Bikes Of Great British Escapades 2025

Dan Ricketts

Age: 42

Location: Essex, UK

Bike: Sonder Frontier “Roçinandos”

In 2023 I attempted the Escapades on my £450 Orbea, nicknamed Roçinante after the horse of Don Quixote, the Knight who went on silly quests. That bike was sent to pastures new and the more battle hardened steed was acquired! A SRAM GX Eagle drive train, Sonder AlphaXC 29er wheels (holy cow are they fast) and OnOne Geoff Bars are my weapons of choice. Bags are generally an assortment of cheaper and cheerful from budget suppliers. Top tube is catering, frame bag is engineering and the handlebar bag doubles as a pillow for sleepy times as it tucks perfectly into the Bivvy bag in the tailpack!

Key items of kit: My mascot “Tiny Bikepacking Vader” will watch for danger and will make a few appearances along the way! My aim - eat more and finish!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Martin Gough

Age: 50

Location: Putney

Bike: Pearson Off Grid

Key items of kit: Travelling as light as possible - seat pack and two small frame bags

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

John Saunders

Age: 47

Location: Jersey UK

Bike: Sonded ST broken road M with 120mm pike, SQ lab 30x 16⁰ handle bars, KS dropper,slx/xt shifter and rear mech ,pro5 hubs on scribe carbon rims, 2.4xc Goodyear tubeless tires.

Key items of kit: TwoNav GPS, hooped bivvy bag, Alp kit mat headphones with lot's of podcasts downloaded to hopefully get me though the night

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Robert Moormann

Age: 58

Location: Leverkusen, Germany

Bike: Bombtrack Audax Steel Frame Standard, nothing special.

Key items of kit: Mudguards - because I hate wet feet!

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Paul Pearce

Age: 55

Location: Louth

Bike: Lauf true grit

Key items of kit: Bar Bag for sleep set up- ( Bivi bag, sleep mat, sleeping bag ) Taulfin Bar bags-( tools & Snacks ). Tailfin rear bag- (stove, clothing & food )

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 35mm-39mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Danny Willson

Age: 38

Location: Dover

Bike: Hi I'm Danny, I'm taking part in my 1st ultra even. Il be riding my Cannondale Cujo2 2021 model. Sram eagle sx drivetrain 12 gears 30T single chain ring. Mt200 shimano brake set C2 aluminium frame.

Key items of kit: Lezyne 400XL front and rear lights IGPSPORT 300s Sat Nav

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Alec Mcleish

Age: 35

Cap number: @hillsnspills

Location: South London

Bike: I have a Brother mehteh (pre headbadge) , halo vapour rims, tubeless panaracer gravel kings 45mm X1+ on the front, regular on the back.

Shimano 1x12 10-52 cassette with 40t chainring at the front.

Key items of kit: My Alpkit sleeping bag, Camelbak, primaloft hoodie for cold nights, a camera , and some perseverance.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Kenny Balding

Age: 36

Bike: Specialized Chisel FS. SRAM GX Eagle 32T x 11-50. 120mm travel front fork. Dropper post, inner bar-ends.

Key items of kit: Tailfin Aeropack / Top Tube Bag / Downtime Bag. Exposure Strada Mk 12 2x 10,000 mAh power bank Hydration Vest for food/drink/jacket. Bivvy and sleeping bag setup.

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Jamie Morrison

Age: 34

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Bike: Vitus Venon Evo-GR Force XPLR AXS Mezcal Endurance 44mm tyres.

Key items of kit: OR Helium bivy, Alpkit Ultra bag, BigAgnes Rapide SL pad. Restrap & Apidura bags, Salomon vest.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Richard Hart

Age: 44

Location: Kent, UK

Bike: Sonder Broken Road Ti, SRAM GX Eagle AXS (30t 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. Salomon Running vest with a 1.5l bladder along with 2 700ml bottles.

For sleeping I'm carrying a Durston X-Mid 1 Solid tent, Alpkit Pipedream sleeping bag and Cloudbase mat. Alpkit waterproofs for the rainy bits!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Matt Whittle

Age: 33

Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Bike: Sonder Broken Road

Key items of kit: Tailfin rear pack with an alloy arch (Слава Україні!). Inside has a bivvy bag and a puffy jacket for a couple of hours of rest around the halfway point along with a few additional layers.

Restrap long top tube bag. Will be full of snacks on race day.

Will also carry a restrap hydration vest bringing total water capacity to 3.5l.

The bike is running 2.25 mezcals front and rear (apologises for the mismatch of colours, last minute catastrophe). SRAM GX electronic shifting with blips on the extensions. The bar is a sonder Confucius with an extra loop for the exposure strada front light. Will also have a garmin 1040 solar that should hopefully last the whole event!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Harry JOHNSON

Age: 24

Cap number: N/A

Location: Gosport

Bike: Giant TCX

Key items of kit: Tailfin top tube bag for my essential goodies and fast Strada wheels

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Tony Marvin

Age: 71

Location: Isle of Wight

Bike: Salsa Cutthroat

Key items of kit: SRAM Gearing 30 - 10/52: get up steep stuff Hope 4 pot braking with 180 front and 160 rear: stop very quickly Hope 165mm cranks: got short legs DMR Versa pedals: flats one side, cleats the other Rims DT Swiss M502 Alloy 32 spokes: robust Tyres Fast Track Control T5 2.2”: plenty of knobs Handlebar Ritchey Venturemax alloy: right amount of flare Redshift stem and seat post: enough comfort for anyone Bags: plenty of room Revelate front and handlebar Straightcut custom frame Tailfin the rest

Frame type: Other

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Ollie Randles

Age: 42

Location: Sussex

Bike: Second big outing for my 2024 Trek Procaliber 9.6. Upgrades from stock include a DT Swiss F232 Fork, Ergon SMC Core Saddle, Maxxis Rekon and Rekon Race tyres and a Farr handlebar extension.

Key items of kit: Assorted luggage by Tailfin, Alpkit and Restrap. New kit this year includes an OEX Ultralight Bobcat tent, Exposure Toro light and extra Peanut M&Ms.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Andrew Pledger

Age: 33

Cap number: 74

Location: Canterbury

Bike: Riding the trusty On One Whippet for the 3rd time on the Escapade, WTB wheels and Specialized Fast Track tyres. Comfy and aero options from the Geoff loop bars, creaky C17 at the back and Ergon GA3s to hold onto.

Key items of kit: Bags are a mix of Rapha, Altura and DIY frame/top-tube bag. Sleeping in an Alpkit bivvy bag with a down mummy bag from Decathlon.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Randolph Burt

Age: 51

Location: Kent, UK

Bike: Boardman CX Team (CycloX bike)

Key items of kit: WTB Nano TCS Fast Tyre (Dual DNA/SG2) = 40mm Restrap Race Top Tube Bag Restrap Bar Bag Restrap Saddle Bag Restrap Frame Bag

Frame type: Other

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Paul Wilson

Age: 39

Cap number: 0

Location: Wiltshire

Bike: NS RAG+ frame SRAM Rival 1x Redshift sus stem and Kitchen Sink handlebars. 700x47 dynamo front, haven’t got round to getting a matching rear, so running a 650x2.1, both Teravail Rutlands

Key items of kit: Shiny Restrap Bags (plus bodged on aero pack and hydration vest). Minimalist bivvy/stove stuff.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: Other

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Chris N

Age: 37

Location: Wiltshire

Bike: Olsen Tiger running Salsa geared dropout, 32t with SRAM GX AXS, creaky Ti handlebars with come Wolftootb Fat Paw grips and bar ends. Exposure Lights all round.

Key items of kit: Mixture of Poca, Merit and Rockgeist bags. Taking a bivvy, down pants and Jacket for a sleep system. Standard other long rides bits

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Rudy F

Age: 45

Location: London

Bike: Canyon Neuron 6 2025, full-suspension MTB

Key items of kit: Garmin Edge 1040 Bags: Tailfin Sleeping kit: Durston x-Dome solid 1+,BIG AGNES RAPIDE SL INSULATED long wild Power: Anker 20,000mAh powerbank

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Lee Stephenson

Age: 47

Location: Yorkshire

Bike: Specialized chisel hardtail, Sid SL ultimate 100mm fork. SRAM 4 pot brakes Mechanical gearing

Key items of kit: Tailfin rear rack and bar bag setup. Top tube bag

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Konrad Hohendorf

Age: 26

Location: Canterbury, England

Bike: Bombtrack Beyond 1 (2021)

Key items of kit: Restrap handle bar bag and hydration vest, and Apidura seat bag and top top bag. The hydration vest is new to me - will allow me to carry 2L on my bike as well as 2L on the frame - should reduce the amount I need to stop to get more water.

The bike has not been modified other than to swap the saddle, and spd pedals of course.

Favourite bit of kit (probably joint with the hydration vest) is my new Fenix bc26r as main handlebar light - brilliant light that has the fantastic feature of being able to swap the battery out for a fresh one!

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

John Simpson

Age: 61

Location: Canterbury

Bike: Scott Scale 20

Key items of kit: Restrap handle bar bag for camping-sleeping gear Lomo dry bag on a rack for all clothing. Topeak bento box for snacks etc Restrap frame bag for everything else. Double seat mounted bottle cage Continental Race King Protection tyres and Mavic Crossmax wheels

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Phil Andrews

Age: 52

Location: Isle of wight

Bike: Sonder Camino TI GRX1

Rear cassette changed to 51 tooth. Shock stop stem Goodyear connector 50mm tubeless tyres.

Key items of kit: Alpkit cloud down sleeping bag. Hooped bivi Haribo!

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Greg Swayne

Age: 30

Cap number: N/A

Location: Bristol

Bike: Sonder Broken Road Ti

Key items of kit: Lights - For Illuminating the trails I’ve got an Exposure MaXx-D up front with a basic rear light on the back, will probably take spares too.

Sleeping Set Up - Fairly lightweight 1 Season sleeping bag, Alpkit bivvy bag, with an OEX sleeping mat. (Keeping a small tent on standby pending any last min weather changes)

Tyres - Vittoria Mezcal 2.4 Race - Spot the new one!

Bike bags - Tailfin Cargo Pack, Restrap top tube, Restrap stem bag

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Luke Robbins

Age: 43

Cap number: GBE

Location: Guildford

Bike: Trek marlin 8

Key items of kit: Tools Bivvy sleeping bag Food Water

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 30-34mm

Electronic shifting: No

Tom Stewart

Age: 33

Location: Chichester

Bike: Specialized Chisel

Key items of kit: Restrap race range, with top tube, half frame and saddle pack. Camelbak for extra water and snacks. Lifeline & Exposure lights. Bivi bag sleep option.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Kristian Robinson

Age: 43

Cap number: 80

Location: worcester park

Bike: Specialized Epic Evo

Key items of kit: Tailfin Toptube bag Sarmatian Bags - Custom frame bag Restrap tool and stem pouches Camelbak Chase Hydration Vest (not pictured)

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

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: tailfin, exposure, revelate design, restrap, garmin.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Adrian Uttley

Age: 61

Cap number: 97

Location: Banstead

Bike: Sonder Broken Road Titanium, DT Swiss wheels with 2.25 Race King tubeless tyres, Cane Creek Seatpost & Cranks.

Key items of kit: Bags are Straight Cut Designs frame bag plus off the shelf bags from Restrap, Apidura, Revelate & Wolftooth. I'll likely be taking a tent outer with floor (Nordisk Lofoten) plus a Borah Bivy to be used inside the outer and on its own if the weather holds. Lights are Exposure Toro & Joystick with a few battery banks and charger to keep them topped up.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

James Edkins

Age: 48

Location: Buckinghamshire

Bike: Revel El Jefe 29 hardtail, SRAM XO T-Type groupset, Hope Tech 4 E4 brakes, Hunt XC Wide wheelset, Vittoria Barzo/Mezcal 2.35 tyres, Rockshox Pike Ultimate forks, Rockshox Reverb seatpost, Specialized Bridge Comp Saddle, Roost handlebars, Ergon GP2 grips, SQlab innerbarends, Profile Design Carbon Stryke aerobars with AXS blips, Carder Tech TenFour flat pedals.

Key items of kit: Anker 26k powerbank for all my charging needs. Spare batteries galore for AXS, Fenix BC30 front light and Fenix PD35 headtorch. Survival Frog bivvy just in case. Bag-wise have gone with Podsac frame bag, Tailfin bolt-on top-tube bag, Revelate tool stash, Alpkit Stem Cell, Pack2Ride Bongo Stem bag. Using 2 x SKS Anywhere Cages to carry additional water on the forks. Navigation via Garmin Edge 530.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Steven Wise

Age: 57

Location: London

Bike: Specialized Diverge Comp Shimano GRX Di2 x 2 (11/42 & 31/48) with Wolftooth Goatlink Mavic Allroad 650b with Pirelli Cinturato M 50mm tyres

Key items of kit: Bags • Apidura top tube bag: battery pack, hand gel, other bits & bobs • Apidura frame bag: hygiene/first aid, tools, electronics • Apidura feed bag: flapjack, dried fruit, emergency gels • Rapha Bar Bag: more food • Tailfin rear cargo bag: sleep kit & clothes

Lights • Exposure 6 Pack and Sirius front lights • Garin Varia & Knog Plus x 2

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Jeremy Blakeborough

Age: 65

Cap number: *

Location: Haverhill, Suffolk

Bike: Trek Roscoe 7

Key items of kit: Essentially stock bike but with Vittoria Barzo 2.6” tyres. Topeak, Alpkit and Revelate bags. Zoleo communicator mounted up front.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Kieran Moore

Age: 28

Location: Woking, Surrey, UK

Bike: Pearson - Rough with the Smooth

Key items of kit: Shimano GRX610 and some other mixed replacement bits.

Pearson integrated stem.

Shimano SPD/Flat mixed pedals

Pirelli Cinturato gravel m 700cx45mm

Exposure lights Race MK18, Leyzne 1400 helmet light.

Restrap long top tube bag, Restrap hydration vest, Restrap bottle cages, Alpkit seat toolbag, Alpkit frame bag.

Asssavers win-wing rear mudguard.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Will Stewart

Age: 30

Cap number: Unsure

Location: London

Bike: Specialized Crux Comp GRX Groupset Vel GRSL Wheelset with 45 Maxxis Reaver

Key items of kit: Exposure Race light (not pictured) Apidura frame bag Tailfin top tube bag Hydration vest

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Chris Espejo

Age: 52

Location: Faversham

Bike: Canyon Grizl with 50mm tyres

Key items of kit: Sleeping kit Spare bibs Rain jacket and warm jacket Tubeless repairs kit, tubes and tools Power banks Lights x 4 First aid kit Lock Hydration pack

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Liampayne

Age: 41

Location: Essex

Bike: Ribble gravel 725 enthusiast with SRAM APEX XPLR. Pirelli cintauro tubeless tyres.

Key items of kit: HANDLEBAR BAG- Zefal Bivvi Bag Summer sleeping bag.

SEAT POST BAG - Podsacks Roll mat Leg sleeves Gillet Long sleave top Cliff bars Spare Socks Waterproof/ lumi-jacket Down jacket

TOP TUBE BAGS - rockbros and Halfords Tubeless repair kit Chaffing cream Snacks and isotonic 30000mah power bank with cables. Spare SRAM battery Hygiene kit

OTHER wahoo element Lexie 1400+ Head torch 2 litre camelbak

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Charlie Stent

Age: 25

Location: London

Bike: Sonder Sedona

Key items of kit: Apidura set up

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Rob Yeomans

Age: 48

Location: Kent

Bike: Canyon Grizl Trail 8 1by

Key items of kit: Tailpack, frame pack (with bivvy) Exposure Strada

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No