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Bikes of Taunus Bikepacking No. 6
9 June, 2023
This 1,000km challenging route has been coined “Jesko’s rollercoaster” as the Taunus hills, which are not high mountains, are full of relentless up and down which are more than enough to wear bikes and riders out.
Riders will pass over a wild mix of gravel roads, asphalt lanes, cobblestone alleys and forest trails. They will be treated to a tour of this region’s history including remains of the Roman empire’s last frontier, medieval towns, deserted army depots and defunct slate mines.
Follow along with Jesko Von Werthern's commentary here.
Ken Kölzer
Name: Ken Kölzer
Age: 36
Cap number: 1
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Bike: Fairlight Secan 2.5. Supernova M99 DY Pro, Felt Bayonet Aerobar, TRP Hylex + Di2, XT Di2 + Garbaruk parts.
Key items of kit: Allygn Diamond Front Rack + Salsa Top-Load Dry Bag, Wizard Works Framebagracadabra, Tailfin Aeropack Alloy, SONdelux + Forumslader.
Jonas Mahlert
Name: Jonas Mahlert
Age: 33
Cap number: 41
Location: Esslingen, Germany
Bike: VPace TMX, Groupset: SRAM Force 1 x 11 (11 - 46 t) + Praxisworks crankset (34 t). Wheels: VPace Carbon, Hope Pro 4 hub in the back and SON hub in the front to power my Sinewave Beacon 2 headlamp/charger. Tyres: Vittoria Mezcal 2.25.
Key items of kit: Probably my Sinewave, which hopefully helps me to charge my GPS and mobile and keeps me safe through the night.
Navigation: Wahoo Roam for navigation. Bags: Ortlieb, with a little touch of Apidura on the top tube :). Maybe an aerobar will be added, not sure yet.
A little less stuff in the bags than on the picture - smaller sleeping back, no tarp, but bivy bag, less warm clothes :)
Nicolai Wolf
Name: Nicolai Wolf
Age: 33
Cap number: 38
Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Bike: Rose Backroad
Key items of kit: Supernova Design front light - mixed bag setup
Pascal Streng
Name: Pascal Streng
Age: 29
Cap number: 73
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Bike: Canyon Inflite AL 9.0 (S)
Key items of kit: Zipp Vuka Clip 110mm Rise -17 degree stem. Ritchey Beacon 400mm handlebars. Schwalbe G-One R.
Mike Ioannidis
Name: Mike Ioannidis
Age: 32
Cap number: 61
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bike: Koga Miyata Randonneur from 97' with a mix of GRX and 105. 11-speed with front 48-31T and rear 11-36T, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 40mm and Profile Design aero bars.
Key items of kit: Bags: Rhinowalk saddle bag, Platzangst top tube bag, Acepac frame bag and 2x Acepac feed bags. Sleeping system: Alpkit bivy, Vaude Kamet light sleeping bag, Sea to Summit inlet and Forclaz Trek 700 air mat. Navigation: Garmin Edge 530.
Marco Störmer
Name: Marco Störmer
Age: 40
Cap number: 68
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Bike: Specialized Crux with SRAM Rival eTap 10-44t (will maybe changed to 10-50t) with SRAM Red 38 crank. Brooks C13 Saddle. Profile Design 35a Aero Bars.
Key items of kit: Apidura Saddle bag, Ortlieb Framebag, Tailfin Top Tube Bag / and Restrap Aero Bag. Garmin Edge 1040.
I wish all the riders a great journey and good luck ✌️🤞
Jan-Dick den Das
Name: Jan-Dick den Das
Age: 59
Cap number: 54
Location: Landsmeer, The Netherlands
Bike: Giant Revolt from 2019, wheels also from Giant, front wheel handspoked with Son dynamo. I haven't decide witch tyres I will use, most of the time it's a mix of WTB and Pirelli. Aero Gravel Alloy, Brooks C17. Shimano GRX Di2.
Key items of kit: Bags are a mix of Apidura and Miss Grape. Lights front and rear Supernova. To navigate I will use the Garmin Edge 1040 and I use a Garmin battery pack. Just to be on the safe side I have also my Garmin Etrex 32 with me.
Michael Jacob
Name: Michael Jacob
Age: 46
Cap number: 27
Location: Munich
Bike: Specialized Epic Evo Expert Racefully. Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 2.2" tyres on Roval Control carbon wheels. SRAM AXS GX Eagle with 32-10/52. Ergon GP3 Grips and SM Saddle. Supernova ProB54 Frontlight. Full tailfin bags kit. Alpkit Bivy, Seatosummit Ultralight Air Mat. Lots of Snickers
Key items of kit: My Mind
Katharina Nippgen
Name: Katharina Nippgen
Age: 35
Cap number: 35
Location: Aachen, Germany
Bike: Salsa Fargo with SRAM Rival AXS mullet. Hope rx 4 brakes.
Key items of kit: Bags: Restrap. Front Light: Cateye G-Volt 100 with 2nd battery. Rear Light: Sigma Blaze. GPS: Wahoo Element Roam. Sleep System: Vaude Bivi, Sea to Summit Ultralight air mat, Sea to Summit Flame Fm sleeping bag. My happy item: headphones to listen to music.
Dennis Krüger
Name: Dennis Krüger
Age: 36
Cap number: 82
Location: Deutschland
Bike: Specialized Diverge
Key items of kit: Alles gute kommt von ReiseFix 🤘
Patrick Das
Name: Patrick Das
Age: 57
Cap number: 12
Location: Heusden-Zolder (Belgium)
Bike: Bombtrack Hook Ext-C with mullet build SRAM AXS Rival/GX 34t and 10-50 cassette. 650b Hunt wheels with Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 50mm. Still to decide on using the Profile Designs aero bars.
Key items of kit: Bags: Restrap handlebar bag, top tube bag, food pouch / Apidura framebag and saddlebag. Lights: Fenix frontlight and headlamp with rechargeable 18650 batteries / Lezyne taillight. Navigation: Garmin Edge 830. Sleeping system: OR bivy, Sea to Summit mat and pillow, quilt or sleeping bag liner.
Marc Schnitzius
Name: Marc Schnitzius
Age: 30
Cap number: 13
Location: Mainz, Germany
Bike: I will be riding the Standert Erdgeschoss Steel Frame equipped with an electric SRAM Force / Eagle X01 (10-52) combo and a 36T Woolftooth chainring in the front. The tires I'll be using are the Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M mounted on 650b DT Swiss GRC 1400 wheels. For lighting, I have the Supernova E3 Triple 2 / E3 tail light combo, and I'll be using a Clinq pure charger powered by a SON28 dynamo. To ensure comfort, I've chosen the SQLabs Ergowave 2.1 active saddle - my butt likes it! The cockpit consists of the Zipp Service Course SL (44cm) handlebar, Profile Design T4+ extensions with the spacer kit and a 80mm Redshift Suspension stem.
Key items of kit: As for storage, I have a combination of Apiduras Race series bags and the 11L Ortlieb seat bag, along with the Allygen Diamond front rack and a Sea-to-Summit eVent DryBag. The front rack dry bag is dedicated to my sleeping setup, which includes a Thermarest NeoAir mattress, Forclaz Trek900 sleeping bag, outdoor research helium Bivy, and a Tyvek ground sheet. In the top tube bag, I keep charging cables, a power bank, and other smaller items like 10k mAh PowerBank and a second AXS battery. The frame bag is mainly used for storing food and other quick-access items like teeth brush or sunscreen. In the backloader, I carry clothing such as a down jacket, rain jacket, gloves, leg and arm warmers, spare tubes, and underwear.
For maintenance and repairs, I carry a Zefal tool box containing Muc-Off tubeless sealant, tube patches, cable ties, a multitool, spare brake pads, and chain locks. Additionally, I have two 750ml Elite steel bottles and a Camelbag chase for hydration and a pump. Navigation is handled by a Wahoo ELEMNT Roam, with a phone serving as a backup device.
Olaf Flechtner
Name: Olaf Flechtner
Age: 59
Cap number: 4
Location: Braunschweig, Deutschland
Bike: Custom selfmade Carbon Frame, SRAM Force eTap AXS 10-52z, Force Wide 40z, DT Swiss, Son dyamo hub, Supernova lights.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Frontroller, Topeak Backholder with Decatlon bag, Therm-a-Rest mat and spleeping bag.
Ross Anderson
Name: Ross Anderson
Age: 47
Cap number: 67
Location: Germany
Bike: Milanetti Libero CX, an Italian/Frankfurt built gravel bike that I have updated with more gears: 11-42 in the back, 46-30 in the front, should help with the elevation.
Key items of kit: Topeak and BBB bags.
Carsten Boehm
Name: Carsten Boehm
Age: 42
Cap number: 76
Location: Bergheim, Cologne, Germany
Bike: ROSE Psycho Path, SRAM GX EAGLE 34x10/50, DT Swiss X1900, Vittoria Mezcal 29x2.35, Sattle: Ergon SM Pro Men.
Key items of kit: Framebag from rideandgetlost, sattlebag: Revelate Designs Terrapin, Toptube: Apidura Backcountry 1,8l, Topeak Backloader Wisbone, Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo (Ultralight tent), sleeping bag: Sea to summit Spark 1, Light: Lupine Piko 4.
Jens Bacher
Name: Jens Bacher
Age: 50
Cap number: 85
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Bike: Cube Nuroad C62, Vittoria Mezcal III TNT Gravel Graphene 2.0 tyres and Lupine Piko light.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb seat pack 11l, Ortlieb Handlebar Bag Cyclite frame bag 2,8l, Apidura Racing Top Tube Pack 1l and Apidura Backcountry Food Pouch 0,8l.
Röttger Schiffels
Name: Röttger Schiffels
Age: 36
Cap number: 46
Location: Geisenheim, Germany
Bike: Knolly Cache, Hunt 650 Adventure Sport with Vittoria Mezcal 2.1“ tyres, Ergon Saddle, Salsa Handlebar, SRAM AXS GX Eagle 32-10/52 for the steep sections in the Taunus area.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Saddle Pack 11L, Apidura Framebag 6L; Handlebar Pack 14L; TopTube Pack 1L; DownTube 1,2L and a food pouch.
SON Dynamo and KLite Bikepacker ultra v2 for Lite and Charging. For navigation Wahoo Element Roam. Sleeping system: StS mat and bag, bivy and my Forclaz pillow.
Larin McPeak
Name: Larin McPeak
Age: 42
Cap number: 81
Location: Schmitten, Germany
Bike: Cube C:62 Access Pro. Shimano XT and SLX mixed components with Garbaruk 32 oval chainring.
Key items of kit: Mix of bikepacking bags chosen because they fit my very small bike frame so options are limited (Rockgeist, Apidura, Revelate, Ortlieb, Rockbros). Borah Gear eVent bivy, Yeti/ Nordisk Ultra Fever Sleeping Bag, Exped Flexmat Plus, Garmin 830 with etrex 30x as back up. Pedalcell to charge my devices. Extra pair of dhb Aeron Lab bibs. Merino to sleep in. Bont wide shoes to wiggle my toes.
Mareike Sanner
Name: Mareike Sanner
Age: 41
Cap number: 45
Location: Lahnstein, RLP
Bike: Canyon "Grand Canyon 5 AL" (Hardtail-MTB). Suspension Fork: SR Suntour XCR,100mm. Shifting: Shimano Deore 1x12, Gear range 10-51t. Disk Brakes: Shimano RT 10, Center Lock. Tires: Specialized Path Finder Pro 650B x 47c.
Key items of kit: Since this is my first bikepacking adventure, this is also my first bikepacking kit. I found Restrap bags the most suitable for my needs.
I use:
- Restrap Saddle Bag Holster with a 14 litres drybag for my sleeping kit (sleeping bag: Salewa Dreamlight 250, sleeping mat: SeatoSummit Ultra Light Air).
- Restrap Race Top Tube Bag long for my electronics, small lock and Apidura musette
- Restrap Handle Bar Bag Holster with a 14 litres drybag for spare clothes, rainjacket, wind vest, primaloft jacket, food and other small stuff.
- Two Topeak Freeloader bags, that I use as foodpouches (one for snacks and the other one for a spare drinking bottle)
- Ortlieb Accessorybag (not seen in the picture) that I use as a hip-bag for stuff that I often need or want to have quick access to: sunscreen, first-aid-kit, air pump, wet wipes.
- Topeak toolbox for my tools and repair kit and cleaning kit
I use a Wahoo Element Bolt V2 for navigation and a Sigma Sport Aura 100 Blaze Link front-, and taillight .
My lucky item will be fresh clothes to wear in my sleeping bag, so that I don't have to sleep all dirty, sweaty and smelly 😜
Thomas Kollrepp
Name: Thomas Kollrepp
Age: 42
Cap number: 20
Location: Wehrheim / Germany
Bike: Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon. 11-46t cassette, 34 t crankset, SRAM Rival 1x11, tubeless setup, SQlab saddle.
Key items of kit: Specialized fjällräven handlebar rack with Birzman drybag and sea to summit Straps, Lupine blika, swisstrailbell (best for warning any animals), Birzman food pouch, decathlon top tube bag, rovativ frame bag (food storage), Tools and spare parts in swat- Box, Ortlieb Saddle bag, Navigation:wohoo bolt V2, selfmade Frontlight and Navigation device holder Sleeping setup: sea to summit spark 1 sleeping bag, cheap amazon bivi bag, sleeping mat 120cm from decathlon, inflatable neck pillow
Barry McWilliams
Name: Barry McWilliams
Age: 52
Cap number: 17
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bike: 2019 Kona Libre DL, stock except for Salsa bars with Redshift grips, Brooks Saddle, and Rene Herse tires.
Key items of kit: Bags from ReiseFix, Porcelain Rocket, Ortlieb, Gramm, and Salsa. Dynamo front light, boring battery-powered rear. OR Bivvy sack, with Sea to Summit mattress & Enlightened Equipment quilt. Fuji x100v to document the trip.
Alexander Gleiss
Name: Alexander Gleiss
Age: 52
Cap number: 40
Location: Kelkheim, Germany
Bike: Ridley X-Trail Carbon
Key items of kit: 1x11 speed. 38 x 11-44t.
Michael Rau
Name: Michael Rau
Age: 38
Cap number: 18
Location: Bretten, Germany
Bike: NINER RLT 9 Frame Forge Grey/Sky Blue 2020, Shimano GRX Gravel RX810 Groupset (48-31, 11-36), DT Swiss GR 531 db wheels, SON hub dynamo, b+m IQ-X front light, b+m secula rear light, Schwalbe G-One Ultrabite tyres.
Key items of kit: Castelli arm and leg warmers, Gore rain jacket, Craft visibility vest, Moorhead down jacket, Roeckl cycling cloves, Sea to Summit sleeping bag ticking, Alpkit bivvy bag and air mattress.
Fabian Köhler
Name: Fabian Köhler
Age: 39
Cap number: 2
Location: Erfurt, Germany
Bike: Fairlight Faran 2.0. SRAM Rival AXS 40/10-50, Vittoria Terreno Zero 40, SON-dynamo hub.
Key items of kit: Apidura seat- and framebag, Sea to Summit compression drybag for sleep equipment, three bottles in the frame, dynalader digital 2 for powersupply.
Beatrice Weglarz
Name: Beatrice Weglarz
Age: 43
Cap number: 43
Location: Schöneck / Germany
Bike: Cube Nuroad C:62, Ritchey Venture Max WLS Dropbar, Shimano GRX ST-RX600 (1x11) updated with a Garbaruk 10/50 Cassette, Fulcrum Rapid Wheels and Schwalbe G-one Bite 45-622 (tubeless).
Key items of kit: Bags: Ortlieb saddlebag, Cyclite frame Bags, self created Sea to summit handle bar Bag, fixed with Fixplus straps. Sleeping: Ultralight Sea to summit sleeping Bag, Them-a-rest UberLite Mat, LACD Bivi Bag, luxury item is my inflatable Decathlon Pillow, old Decathlon down jacket from my son and merino wear for the night. Lights/Electronics: Lupine Piko and 2 Knog cobber rear lights (it shines 330 degrees and max. 330 lm, I love it!), Wahoo Roam GPS, Anker Powerbank 26.000 mAH.
Philipp Kuhlmann
Name: Philipp Kuhlmann
Age: 36
Cap number: 39
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Bike: 8Bar Mitte Steel v2.0, Steel fork, custom wheelset (Hplusson hydra rims with white industries hubs), SRAM Apex 1x11 group with Garbaruk cassette and derailleur cage.
Key items of kit: Bags are from Apidura (frame and saddle) and 8bar (bar bag and foodpouch). Coffee setup: aeropress and gas stove.
Thorben Kasch
Name: Thorben Kasch
Age: 49
Cap number: 52
Location: Berlin
Bike: Norwid Malmö 28". Made to measure steel frame with carbon fork. Shimano GRX 815 group set with DI2. Chainring 48/31, sprocket 11/36.
Key items of kit: SON28 dynamo and light, cycle2charge charger for Lupine battery pack. Profile T2+ aero bar. Tubus Airy titanium rack. Ortlieb frame bag, Ortlieb fork packs, Ortlieb saddle bag, Ortlieb dry bag. GRAMM top tube bag, decathlon food pouches.
Felix Schön
Name: Felix Schön
Age: 36
Cap number: 59
Location: Oberursel, Germany
Bike: Surly Ogre. Steel frame with 1x12 Shimano XT groupset.
Key items of kit: SON hub dynamo & lights, Thomson and Hope parts, a super comfy Velo Orange bar. Restrap bags in the rear and Swift Industries in the front. Will not be the lightest setup in the field but who cares :-)
Elke Gutermann
Name: Elke Gutermann
Age: 58
Cap number: 21
Location: Nürnberg, Germany
Bike: Frame Sonder Broken Road Ti, Fork SID SL Ultimate 100 mm, 1x 12 Shimano XT , 28t front chainring and 52t back from Garbaruk, Dt Swiss 240 ,brakes Shimano SLX, tires Ikon TR EXO 3C MaxxSpeed - 29x2.20" tubeless, saddle SQlab 611 Carbon, Flatbar Syntace Carbon + SQlab 411 Innerbarends, XTR pedals.
Key items of kit: Bags: Revelate Design+Apidura; Apex Quilt from GramExpert, Bivy Katabatic Gear Bristlecone, TAR Neoair Uberlite Orion wide, Patagonia micro puff hoody, Wahoo Element Roam, 10 l Backpack Decathlon
Kai Bette
Name: Kai Bette
Age: 36
Cap number: 58
Location: Wiesbaden, Germany
Bike: Canyon Grizl AL 7.0 called: "Panzer". Shimano GRX 810 (upgraded to 11-40 with Wolf Tooth GoatLink); DT Swiss LN; Schwalbe G-One Bite 45-622, 700x45C (tubeless); Ritchey Beacon; Brooks Cambium C15.
Key items of kit: Garmin Edge 530; Mix of Topeak and Restrap Bags; Tailfin Cargo Cages.
Daniel Schleh
Name: Daniel Schleh
Age: 38
Cap number: 3
Location: Waldshut, Germany
Bike: My trusty Nordest Albarda with DT Swiss GR 1600 650b Wheels and Umtanum Ridge 55mm tires, Sram Rival AXS 1x12 (36t x 10-52t).
Key items of kit: Woho barbag, DIY X-Pac framebag and Apidura saddle pack. Hammerhead Karoo 2 for navigation, Nitecore UT27 headlamp and 2x 10,000mAh power banks. Cumulus Quilt with Sea to Summit airmat and DIY tyvek bivy bag. Set of baselayers for the night, Decathlon down jacket and Gore Shakedry jacket.
Nicolai Wolf
Name: Nicolai Wolf
Age: 33
Cap number: 38
Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
Bike: Rose Backroad
Key items of kit: Bags from Topeak, Agu, Restrap. Front light from Supernova Design.
Arne Große Hülsewiesche
Name: Arne Große Hülsewiesche
Age: 36
Cap number: 79
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Bike: Liteville 4-ONE MK1, Shimano GRX810 Groupset, Syntace W25i Wheelset, Schwalbe G-One R 45-622 tires, SQlab 312R handelbars, SQlab 612R saddle.
Key items of kit: Bags: Ortlieb saddlebag, Blackburn framebag, Restrap toptube bag, Camelbag chase hydrationvest. Lights: Lupine Rotlicht + Neo.
Joris Pesch
Name: Joris Pesch
Age: 33
Cap number: 70
Location: Wageningen, Netherlands
Bike: ROSE Backroad limited
Key items of kit: Restrap race bags, Sea to Summit pad & sleeping bag, Lupine SL AF 7 front light.
Till Kramer
Name: Till Kramer
Age: 42
Cap number: 28
Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Bike: Trusty steel Nordest Albarda frankenbike with a mixture of GRX/Ultegra and TRP Spyre brakes to keep it all mechanic. Wheels 27,5“ handbuilt by yours truly Parallel of Rotterdam (DT Swiss GR 531, 350 hub) equipped with SON dynahub sending waves and vibing with a Forumslader Pro charger for energy independence. Rewired it myself wish me luck it all works out (nitecore 10000mAH powerbank as a backup). Lights courtesy of Edelux and Supernova E3 taillight. Rubber up front Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 55mm, panaracer semi slick in the back (48mm?) tubeless setup. Rodeo labs spork carbofork
Transmission: 11-42 in the back 30/46 up front. For an extra array of hand positions profile design aerobars, talking comfort: my bump trusts the combo of SQlab 611 saddle and 7mesh cargo bibs. Navigations by Wahoo Bolt. Kit: 7mesh merino shirt, brynje merino baselayer, pearl izumi convertible jacket (no real rainjacket planned), patagonia nanopuff toasty jacket.
Key items of kit: my set of DIY gear, full framebag, tank bag and food pouches still standing strong after some years of heavy use. Premiere for my DIY bivybag made of some deadstock japanese technical fabric (must be great!) curious how it’ll hold up. Cumulus quilt 250 and trusty exped UL synmat as well as exped pillow. Seatpack by ortlieb, aerobar bag by Restrap. This must be it!
Markus Recker
Name: Markus Recker
Age: 54
Cap number: 6
Location: Ibbenbueren, Germany
Bike: Giant XTC Advanced 1 29" Hardtail, XT 1x12 Groupset, Giant XCR Wheels, Cane Creak Seatpost, Jones H-Bar ...
Key items of kit: Riverside Bags by Decathlon, Thermarest Uberlite Mat, Tyvek Bag ...
Anne De Smet
Name: Anne De Smet
Age: 44
Cap number: 50
Location: Merelbeke, Belgium
Bike: Orbea Alma
Key items of kit: Revelate Designs front roll, Topeak saddle bag, kLite front light and Shutter Precision dynamo.
Stefan Maertens
Name: Stefan Maertens
Age: 40
Cap number: 51
Location: Merelbeke
Bike: Cube carbon 29er with 10-51t garbaruk cassette and 30t chainring.
Key items of kit: KLite dynamo light and selfmade tyvek bivibag.
Bernd Schall
Name: Bernd Schall
Age: 59
Cap number: 11
Location: Wiesbaden, Germany
Bike: SALSA Warbird custom 2019, fork Lauf Grit SL, shifters SRAM Red eTap (2x11) HRD, brakes Hope RX4, dynamo hub SON delux 28, frontlight SON Edelux II LED, aerobars Ritchey TT Extensions, chainwheels TA Chinook 46/28 custom, Seat Post Canyon VCLS Carbon, brake discs Quaxar 180mm/ 160mm, rims Easton ARC 28 holes, tyres Schwalbe G-One Allround Evolution 27,5x1,5 TL
Key items of kit: saddlebag Apidure 17 L, pouch bag Apidura, upper tube bag SALSA, two cycling kits, wind shield undershirt, leg warmers, arm warmers, no rain equipment, only one pair bike shoes Shimano XC-501, matress Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Xlite, sleeping bag DEUTER Dreamlite UL, tarp Rab SilTarp 1 with custom strings, emergency blanket, front roll SeaToSummit Ultra SIL nano 8L stripped under aero bars, rear light Cateye Wearable X, powerbank realPOWER 20.000, third SRAM eTap battery, head light PETZL Bindi, jacket Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody, reflector vest Proviz Reflect360
