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Bikes of Lakes ‘n’ Knödel 2024
31 July, 2024
This first edition of Lakes ‘n’ Knödel is set to be an exciting event in an area that's been crying out for bikepacking events for years. The borderlands between Austria and Switzerland offer some of Europe's finest riding through the Alpine landscapes and some champagne gravel. This inaugural event has attracted 167 riders to its start list who will be lining up on the shores of Fuschlsee in Austria and riding across the Austrian/Swiss border a handful of times before finishing at Lake Constance in Switzerland.
This fixed 750km gravel route prioritises the riding experience, community spirit and culinary art is dubbed as ideal for a rookie rider thanks to the plentiful accommodation and excellent food at the mountain refuges. As the name implies, there’s also plenty of opportunity for some swimming and cooling off in the summer sun.
The event has incentivised green travel to and from the event by offering entry discounts to those who reach the start line via train and bike. This is an excellent example of a new race writing their own rules and encouraging the behaviours they would like to see expanded within the sport.
Follow along with when the event starts on Saturday morning.
Bruno
Age: 46
Cap number: 135
Location: Fribourg, Switzerland
Bike: Rodeo Labs TrailDonkey 3.1, SRAM AXS 34/10-52, Zipp 303s, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 45mm.
Key items of kit: Tailfin Aeropack, Frame, and Top Tube Bag. Pajak Radical ULZ Sleeping Bag with Katabatic Bivy.
Eric Zachhuber
Age: 30
Cap number: 131
Location: Linz, Austria
Bike: Will ride the 1st Edition of Lakes&Knodel with my Salaki. It’s a handmade Titan Cargo from @rockettitanium (Leonding/Upper Austria). Roland has an eye for lovely details and aesthetics.
It’s like a forever bike.
Key items of kit: My fully bag system is from Restrap (Race Edition), except the down tube bag (Tailfin). I hope that my customized frame bag from Jakob (von_berg_bags) will be ready for the race—last-minute order!
Light, waterproof, long-lasting, clean. My light system is from Lezyne and will get me through the nights.
I will sleep in my sleeping bag from Mountain Equipment on a cut-to-size Therm-a-Rest Z, with my beloved Sea to Summit pillow.
Jule Bötel
Age: 40
Cap number: 19
Location: Garmisch-Patenkirchen
Bike: Ghost Asket CF, SRAM Transmission, 32T Chainring, Fizik Vento Argo / 3D Printed Saddle.
Key items of kit: Tailfin Bags
Matthias Csernak
Age: 33
Location: Cologne, Germany
Bike: Canyon Grizl
Key items of kit: Restrap Racing Bags, Ortlieb Ass Rocket, and Chrome Food Pouch. Still questionable: replace my loved Ergo Onepiece cockpit with an aluminum handlebar and aerobars. Then I would also go with Cyclite Aero Bag.
Jasmin Franceschini
Age: 26
Cap number: 56
Location: Innsbruck, Austria
Bike: Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 2023, Schaltwerk: Shimano GRX 800, Bremsen: Shimano GRX 600, Laufräder: WTB, Reifen: Continental Speed.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Seat Pack 16.5L, Ortlieb Handlebar Pack 15L, Ortlieb Fork Pack 4L, Fjällräven/Specialized Frame Bag S.
Torben Schütte
Age: 32
Cap number: 14
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Bike: Rondo Ruut AL1 (2020), SRAM Apex 42/11-42, DT Swiss GR1600 700C wheelset with Continental Terra Trail 40mm, Ergon Allroad bar tape.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Saddle Bag 16.5L, Ortlieb Frame Pack 4L, Platzangst Top Tube Bag, Nitecore BR35 front light, TCM rear light, summer sleeping bag, Forclaz MT500 Air mattress, Mountain Equipment Ultralite Bivy. Not pictured: Dynafit Ultra Pro 15 hydration backpack (1.5L bladder).
Max Muller
Age: 32
Cap number: 80
Location: Luxembourg
Bike: Grizl 7 (nach Bright Midnight jetzt der zweite Rahmen), die komfortable Variante mit Federgabel
Key items of kit: Gepäckträgertasche, Ortlieb Wasserdichte Raketentasche fürs Zelt, Getränkehalterung ist Milchtütenkompatibel (da staunt sogar die Kuh)
Tim Hanel
Age: 27
Cap number: Trio 2
Location: Kuchen, Germany
Bike: Bulls Copperhead 3plua
Key items of kit: Rakete, Rahmentasche, Aero-Bars
Roy Ebelt
Age: 39
Cap number: 79
Location: Murrhardt - Germany
Bike: ARC8 Evolve FS - XX SL.
Key items of kit: NonPlusComponents Wheelset, Cyclite Top Tube and Aerobar Bag, Wolfpack Speed 2.4 tires, lighted by Lupine.
Marco Schicker
Age: 41
Location: Austria
Bike: Salsa Cutthroat rigid, SRAM 1x12, running on 29" 2.25" Mezcal tires and Hope calipers.
Key items of kit: SON dynamo with K-Lite front and rear light, Gramm custom full frame bag, and Cyclite Aero bag.
Marco Domanowski
Age: 37
Cap number: 96
Location: Donauwörth, Germany
Bike: BMC URS 01 Two, ICS MTT x Redshift Suspension Stem, Micro Travel Technology Stays, Ergon SR Men Pro Saddle, SRAM X01 Eagle AXS, SRAM Force 1 38T, SRAM XG 1275 Eagle 10-52T, LOOK X-Track Race Carbon Ti Pedals, Schwalbe G-One RS 40-622, Profile Design Sonic Ergo 50A Aerobar.
Key items of kit: Apidura Racing Long Top Tube Pack (2L), Racing Frame Pack (4L), Racing Saddle Pack (5L), Supernova Airstream 2 Upside-Down, Nitecore NU25UL - Ultralight.
Richard Ilg
Age: 43
Cap number: 127
Location: Kollbrunn, Switzerland
Bike: Trek Checkpoint ALR 5, tires: 40mm Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H Classic, Shimano GRX 810, cassette: 11-40, 11-speed, chainring combination: 2x11-speed crank, 46-30T.
Key items of kit: Handlebar Bag: Bontrager 9L, Saddle Bag: Ortlieb 16.5L, Frame Bags: Bontrager 5.9L, Top Tube Bag: Apidura, 2L. Sleeping System: Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, Sleeping Bag, Isomat—if possible: in hotels or huts. Light: Front: Fenix BC26R, Back: To be defined. Bike Computer: Wahoo ELEMNT Roam.
Benny
Cap number: 140
Location: Vienna, Austria
Bike: Cannondale Topstone. Apidura Bags, SRAM Rival 1x12/40T 10-44, Pathfinder Pro 42mm tires.
Birgit Kömmling
Age: 46
Cap number: 66
Location: Meerbusch, Deutschland
Bike:Ritchey Outback 50th Anniversary Edition, GRX 600 / 12-fach, DT Swiss P1800 wheelset with 40mm Schwalbe Overland tires.
Key items of kit: Saddlebag: 17L Apidura Expedition, Frame Bag: 4L Apidura Racing, Top Tube Bag: Apidura Racing, Food Pouch: Apidura Expedition, Handlebar Bag: Chrome.
Johannes Schneider
Age: 39
Cap number: 120
Bike: Canyon Grail AL
Key items of kit: Apidura bags
Stefan Probst 1of1 Austrian Bikes
Age: 44
Cap number: 10
Location: Mondsee
Bike: G.01 Wings for Life Leopard Edition, a 1 of 1 Austrian bike.
Key items of kit: Custom Leopard paint. Groupset: Shimano Ultegra Di2 (I prefer the shape of road levers because they are slimmer and more ergonomic for my hands). Cockpit: 1 of 1 HBC.01 105mm/44mm (there are 15 cockpit options). Crankset: GRX with Alugear chainrings 172.5mm 48/31. Wheelset: 1 of 1 AL25 Disc (25mm internal width). Tyres: Schwalbe Ultrabite 50mm front, Schwalbe G-One R rear. Cassette: 11-24. Saddle: Fizik Argo. Seatpost: Carbon with extraflex. Bags: Cyclite. Helmet and sunglasses: Oakley. Navigation: Garmin.
René Claußnitzer
Age: 34
Cap number: 19
Location: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Bike: Ghost Lector 30 year Anniversary
Key items of kit: Framebag and saddlebag
Tristan Elsesser
Age: 30
Cap number: 40
Location: Germany
Bike: 42 Heart of Gold (Viners Strada Bianca), repaired and repainted; in its second life with some whiteness by Adam Douglas. Tires: Continental RaceKing (front) and S-Works Pathfinder (rear) on Nextie AGX45 rims. Transmission: Shimano GRX Di2 with 42/26x40/11.
Key items of kit: Top Tube: Tailfin Top Tube Bag 1.1L, Downtube: Tailfin Downtube Pack 1.7L, Frame: MAAP x Apidura Framepack 4L, Front: Cyclite Aerobag, Rear: DIY sewn drybag, Food Pouches: DIY. Lights: Supernova M99 DY with SON 28 dynamo hub and battery headlamp, rear lights: Supernova E3 + Garmin Varia.
David Neureiter
Age: 27
Cap number: 121
Location: Salzburg, Austria
Bike: The Salsa Fargo. Go Far.
Key items of kit: Mostly Revelate Designs bags for comfort and ease of use. A big summer sleeping bag, nothing lightweight.
Max Friedel
Age: 26
Cap number: 147
Location: Freiberg, Erzgebirge
Bike: Specialized Crux with BEAST Components parts, Shimano GRX 1x11, and wonderful PI ROPE-DUKE wheels.
Key items of kit: In any case lots of joy, bags from Cyclite, lights from Lupine, an ultralight sleeping bag + sleeping mat and a camera.
Stefan
Age: 41
Cap number: 124
Location: Germany
Bike: Cannondale Topstone Carbon
Key items of kit: SRAM Apex Mullet Drivetrain, Tufo Thundero 48 tire
Roland Lösslein
Age: 38
Cap number: 122
Location: Austria
Bike: Rondo Ruut Titanium, GRX 1x12 with 38T Woolf Tooth and Garbaruk 10-52T. Continental Race King 2.0 on Hunt 4 Season X-Wide.
Key items of kit: Bespoke bags from Parallel Universe.
Walter Fiessinger
Age: 55
Cap number: 142
Location: Samerberg, Germany
Bike: Officina Battaglin Portofino G custom steel frame, Campagnolo Ekar, 38T chainring, 9-42T cassette, Cadex AR35 with Schwalbe G-One R 40mm, Deda Superzero handlebar and tri-bar, SQ-Lab 612R saddle.
Key items of kit: Cyclite Bags, CamelBak backpack, Lezyne lights.
Thomas Ballay
Age: 60
Cap number: 75
Location: Paderborn, Germany
Bike: Grandone IDWORX Custommade, on 50mm Schwalbe tubeless tires, GRX shifting 44/28 with 11/46 cassette, SON hub dynamo with complete lighting and B&M E-Werk.
Key items of kit: Taschen Setup wie's gerade passt mit Werkzeug,Bivy, Daunenjacke und Regenklamotten.... Und natürlich die Badehose 😉 Im Mittelteil befinden sich Verpflegung und Elektrik.
Dave Kortekaas
Age: 50
Cap number: 90
Location: Hillegom, Netherlands
Bike: Apex Relic
Key items of kit: Carrie Gere, Apidura, Restrap.
Elisabeth Kellerer
Age: 30
Cap number: 14
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Bike:Sour Purple Haze (2023), GRX 810 40/11-42, 650B wheelset with Continental Terra Trail 45mm, Ergon Allroad bar tape.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Saddle Bag 16.5L, Pro Discover Top Tube Bag, Supernova M99 Mini Pro front light, Sigma Sport Blaze rear light, Keego bottles, Deuter Dreamlite sleeping bag, Forclaz MT500 Air mattress, Mountain Equipment Ultralite Bivy.
Not pictured: Evoc HYDRO PRO 3 hydration backpack (1.5l bladder).
Tim
Age: 43
Cap number: 87
Location: Musberg, Germany
Bike: Specialized Epic Hardtail with Dropbars and SRAM Eagle AXS
Key items of kit: Restrap Frame and Toptube Bag, Cyclite Saddle Bag Small, Bar Bag of "Life is a Ride" and Food Pouch of Decathlon.
Michael Kaiser
Age: 48
Cap number: 145
Location: Germany
Bike: Sauvage - Le Baroudeur and Shimano GRX 1x12.
Key items of kit: SON with Supernova M99DYI, self made frame bag, and Tailfin Rack.
Gabi Winck
Age: 61
Cap number: 45
Location: Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy
Bike: Trek Procaliber 9.8, Carbon, IsoSpeed, Fork: Fox Performance 32, Boost110; Retractable seatpost: Fox Racing Transfer SL Factory; Crank: e*thirteen TRS Race Carbon, 30T; Cassette: Shimano XT M8100, 9-50, 12-speed; Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M8100 hydraulic disc; Bontrager RSL Integrated handlebar; Wheel front: XM 421 - DT Swiss, Hub Dynamo: SON 28; Wheel rear: Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 Carbon, Tubeless Ready; Tyre: Vittoria mezcal III 29’’x 2,25’’; Saddle: ISM PL1.; Syntace Aerobar.
Key items of kit: BAGS: I hope that in the end I don't carry too many things to in the Tailfin AeroPack Carbon, 1 Tailfin mini pannier, top tube bag Cyclite, Skinfit Garda Handlebar Bag or Jones H-Bar® Pack, Revelate Designs Mountain Feedbag Handlebar Bag; maybe Apidura racing hydration vest.; a Tailfin Cargo Cages mounted on the suspension fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Front light is a SON Edelux II powered by a Son 28 dynamo and on my helmet: Lupine Piko; rear lights are Bontrager flare RT and Lupine Rotlicht Max LED. Battery chargers are NC-17, Connect APPCON 3000; mini pump: Lezyne Micro Floor Drive. I also hope that I find my way safely north with my Garmin Edge 1040 Plus. I want to dream for a few (or more?) hours in my MSR Pro Bivy, Therma-a-Rest NeoAir mat and I still have to choose between these two sleeping bags, which I will do at short notice depending on the weather forecast: either CumulusX-Lite 400 or Yeti/ Passion One (350g)... and last but not least that my seat bones are not too strained on my saddle ISM PL 1.1 in my beloved cycling shorts Skinfit tri shorts and Skinfit Colombier. As always- no matter about the weight: As my lucky item I absolutely have to bring my little scuffed white BEAR with me, who accompanied me on the Panceltic Ultra (2024), Atlas Mountain Race, GBDuro, NorthCape4000 and Three Peaks Bike Races, among others.
