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Bikes of the Bright Midnight 2025

Bikes of the Bright Midnight 2025

3 July, 2025

Filip Eidsheim

Age: 34

Cap number: 150

Location: Bergen

Bike: Canyon Grizl with 11-speed GRX (48/30 and 11-36) and my wife´s DT Swiss GRC1400 wheels with Hutchinson Caracal Race 40mm

Key items of kit: Canyon x Apidura and Cyclite bags, Moonlight BAD 700 front light and a first aid kit.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Wouter Van Beek

Age: 55

Location: Den Haag

Bike: Pilot with Pinion

Key items of kit: All tailfinn

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Jens Gärtner

Age: 56

Cap number: 122

Location: Dillenburg/Deutschland

Bike: Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 Shimano Ultegra HG800 11-34 11s

Key items of kit: Ortlieb Rahmentasche 4 Liter Ortlieb Satteltasche 16 Liter Lenkerrolle 8Liter

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Other

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

David Montero de la Torre

Age: 52

Cap number: 85

Location: Vitoria-Gasteiz

Bike: Guava Spot Rival AXS Drivetrain: SRAM Rival AXS 40t, GX Eagle 11-50, Volte Aluminum Wheels, FSA Pro Wing AGX Loop handlebar, Tires: Hutchinson Touareg 700x45 tubeless

Key items of kit: Lights: Supernova Airstream 2 & Decathlon, Navigation: Garmin Edge 1040 solar, Bags: Apidura & Decathlon & Aliexpress, Sleep kit: Escape light Bivvy & Decathlon inflatable mat & pillow, Hyfration: 2l Decathlon vest & 500ml backup bottle

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Miklos Doma

Age: 32

Cap number: 60

Location: München

Bike: Specialized Diverge

Key items of kit: Comfort

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Ivo Diedrich

Age: 37

Cap number: 2

Location: Steffenshagen Deutschland

Bike: Kona Rove St 2020 Shimano GRX Di2 special 2x11 31-48 11-42 GRX Brakes, SwissStop Discs Beast Components Carbon Gravelbar DT Swiss GR1600 wheels with 47mm Continental TerraTrail Tires

Key items of kit: Ortlieb: Handlebar, Accessory, Frame, Seat and Toptube pack Rapha Toptube pack Lezyne mini stand Pump Lupine SLAX and Lupine Rotlicht

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Tommy Catteeuw

Age: 47

Cap number: 145

Location: Belgium

Bike: Scott Addict Gravel Custom

Key items of kit: Deda Aerobars and Prologo Dimension AGX Space Saddle for comfort. Frame bags by Restap and Apidura saddlebag to store all I need along the route.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Quentin Collin

Age: 35

Cap number: 36

Location: France

Bike: My bike is a Chiru Kegeti. It's a monster gravel titanium frame with carbon fork. It's equipped with mechanical 12 speed Shimano GRX (38 tooth chainring and 11x51 cassette), Duke wheels with a Son dynamo hub, and infinity bike seat.

Key items of kit: Cockpit bags are homemade, carrying electronics, hygiene items and food. Apidura small top tube pack mostly for food.

At the rear, Tailfin aeropack for clothes and minimalist sleep system (Bivy and inflatable mat) Mechanical spares and tools are on the down tube in a Fidlock toolbox.

For lights, I have a Synewave front light USB charging port and Exposure rear light plugged to the dynamo hub, and a Go'Lum headlight.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Danie du Toit

Age: 63

Cap number: 80

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Bike: Specialized Crux

Key items of kit: Revelate designs bikebag system Mullet drivetrain : 36T chainring. SRAM FORCE 175 mm crank with SRAM XO 10-52 cassette Roval Terra wheelset with 45mm Spezialised Tracer tyres

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Colin Timm

Age: 53

Cap number: 161

Location: Frisco, Colorado, USA

Bike: Giant Revolt with 40mm Continental Terra Speed tires. Dynamo hub with Sinewave light to keep battery pack topped off (hopefully).

Key items of kit: Tail fin rear bag, Revelate frame bag and gas tank. Sleeping bag, pad and bivy.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

David May

Age: 41

Cap number: 135

Location: Netherlands/Germany

Bike: Cube Nuroad C:62 Race

Key items of kit: Apidura frame & saddle bags, USWE hydration pack, racekings 2.2, magicshine lights, patagonia puffy jacket, gorewear rain jacket, nordisk synthetic sleeping bag, tyvek bivy, and spare socks

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Tom Bremer

Age: 30

Cap number: 214A

Location: Munich, Germany

Bike: FARA All-Road F/AR

Key items of kit: - Tailfin Aeropack

  • Ortlieb Fork-Pack
  • FARA Frame Bag
  • Tailfin Top Tube Bag
  • Tailfin Cargo Cages + Seatosummit Frame Bags
  • Profile Design Sonic Ergo 39A Aerobar

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 35mm-39mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Kenneth Lømo

Age: 47

Cap number: 113

Location: Norway

Bike: Lauf Seigla

• SRAM mullet force/ transmission 10-52 , 40 t chainring • Thunder Burt 2.1 •Pro missile aerobar with SRAM blips •Assioma pro mx2 pedals

Key items of kit: •Restrap Seat and toptube bag •Rhinowalk framebag •Rapha barbag •Garmin edge 1040 solar •Lupine Blika light

My first ultra so my main goal is to survive and finish within the timeframe. I am carrying a lot of warm and waterproof clothing and planning on sleeping inside. Might be a last minute wheel change , and I am unsure if I bring a backpack

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Adam Davison

Age: 30

Cap number: 172

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Bike: I’m riding my BenBen steel frame with Panaracer Gravelking X1/SK+, Shimano GRX600 800 with a 36t Wolf Tooth chain ring in the front and 11-46 sun race cassette in the back.

Key items of kit: I have a mica rat tail in the back with a Revelate design terrapin bag and 2x king manything cages on the mica rat tail for sodas. 2x wolf tooth cargo cages on the fork with Sea to Summit 5L big river dry bags. Framebag and feedbags are from fishski designs and top tube bag is tailfin. Sleep system is a nemo tensor all season, cumulus quilt 250, and a 1p Big Agnes Fly Creek tent on the handlebars (hoping to camp in some cool places & not spend too much on hotels). 2x Blue Lug LA water bottles & a 3L USWE hydration pack. Will probably cut down a bit now that I have had a glimpse of the hike-a-bike section at Trollstigen…

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Tobias Viskum Hogaard

Age: 50

Cap number: 25

Location: Skødstrup

Bike: Giant TCX Adv.

Key items of kit: Redshift kitchensink handlebar SRAM Apex XLPR 12 speed Syncros carbon wheels Specialized Pathfinder Pro 45mm

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Joey Belshof

Age: 31

Cap number: 4

Location: Utrecht

Bike: 3T Exploro Racemax with Ekar Groupset (38T chainring and 9t-42t cassette) Hunt Carbon Gravel Wheels (Aventura tyres 38mm - with the faster Seta tyre on the back) & Deda Parabolica aerobats

Key items of kit: Miss Grape bags to bring all the essentials. A bivy, quilt and sleeping pad to get me some hours of sleep during those bright midnights.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 35mm-39mm

Electronic shifting: No

Macias Telszewski

Age: 47

Cap number: 176

Location: Mala Piasnica, Pomorskie, Poland

Bike: I ride on Rondo MYLC CF1 2023, which served me well for a few longer and shorter ultra-races so far. I have changed just about everything on the bike, so perhaps I use a Rondo frame with a bunch of upgrades;-)

Sram Rival XPLR 1x12 with 40T chainring and 10-44T in the rear. It moves mostly forward on a pair of EVANLITE New Gravel carbon wheels wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC-X's. Syntace P6 carbon seatpost with a Selle Italia Gravel seat protect my south end somewhat.

Key items of kit: I do not travel light on this occasion:

Handlebar bag from Apidura holds my accommodation as in a Nemo Hornet OSMO 1P tent, Malachowski Ultralight 300 sleeping bag, inflatable Fjord Nansen Trekker NG mattress and an NRC foil.

Frame bags carry lots of food and bits and bobs needed daily like airpods or wet wipes.

AeroPack Cargo from Tailfin carries rain/cold gear, first aid kit, workshop items, powerbanks, headlamp and a spare T-shirt if I need to bail out and come back by bus...

My USWE Hydro 8 backpack holds up to 3l of water plus a bunch of changeable lenses for my POC Devour Glasses. I also carry a hot water bottle from Elite for this luxurious hot tea moments in the middle of the night.

Tech wise: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar with additional battery, Lezyne Mega Drive 2400+ front light with an additional power bank, mobile phone with magsafe powerbank and a couple of rear lights. Garmin Fenix for navi backup and to check time;-)

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Oliver Richter

Age: 35

Cap number: 109

Location: Germany

Bike: Propain Terrel CF with DT Swiss GRC 1400 (tires: 50mm G-One RX Pro - safety first, but still fast rolling; DT Swiss clik valves), SRAM GX T-Type Front 1x40, Rear 10-52

Key items of kit: Outside: Redshift Shockstop Pro Endurance Seatpost (best upgrade ever) - Magicshine SeeMe R300 radar rearlight (with only-radar-modus for long rides) - Coros Dura (rented for the event) - Cyclite Aerobar bag for marginal watt-gains - Deda Parabolica Uno aerobar - helmet-lamp: HM65R; Zefal bottles wid mud/sheepshit-nozzlecap (!)

Inside: Top smartphone cam for the amazing views (Pixel 9 Pro), Haribo-Fueling, 2x Powerbank 10k, 1x merino-jersey and baselayer, Cumulus Downjacket, Velocio Rainanorak, OR rainpants and knitted rain-overshoes

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Mathias Väärsi

Age: 36

Location: Tallinn

Bike: Scott Addict Gravel

Key items of kit: Rain jacket

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Dennis Ulm

Age: 45

Cap number: #38

Location: Kempten (Allgäu), Germany

Bike: I’m riding a 2020 Brother Mehteh with 1x12 SRAM Rival/Force (42/10-50), Zipp 303s Wheelset and Schwalbe G One RS 45/40mm tires.

Key items of kit: My entire setup consists of Apidura Racing Series bags paired with a lightweight hydration pack — perfect for keeping things efficient.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Pedro Toro

Location: Copenhagen (but spanish)

Bike: Introducing my Omnium gravel prototype. I can’t share too many details just yet, but what I can say is that this thing has exceeded expectations straight out of the gate. I'm loving it so far. Really hoping it stays dialed in and delivers across the full race. More to come soon... Yes I love chunky tires, specially the Race Kings, they are fast on the road and compact gravel, so far I'm in love with them. Regarding the drive train it is just a Frankenstein one some GX mtb cranks, Rival AXS and Red calipers, they are the best!!! yeah I'm a Sram guy :)

Key items of kit: Nothing fancy when it comes to my saddle and frame bags, just some random gear I pulled together. Since this is my first ultra, I’m still figuring out what to pack and how to pack it, so I didn’t go for any high-end brands this time. It’s all a bit of an experiment, honestly! Hopefully everything holds up for the full race… and fingers crossed it’s all waterproof! 😅 Setup-wise: the top tube bag’s reserved for snacks and ride fuel, the frame bag will carry some quick-access layers and electronics, and the saddle bag’s packing the sleep system. I’ll also have an Evoc 6L backpack with a few extras along the way.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

David Kealhofer

Age: 34

Cap number: 221A

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California

Bike: Fairlight Secan 3.0

Key items of kit: Tumbleweed Mini Pannier Rack + OMM Atlas Pack = embarrassingly blingy but super nice, lightweight (a little over 700 g together), secure, easy to pack, and the right size. RH Corkscrew Climb semi-slicks: fast, grippy, comfy, stoke-generating. For sleep, I'll wear insulated pants and jacket inside rain pants and jacket inside the SOL bivy, on top of the little Gossamer Gear sleep mat.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Patricia Rueda Garcia

Age: 34

Location: Bonn (Germany)

Bike: Canyon Grail 7 Al, SRAM eagle GX 10-52 cassette. Schwalbe G-one R 45mm tires with tubeless setup.

Key items of kit: Bags: Restrap bar bag 4l, restrap saddle bag 8l, Tailfin frame bag small and camelbak chase vest with 2l reservoir hydration pack.

Gear highlight: see to summit sleeping bag extra light, Silva headlamp and supernova light, Garmin edge 830, Patagonia down jacket, and raining clothes from Gore. Merino gloves for the cold nights. Electronic gear. And many gels, magnesium and pain pills.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Cidney

Age: 26

Cap number: 224B

Location: Nürnberg

Bike: Focus Atlas 6.9 customized to mullet build

Key items of kit: Apidura top tube bags Restrap aerobar bag Focus adventure rack with Apidura cargo bags

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Isabelle Scheyltjens

Age: 36

Cap number: 14

Location: Bierbeek, Belgium

Bike: My companion in the Bright Midnight will be an Open Wide gravel bike with a modified 1x12 drivetrain with a 38T chainring and 10-51 cassette and electronic shifting. The bike features 40 mm Tufo Thundero HD tires on a custom carbon wheel set equipped with a DT Swiss dynamo hub.

Key items of kit: Bags: Tailfin top tube bag and frame bag, Ortlieb handlebar pack and Revelate Designs Terrapin seat pack and snack bag. Lighting system: kLite Ultra adventure front and rear light connected to the dynamo hub Sleeping system: Cumulus X-Lite 200 sleeping bag, a ThermaRest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad, and a OR Helium Bivvy (and as a luxury item a silk liner) I will also carry a Salomon ADV Skin Cross Season 15 hydration vest for extra snack space.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Anja

Cap number: 220B

Location: Leipzig (GER)

Bike: Cannondale Topstone S

Key items of kit: all styles in the mix - brave gravel pony with custom made ILTB wheelset, SON dynamo, Syntace aerobars; bags by Revelate Designs, Restrap and custom made; Albion hi-vis vest for carrying water & sweeeets & my rainjacket

Frame type: Gravel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Max

Age: 27

Cap number: 151

Location: Germany

Bike: Specialized Crux 2022 customized GRX 810 with Garbaruk parts, PiRope Wheels, BEAST Cockpit, BikeAhead Hyppersaddle

Key items of kit: Cyclite Bags, Tailfin Rag, Evoc Hydration Backpack Lupine lights

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Lukas Pantelejevas

Age: 26

Cap number: 50

Location: Lithuania, Palanga

Bike: Ribble CGR 725. mullet - 105 shifters, RS510 36/46, GRX 812 rear derailleur with goatlink 11-42. Hope RS PRO4 hubs with DT swiss G540 rims. Zipp Vuka aerobars.

Key items of kit: Ortilieb saddle bag with bivvy setup. Restrap frame bag and top tube with essentials. Tarka handlebar bag to carry food. Salomon ADV12 to carry rain gear and spare clothes.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Flynn Lewer

Age: 39

Cap number: 18

Location: Lahti

Bike: Fairlight Strael 3.0

Key items of kit: Chris King ISO / 30mm carbon hoops Thomson stem / seat post Grx di2 / Magene power meter Wizard works framebag / Restrap top tube bag 8 year old Apidura seat bag

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Ariane Richter

Age: 51

Cap number: 220 A

Location: Berlin, Germany

Bike: SOUR Purple Haze with SRAM Force AXS 38 and 10-52, Duke handbuilt wheels by velo.local, 40mm tubeless Schwalbe G-One RS Pro, Redshift Suspension Stem and Seatpost

Key items of kit: BAGS: Restrap Frame Bag for electronics and food, Food pouch by ena.bags for more snacks or 1 bottle, aero front bag for rain gear (sadly), Tailfin aeropack for sleeping system and warm clothing (also sadly). Resupply vest by albion with 2l water. LIGHT: SON Ladelux, Lupine Piko helm light and Lupine rear light. SLEEPING: Seatosummit Spark sleeping bag, Thermarest NeoAir mat, MSR ebivy

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Tobias Obermann

Age: 33

Cap number: 32

Location: Trondheim

Bike: Cube Nuroad SLT (2023)

Key items of kit: 15l saggle bag 4l frame bag 2l top tube bag ...every bag properly stuffed to (hopefully) endure whatever the weather will throw at me...

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Paul Liu

Age: 54

Cap number: 110

Location: Oakland, California, USA

Bike: Specialized S-Works Crux with SRAM Force 43-30 cranks and Force XPLR 10-44T cassette, Roval Terra CL wheelset with DT350 hubs, 700x40 Caracal Race front and 700x42 S-Works Pathfinder rear, Redshift Shockstop Pro stem, Cane Creek eeSilk+ seatpost, ControlTech aero bars.

Key items of kit: Tailfin carbon rack with AP18 rack top bag, frame bag, and mini pannier, Cyclite aero bag, MLD Soul bivy, Zenbivy 25x72 sleeping pad, Feathered Friends Swallow 20 sleeping bag, Lezyne Macro Drive 1400+ front light, Fenix BC26R helmet light.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Andy Morgan

Age: 59

Cap number: 68

Location: Ruthin North Wales uk

Bike: Pearson, Around the Outside.

Key items of kit: Tailfin rear, Restrap front and middle, Exposure Revo dynamo light, 2x 1 ltr bottles, Garbaruk rear cassette, merino jerseys, Bach half tent, big dollop of optimism for getting round in 6.5 days ! Riding back to UK so damage limitation strategy !

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Charlie Stewart

Age: 37

Cap number: 174

Location: London

Bike: Sturdy Cilla custom

Key items of kit: Apidura race packs

Frame - 3D printed Ti construction with fully internal cable routing and custom geometry

Fork - 3D printed Ti with internal cable routing

Seatpost and seat clamp - 3D printed Ti seatpost topper - integrated seatpost clamp

Cockpit - 3D printed Ti with fully internal cable routing and custom geometry

Crankset - 3D printed Ti in custom length

Chainring - Custom machined Ti X1 chainring (42t)

Groupset: SRAM Force etap 1x (custom Sturdy ti brake levers and jockey wheels)

Computer and accessory mount - 3D printed fully adjustable mount with head unit mount and lower accessory mount.

Bottom bracket - Custom machined Ti T47 bottom bracket with Enduro bearings and Sturdy BB tool

Through axles - Custom machined Ti through axles

Bolts - Custom machined Ti Torx head bolts with included tool

Bar end plugs - Custom machined Ti bar end plugs

Rotor lockrings - 3D printed Ti - same installation tool as BB

Wheels: Sturdy Carbon Spoke Wheelset

Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC

Aero bars: Wattshop Minimoi

Lights: front: Exposure Race, back: Exposure Blaze

Head unit: Coros Dura

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Leonardas Marozas

Age: 42

Cap number: 64

Location: Lithuania

Bike: Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 5.0

Key items of kit: Tailfin frame and top tube bag, apidura seat bag

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Stefanie

Age: 39

Cap number: ?!?

Location: Dresden, Germany

Bike: Surly Midnight Special with 105 50/34 crank, 105 cassette with 11-34, GRX 600 brakes (better grip of the handles) DTSwissG540 with Schwalbe G One Overland 40mm

Key items of kit: Frame, top tube and seat bag by restrap, food pouch by Zefal, Down tube bag (used as second frame bag) by Apidura, lighted by head torch taillight. In the seat bag goes my warm warm warm sleeping bag for extra cozy nights.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Nadja

Age: 51

Cap number: 20

Location: Wolfenbüttel Germany

Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 with 2x11 GRX 31/48 front and 11/42 back (upgraded with the Roadlink). I just changed to SON28 with Supernova M99 dy light and E-Werk to load all my electronics. Aerobars by Profile Design and a wild mix of bags by Ride And Get Lost, Cyclite, Topeak and Sea To Summit.

Key items of kit: I decided to take my Lanshan 1 tent with me to be independent and able to sleep where and when ever I want to. One of my food pouches carries my small kitchen for having some coffee when ever it’s needed (and I will need!)

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Peter Schlick

Age: 56

Cap number: 17

Location: Miesbach, Germany

Bike: Orbea Terra Gen 1.

Key items of kit: GRX 2x11 48/31-11/36 Wheels Leeze CH40 Front: 45mm Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H Rear: 45mm Conti Terra Speed Bags: Apidura, Giant, Cylite

Charlotte Reith

Age: 35

Cap number: 48

Location: Munich

Bike: Fugio Genesis

Key items of kit: Fugio Genesis

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Electronic shifting: No

Remco Van Gestel

Age: 30

Cap number: 132

Location: Belgium

Bike: Cannondale Topstone 0:

  • Aluminium frame
  • Shimano GRX 810 2x11 groupset, 48-31 front, 11-42 rear
  • DT Swiss GR1600 wheels
  • Schwalbe G-One R Pro 40 mm tires
  • Redshift suspension stem
  • Profile Design aero bars
  • Lezyne lights

Key items of kit: - Tailfin bags

  • Apidura Hydration Vest
  • Pajak Radical ULZ sleeping bag
  • quite some good value stuff from Decathlon: MT900 sub 1 kg tent, sleeping mat, down jacket
  • Velocio Rain Anorak
  • Gore-Tex Lupra Rain Shorts
  • two 3D-printed aero bar bridges for my Garmin, phone and front light
  • Fenix headlamp

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Łukasz Klimaszewski

Age: 36

Bike: Van Rysel GCR

Key items of kit: Wolfpack superspeed 38mm Igpsport 800 Towild BR1000 light

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 35mm-39mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Jimmy Grade

Age: 54

Cap number: 101

Location: Kessel-Lo Belgium

Bike: Mondraker ARID SL

Key items of kit: Drivetrain Sram Red XPLR 38T chainring, 10-46 casette, Tailfin backloader, BBB frontloader

Jake Dugdale

Age: 34

Cap number: No idea

Location: Corfu

Bike: Pearson On and On Gravel Wep Decathlon Aero dodgers Brooks plush 2 X GRX with wolftooth link to squeeze in an 11-46T for the hills

Key items of kit: Brooks topper RESTRAP full frame Old Man Mountain Rear Rack and Atlas Pack

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Marcel

Age: 43

Cap number: 77

Location: Germany

Bike: Cinelli Zydeco

Key items of kit: Complete GRX

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Akke van der Meer

Age: 31

Cap number: 210B

Location: Oslo

Bike: CUBE Nuroad Ws C:62 Pro Smokeyblush/Grey

Key items of kit: Topeak Bikepacking Set

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: Other

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Ruben Noorman

Age: 34

Cap number: 154

Location: Zwolle, Netherlands

Bike: Santa Cruz Stigmata with SRAM Force x Eagle XO1 Mullet setup; 10-50 with 44 chainring. 45mm Gravelking X1 Tires on FFWD Drift Wheels

Key items of kit: Restrap bags with large saddle bag with goods to keep me dry and warm

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Adrien

Age: 36

Cap number: 127

Location: Sarlat - FRANCE

Bike: Hi guys ! My bike is the Trek Checkpoint Sl7 e-tape. Just with a new wheel set, the fabulous 37V pro 😍 And a ceankset with power meter, this one will help me avoid going too hard from the start!

Key items of kit: For this race, I tried to keep my setup as light as possible – but the wet weather forecast and the uncertainty of finding places to sleep forced me to carry a fair amount of gear anyway.

So here’s what I’m riding with: • 🎒 A Restrap Race 8L saddle bag – packed with food, repair kit, leg warmers, waterproof Gore overtrousers, and a spare pair of socks. • 🔋 A Restrap top tube bag – holding two external batteries (25,000mAh and 10,000mAh), fruit jellies and electrolytes. • 🧥 A frame bag under the top tube – with my Gore Shakedry jacket (warm and fully waterproof), cables, a spare tube, and a few random colorful bits and pieces. • 🥜 Two food pouches – stuffed with energy gels and dried fruits. • 🛌 A Restrap Race aero bar bag (8L) – with my Sea to Summit Spark SP II sleeping bag and an ultralight mattress.

🎒 A small backpack – with a down jacket, basic first aid kit, and a few accessories. Super light.

On me: cereal bars, a sleeveless down gilet tucked inside my Assos bibs, and thick Gore-Tex gloves also stashed in the bibs (yes, really).

💡 On the helmet: a headlamp from STOOTS – super bright and reliable.

Total weight: 16.5 kg fully loaded (not counting up to 2.25L of water).

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Ingmar Sluiter

Age: 29

Cap number: 53

Location: Assen, The Netherlands

Bike: Ridley Kanzo Adventure

Key items of kit: A full waterproof kit and a big cassette

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Wojciech Nogalski

Age: 44

Cap number: 56

Location: Poland

Bike: Specialized Crux frame (2025) Shimano GRX Di2, 1x, 40t crank, 11-46 casette, InPeak power meter Evanlite New Gravel carbon wheels Hutchinson Caracal Race tires Pro Missile aero bars

Key items of kit: Navi: Garmin 1040 Solar Bags: Tailfin 4.5l framebag, 3.0l top-tube bag, 6l Topeak seatbag Clothes: Assos bibs, Ale shirt, Albion cycling rain jacket, gillet and wind jacket, Castelli Nemo gloves Sleeping system: Therm-a-rest Neoair xlite nxt + bivvy Fuelling: Precision Hydration flow-gel, carb drink, Never2 gel, Never2 carb-drink

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Simon Michalowicz

Age: 43

Cap number: 5

Location: Røn / Norway

Bike: Veloheld Icon X

Key items of kit: Key items: Gear Ratio: 10-52 / 38, 12-speed 1x SRAM Electronic Mullet Light: Son 29 Dynamo / Supernova M99 DY Pro Tires: Schwalbe Overland 1.8 Bags: Ortlieb Saddle, Frame & Handlebar Bag, Tailfin Top Tube Bag Saddle: SR Allroad Core Pro Sleeping Bag: Western Mountaineering Astra Lite Quilt Mattress: Exped Ultra 3R Mummy

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Stephan Klupsch

Age: 43

Cap number: 79

Location: Munich

Bike: Cube Nuroad with 43/30 and 10-36 SRAM Force shifting. I use Schwalbe G One R with 40mm tubeless on Newmen rims and a SON hub dynamo.

Key items of kit: Mixture of Ortlieb saddle bag, Brooks top tube bags and Topeak front bag. Frontlight is a Lupine Grano, directly charged from the cycle2charge adapter or via a small powerbank as a buffer. Navigation with a Garmin Edge 840.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Tobias Juul

Age: 28

Cap number: 51

Location: Lofoten

Bike: Omnium CXC Titanium

Key items of kit: Sram gearing Garmin Etrex32 (wonky ancient gps)

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Ben Kavanagh

Age: 25

Cap number: 160

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Bike: Ridley ASTR

  • SRAM Rival/Gx axs (I’ve swapped to a mullet since taking this photo after seeing some pics from the route) 10-52 cassette and 42T chainring.
  • DtSwiss grc1400 wheels with 2.1” Schwalbe thunderburts, hoping the extra width keeps it comfy.
  • A mix of restrap and tailfin bags

Key items of kit: Gore Tex water proof trousers and jacket considering Norway’s weather. Salomon hydro pack with lots of extra space for food.

Sleep setup consists of a lightweight down sleeping bag, alpkit bivy, Robens vapour mat and inflatable pillow.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Alari Orav

Age: 47

Cap number: 43

Location: Tallinn, Estonia

Bike: Fairlight Secan 2.5 SRAM Force/Rival AXS drivetrain Campagnolo Levante wheels Hutchinson Caracal Race tyres

Key items of kit: Tailfin bags 2 rain jackets Vileda gloves A lucky talisman from my son

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Mihkel Noor

Age: 40

Cap number: #71

Location: Estonia

Bike: Orbea Terra

Key items of kit: bags by Tailfin rainjacket by 7mesh frontlight by Gloworm

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Eva

Age: 40

Cap number: 222

Location: Germany

Bike: Factor LS with SRAM Force Axs and 10-50 Cassette and a 40t Chainring in the front.

Key items of kit: Factor LS with Black Inc Wheelset and Force Axs

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Jan-Hendrik

Age: 34

Cap number: 222

Location: Germany

Bike: Self Painted Open Upper with 650b Setup and 2.1” Tires. SRAM Red Shifters and a SRAM XX1 rear Mag 42t in the front and 10-50t at the back

Key items of kit: Tailfin Cargo Cyclite Foodpouch and Aero Front Pack Fjalraven Framebag

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Flo

Age: 47

Cap number: 37

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Bike: My beloved Fairlight Faran, with too many technical issues to list, sadly.

Schwalbe G-One R on two different wheels, 1*12 GRX gearing, nothing special really beyond just being a nice ride.

Key items of kit: Spare tubes and patches 😢, a mix of self made and Vaude/Ortlieb bags. Sleep setup consists of a bivy, sleeping bag and a mattress.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Katrien De Smet

Age: 38

Location: Hamme, Flanders

Bike: Salsa Warbird, custom build with Hunt Gravel X wide and Classified powershift hub. Gearing is a 10-40 cassette and 42T chainring with Sram Force/Rival Axs drivetrain and a Quarq powermeter. Sram wireless blips on the aerobars with leap components mounts. I wuill be riding Schwalbe G-one RS pro 45mm in the rear and R-pro 50mm up front.

Key items of kit: Tailfin aeropack (cargo) and top tube, one foodpouch and wolftooth downtube for spares. Frontlight is a battery powered Lupine Piko that can also work as a powerbank. I will take a full sleeping kit, being a Therm-a-rest Xlite, Spark 2 sleeping bag and msr E-bivy. Clothes are full Albion kit and a Osprey racevest with bladder. I'll be using a Garmin Edge 1040 solar to find my way trough the beautifull fjords.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Richard Schroeder

Age: 35

Cap number: 7

Location: Ingolstadt

Bike: Cervelo Aspero 5

  • SRAM Force XX1 Mullet 36t - 10/52t Drivetrain
  • Hope RX4 Brakes
  • Fulcrum Red Carbon Wheelset
  • Conti Terra Trail tires
  • control tech sirocco aerobars
  • Suicycle Asssaver

Key items of kit: Wahoo Roam 2.0 3l Tailfin toptube bag 4,5l Tailfin frame bag Lupine R7 Piko frontlight Sigma USB backlight MSR e-bivi Rapha Pufferjacket Apidura hydration backpack/west

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Paulius Petrauskas

Age: 33

Cap number: 12

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania

Bike: Aluminium Giant Revolt from 2022 with Shimano Grx 2x10, Vision aluminium wheelset and Tufo Thundero 44mm tyres.

Key items of kit: Decathlon drybag on top of Ortlieb Quickrack in the bag, Decathlon fork strapped to aerobars in the front and a custom framebag by Ride and Get Lost from Poland. Using a 3ufl tyvek bivy, a Decathlon pad and a Pajak sleeping bag as my sleep system.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Jens Jacobsen

Age: 51

Cap number: 212A

Location: Oslo, Norway

Bike: Seraph GRO29 Carbon frame, 2X12 speed GRX and Elite gravel wheels with Terra speed 45 mm tubeless. Tri bar from Deda.

Key items of kit: Ortlieb saddelbak. Apidira frame and toptube bag. Big Agnes Tiger Wall tent i front, light sleeping bag and mattress.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Tomas Milišauskas

Age: 39

Cap number: 67

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania

Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SL with SRAM Rival groupset Drivetrain: SRAM Rival AXS 42t with powermeter, Eagle GX 10-52 cassete. Zipp 303 XPLR S carbon wheels Schwalbe G-One R 45mm tires

Key items of kit: Apidura framebag, Revelate Spinelock 16L saddlebag, Apidure top tube bag, Tarka stem bag (Baika Tour edition). Tech: Hammerhead Karoo 2 computer, 2 powerbanks (10k +5K), DJI action camera, mini drone, Knog Blinder light, Knog Scout for security For sleeping: bivy, sleeping pad, sleeping bag.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Eric House

Age: 37

Location: conroe

Bike: Chumba Sendero Single Speed 32x18

Key items of kit: SNACKS & plenty of space for them!!! Some cold weather stuff & my boombox.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Andrei

Age: 36

Cap number: 104

Location: London UK (Russian)

Bike: Syre Punkcake frameset (made in Saint Petersburg) built myself with SRAM AXS mullet setup, 42T chainring & 10T-50T garbaruk cassette. Tyres: Schwalbe G-One R Pro front and G-One RS Pro rear both 50mm. Profile Design aerobars with carbon poles from ali.

Key items of kit: Tailifin bags + revelate pitchfork on aerobars, OMM Mountain Raid 160 sleeping bag and MSR bivy, yellow thermarest pad.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Marcus Franzen

Age: 46

Location: Prien, Germany

Bike: Canyon Grail 7 SRAM Rival AXS, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC, wolf tooth 38T oval chainring

Key items of kit: Apidura bags, Durston X-Dome 1+, WM Megalite, Nemo Tensor AllSeason, mainly decathlon clothing, Crankbrothers shoes / pedals, Karoo, Lupino Piko

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Nick T

Age: 54

Location: Brighton UK

Bike: Chiru Divider fitted with 10-52 x 30T Aero bars fitted with blips, reserve wheels and Maxxis Aspen tyres

Key items of kit: Light weight sleep kit, cloths to try and keep warm and dry ish. Lots of fuel Bug mesh head cover

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Hugo Beckers

Age: 44

Cap number: 98

Location: Gent

Bike: Isaac Torus

Key items of kit: Sram Force/Gx mullet setup 36- 10-52 Fore GD Carbon Wheels Son Dynamo, supernova lights Restrap bikepacking setup Ritchey handlebar

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Borghild Storaas

Age: 32

Cap number: #230A

Location: Oslo, Norway

Bike: Cannondale Topstone Carbon 5

Key items of kit: Bags: Ortlieb Light: Nitecore BR35 Sleeping Bag: Mountain Equipment lightweight bag Bivy/Sleeping cover: Mammut sleeping bag cover Mattress: Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xlite NXT Extras: Candy (essential!)

Sherry Cardona

Age: 31

Cap number: 91

Location: Amsterdam

Bike: Bike: Rose Backroad with SRAM AXS mullet set up, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tyres 40mm, Redshift suspension stem, Kogel Kolossos Overside derailleur cage and Control Tech aerobars

Key items of kit: Tailfin Aeropack, Tailfin Top Tube bag, Apidura frame bag, Albion Cycling Apparel, Quoc shoes, Supernova light and Insta360 Go 3S action camera

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Gary Ballantyne

Age: 53

Cap number: 125

Location: Scotland

Bike: Enigma Escape

Key items of kit: GRX 12sp Di2 2x Vecnum stem Mix of Apidura and Restrap bags Outdoor Research Helium bivi. ME Firefly bag Thermarest mat.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Joncheray jeremy

Age: 37

Cap number: 46

Location: Liège - Belgium

Bike: Graxx - Origine

Key items of kit: Shimano Grx 820 - 42 X 10/52 Bags Restrap Carbon Wheels Vega c35 pro Tyres hutchinson touareg

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Michael Sherman

Age: 38

Cap number: 21

Location: Offenbach am Main

Bike: Focus Mares AL

Key items of kit: Bags: Ortlieb Frame Pack 4L, Ortlieb Valve Drybag 6L, Fuel Pack 1L, Assos x Mammut Vest with 1.5L Bladder, Wishbone Stabilizer

Electronics:Lezyne Infinite Power Pack & Multi Drive 1000 Lumen Front Light, 20k Powerbank, Fast Charger, Magnetic Cables, Wahoo ELEMNT Roam, iPhone.

Sleep: Sea to Summit Spark 1 Sleeping Bag, Inflatable Pillow, Thermo Bivy, Facemask, Earplugs.

Warmers: Assos Dyora RS Rain Jacket, Patagonia Micro Puff Jacket, Assos Winter Knee warmers, Seal Skin Waterproof Socks.

H&M Boxer Shorts and warm long Socks.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No