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Bikes of Pan Celtic Race 2023
3 July, 2023
For the first time in the race's history, riders will bridge The Channel and ferry across from the start in the Celtic nation of Brittany, France to Great Britain before a run along the rolling hills of Southern England and over the Severn Bridge into the second Celtic nation on route. Once in Wales, riders will head north with some dog legs along the way and almost traverse the length of the country to the finish and spiritual home of the race in Llandudno.
The weather of the Celtic nations is at the mercy of the gods and their fickle whims. Each edition has faced its own elemental conditions from biblical rain to a heatwave in Ireland. While there are no high mountains on the route, riders will cross a large body of land and water, and need to be prepared for their varying challenges.
Follow along with .
Jessica Notzing
Name: Jessica Notzing
Age: 35
Location: Cardiff, UK
Bike: Fairlight Secan 2.5 51T Frame, Puravelo wheels, Shimano GRX groupset: front 46/30 rear 11-36. Hope BB and finishes. Paul Seat post and Stem. Brooks C15 Saddle.
Key items of kit: Tailfin aero pack and Straightcut design bags.
Duncan Borthwick
Name: Duncan Borthwick
Age: 50
Cap number: 14
Location: Southampton, UK
Bike: Ridley Kanzo Speed with Classified gearing
Key items of kit: Farr gravel bars with bonus light mount / baguette holder.
Ali Dickson
Name: Ali Dickson
Age: 43
Cap number: 02
Location: Oakham, Rutland
Bike: A Custom built ‘Sunward Randonneur’ made by the brilliant Pi of Clandestine. Equipped with Campagnolo Chorus 12 speed with a 11-34 cassette paired with a Rotor 46/30 elliptical chainset ready for the Welsh hills! Wheels, and other parts all by Hope. Tyres are Rene Herse snoqualmie pass 44mm.
Key items of kit: I’m carrying a Wizard works mini Shazam resting up front in its custom built rack also by Clandestine. Stem and top tube bags are Wizard works and a mini Saddle bag by Fairweather.
My key piece of kit are my Birkenstock EVA sandals for some wind in the toes time!
Dan the Farmer
Name: Dan the Farmer
Age: 43
Cap number: 012
Location: Great Orme, North Wales
Bike: Reilly Spectre, Campagnolo on PuroVelo wheelset.
Key items of kit: Restrap bags all round, Exposure Lighting and Brooks Cambium Saddle.
Emma Molloy
Name: Emma Molloy
Age: 43
Cap number: 263
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Bike: Specialized Diverge. SRAM eTap 1x groupset with 40 tooth chain ring and 10-50 tooth rear cassette. Hunt wheels. Portland Design Works cages.
Key items of kit: Apidura bags - handlebar, pocket, saddle bag and top tube. Quick access handlebar feed bag plus bag on top of the head stem/ aerobars. Carrying one set of off-bike clothes, second pair of bibs, wet weather gear, toiletries, pillow, tools and breakfast items.
Jonathan Riding
Name: Jonathan Riding
Age: 55
Cap number: 11
Location: Forest of Dean, UK
Bike: My old faithfull Reilly Gradient - Its third PCR! Front: 31/46 Rear: 11-40. Hunt SuperDura dynamo wheels and Brooks Cambian saddle.
Key items of kit: Restrap bags, Terra Nova Laser Pulse 1 tent, Alpkit Pipedream 200 Sleeping Bag, Klymit Inertia X Frame Mat. Exposure Revo, Redeye, Blaize and Joystick lighting. Gary for company on those long days :-)
Wayne Henderson
Name: Wayne Henderson
Age: 58
Location: Leicester, UK
Bike: Giant TCR Pro 0
Key items of kit: Tailfin rear aero rack. Restrap aero bar bag, Apidura Full top tube bag, Alpkit lower top tube bag & Louri Strap for spare tube/levers/Co2.
Dusty Miller
Name: Dusty Miller
Age: 47
Location: Shrewsbury, UK
Bike: Cannondale Topstone Carbon, Shimano GRX, 32mm tyres, 700c Cannondale Hallowgram wheels.
Key items of kit: Full set of Restrap Race bags, Alpkit Altra 80 sleeping bag, Sea to Summit sleep mat, Sea to Summit pillow (most important) Anker 737 power bank+ spare Cables, Bontrager front and rear lights, spare Catseye lights. Garmin Edge 830 for Navigation, Restrap Fork cage for carrying extra water bottles.
James Bicknell
Name: James Bicknell
Age: 63
Location: Cumbria, UK
Bike: Sonder Camino Ti, fitted with SRAM Explore AXS 38 front chain ring. Hunt wheels. Brooks saddle and Hope pedals. Running tubeless pirelli cinturato velo 35mm with reflective side walls (works well, safety is key)
Key items of kit: The bike is fitted with son dynamo front wheel linked to exposure Revo front light and red eye on the rear. All spare clothing and sleep system is carried in the Tailfin on the rear or the Restap race pack fitted to aero bars (very stable and great for quick access). My incidentals are in the Restrap race long toptube bag, works well as it tapers down at the rear to stop crushing blows to my man jewels. Tools are stowed in tool keg which included kitchen sink. Sleep kit is bivvy bag with full length air mattress down jacket and trousers.
Ceri Bicknell
Name: Ceri Bicknell
Age: 50
Location: Cumbria, UK
Bike: Sonder Camino Ti, fitted with SRAM Explore AXS, 36 front chain ring. Hunt wheels with tubeless Pirelli Cinturato Velo 35mm tyres with reflective details. SON dynamo with Exposure Revo & RedEye lights, Exposure Joystick as backup.
Key items of kit: Restrap race bags front and rear for main kit and Restrap race top tube bag for battery pack and as much food as I can fit in it. Running a Garmin 830 with Garmin battery pack. Need to find extra space for a bucket load of smiles to make sure this is a fun experience ……
Vic Hayzer
Name: Vic Hayzer
Age: 23
Cap number: 144
Location: Bristol, UK
Bike: Shand Stooshie. Shimano GRX groupset and Panaracer Gravel King slick 28 mm tyres. Profile Design aero bars.
Key items of kit: Topeak saddle bag and frame pack with sleep system and food. Restrap aero bar bag with clothes, tools, and my body weight in battery packs.
Tim Wassenaar
Name: Tim Wassenaar
Age: 23
Cap number: 282
Location: Zutphen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
Bike: My trusty Open U.P. this time a tad heavier than last year's trip to the Pyrenees. SRAM AXS Wide mix, SON hub powering my kLite and quite a few aerobar spacers for comfort. Made the upgrade to a Revelate seat bag this year for stability and packability reasons.
Key items of kit: Breton striped socks to blend in for the first 1400km and a spork to work my way through the dessert aisle of the French supermarkets.
Adam Jones
Name: Adam Jones
Age: 37
Cap number: 115
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Bike: Planet X Temptest Ti (standard-ish). Added TT bars, Ergon SR Comp saddle, Shimano XT pedals and a saddle bag stabiliser from Woho.
Key items of kit: Trio of Restrap bags carrying a tiny tent, mat and a pillow in the back with food, batteries, tools and other assorted goodies in the front.
Ian Frewin
Name: Ian Frewin
Age: 49
Cap number: 69
Location: Llandrindod Wells, Wales.
Bike: Kinesis Tripster AT, SRAM Force 1x11spd, with adapted rear mech with a longer cage to run a shimano 11-46t Cassette. Absolute Black 40t Oval. Rear Grail Rim Built onto Hope Pro 4 Hub. Front DT Swiss built onto Son Dynamo Hub, Hope Rotor, running Sinewave usb port, Charging front light by day and fuel cell at other times. Tyres: Vittoria Terreno Zero 38mm Tubeless.
Cockpit is new for me, (have been suffering from a few nerve/hand problems) Fitted REDSHIFT bar tops and bottom grips under Wolftooth 5mm super silicone bartape, for added comfort (its a bit bulky but comfy) The bottom grips are really cool and spend a lot more time on the drops now, Finally, USE Aerobars (now dialled in and relatively comfy) hopefully rotation of hand positions will help!
Key items of kit: Bags: Everything except the rear bag is Restrap, the new front pack and harness system is a real revelation and simpler than any competitors kit and anything else I've used, frame bag has been with me for years, buy british buy once! Rear Bag Miss Grape, solid waterproof, durable, zero faff. Sleep System: (hopefully get some) Alpkit Pipedream 200, with silk liner (better than washing a down bag), Exped-thermal matt, Alpkit Hunka Bivvy. Lights: Exposure (buy british, buy once) Front: Toro. Rear: Trace and Boost R. Lucky Item: No room, however I'm putting my faith in Bepanthen nappy cream!
Elliott Russell
Name: Elliott Russell
Age: 31
Cap number: 95
Location: Grand Union Canal, UK
Bike: Bombtrack Hook EXT
Key items of kit: Custom Alpkit frame bag and handlebar bag, dynamo hub, aero bars and WTB Byway tyres. And a hammock.
Tony Clare
Name: Tony Clare
Age: 45
Cap number: 20
Location: Cropredy, UK
Bike: J.Laverack Slate Ti
Key items of kit: My trusty J.Laverack Ti frame, GP5000s TR 32mm tyres, Lefty fork and Infinity saddle for a silky smooth ride.
I'm prioritising food and water carrying capacity this year, so I'm using a custom Rusjan full frame bag with Apidura bladder, Rusjan stem bag, Tailfin aeropack & Apidura musette to give me plenty of space. Styrkr will keep me fuelled.
PHD down jacket and trousers, Alpkit Kloke bivvy and Therm-a-Rest Uberlite 1/2 mat to keep me toasty warm and comfortable when sleeping.
SRAM AXS mullet setup with 10-52t. Exposure will be lighting the way with a Wahoo Roam 2 to guide me to the next Patisserie.
Neil Pilkington
Name: Neil Pilkington
Age: 63
Cap number: 147
Location: Bolton, UK
Bike: Mason Defintion with Fizik Vento Adaptive saddle, Sram Force Etap AXS 46/33 and 10/36, Garmin Rally pedals, Deda clip-on aerobars, and 32mm Continental GP5000 with Tubolito tubes.
Key items of kit: Restrap bags for change of kit, sleeping gear, electronics and snacks; and Tailfin downtube pack with tools. Lezyne front lights and Exposure TraceR rear lights mounted using Raceware seat stay fitting.
Lee Cox
Name: Lee Cox
Age: 47
Cap number: 181
Location: Plymouth
Bike: Enigma Escape Mk2
Key items of kit: Apidura, Tailfin, Wizard Works and Restrap bags, Hunt Dynamo wheelset for lights and charging, bivvy, camping quilt, down jacket and last but definitely not least a tiny stove for the morale boosting cup of tea.
Jay Sharp
Name: Jay Sharp
Age: 57
Cap number: 204
Location: Worthing, Sussex
Bike: Mason Bokeh
Key items of kit: Alpkit Soloist tent, Alpkit Numo Mat, Rab Primaloft Jacket, Sleeping Bag liner. Hunt 30 Carbon Dynamo wheels, Sinewave Revolution USB charger. SON lights. Apidura, Ortlieb and Topeak bags.
Vincent Darmstaedter
Name: Vincent Darmstaedter
Age: 50
Cap number: 276
Location: Rixensart - Belgium
Bike: Genesis Croix de Fer 20 with Parabolica Due handlebar extensions and Continental GP 5000 tyres.
Key items of kit: Kit from Ena Bags: Saddlebag Overnight, Top Tube Bag Long, Framebag and Multipack.
Gareth Aled Williams
Name: Gareth Aled Williams
Age: 35
Cap number: 88
Location: Manchester, UK
Bike: Ribble CGR 725, Hunt Four Season Gravel wheelset, Continental Grand Prix 4 Season tyres, Shimano GRX RX400 groupset (11-34), Shimano XT pedals, Profile Design Aero Bars, Brooks B17 Saddle.
Key items of kit: Restrap bags, Topeak backloader wishbone, Exposure lights, Rab hooped bivvi, Inertia X Frame Camping Mat, Sea To Summit pillow.
Si Woodhams
Name: Si Woodhams
Age: 36
Cap number: 185
Location: Canterbury, UK
Bike: Vitus Substance CRS, Sram Rival AXS and Zipp 303s wheels.
Key items of kit: A mixture of Tailfin, Apidura and Restrap bags. Front bag houses all my sleeping gear (sleeping bag, mattress, bivvy) Tailfin for spare clothing, frame bag for phone, power banks charging cables etc leaving top tube and stem bag completely free for copious amounts of food!
Simon Paice
Name: Simon Paice
Age: 52
Cap number: 7950
Location: Kernow, UK
Bike: Enigma Etape Ultra Shimano Di2, Compact chainset with 11-34 cassette, Son dynamo hub
Key items of kit: Supernova front and rear lights, Sinewave charger, Continental 5000 TR 32mm tyres, Restrap bags.
Neil Howes
Name: Neil Howes
Age: 42
Cap number: 21
Location: Norfolk, UK
Bike: Ribble CGR AL Aka Roxie
Key items of kit: Restrap bags with Alpkit front harness and dry bag. Mavic wheelset with Panaracer Gravelkings SS.
Alex Boswell
Name: Alex Boswell
Age: 35
Cap number: 100
Location: Truro, Cornwall
Bike: ORRO Venturi STC (known as Pinky). ALT AIR 45mm front 58mm rear (28mm wide) wheels (possible SP Dynamo front wheel on the way). Homemade aero bar satellite shifters (the Shimano ones don't come out until Oct/Nov, so I made my own).
Key items of kit: Magicshine Monteer 3500lm Front Light, Apidura 7L Race Saddle Bag (for sleeping kit), Apidura 2L Race Long Top Tube Pack (for food) and Apidura 5L Tall Expedition Frame Pack (for everything else).
Giles McCathie
Name: Giles McCathie
Age: 47
Cap number: 16
Location: Norfolk, England
Bike: Lynsky Sportive, Hunt Dynamo wheel set, Selle Italia Storica leather saddle and Shimano Ultegra groupset.
Key items of kit: Apidura bags and hydration kit, Exposure lights, Colgate toothbrush and Happy Bottom Bum Butter cream.
Gary Clarke
Name: Gary Clarke
Age: 47
Cap number: 201
Location: Oswestry Shropshire
Bike: Ribble Endurance SL
Key items of kit: Restrap Front Bag, Restrap saddle bag, Restrap top tube bag, lifeline frame bag (may need a bigger bag for food yet) sleeping kit includes thermarest uberlight air Matt, mountain equipment 1 season bag, might ditch the sleeping bag yet, OEX bivvy bag,
Camille Rahier
Name: Camille Rahier
Age: 25
Cap number: 200
Location: Sheffield, UK
Bike: Cannondale Topstone 3 2022, Shimano GRX
Key items of kit: Apidura bikebags including 2 food pouches; Brooks saddle; Exposure lights; Voile straps; Hydroflask.
Jason Wyatt
Name: Jason Wyatt
Age: 52
Cap number: 126
Location: Jersey, Channel Islands
Bike: Meet 'Stan' - He's a Sonder Colibri Ti frame, with a custom build-up: Shimano 105 mechanical disc groupset, Hunt Aerodynamicist rear wheel and self-built SP dynamo front. I will be adding mudguards and wider 32mm GP5000s (tubed) for the PCR.
Key items of kit: Luggage: Mix of Topeak rear and Restrap frame bags. Sleep: Alpkit Hunka Bivvy and Cloudbase mat, Mountain Equipment Helium Solo bag. Luxury item: Swim trunks and goggles. Lights: B&M dynamo front and rear.
