DotWatcher.cc
Bikes of Bright Midnight 2023
26 June, 2023
Packing for an inaugural race brings its unique challenges when riders know so little about the conditions they'll face over the coming 1,000km. Into the unknown they go!
From the mountain city of Tolga, riders head westward into the Norwegian highlands, to the coast and back again. This new route links endless gravel roads amongst farmland of the highlands before reaching the iconic fjords on Norway's west coast before heading inland again back to Tolga with a few mountains in between.
At this latitude there are so few hours of darkness, riders can be sure they'll not need too many lights but they'll be challenged in other ways along the route. Norway is a relatively new and untravelled area for bikepacking races so don't miss a beat and follow along with the .
Dominik Bokstaller
Name: Dominik Bokstaller
Age: 40
Cap number: 17
Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland
Bike: Frame: Tour de Suisse - Gravel (last minute DIY-paintjob) Groupset: Shimano GRX Di2 / Garbaruk Wheels: Hunt Limitless Wheelset Crankset: Ingrid BB: C-Bear Framebag: Packs Custom 🧁 Saddlebag: Ortlieb Saddle: SQlab
Key items of kit: Custom Framebag mady by Packs - optimising space to carry more cake!
Amy Clark
Name: Amy Clark
Age: 36
Cap number: 26
Location: Seattle, WA (USA)
Bike: Dahon Dash.
Key items of kit: Kindernay VII IGH, SP-8 Dynamo + Sinewave Beacon Headlight with USB charging, MagPed pedals. Custom frame bag from Rockgeist, Restrap race handlebar bag and Ortlieb fork bags are my favorites for bikepacking. This is a folding bike with 406 wheels because I just really love mini velos :)
Simone Eder
Name: Simone Eder
Age: 42
Cap number: 35
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Bike: I will ride my Cannondale Topstone on Hunt 650b Adventure Carbon Disc Wheels with 40mm Continental Terra Speeds. The Shimano GRX groupset with 46/30 in the front is spiced up with an XTR 11-40 cassette. Fizik Tempo Argo 3D saddle and Roval Terra Carbon handlebar with Prime Noosa mini aerobars for some comfort.
Key items of kit: To get all my stuff on this tiny bike I'm friendly supported by Tailfin with an Aero pack Carbon rack. The 4,5l Apidura framebag fills up my frame completely and is accompanied by a bolt-on Toptube bag. My sleeping setup contains a SeatoSummit Flame I sleeping bag, Thermarest NeoAir mat and a BoraGear UL bivi. Merino baselayer, Downjacket, Alpha Long Sleeve Jersey, Gilet, legwarmers, gloves, buff, headband and a 7mesh Copilot rainjacket will be in my Tailfin. Framebag for electronics and food only. A Camelbak Chase backpack for liquids.
Markus Angerer
Name: Markus Angerer
Age: 42
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: I'm riding The Bright Midnight with my Specialized Diverge from 2021 with a SRAM Force Etap setup (10-52 cassette, 40T chainring). DT Swiss GRC 1400 wheels, 45 Schwalbe G One RS tires. Saddle ERGON SR Pro Carbon.
Key items of kit: I`m using Restrap Race bags. To see everything in the bright midnight and in between, I will use my Lupine Piko headlap and Lupine backlight.
Michael Rabe
Name: Michael Rabe
Age: 37
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Bike: Steel bike built by my friend @significant.other.bikes. Oveja Negra bags mostly. Will run a rack. Tires still tbd.
Key items of kit: My hearing aid.
André Jonsson
Name: André Jonsson
Age: 38
Location: Ottsjö, Sweden
Bike: Salsa Warbird. SRAM 1x11 with Garbaruk 10-46 cassette. JRA Mahi Mahi Wheels. Continental Terra Speed/Trail 40mm.
Key items of kit: All bags are my own hobby project called Håckren Bikebäg. Lights from Lumonite. Sleeping system: Sea to Summit sleeping bag, Klymit sleeping mat and rescue bivvy. Clothing and hydration bag from USWE and navigated with Wahoo.
Claus Enneper
Name: Claus Enneper
Age: 56
Cap number: 38
Location: Oldenburg, Germany
Bike: Rigid Salsa Fargo. DT Swiss 1501 wheels and bit bigger tires Vittoria Terreno 2.1" to swallow jolts and bumps. Drivetrain is SRAM Rival with 36t chainring and 9-46 back. Pedals: Tatze two-face flat/cleat. Walmer Bar with Profile Design 35a aero extensions.
Key items of kit: Enduro shoes for some comfort. Lights from Lupine: Rotlicht intl. (back) and Blika (front). Navigations by Wahoo Bolt, and as backup an ancient Garmin Oregon 700 powered by standard batteries. Photochromatic eyewear. Sleeping bag Cumulus X-LITE 400 with Therm-a-Rest NeoAir and Tyvek groundsheet will be sufficient. 3-layer rain jacket and waterproof over-gloves. Bags from Decathlon (tiny seat bag), Revelate Designs (frame bag + top tube), Salsa (strapped on aerobars) and Brooks Feed Pouch.
I wish all the riders and the helping hands a great event🤞
Svenja Hoelzl & Bastian Cambrésy
Name: Svenja Hoelzl & Bastian Cambrésy
Age: 44
Cap number: 190
Location: Nyon, Switzerland
Bike: Open Wi.De sage green
Key items of kit: Adventure fork, SRAM eTap Force/X00 and ENVE components.
Gunnar Dethlefsen
Name: Gunnar Dethlefsen
Age: 37
Cap number: 31
Location: Kiel, Germany
Bike: It's a Dankward, a custom bike brand from Kiel in this case with an alu frame with a carbon fork and with colors of my choice. For my groupset I ride SRAM GX Eagle With 1×12 (34T/10-52T). I ride tubeless René Herse Oracle Ridge Endurance (48mm) in the front and René Herse Manastash Ridge (44mm) in the back, because otherwise it won't fit. Still pretty comfy and smooth to ride. Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT for navigation. Special gadgets are the RedShift ShockStop suspension which I really like and Ergon CF Allroad Pro Carbon Setback with Brooks C17. And of course Aerobars from Profile Design.
Key items of kit: I mainly use Apidura bags (full frame pack 12l, saddle pack 17l, long top tube pack 2l and a downtube). As a handlebar pack I choose Topeak Frontloader. My sleeping kit is a 3FUL Gear LanShan 1 Pro single tent, Therm-a-Rest Uberlite sleeping mat and Cumulus Lite line 300 sleeping bag. As light I use a simple CatEye G Volt 70.1 and a CatEye as a backlight. As my lucky item I will take a Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HPG Airpump because I always have trouble with the small ones, breaking my tube and so on.
Ramsey Hanna
Name: Ramsey Hanna
Age: 34
Cap number: 59
Location: Maryland, USA
Bike: Rodeo labs Trail Donkey 3.1 (TRAILCOW). SRAM Axs mullet drivetrain.
Key items of kit: MRP Baxter suspension fork, I9 wheelset, Tailfin rack, Rogue panda + Broadfork bags.
Arve Espeland
Name: Arve Espeland
Age: 31
Cap number: 40
Location: Kristiansand, Norway
Bike: I will be riding my FARA all- road, with Shimano Ultegra Di2 12 speed. Wheels are Fulcrum rapid 300 with Panaracer Gravelking Sk+ 35mm.
Key items of kit: Top tube bag from Tailfin, the rest is from Rosewheel Integrated bag system made for FARA. Lezyne 1600 front light and a simple Knog light in the rear. Garmin Edge 1040 for navigation.
Benedikt Stratmann
Name: Benedikt Stratmann
Age: 32
Cap number: 138
Location: Dortmund, Germany
Bike: Specialized Diverge Comp, SRAM drivetrain with 36t x 10-42t.
Key items of kit: Saddle bag: Ortlieb. Frame bag: Blackburn. Toptube bag: Bontrager.
Bastian Cambrésy
Name: Bastian Cambrésy
Age: 44
Cap number: 190
Location: Nyon, Switzerland
Bike: Open Wi-De, SRAM eTap Force & XX1 and ENVE components.
Key items of kit: 6 bags Geosmina, Lezyne Front and back light, Garmin Edge 830 and Sea to Summit sleeping gear.
Michael Knottek
Name: Michael Knottek
Age: 35
Cap number: 78
Location: Germany
Bike: Merida Silex 700
Key items of kit: Syntace C25i Wheelset with Conti TerraTrail 40mm Tubeless. Syntace AeroBar. Apidura Frame, TopTube and Seatpack.
Clemens „Peti“ Melms
Name: Clemens „Peti“ Melms
Age: 33
Cap number: 96
Location: Hannover, Kaltland
Bike: Focus Mares CX 2017 Disc Frame, SRAM Rival/Apex 11 Speed, 11-46 cassette, DT Swiss G1800 Wheels, Schwalbe G-One R 40mm Tires, Ritchey Adventure Max Dropbar, Deda AeroBar, SQ Lab Saddle, SPD Pedals, Fidlock Bottles.
Key items of kit: Acid Pack Pro Bags.
Matthias Ernst
Name: Matthias Ernst
Age: 32
Cap number: 175
Location: Bochum, Germany
Bike: Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon, Mechanical Shimano GRX 810 48/31 x 11-34. Carl Z "42" bikepacking wheelset (1450gramms 22mm inner width). Specialized S-Works Pathfinder 42mm tyres, Specialized Power saddle 155mm, Roval Terra seatpost, Richey ergomax Handlebar with Supacaz super sticky bar tape. Integrated cheap wahoo mount, trusty Shimano SPD pedals and cheap BBB aero light tribar.
Key items of kit: Bags: Ortlieb Backpackloader, Fjalraven/Specialized Framebag, Apidura Racing Long Top Tube Pack 2L, 2x Ortlieb Forkpack and Swatbox in the frame. Tentative: Rapha handlebar bag.
Light: Lupine Rotlicht or Cateye Volt 800 still debating. Wahoo ELEMNT Roam.
Sleep: Decathlon Forclaz MT900 tent for two people as we're in the team category, Bahidora mattress and Sea to Summit Spark II.
Key clothes: Rapha down jacket, GoreTex Shakedry, GoreTex Packlight trail rain pants, Assos and Rapha Bibs.
Viggo Vea
Name: Viggo Vea
Age: 50
Cap number: 147
Location: Bergen, Norway
Bike: Stribe Juno Frameset, 45mm carbon wheel in the back and a dynamo wheel in front, Pirelli Cinturato h 40mm tires. Groupset is Shimano 105 Di2 road with a 50/34 front and 11/34 in the back
Key items of kit: 7RBags seatpack, Revelate Designs framebag, Apidura toptube bag, cheap Aliexpress bag under the aerobars. Sinewave beacon Frontlight and BM Secula Rear and Garmin Explore 2 gps.
Raimonds Malisevs
Name: Raimonds Malisevs
Age: 35
Cap number: 170
Location: Riga, Latvia
Bike: Giant Revolt 1 2021, aluminium frame with carbon fork, Shimano GRX 2x10, 30/46 front (RX600), 11-40 (SunRace cassette) with RX400 derailleur, RX400 brakes (Deore XT RT-MT800 disc, L04C metal pads), PD-EH500 pedals, Schwalbe G-ONE R 700x45 tires, custom GR 531 rims 28 spokes with DT Swiss 350 hubs and SAPIM Race spokes, Salsa Cowchipper 44cm handlebar with Redshift BAR GRIPS wrapped in Cambium Rubber tape, Brooks Cambium C15 Carved saddle.
Key items of kit: Bags: Ortlieb frame, saddle and fork bags, Apidura top-tube bag. Navigation: Garmin Edge 1040. Sleep system: Alpkit Soloist, Mammut Relax Down Bag 0c, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite, Mammut pillow, Viking long sleeve. Morale boost: Kovea Supalite Titanium Stove to enjoy coffee with a view.
Jan Recker
Name: Jan Recker
Age: 34
Cap number: 119
Location: Cologne, Germany
Bike: Kona Rove ST Custom Build, Shimano Ultegra 46/30 - 11/34 Absolute Black oval, Zip 303s with Tufo Thunderos 40mm Tubeless and Profile Design AeroBars.
Not the lightest choice, but I'm going with my couch :)
Key items of kit: Bags: Mix of Apidura Frame/Saddle/Aerobag + Restrap Race Toptube bag + Hydration vest. Sleeping system: Sea to Summit Ultralight mat + Spark SP0 sleeping bag.
Tjalling Alkema
Name: Tjalling Alkema
Age: 45
Cap number: 3
Location: The Netherlands
Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SL 7 with 11-40 mtb cassette and Schwalbe G-One RS tires.
Key items of kit: Mix of Revelate, Blackburn and Canyon bags. Wahoo Roam for navigation. MSR Freelite 1 tent with Uberlite pad and lightweight quilt for comfortable nights.
Henrik Grytbakk
Name: Henrik Grytbakk
Age: 44
Cap number: 178a
Location: Trondheim, Norway
Bike: Canyon Inflite Al with mechanical Ultegra/GRX. 46/36 crank and a 11-42 cassette. Nextie rims on DT240/350 hubs, with Conti Terra Speed 40mm. Profile Design aerobar with 60mm riserkit.
Key items of kit: Garmin Edge130 for navigation. Apidura/Agu bags stuffed with warm and waterproof clothes (I very well know how Norwegian summerweather can be) A thin sleeping bag and a foam cell mat in case we can’t find any accommodation.
Bjørn Gjevik
Name: Bjørn Gjevik
Age: 33
Cap number: 52
Location: Trondheim, Norway.
Bike: Bergamont Grandurance 6. Gravel bike. Gravel tires, Scwhalbe G-one bite 45mm wth tubes. 2x10 Shimano GRX.
Key items of kit: Restrap race saddle bag. Apidura frame bag. Wahoo Elemnt Bolt for navigation. Will also strap a 2L dry bag to my aero bars.
Jackie Baker
Name: Jackie Baker
Age: 44
Cap number: 10
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Bike: Breadwinner B-Road
Key items of kit: This Breadwinner B-Road is such a good little gravel grinder! I just put new Paul Klamper brakes on it, so you might be able to see a little bling on the backside. Running my trusty Broadfork bags with the Apidura Expedition Saddle pack, as per the usual and hoping there are some ice cream treats to be found in Norway. I love my Sinewave Beacon light paired with the Son Dynamo hub, but I'm not sure I'll even need it!
Laurie Charron-Lozeau
Name: Laurie Charron-Lozeau
Age: 28
Cap number: 24
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Bike: Cervélo Aspero 2021, Shimano GRX 810 1x groupset, 40T chainring, Gabaruk 11-50 cassette, 650b DT SWISS GRC 1400 Spline wheels, Soma Cazadero 42mm tires (tubeless).
Key items of kit: Bags: Custom frame bag by Andrea Perici (@arch_ind), Apidura bolt-on top tube bag (1L), MAAP x Apidura saddle pack (7L), Velodrom x Duo Bags handlebar bag (2L), Woho XTouring and Agu feed bags (2x1L)
Sleep system: Sea to Summit Flame II sleeping bag, Sea to Summit Ultralight Air sleeping pad, Mammut air pillow, emergency bivvy, mosquito head net, sleep mask.
Other: Salomon Adv Skin 12 hydration vest (1.5L)
Michal Fok
Name: Michal Fok
Age: 38
Cap number: 47
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Bike: Cervélo Aspero 2021 - Shimano GRX with Garbaruk components - 40 x 11-50 gearing - Ultradynamico Rosé JFF tires 700x42 - ZIPP Service Course SL 70 XPLR Handlebar - Profile Design Sonic Ergo 43a Clip On Aerobar - Specialized Roval Alpinist Carbon Seat Post - Fizik Vento Argo R1 Adaptive Saddle
Key items of kit: Tailfin aeropack alloy Apidura: expedition frame pack 5.3L - top tube pack 1L - Aerobar pack 2.5 L- food pouch 1.2 L Fabric Cageless Tool Keg Wahoo Elemnt Roam V2
Thomas rouckhout
Name: Thomas rouckhout
Age: 28
Cap number: 172
Location: Brussels
Bike: 3T Exploro Ultra
Key items of kit: • Apidura expedition saddle, bar & frame bag. • Apidura Race top tube bag • Continental Race King 2.2 Black Chili tires • Ritchie WCS carbon Ergomax handlebar
Michael Rabe
Name: Michael Rabe
Age: 37
Cap number: 118
Location: California
Bike: Steel Custom made by @significant.other.bikes a few years ago
Key items of kit: Opinel from AJ
Robert Jan Wyszka
Name: Robert Jan Wyszka
Age: 38
Cap number: 154
Location: Germany, Hannover
Bike: CANYON Grizl CF SL 7 eTap FAHRRAD - BICYCLE 2022 Earl Grey SIZE: XS
Key items of kit: The top tube bag is from Canyon / Apidura. All other bags are from Cyclite. Because my frame is so small, I have Fidlock bottles that can be removed from the side. The front aero rack (carbon) is second-hand from Ebay. I navigate with an old Wahoo. The Sigma Buster 2000 HL LED helmet light is also my power bank. My tyres are Continental Terra Trail ProTection folding tyres 40-584 TLR black.
Marc Lehmann
Name: Marc Lehmann
Age: 37
Cap number: 192
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Bike: Bike: FOCUS ATLAS 8.9 Groupset: SRAM Rival XPLR with a 38 chainring and a 180 mm disc in the front Wheelset: DT SWISS GR1600 with 40 mm SCHWALBE G-ONE RS Aero bars: BBB AERO light Saddle: SQlab 60X
Key items of kit: Most important item: fo.goods "MAMPFDAMPFER" mounted underneath the aero bars - best food storage, can fit 4 cans of coke and food ;-)
Tailfin Aero pack - the sleeping (bivy, sleeping bag and air matress) and rain gear EVOC frame bag - electronics and body care milKit HASSLE'OFF toolkit with pump mounted on the top tube - hopefully not needed FIRST AID kit for the case of falls. Spare parts in there as well - hopefully not needed
WAHOO ELEMNT Roam for navigation
