Bikes of Dales Divide 2025

Amanda Wishart

Age: 38

Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

Bike: Vitus Rapide FS with remote lockout. Schwalbe Rick XC tyres on Santa Cruz Reserve rims. My brakes have no power so I'm relying on the headwind for stopping.

Key items of kit: Apidura bags are all a solid fit, and I'm particularly happy with the 2.5litre full frame pack that fits on my little full sus!

Saddle Bag: Thermarest Hyperion -6deg sleeping bag Klymit Insulated mat Outdoor Research Bivvy Pillow

Frame Bag: Carb mix sachets, homemade flapjack, bits n shts Powerbank and cables

Downtube Bag: Tools, including a full roll of Gorilla tape

Apidura Backcountry Pack (on my back): 2 litre bladder Snacks Trousers Overgloves

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Jade Saskia Simpson-Field

Age: 33

Location: Leeds

Bike: Cube AMS ONE11 TM full sus. It's quite a boring grey and green. Set up with an 10-51 cassette and 30t ring, SON dynamo with a K-Lite ultra V2 light and Alpkit Confucius bars. I've gone with rekon race tires and of course flat pedals for my sandals.

Key items of kit: Sandals, sleeping bag and bivvy, spare clothes, pillow and pjs, water filter and lots of tailwind.

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Richard Hart

Age: 44

Location: Kent, UK

Bike: Sonder Broken Road Ti, SRAM GX Eagle AXS (32t x 10-52t). Rockshox Sid SL Ultimate, X-Fusion Manic Drop Seatpost, Ergon GA3 Grips, SQlabs Inner barends, Favero Assioma PRO MX power meter, Vitoria Mezcal 2.35" tyres.

Key items of kit: Tailfin Bags, Exposure Six Pack front Light, Exposure Boost R & Garmin Varia 515 rear lights. Fenix HM65R helmet light. Garmin 1040 for navigation. Anker 25,000mAH power bank for charging on the go. Salomon Running vest for supplies. Aiming to stay in hotels, but carrying a Durston X-Mid 1 Solid tent, Alpkit Pipedream sleeping bag and Cloudbase mat, just in case. Alpkit waterproofs!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Reece Bezuidenhout

Age: 27

Location: South African

Bike: Mercer Hardtail

Key items of kit: New Tailfin Cargo Aeropack, Son Dynamo with klite lights. GX AXS shifting

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: Yes

Harry Johnson

Age: 24

Cap number: 0

Location: Southampton

Bike: Giant TCX with some fat tyres squeezed in. Emphasis on the squeeze.

Key items of kit: Tailfin bags, aero extensions to rest my hands and a some sweet Strada wheels

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Liam Yates

Location: Ashdown Forest

Bike: Canyon Exceed! Hutchinson Python 3 tyres in 2.3. New Wahoo Ace computer and some big water bottles for my Styrkr nutrition products:)

Key items of kit: I’ll be carrying a puffer jacket in my small backpack for when it gets cold. Chain lube and rag for mid ride cleaning of the bike. Kodak Black playlist downloaded and ready to go. And a tooth brush / toothpaste to make sure I look after my teeth!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Sam Wilson

Age: 33

Cap number: Unknown

Location: London

Bike: Crux

Key items of kit: 40t with 10-50 casette, we shall see if it’s enough. Exposure lights and fenix head torch. Specialised terra on the front and tracer on the back. Albion insulation and maap bibs. Spare socks! (Bike packed for the trip north rather than race day)

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Chris Ellison

Age: 61

Location: Austwick, Yorkshire Dales

Bike: Salsa Cutthroat 2018 with SRAM Eagle drivetrain, RatioTechnology converted shifting. Vittoria Mezcal tyres on Enve wheels with SON28 dynamo.

Key items of kit: Warm kit by PHD being down bag and down jacket. TerraNova Ulta 1 tent. Most of the base clothing is merino wool. Navigation by Garin eTrex, entertainment by MP3 players once the field of riders leaves me behind! My secret weapons include micro-waterproof-mitts, Gore oversocks and the two ride-makers are my Dales Divide buff and Pat Hall's words ringing in my ears. 😁😁🚴🏼‍♂️🚴🏼‍♂️⛺⛺

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Crispin Hoult

Age: 55

Location: Kiltarlity, Scotland

Bike: Canyon Dude Fat Bike, 4" tyres and Lauf forks

Key items of kit: Zip-tie mudguard extender, bivvi, spare socks, tights, talc & suncream (expecting everything). Pizza slices.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: Other

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Ashley Cordingley

Age: 40

Location: Peebles

Bike: Bike: Fairlight Holt Fork: RockShox SID SL Drivetrain: Shimano xt/xtr throughout Wheels: Custom carbon build

Key items of kit: Custom-made frame bags (originally designed for a different bike)

Lightweight sleep system, carried just in case

Garmin 1040 for navigation

Exposure lights for reliable illumination

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Chris Lister

Age: 45

Cap number: Unknown

Location: Cumbria, England

Bike: Ritte Crossberg Hope 20five wheels with Pro4 hubs, Specialized Tracer 700x40 tyres, tubeless with Vittoria Airliner Garvel lite inserts Shimano Ultegra 36/46 group set with Praxis bottom bracket, 11/34 cassette. Hope RX4+ callipers Crankbrotters pedals Dead Metal blast short tri bars Ritchy Carbon seat post Ritchy WCS bars and stem.

Key items of kit: Hope R4+ light Luggage - ebay specials (hopefully they last)

Saddle bag - general spare clothing. Frame bag - food Top tube bag - power bank, phone, headphones etc.

Clothing - mostly Castelli road Fluid - 1 liter bike bottle, 2x Salomon Soft flasks in Jersey pockets

Frame type: Other

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Charles Carr

Age: 54

Location: Winchester, UK

Bike: A tried and tested Scott scale 930 - safe bet!

Key items of kit: Tailfin rack, frame bag and too tube bag with a revelate bar bag. Nemo tent and a mountain equipment down bag for comfort. Lit by the ever amazing exposure 6pack. Packed for comfort not speed!!

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Alex Berry

Age: 43

Cap number: N/A

Location: Disley

Bike: Pipedream S6 Sirius Ti, Roost Ti Bars, Specialized Roval Wheelset, Conti RaceKing 2.2 Tyres, Hope Brakes, Custom Homemade Framebag, Tailfin Top Tube Bag. Going for a fast and light approach - no sleep system being carried...go big or go home.

Key items of kit: Just carrying Food and key spares, 2 x waterbottles (one in framebag). No backpack, just stuffing my pockets of my carbo bibs.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Titanium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Dan Bannister

Age: 43

Location: Rotherham

Bike: Trek Checkpoint, Lauf fork, chonky front tyre

Key items of kit: Sleeping kit in the back, frame bag full of food and determination. Exposure MAXX D and link+ helmet light.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

Oliver Glen

Age: 21

Location: Durham

Bike: Fairlight Sedan 2.5

Key items of kit: Plenty of food and enough layers to hopefully keep me warm!

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Alexander Stramma

Age: 32

Location: The Hague, Netherlands

Bike: Basso Palta 2 with GRX 820 1x12, DT Swiss CR 1400 wheels with Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 45 mm, Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow

Key items of kit: Apidura bags + race hydration vest. Ryzon bib shorts and Albion insulation & rainwear. G8 insoles & metdomes for comfort. Supernova B54 light & couple of other electronics. Sleepkit is a SOL bivvy.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: No

David Riley

Age: 63

Location: Stoke - on - Trent

Bike: Niner SiR 9

Key items of kit: Restrap Frame Bag . Revelate Saddlebag

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Courtney Currier

Age: 33

Location: Cambridge

Bike: Crust Bombora 1x11 (38x11-42) with 2.1” Teravail tires

Key items of kit: packs to hold soooo many Snickers bars! Swift zeitgest pack + feed bag, Rogue Panda blue ridge handlebar harness + bag, custom frame bag sewed by my buddy Sam.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Paul Robertson

Age: 48

Location: Northampton

Bike: Scott Scale 910, 2013

Key items of kit: Spin carbon wheels, hookless, 76 projects hiflow valves, Mescal 45's. 34t chainring, 10-50 cassette. Old skool stubbie l bend bar ends with heat shrink grips. 2nd hand but brilliant Porcelain rocket seat pack. Bespoke Wit Slinger frame bags. Apidura 3l bladder but can only use 2l due to space. Knog blinder front light with remote, bespoke 76 projects computer and light mount.

Most of my bag space is taken up with food so hopefully will lighten up along the way.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Jared Linden

Age: 34

Location: Edinburgh

Bike: Kona King Kahuna (2012). RS Recon Gold fork, WTB rims on Hope hubs, 2.25 tyres (Thuderburt rear, Ardent front) 12Speed SLX groupset, Exposure lights. Ortlieb bar and seat bag, tailfin top tube bag. I do have bivvy kit but kinda hoping not to use it.

Key items of kit: I have been appreciating the (very basic) aerobars on the road, those and the Ergon grips mean my hands should get some respite. Favero Assioma MX power pedal to track the phat watts ill be pushing at 3am.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Niall Shannon

Age: 40

Location: Edinburgh

Bike: Brother Big Bro

Key items of kit: Brother fork, Tailfin bags, Lightweight rims on DT-Swiss hubs rolling Maxxis Aspens 29x2.25, XT bits.

Frame type: Hardtail - Fully Rigid

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Si Howard

Age: 43

Location: Lincoln

Bike: Mason Bokeh

Key items of kit: Bike pretty standard from Mason. Only upgrades/changes are hope headset. 11-46 cassette and 36th front chain ring. Groupset all GRX. Wheels swapped out for Hunt Adventure 650b with Dinamo hub. Tyres Vittoria Mezcal 2.1 (for some added comfort) Dynamo running Exposure Revo front and back. Backed up with an Exposure 6 pack. Bit over kill but needed if I want to send it downhill in the dark. Bags: seat bag is Apidura - Frame Bag Tailfin, bar bag - Ortlieb , top frame bag is Alpkit.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Tom Morgan

Age: 32

Location: Ruthin, Wales

Bike: Forbidden Druid in raw carbon, 120mm front and rear. Shiny bits from Garbaruk along with Hope XCR’s and roval wheelset. Topped off with an ideal finishing kit from USE and lit up nicely by Exposure lights

Key items of kit: Restrap coming in strong with the custom frame pack and all other bags to go along with it. Space is mainly taken up by a pile of Styrkr goodness

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Rich Cutsforth

Age: 59

Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire

Bike: Trek Supercaliber

Key items of kit: Restrap luggage, jack the rack, and Alpkit stem cell. Carrying sleep mat, sleeping and bivvy bags.

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Rup Hoyland

Age: 37

Location: UK

Bike: BMC URS, SRAM RED / X01 Mullet AXS Groupset. AbsoluteBlack Oval Chainring.

Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels, SON 28 Dynamo hub. Panaracer Gravelking X1 Plus Tyres 45mm.

Redshift stem. Aerobars with Wireless Blips

Key items of kit: Altura Vortex bags.

Rab Mythic 180 sleeping bag / down jacket. Alpkit Numo sleeping mat. Nordisk Lofoten tent.

Exposure Revo dynamo front light / RedEye rear light.

Hammerhead GPS unit / Garmin inReach Mini 2 Tracker. iGaro D2 dynamo charger to charge powerbank

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Lee Aston

Age: 54

Location: Burton on Trent

Bike: Cotic Cascade

Key items of kit: Tailfin Bags

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Christopher Cayford

Age: 36

Location: London

Bike: Rondo RUUT

Key items of kit: Restrap frame bag and race top tube bag.

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Kerry MacPhee

Age: 38

Location: Stirling

Bike: Genesis Mantle

Kitted out in Shimano XTR 12sp, 32t. Vittoria Mezcal 2.25 tyres, DT Swiss rims.

Key items of kit: Restrap top tube back, frame back, stem bag, saddle bag and race vest.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Electronic shifting: No

Pawel Pulawski

Age: 42

Location: Wroclaw

Bike: Specialized Rockhopper

Key items of kit: All bags from Restrap (saddle pack 2.5l, race top tube bag 1.5l, race frame bag 4.5l, and a tool pouch under the bottom tube), two Garmin’s, and Knog lighting kit. I will be riding in Assos off-road clothing and deep-wite Suplest shoes. Let's see how dirty they end up being! 😁

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Danny Lane

Age: 34

Location: LEEDS

Bike: Windover Prototype MTB, Fox forks, Hope wheels, Shimano/Sram gripshift bodge, Thomson finishing kit, Exposure lights, Vittoria Mezcals (obvs)

Key items of kit: Full setup of Restrap bags, complete sleep system in the bar bag. Yes, I'll be sleeping! Selection of Albion kit plus a few extra odds and sods..

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Steel

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Phil Braybrooke

Age: 63

Location: Macclesfield UK

Bike: Canyon Grail ( Gen 1 ) . Running Zipp 303s wheels with Pirelli Cinturato’s . GRX Di2 with a Rotar Vegast Crank and 11/42

Key items of kit: Canyon frame bag , Ateg Burito and Restrap Saddle Bag

Haglofs Down Jacket , Shakedry jacket . Thermarest Sleeping bag and sleeping Bag with RAB Bivy

Hope R4 + , Pretzil head torch and CatEye Amp 500 standby lights with KNOG rear for lighting

Garmin 1030

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 35mm-39mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Nathan Hughes

Age: 34

Location: Leeds

Bike: Trek Top Fuel full suspension bike equipped with RockShox SID forks, a RockShox Ultimate rear shock, and a Shimano SLX groupset.

Key items of kit: This is a full Restrap race setup, featuring a bivvy sleep system complemented by a few extra layers for added warmth and comfort, along with a hydration backpack for all my snacks!

Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No

Hatty Doherty

Age: 28

Location: Sheffield

Bike: Trek Checkpoint SL5 AXS Gen 3

Key items of kit: 45mm Pirelli Cinturato Bontrager saddle and bar bag Spare shifter batteries 👀

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 45mm-50mm

Electronic shifting: Yes

Helena Sherwood

Age: 26

Location: London

Bike: Vitus substance

Key items of kit: Osprey duro running vest Meal prepped food for 3 days Hydro flask to collect hot water to hydrate food

Frame type: Gravel

Frame material: Aluminium

Wheel size: 650b (27.5")

Tyre width: 40mm-44mm

Electronic shifting: No

Valerio Stuart

Age: 38

Location: Manchester

Bike: I'll be riding my first (and hopefully not last) Dales Divide on a 2023 Salsa Cutthroat V2.

It’s running an 11-speed GRX drivetrain with a 32T chainring up front and an 11–50 Garbaruk cassette and cage out back—plenty of range for the climbs. The wheels were handbuilt in Manchester by Keep Pedalling, using DT Swiss rims and Sapim spokes. After much deliberation, I’ve stuck with what I know: Schwalbe Racing Ray & Ralph 2.25” tyres.

Comfort matters, so I’m running a Redshift ShockStop suspension seatpost—helped along by generous amounts of BumButter.

My bags include my all-time favourite long top tube bag from Tailfin, which holds food and electronics. The frame bag is a custom build from Steve Moatt, carrying my bivvy, sleeping mat, waterproofs, some food, and spares. The saddle harness is a little project of mine, currently housing an 8L Revelate dry bag with my sleeping bag and down jacket. Lastly, a couple of Decathlon feed bags hold a water bottle and more snacks.

Key items of kit: Some warm merino kit for riding and for sleeping, plus a pair of big gloves to keep my hands toasty. I’ll also be wearing a flashy windstopper from CIOVITA, which looks set to be my constant companion all the way to Scarborough, judging by the forecasted headwinds.

Lighting is covered by Exposure lights on the bike and a Fenix on the helmet—fingers crossed they’ll last the full ride. For navigation, I’m using a Garmin 1040.

And finally, I’m hoping not to get too absorbed in the race, and to take the time to snap a few photos and videos on my phone along the way.

Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension

Frame material: Carbon

Wheel size: 700c (29")

Tyre width: 50mm+

Electronic shifting: No