DotWatcher.cc
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