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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 our commentary 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.
Melissa
Age: 33
Cap number: 55
Location: Innsbruck
Bike: Nordest Sardinha Ti - Ikarus
Key items of kit: Everything, my beloved favourite bike, personalized down to the smallest detail.
Maxine
Age: 30
Cap number: 50
Location: Austria
Bike: Specialized Crux
Key items of kit: Tufo Swampero 44mm, Wahoo element roam, maap x apidura saddle bag and frame pack, cyclite handelbar roll bag
Simon Ladner
Age: 38
Cap number: 32
Location: Linz
Bike: Enve MOG Shimano GRX 2by 48/31 - 11/40 Easton EC70AX Rene Herse Oracle Ridge 48 mm Tatze McFly Ti
Key items of kit: Tailfin Bento Bag, Fork Bags, Frame Bag Maap x Apidura Saddle Bag Gramm Candy Bag Hammerhead Karoo 2 Lupine SL Mono
Marlene Voithofer
Age: 27
Cap number: 47
Location: Salzburg, Austria
Bike: Merida Silex 4000
Key items of kit: Ortlieb saddle bag 16,5l, Apidura handlebar bag, Wahoo Element Roam
Michael Frank
Age: 26
Cap number: 94
Location: Munich
Bike: Rose Backroad, DT Swiss GRC1400, Sram Force/Rival AXS with 36x10/44, Specialized Pathfinder Pro 42mm tubeless tires
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Arschrakete 16,5L, Ortlieb Frame Bag, Rockbros toptube bag, Wahoo elemnt Bolt, Lupine Rotlicht & Piko, Salomon 8L Hydration pack incl. 1,5L water
Richard Muck
Age: 39
Cap number: 78
Location: Berlin
Bike: Cannondale SuperSix Evo CX custom build, Zipp 303 Firecrest with 50 mm Vittoria Terreno dry at the front and 44mm Vittoria Mezcal at the back, Sram Force AXS mullet 36 chainring on 50-9 cassette, 165mm crank, Reform saddle, Lambda drop bar with Zipp Vuka aerobars.
Key items of kit: Apidura bags and hydration-vest with 3l bladder, Supernova M99 and Lupine Rotlicht , Sea to Summit SP0 sleeping bag (my only comfort) with emergency bivy.
Louis
Age: 20
Cap number: 111
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: Rose Backroad Al Grx 600: 42, 11-46
- Aerobars
Key items of kit: Bags: Ortlieb Seatpack, Ortlieb Frame Pack, Ortlieb Handelbarbag + Accessory Bag, Agu Snackpack, Riverside Toptube Bag, Anything Cage by Endless Bikes
Lights: Light-System by Klite with the Klite Micro, the Race Version of the front Light and the Qube on the back Powered by a SON Hub- Dynamo
Sleeping: Bivy Bag Snugpack Stratosphere
- Sleeping bag and Air Mattress
Lars K.
Age: 45
Cap number: 73
Location: Halle (Saale) / Germany
Bike: For this adventure I will go with my adventure bike: Salsa Fargo with 29x2,25“ Vittoria Mezcal Tires. There are faster bikes for sure, but this one can go truly anywhere :)
Key items of kit: Sea To Summit Telos bikepacking tent for shelter. It‘s my 1st bikepacking event, so I’m probably carrying to much things, haha!
Marion Dziwnik
Age: 38
Cap number: 20
Location: Munich
Bike: Cervélo Aspero
Key items of kit: - SRAM Force AXS Etap 40t
- XX1 Eagle 10-52t cassette
- Fizik Vento Argo Adaptive Saddle
- Apidura Racing Top Tube Pack
- Apidura Expedition Saddle Pack 9l
- bbbcycling Strike Duo 2000 headlight
Racing as Knödel pair together with Sofie Mangertseder.
Previous races:
- Atlas Mountain Race 2024
- Leman Gravel Challenge 2024
- Transbalkan Race 2023 (pair with Sofie)
- Badlands 2022 & 2021
- TheTraka360 2022
- Transcontinental Race 2018
Photo Credits: Jonas Leefmann
Nina Englert
Age: 30
Cap number: 52
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: Wilier RAVE SLR, SRAM RIVAL, DT SEISS GR 1600 SPLINE
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Bar Bag, Ortlieb Saddle Bag, CYCLITE Framebag, Strup Back- and Frontlight
Dave
Age: 49
Cap number: 90
Location: Nederland
Bike: Restrap apidura
Key items of kit: 1 set clothing’s Lamp smal food
Bastian Völkl
Age: 28
Cap number: 132
Location: Bayreuth, Germany
Bike: Orbera Terra (Alloy); Lilienthal Wheels with 44mm Tufo Thundero; Mechanical GRX with 46/30 in the front and 11-40 in the back.
Key items of kit: Cyclite Saddle Bag Small, Profile Design Attak S Top Tube Bag and 8 € AliExpress Framebag; Lupine SL Nano AF and Rotlicht lights; USWE Race 2.0 Hydration Pack.
Sandra Schuberth
Age: 35
Cap number: 43
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: Rocky Mountain Solo with Lilienthal Wheels and PiRope spokes.
Key items of kit: Bivi, Second Bib, Snacks, Snacks, Snacks, Hydration vest. And very important: light & repair kit.
Daniel Gmeiner
Age: 39
Cap number: 70
Location: Vienna, Austria
Bike: Canyon Grail CF SL, SRAM Force, Fulcrum Rapid Red 900 and Pirelli Cinturato Gravel tubeless.
Key items of kit: Cyclite bags. KEEGO bottles: Twist 600ml, 2x750ml, 1x Uni Connector.
Georg Ketzer
Age: 41
Cap number: 91
Location: Vienna, Austria
Bike: Velotraum Speedster S100 I 2x11. Conti Race King Tyres 55-584, DT-Swiss XM 481 Rims, Ritchey Venturemax Handlebar, Mix of Shimano GRX RX600 and RX812. SON dynamo (with SON Edelux II).
Key items of kit: OneUp dropper post, Tubus cargo rack, Ortlieb bags, Selle Italia Evo gravel saddle, Keego bottles, SP Connect (Aero Mount).
Markus Brigl
Age: 34
Cap number: 116
Location: Munich
Bike: Rose Backroad. Shimano GRX 31-48 /11-42. Wheelset: CarlZ Z42. Schwalbe G- One R 45mm. Frontlights: Lupine SL Mini with 2 battery packs / Headlamp. Backlights: Sigma Blaze.
Key items of kit: Bags from Apidura, Cyclite and Restrap. Filled with 2nd Kit, Rain jacket, CarbPowder/Bars/Gels, Tools, Sleeping mat, Emergency Bivvy. 1l Bottle + 2l Evoc Hydration pack.
Jonathan Jaschke
Age: 25
Cap number: 95
Location: Oberhaching
Bike: Canyon Grail CF SL
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Satteltasche + Rahmentasche, Keego Fidlock Flaschen, Wahoo Elemnt Bolt
Anna Felis
Age: 44
Cap number: 68
Location: Oberhausen, Germany
Bike: Orbea Terra
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Seatpack
Mario Färberböck
Age: 41
Location: Salzburg
Bike: 1OF1 WingsforLife Edition Zebra 🦓
Key items of kit: Cyclelite, Keego, Garmin
Sebastian P
Age: 38
Cap number: 1
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: Cannondale Topstone 3, Shimano Ultegra, Omega Modular B3 MegaExo, Continental Terra 40mm.
Key items of kit: Arschrakete
Kathi Sigmund
Age: 54
Cap number: 63
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Bike: OPEN U.P.P.E.R limited edition KANDIE GANG Teamdesign by @i.draw.on.bikes SRAM AXS XPLR 36/44-10
Key items of kit: AEVOR Bike-Bags (saddle, frame, and top tube), ERGON saddle and gravel bar tape, Schwalbe G-One RS 40mm, Crankbrothers Mallet Trail pedals.
Moritz
Age: 42
Cap number: 1
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: Canyon Grizl 8 with Campagnolo Ekar 1x13
Key items of kit: Saddlebag, aero bag and framebag (Cyclite), selfmade aero handlebar for computer and light, heart pin with picture of my family.
Jonas Stolz
Age: 30
Cap number: 112
Location: Rosenheim, Germany
Bike: Propain Terrel CF, 2by GRX di2 48/31 11-48, 9Velo GV Wheels, Lupine lights, Schwalbe Thunder Burt 29x2.1
Key items of kit: Tailfin Rack and Apidura Bags.
Felix Wassermann
Age: 38
Cap number: 115
Location: Waltenhofen, Germany
Bike: Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon, Rival/GX AXS.
Key items of kit: Tailfin Aero Pack, Ortlieb Frame Bag, Bivi, Quilt, and a second bib short, rain jacket.
Valentin Holtz
Age: 40
Cap number: 88
Location: Musberg, Germany
Bike: Specialized Crux Custom Classified. Classified Gearhub, Shimano Ultegra Di2 1x12 4 x 11-34t.
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Taschen
Gabi Winck
Age: 42
Cap number: 48
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Bike: Rose Backroad aluminium
Key items of kit: Apidura taschen
Moritz Bock
Age: 42
Cap number: 1
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: Canyon Grizl 8 Ekar 1x13, G One Bite 40mm, Aero Bars, Klingel
Key items of kit: Saddlebag, framebag and aerobag (Cyclite), selfmade aero handlebar for computer and light, keego bootle.
