeh

Key items of kit: Bike pretty standard from Mason. Only upgrades/changes are hope headset. 11-46 cassette and 36th front chain ring. Groupset all GRX. Wheels swapped out for Hunt Adventure 650b with Dinamo hub. Tyres Vittoria Mezcal 2.1 (for some added comfort) Dynamo running Exposure Revo front and back. Backed up with an Exposure 6 pack. Bit over kill but needed if I want to send it downhill in the dark. Bags: seat bag is Apidura - Frame Bag Tailfin, bar bag - Ortlieb , top frame bag is Alpkit.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Tom Morgan

Age: 32

Location: Ruthin, Wales

Bike: Forbidden Druid in raw carbon, 120mm front and rear. Shiny bits from Garbaruk along with Hope XCR’s and roval wheelset. Topped off with an ideal finishing kit from USE and lit up nicely by Exposure lights

Key items of kit: Restrap coming in strong with the custom frame pack and all other bags to go along with it. Space is mainly taken up by a pile of Styrkr goodness

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Rich Cutsforth

Age: 59

Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire

Bike: Trek Supercaliber

Key items of kit: Restrap luggage, jack the rack, and Alpkit stem cell. Carrying sleep mat, sleeping and bivvy bags.

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Rup Hoyland

Age: 37

Location: UK

Bike: BMC URS, SRAM RED / X01 Mullet AXS Groupset. AbsoluteBlack Oval Chainring.

Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels, SON 28 Dynamo hub. Panaracer Gravelking X1 Plus Tyres 45mm.

Redshift stem. Aerobars with Wireless Blips

Key items of kit: Altura Vortex bags.

Rab Mythic 180 sleeping bag / down jacket. Alpkit Numo sleeping mat. Nordisk Lofoten tent.

Exposure Revo dynamo front light / RedEye rear light.

Hammerhead GPS unit / Garmin inReach Mini 2 Tracker. iGaro D2 dynamo charger to charge powerbank

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Lee Aston

Age: 54

Location: Burton on Trent

Bike: Cotic Cascade

Key items of kit: Tailfin Bags

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Christopher Cayford

Age: 36

Location: London

Bike: Rondo RUUT

Key items of kit: Restrap frame bag and race top tube bag.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Kerry MacPhee

Age: 38

Location: Stirling

Bike: Genesis Mantle

Kitted out in Shimano XTR 12sp, 32t. Vittoria Mezcal 2.25 tyres, DT Swiss rims.

Key items of kit: Restrap top tube back, frame back, stem bag, saddle bag and race vest.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Electronic shifting: No

Pawel Pulawski

Age: 42

Location: Wroclaw

Bike: Specialized Rockhopper

Key items of kit: All bags from Restrap (saddle pack 2.5l, race top tube bag 1.5l, race frame bag 4.5l, and a tool pouch under the bottom tube), two Garmin’s, and Knog lighting kit. I will be riding in Assos off-road clothing and deep-wite Suplest shoes. Let's see how dirty they end up being! 😁

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Danny Lane

Age: 34

Location: LEEDS

Bike: Windover Prototype MTB, Fox forks, Hope wheels, Shimano/Sram gripshift bodge, Thomson finishing kit, Exposure lights, Vittoria Mezcals (obvs)

Key items of kit: Full setup of Restrap bags, complete sleep system in the bar bag. Yes, I'll be sleeping! Selection of Albion kit plus a few extra odds and sods..

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Phil Braybrooke

Age: 63

Location: Macclesfield UK

Bike: Canyon Grail ( Gen 1 ) . Running Zipp 303s wheels with Pirelli Cinturato’s . GRX Di2 with a Rotar Vegast Crank and 11/42

Key items of kit: Canyon frame bag , Ateg Burito and Restrap Saddle Bag

Haglofs Down Jacket , Shakedry jacket . Thermarest Sleeping bag and sleeping Bag with RAB Bivy

Hope R4 + , Pretzil head torch and CatEye Amp 500 standby lights with KNOG rear for lighting

Garmin 1030

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 35mm-39mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Nathan Hughes

Age: 34

Location: Leeds

Bike: Trek Top Fuel full suspension bike equipped with RockShox SID forks, a RockShox Ultimate rear shock, and a Shimano SLX groupset.

Key items of kit: This is a full Restrap race setup, featuring a bivvy sleep system complemented by a few extra layers for added warmth and comfort, along with a hydration backpack for all my snacks!

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Hatty Doherty

Age: 28

Location: Sheffield

Bike: Trek Checkpoint SL5 AXS Gen 3

Key items of kit: 45mm Pirelli Cinturato Bontrager saddle and bar bag Spare shifter batteries 👀

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Helena Sherwood

Age: 26

Location: London

Bike: Vitus substance

Key items of kit: Osprey duro running vest Meal prepped food for 3 days Hydro flask to collect hot water to hydrate food

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Valerio Stuart

Age: 38

Location: Manchester

Bike: I'll be riding my first (and hopefully not last) Dales Divide on a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat V2.

It’s running an 11-speed GRX drivetrain with a 32T chainring up front and an 11–50 Garbaruk cassette and cage out back—plenty of range for the climbs. The wheels were handbuilt in Manchester by Keep Pedalling, using DT Swiss rims and Sapim spokes. After much deliberation, I’ve stuck with what I know: Schwalbe Racing Ray & Ralph 2.25” tyres.

Comfort matters, so I’m running a Redshift ShockStop suspension seatpost—helped along by generous amounts of BumButter.

My bags include my all-time favourite long top tube bag from Tailfin, which holds food and electronics. The frame bag is a custom build from Steve Moatt, carrying my bivvy, sleeping mat, waterproofs, some food, and spares. The saddle harness is a little project of mine, currently housing an 8L Revelate dry bag with my sleeping bag and down jacket. Lastly, a couple of Decathlon feed bags hold a water bottle and more snacks.

Key items of kit: Some warm merino kit for riding and for sleeping, plus a pair of big gloves to keep my hands toasty. I’ll also be wearing a flashy windstopper from CIOVITA, which looks set to be my constant companion all the way to Scarborough, judging by the forecasted headwinds.

Lighting is covered by Exposure lights on the bike and a Fenix on the helmet—fingers crossed they’ll last the full ride. For navigation, I’m using a Garmin 1040.

And finally, I’m hoping not to get too absorbed in the race, and to take the time to snap a few photos and videos on my phone along the way.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Tobia Zantedeschi

Age: 33

Location: London

Bike: Chiru Divider

Key items of kit: Custom Kicking Donkey frame bag, the others are a mix of Restrap and Tailfin bags. Continental Race King 2.2 to go fast on gravel as well as tarmac. A mix of Shimano Deore/SLX/XT groupset with 10-51 rear and 34 in the front. Sleeping system made of ferrino bivy bag, Neoair inflatable mattrass, Sea to summit pillow. Mountain Equipment and Spatz gear are my brand of choice to keep my body functioning in any condition. Magichsine front light and 24.000 mAh powerbank.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Conor Walter

Age: 29

Location: Cork, Ireland

Bike: Chromag Rootdown 2017 (Large)

Key items of kit: Salsa Firestarter 110 fork Surly Moloko bars Vittoria Barzo 2.35 front, Mezcal 2.35 rear Supernova E3 Pro light mated to a SP dynamo hub and a Fenix BC26R for backup. Salsa handlebar cradle, Decathlon bags, Revelate top tube bag and 2x Blackburn feed pouches.

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Eugene Farrell

Age: 63

Location: Dales Divide

Bike: Specialized Epic Pro LTD

Key items of kit: Tailfin rear rack with AP18 bag and 2 x 5L panniers. Tailfin top tube bag, Merit Gear Custom Pop Corn Bag, Podsack Stem Cell bag, Blackburn frame bag, Alpkit Deluge handlebar bag. Innov8 Hydration Vest

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Graham Bryce

Age: 56

Cap number: N/A

Location: Altrincham

Bike: Wilier fx101

Key items of kit: Exposure maxxd light Garmin 530 gps Various makes of bag Rock shox reba Vittoria barzo 2.2

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

David Williams

Age: 45

Location: Workington

Bike: Cube Reaction Pro

RockShox Judy 100mm Shimano XT x1 (36T & 10-51T) KS e20-i dropper post 120mm Neosonic Ergo Aerobar Front Tyre: Schwalbe Racing Ray, Front Tyre: Schwalbe Racing Ralph,

Key items of kit: Tailfin Aeropack on the rear. Top tube bag. GPS computer is a Coros Dura.

In the rear bag: Down Jacket, Waterproof jacket, Spare Gloves and socks, Lifesystem thermal bag, Pump, Toolkit, 2x inner tubes,

Top tube bag: Sweets, mars bars, voom bars and a power bank.

Bumbag: More sweets, Sausage rolls, flapjack.

2x water bottles on the bike.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Jo Chenhall

Age: 55

Location: Beauly

Bike: Sonder Broken Road

Key items of kit: Alpkit frame bag and stem bags with Ortleib handlebar bag. No seat pack for the Dales Divide but borrowed small tent/sleeping bag and thermarest (Thanks!).

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

David Spence

Age: 56

Cap number: xx

Location: Kendal

Bike: Santa Cruz Tallboy 2

Key items of kit: Ortlieb bar bag (sleeping kit), Alpkit top tube and saddle bags, OMM 10l rucsac for extra water and snacks, OMM primaloft jacket, credit card for pub stops and hopefully the sun cream

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Rhys Wainwright

Age: 34

Location: Hebden Bridge

Bike: Dropbar Chinesium Hardtail, SID SL forks, Schwalbe Rick XC tyres, Aero bars, USE suspension seatpost

Key items of kit: Tailfin and Apidura bags, 2.5kg carbs, Power meter pedals, Exposure MaxX D and Blaze lights

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Thomas Peoples

Age: 43

Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire

Bike: Orro Terra C GRX610 1X

Key items of kit: This rig isn’t just a bike—it’s a rolling manifesto. Built around a lightweight frame and rolling on Zipp 303s laced with 38mm Pathfinders and Vittoria tyre liners, it balances speed and durability with ease. A 46T SunRace cassette paired with a 38T Wolf Tooth chainring means the gearing is spot-on—gravel climbs or tailwind sprints, it doesn’t flinch.

Storage is pure Rapha up front: bar bag, frame pack, and top tube pod, all dialled in to hold fuel, layers, and the essentials. No fuss, just function wrapped in style.

At the back, a clean departure from the sway-prone seat pack. Instead, an Ortlieb Quick Rack supports the sleep system: a Sea to Summit Spark II bag, silk liner, AlpKit Cloudbase mattress, and Elan bivvy—bundled tight in a cut-to-size emergency shelter, doubling as a groundsheet. Minimalist, yes. Comfortable, absolutely.

Rear-mounted fork packs carry Day 2 rations and insulated gear for cold dawns and long dusks. Spares are tucked into the downtube cage and frame bag, quietly ready for the inevitable.

Every element has purpose. Every gram has been debated, packed, and repacked. This isn’t a build for Strava segments. It’s for the silence between towns, the long unknowns, and the satisfaction of being radically self-contained.

James Stapleton

Age: 36

Location: Keswick

Bike: Specialized Epic Evo

Key items of kit: Custom frame bag courtesy of @mrvear Lanshan 1p tent Alpkit pipedream 400 sleeping bag Rab down shorts Bananas and Jelly babies Decathlon Merino boxxer shorts Rick XCs

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Tom Stocker

Age: 35

Location: New Forest

Bike: Trek Procalibre

Key items of kit: A big Exposure light to light the way, warm sleeping bag, mat and bivvy and lots of snacks!

Sorry about the naff Travelodge photo - real life....

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Matt Whittle

Age: 33

Location: Otley

Bike: Sonder Broken Road Ti

Key items of kit: Custom restrap frame bag, top tube bag and cockpit bag. Tailing aero pack Sram gx axs shifting with blip shifters on the aero bars.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Adam Bloom

Age: 54

Location: Fulham

Bike: Lapierre prorace cf 9.9

Key items of kit: spare bibs

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Martine Fitt

Age: 39

Location: Bristol, UK

Bike: Trek 520

Key items of kit: Restrap frame bag, Alpkit stem bags, Ortlied saddle bag. Essential items added following last year's attempt: spare gloves, more socks, waterproof trousers

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Rory Stuart

Age: 26

Location: Bristol

Bike: Curve GMX+ with plenty of Hope parts.

Key items of kit: My key items are two down jackets as I'm skimping out without a sleeping bag or mat, two sets of merino socks and my point and shoot film camera

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Mark Kowalski

Age: 38

Location: London, UK

Bike: Brainless 2023 Specialized Epic Evo Expert. Stock components, but for: 2.2” Continental RaceKings, AbsoluteBlack 30t oval chainring (w/ 10-52), 31.8mm bore 20mm rise Sixpack Racing Millenium 805 bars, Profile Design 43A aerobars with homemade Aero Bread Basket netting, Ergon GS3 grips (not pictured), Exposure Six Pack Mk14 & Diablo (front), Lezyne 150 Strip & Cateye Tight Kinetic (rear), 3M 680 black reflective tape, Lezyne Power Cages.

Key items of kit: I am flying the Palestinian and Ukrainian flags via a custom framebag handmade by YeahNahThreadworks, made only using offcuts. If I am saying anything it’s that we need to talk about these things. The world is hurting so much right now. You can’t be silent. As for the rest, I am not taking the Tailfin. Borrowed Ortlieb handlebar bag on front (not pictured) from Coach (Turn Cycling). Borrowed Apidura top tube bag from friend Tim (for TCRno10…and AMR25, which I STILL need to return! Thanks Tim!). I will start the race with ~5,000kcal / 1200g carbs (gummy worms and malto/fructose/MCT/Kool-Aid). Apidura hydration vest on back.

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Sam Burdett

Age: 26

Bike: Curve Kevin of Steel

Key items of kit: Wheels - Curve Dirt Hoops Tyres - Vitoria Mezcal tyres Bags - Apidura top tub and frame bag, Tailfin AeroPack cargo
Groupset - Shimano GXR 2x11

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Daniil Sadomskij

Age: 26

Cap number: .

Location: Bristol

Bike: Trek Procaliber 8 XL

Key items of kit: Trek frame bag, prime tt bars, amazon fake SQ labs hinged grips, ISM saddle…

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Chris Morgan

Age: 51

Location: Cumbria

Bike: Sonder Broken Road Ti with a 12-speed Pinion gearbox and a belt drive.

Hope wheels with Vittoria Mezcal tyres. Front 2.25 and rear 2.1.

Velo Orange Crazy Bars and Controltech Falcon aerobars.

Thudbuster seat post and RockShox SID suspension fork.

Key items of kit: Tailfin aeropack and panniers (not shown).

Tailfin top tube bag and Topeak Freeloader stem bag for Jelly Babies!

Lezyne lights front & rear and a Garmin Edge nav.

Sleep setup - hooped bivvy and sleeping bag.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Sophie Higgett

Age: 30

Location: Monmouth

Bike: I’m riding a Whyte Friston set up by the awesome folks at Pedal Syndicate in Monmouth with a Mrp Baxter fork and SRAM GX 12 speed mtb drivetrain.

Key items of kit: Tailfin pannier and frame bag, Aeroe Spider handlebar mount, Koala Kit snack bag and lots of flapjacks!

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Rob Hinds

Bike: Genesis Vagabond Mk2

Key items of kit: Brazin’ Squad racks, 2.0 Mezcals, 2x10 mtb gearing, 5mm bar tape, Hubba NX tent, Katadyn water filter, complete foul weather system inc Sugru’d charge cable into Wahoo. Food only in back pack, Hobnobs mostly.

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Abi Senior

Age: 24

Location: Mynydd Llandygai

Bike: Sonder Camino AL

Key items of kit: Gowaan Gals saddle, Osprey dry bags and Sir Ducky mcDuck face

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Daniel Townend

Age: 51

Location: London

Bike: Curve GMX+ with 30x50 1x SRAM gearing, 2.35 x 29’ Mezcals on Curve Dirt Hoops with Son 28 dynamo.

Key items of kit: Tailfin and restrap bags, and summer sleep system…

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Miroslav Chrapka

Age: 43

Location: London

Bike: Specialized Epic. Roval wheels with Race Kings tyres. 32t and 10-52.

Key items of kit: Bags are Tailfin and Apidura, Exposure and Nitecore lights, Wahoo for the route.

Emergency bivy, matt, pillow and sleeping bag just in case.

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Jakob Poffley

Age: 26

Location: Cambridge, UK

Bike: Focus Atlas 6.8

Key items of kit: Restrap bar and top tube bag, Ortlieb frame bag, Ortlieb quick rack and Exped dry bag. Brooks C17 carved. Shimano GRX 2x11.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Lynne Diamond Davies

Location: Peebles

Bike: Pipedream Sirius steel hardtail

Key items of kit: Tailfin bags, thermarest mat, thermarest quilt, 7mesh riding kit, wahoo element and battery pack

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Electronic shifting: No

George Badham

Age: 35

Cap number: 31

Location: Abingdon

Bike: Sonder Frontier

Key items of kit: Tailfin aeropack. SRAM Eagle cassette

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Hamish Graham

Age: 33

Cap number: X035

Location: Arnside

Bike: I’m riding a Specialized Diverge

Key items of kit: I have an apidura frame bag with food and tools in.

A top tube bag with gels in for easy access

A light bar bag with night time clothing

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Mike Jeavons

Age: 53

Location: Darlington

Bike: Sonder Broken Road

Key items of kit: Tailfin aeropack, Alpkit Stingray custom frame bag, Apidura bladder

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Andy Morgan

Age: 59

Location: Ruthin North Wales

Bike: Pearson, Around The Outside

Key items of kit: Tailfin rear rack, Restrap front aero race pack, Restrap race top tube, Rockbros under top tube, Son hub, Garbaruk cassette 50t , wolftooth 36 chain ring, Maxxis icon 2.2 tyres, profile clip on bars 40mm rise. Smp lite 209 saddle.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

John Hale

Age: 37

Location: Oxford, UK

Bike: Scott Scale 930, largely stock. Tyres swapped for Continental Race Kings, grips swapped for winged Ergon ones with SQLab Innerbarends.

Key items of kit: Restrap full frame bag and top tube bag. Small drybag strapped to the saddle for an emergency down jacket etc. Hydration pack for fluids.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No