DotWatcher.cc
Bikes of Victoria Divide 2021
19 February, 2021
Stephen Lane
Age: 41
Location: Otways, Victoria
Your bike: Flanders Bossberg 29er, DUKE Lucky Jack Ultra wheels, Acros Hubs, Maxis Icon 2.2's and groupset is SRAM Eagle XX1.
Your key items of kit: Apidura Race bags, Gloworm XS Light, Exposure Diablo Light, Garmin eTrex 32x and Edge 1080 Plus. Rapha cargo bib shorts.
Josh Lowndes
Age: 32
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: a Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon, wheels are Curve Dirt Hoops, Son28 and White Industries XMR+ with 29x2.2 Ikon's. Rival 1x11, 10-42 and a 32T oval. Full kLite electrics plus an Exposure Joystick on the lid for the (many) times I'll be going too slow for the dynamo.
Your key items of kit: Bags are Revelate Shrew and feed bags, Apidura in the middle and an S2S drybag on the fork. Navigation by Etrex 30x and Edge 530, sleep kit is a home-made UL bivy, OMM half-bag and cut foam mat.
Calvin Avison
Age: 56
Location: Canberra (on loan from New Zealand)
Your bike: Reilly Gradient, built from bits and bobs with a 27.5” wheelset for this ride running Race King 2.0 on the front and Racing Ralph 2.1 on rear (can’t find 20.0 Race Kings anymore). Groupset includes and Ultegra Crankset (46/36), Ultegra Di2 brifters and aero bar shifter, XT front, XTR rear with 10-42t cluster. I’m switching pedals to flats as an experiment.
Your key items of kit: Seat post bag is Revelate for OR Bivvy, Enlightened Equipment quilt and Exped mat. Revelate frame bag for spares and water bladder. Custom Stealth handlebar bag for spare boxers and socks, Ground Effect rain gear, running shorts and shirt for off the bike. On the bike wearing Nzo shorts, Mons boxers and socks, Ground Effect shirt. I’m not taking much else as I’m riding an extra 350km+ to get home and have a 5 day time limit for the 900km+.
Bradley Camgoz Posselt (racing as Clifton Hillbilly)
Age: 38
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: I'm riding my beloved magical unicorn aka Curve GXR with Curve Grav Al. 650b wheels. Tyres are 2.25" Vittoria Mezcals with a SRAM Force AXS/Eagle mullet groupset. 50cm Walmer bars provide lots of leverage and stability combined with a Redshift Shockstop stem to take the edge off the rough stuff. Super-secure Silca titanium bottle cages keep my fork-mounted bidons on the bike.
Your key items of kit: Bags are a combo of Restrap, Blackburn and Topeak. Sleep system is a Tarptent Protrail with Macpac sleeping bag and inflatable matress. A Ravpower 26800mAh powerbank ensures lights and navigation won't be an issue.
Nick Skarajew
Age: N/A
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Your bike: Curve GMX2, Single Speed 30:21 (Gears shown in image) Carbon Dirt Hoops, 3 inch tyres and Walmer bars.
Your key items of kit: Homemade bivvy and Revelate bags.
Kate Fowler
Age: 31
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: Curve GMX+ Custom Proto - Small - drop bar (50cm Walmers double wrapped); SRAM Apex/GX Eagle thanks to 12sp Ratio conversion kit (sorry SRAM) 30t x 10-52t; 29” Curve Dirt Hoops Alloy (SP Dynamo) with WTB Ranger 3.0 tyres and Selle Italia SLR lady flow saddle.
Your key items of kit: Apidura x Rapha front roll for Spark 1 sleeping bag, Sol emergency bivy, lightweight tarp and 3/4 inflatable mat. Large Topeak top tube bag for snacks, sunscreen, nurofen. Roadrunner ‘wedge’ bag for more snacks, electronics, toothbrush tools; 3 x 1L bottles on frame. Rapha x Apidura seat bag for 7Mesh rain jacket.
Hamish McGowan
Age: 22
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: Curve GMX+ prototype on Curve Alloy Dirt Hoops with SP Dynamo. Curve Walmer Bars (55) and SRAM Apex/Eagle 12 speed combination (Ratio 12 upgrade), 30t front, 10-52 rear. Vittoria Mezcal tyres (2.6 front and 2.35 rear). K Lite Dynamo light and charging system. Clip on Aero bars.
Your key items of kit: Apidura Racing Top tube, saddle and frame bag. Feedbags from Decathlon. Navigation comes from both Garmin Etrex 20 and Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. HUNGRY Big Lunch V2. Sleep system includes SOL Bivy, closed cell foam mat cut to torso size. Tools, lotions and potions, and lots of snacks
Emma Flukes
Age: 32
Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Your bike: Canyon Exceed CF SLX hardtail (Fox Factory 32 SC). Its usually a 29er frame but the tiny little version (XS size - mine) was built around 27.5” wheels to preserve good geometry. ENVE M60 rims / DT240 hubs, Vittoria Mezcals 2.35” rubber. Mix of Shimano XT/XTR gear. 2x11 with 38/28 up front and 11-40 rear, because I only have little legs.
Your key items of kit: Mix of Revelate and Apidura bags. Way more space than I need for this trip but it’s a combo I’m used to. Montbell Breeze Drytec UL bivy with Thermarest Neoair Xlite mat and S2S inflatable pillow, I’m old ok. Exposure Diablo front / Joystick helmet light. Sweet BBB carbon bar ends rescued from a mid-2000’s XC MTB because quality never goes out of fashion.
James Sloan
Age: 64
Location: Albury, New South Wales
Your bike: Motobecane Titanium SL har tail running Sram Eagle groupset, primarily Apidura Bikepacking bags with Ortlieb frame pack, Swiss DT XR331 wheels, Garmin 820 computer, Garmin inReach Mini tracker
Your key items of kit: titanium whiskey flask fixed with King Cage flask holder on chain stay loaded with only single malt scotch.
Simon Eglinton
Age: 24
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Your bike: Curve Kev of Steel set up with Maxxis Ikon 2.35s on 27.5" Curve Grav Al rims, Full K-lite set up, 550 Walmer bars and 10-42 cassette with 32t chainring (not pictured).
Your key items of kit: BBD tt bag and frame bag, homemade low-profile feed bag by Ty Domin which is one of my favourite parts, CCF mat, One Planet bag and some really cheap bivvy that I've had forever for sleeping. Big Ortlieb saddle pack with a bit of wet weather clothing and heaps of space to load up on snacks.
Adam Cant
Age: 35
Location: Mornington Peninsula
Your bike: Trek Roscoe 7 2021, Maxxis Rekon+ 27.5 x 2.8"s, Sram Eagle groupset.
Your key items of kit: Relm Cycling bib shorts and apparel, Topeak bags, Exposure lights, Garmin Edge 1000. Sleeping system is tent, sleeping bag and inflatable mattress.
Ben May
Age: 40
Location: Abbotsford, Victoria
Your bike: Trek Superfly, rigid Enve fork, 10spd SRAM XO 36t 10-40t sunrace. Custom Stans Crest MK3 wheel set, Vittoria Mezcal XC Trail 2.25” tyres. Carbon everything else.
Your key items of kit: Apidura saddle bag, Revelate mag tank, SkinGrowsBack front bag, SOL escape bivvy, Exposure MK15 race Light, Ayup helmet light, Garmin 830, couple of batteries for recharging. 2x1L bottles.
Tom Simpson
Age: 30
Location: Melbourne, Aus
Your bike: Surly, ECR, SRAM NX Eagle w Shimano Deore cranks, WTB STi40 wheel set and dynamo hub with Sinewave USB port.
Your key items of kit: probably wayyy too much grub in my frame bag, bivy, sleep bag and clothes on forks, not food in feed bags, charger in top tube bag, spare tube and rain jacket under saddle.
Jimmy Röstlund
Age: 42
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: Curve GMX+ (custom w. sliding dropouts), Curve Dirt Hoops, w. SP Dynamo, Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.6" tyres, Walmer Bars (55cm), SRAM Force 1x groupset.
Your key items of kit: Custom frame bag and top tube bag by TerraRosa Gear (Melbourne), Curve Rocket Pooches, and a couple of feed bags. Packing a SOL bivvy, foam mat, warm clothes, rain gear and some spares. Still have lots of room for snacks and food! Garmin eTrex and inReach Mini for navigation & tracking. kLite Bikepacker Pro light and USB charger.
Danny Wootton
Age: 35
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Your bike: I’m riding a Hunt frameset with SRAM GX 32t 10-51t. Wheels are Stans Flow 29 rear and Arch 29 front with MAXXIS Ardent 2.4.
Your key items of kit: Apidura saddle bag, bbd fuel tt bag. Curve rocket pooch.
Jason Tubnor
Age: 45
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: 2020 Giant Fathom 1 29er, Curve dirthoop 29ers built with SON28 dynamo wrapped in Vittoria Mezcal 29x2.35 tyres. Drivetrain is SRAM NX 1x12, 10-50 with 32T boost crank. kLite MTB dynamo lighting with USB charging. Additional lighting with Exposure Strada and Joystick. Navigation via Garmin eTrex 30x and 830 with tracking/satellite communication using Garmin inReach Mini.
Your key items of kit: Terra Rosa Gear bikepacking bags (frame, saddle, tank and feed) due to the bulletproof, indestructible nature of this kit in harsh conditions. Curve rocket pooches for fast access to clothing. Custom rocket mount hydration setup to allow for a full frame bag.
Jean-Baptiste Mariez
Age: 35
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Your bike: Curve GMX+ proto frameset, Curve dirt hoops carbon wider wheelset, Maxxis Rekon 2.6, Sram GX eagle 30x10-52, Monē oddmone steel handlebars, superstar edge 9 bmx stem, Rhino’s Masterpiece seatpost.
Your key items of kit: Fabio’s chest handlebars bag, Terra Rose frame bag,1x Ty’s feedbag. 3x 1L water bottles, tent, quilt, sleeping mat and some food.
Brian Kidd (BK)
Age: 42
Location: Pakenham, Victoria
Your bike: Giant XTC 29er, 120mm Rockshox SID Ult fork, Stans front rim with SP Dynamo, Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4’s, SRAM GX Eagle 1 x 12
Your key items of kit: Apidura Race Top Tube and Handlebar Bags, Ortlieb Saddle Bag, K-Lite Dual Always on with Qube, Terra Rosa sleeping cover and tarp.
James Garriock
Age: Peak 40s
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: Yeti ASR-C. Coops Hoops SP dyno front wheel, Enve M50 rear. Raceface cranks, XTR/XT gruppo, WTB saddle, ergon grips.
Your key items of kit: Bike Bag Dude and Restrap bags, Wahoo ROAM, B&M light, Sinewave usb out, Sea to Summit mat/bag and OR Helium bivvy.
Jules Wearne
Age: 35
Location: Preston
Your bike: 2017 Ritchey 650B frame. American Classic Wide Lightning 27.5 wheels, wrapped with Maxxis Ikon on the back and Ardent on the front. SLX Brakes. Drivetrain is mainly XT, but with a Sunrace 11-50 11speed cassette and a 32 tooth Raceface chainring. Fork is a 2015 RockShock SID. The bars are Ritchey, with cheap bar ends and aero bars fitted for a strange crazy-elk look and lots of riding positions. The classic Selle Italia Flite keeps my tushy A-OK.
Your key items of kit: Restrap saddle and handlebar bags securely and stylishly store my clothes and sleep gear, with a handy detachable feed bag on the roll for snacks and other quick access items. The Blackburn frame bag holds tools, more snacks, a very small pharmacy and lots of batteries. A borrowed Cyclewerks Bottle Cage Double Adaptor lets me run twin bottles on the down-tube without interfering with the framebag (Thanks Steve! I will soon purchase my own). My lighting setup needs work...
Mark Lunn
Age: 54
Location: Greensborough, Victoria
Your bike: Ti Curve GXR aka Kevin, with Curve AL 650b wheels and Maxxis Ikon 2.3 tyres. SRAM Force groupset with E13 cassette (9-46t) and 50cm Walmer bars.
Your key items of kit: Gorilla fork bags, Revelate Tanglefoot framebag Revelate Terrapin 14l seatbag. Navigation was a Garmin Edge 1030. Enduro front light. Several baked potatoes!
Simon Higgins (Higgo)
Age: 45
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: Curve GXR (because Kevin can do anything). 27.5 inch Dirt Hoops, Maxxis IKONs 2.2. SRAM force groupo (1x: 34T x 10-42T).
Your key items of kit: Bags are Apidura and Revelate. Lighting from a SP Dynamo hub to K-lite bike packer pro. Sleep system includes an emergency bivvy & puffer jacket. Navigation from my Garmin eTrex 30x and tracking from my Inreach mini.
Matthew Browne (Matty B)
Age: 37
Location: Melbourne
Your bike: Kona Unit (the unfashionable outdated 27.5+ QR 2017 version) that has metamorphosed over 3 years from a rigid single speed into a shreddy hardtail. Key updates on this sensible but budget build include black tape masking the hideous yellow paint details 🤮, 120mm fork, mismatched alloy 27.5” wheels (bushtrucker-built dt350 rear, basic Shimano front that came with the hand-me-down fork). Shimano XT 11spd group with SunRace jumbo cassette (11-50t) and 32t SLX cranks. 2.6 inch Vittoria Mezcals to fit in with the other racers. Homemade mud guard for that moto look. It’s a great bike, but f*** it’s heavy!
Your key items of kit: I went with the strategy of going minimal which is lighter and cheaper than lightweight gear. Sleep kit comprised of a Sol Escape bivvy with a drink bottle as a pillow. I took my 4 OG Revelate bags from 2016 which are still going strong: Terrapin, Gas Tank, feed bag and front pouch. Packing strategy has evolved over the years, feel like it’s pretty dialled now. Lots of free space to stuff supplies I pick up on the way and easy access to stuff I need (sun cream, sunnies, phone for music and photos, snacks, tool kit). I keep stuff I don’t need out of the way in the boot. Lube was handy in the dust - I had two mini soy sauce containers which was just enough. Garmin Etrex was essential, as was Sinewave beacon light (no dynamo unfortunately, so running off battery bank).
