DotWatcher.cc
Bikes of Race Around the Netherlands 2021
24 April, 2021
Baptistine Smets
Age: 31
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Cap number: 8
Your bike: It's an old Peugeot road bike with, almost, all its original components. The wheels are a little bit wider than originally because its owner was more comfortable with that width. I have no clue about the groupset but it seems to be working well for me.
Your key items of kit: I think my key item will be my small tent so I can stop where I want whenever I want.
Patrick Bruns
Age: 49
Location: Almelo, The Netherlands
Cap number: 94
Your bike: Pilot Scram Pinion 2021, Cinq-R shifters, DT Swiss 350 with GR 531 rims, Vredestein Aventura 44mm tubeless
Your key items of kit: My full camping kit which gives me the comfort and flexibility to camp on a campsite or wild. Ortlieb Gravel Packs: Handlebar-pack: tent Hilleberg Rajd. Toptube-pack: snacks. Seat-pack: sleeping bag Mountain Hardwear Phantom Alpine, Sea to Summit ultralight insulated mat, Sea to Summit liner, spare bike clothing. Frame-pack: MSR Pocket Rocket, MSR Stowaway pot 475ml, 2x powerbank 10000, spare batteries for gps and Gopro, spare Garmin eTrex 20x, toiletry bag. Fork-packs: 2x 1L Nalgene bottles, meals for 6 Days and more snacks. Time trial handlebar: Garmin Gpsmap 64s and Gopro. Clothing: orange rain jacket for keeping me dry and visible. depending of the weather I will choose the rest of the clothes for the week."
Pier Nijenhuis
Age: 45
Location: Groningen, Netherlands
Cap number: 31
Your bike: I will ride a Specialized Roubaix Comp from 2018 which has a Shimano Ultegra group set. It is equiped with Roval SLX24 wheels with disc brakes. I'll be running with 28mm Specialized Turbo Pro tyres with tubes. For lightning I will be using a Lezyne Deca Drive 1500i and a Lezyne Macro Drive 1300xl. As backlight I use a BBB Signal BLS-137 light and one of Lezyne as spare. I will take 2 large Xtorm powerpacks with me for extra battery capacity. I have added a Profile Design Sonic Ergo 50A aerobar for extra comfort.
Your key items of kit: I will be wearing a Assos Equipe RS S9 bibshort, but will also take my Castelli Sarposso bibtight with me. When it is colder I will use my Sportfull Fiandre Norain jacket. I will be sleeping at camping grounds or at a quiet spot at the side of the road. I use a Exped bivy bag, Therm-a-Rest Neoair uberlite inflatable pad and a light sleeping bag during the night. For the transport of all my items I use an Ortlieb Saddle bag, a Topeak top tube bag for food and smartphone. On the front I will use the Ortlieb Handlebar bag (sleeping bag + pad) with Accessoiry Pack. I will be using 2x 950ml bidons which should be enough in the Netherlands. There are many public places to get water. For navigation I use the Wahoo Element Bolt, with my smartphone as spare."
Wandert Benthem
Age: 66 (Grandpa)
Location: Vierhuizen, Netherlands
Cap number: 116
Your bike: My bike is an ordinary Gazelle, SPN, of around 2010, C15 wheels with 32 mm tyres; chain, gear wheels and rider after months of winter training pretty worn out.
Your key items of kit: foodbag, customised clip-on handlebar, no hub dynamos so carry-on plug, wires and power bank; Garmin Edge 830 for navigation (“warning: make u-turn!”).
Rob Kenens
"Age: 37
Location: Geldrop, Netherlands
Cap number: 21
Your bike: My bike is built around a steel Element frame. The wheels are spoked with 36spokes, dynamo hub and 28mm Continental 5000S2 tyres. My drivetrain is a Shimano Tiagra groupset 3x10. In the front I have a Shimano MT500 10-Speed Crankstel (40-34-22). The 40 chainring is big enough to cycle the long days at a good speed and the 22 is small enough for (very) steep hills. The lights I will be using in the front is a Supernova E3 Pro2 and in the back Supernova E3 Tail Light 2. For water supply there are 3 x 750ml bidons. The bidon (with reflection tape) under the down tube is for repair and a pair of batteries. For the wet days (and after rains) I also have mudgards. To change positions, comfort and for placing my navigation and bell I mounted a BBB aerobar.
Your key items of kit: The packs are mostly from Revelate designs, but in the front, I have a Restrap Harnas. In the front I carry my sleeping system (Sea to Summit uberlight mat, Sprak 0 long sleepingbag and a Nordisk telemark 2 lw) for camping. In the back I stored a second set of clothes (mostly merino wool), down jacket (Forclaz) and rain clothes (Haglöfs L.I.M rainjacket, GORE C3 Active Pants, GORE C3 Overshoes and Sealskin socks). In the framebag are packed things I regularly will be using such as a powerbank, cables, gloves, reflection, buff, etc. On the top tube the bags are for food and hygiene. For navigation I use a Garmin 1030plus and a backup eTrex 22x."
Marc Wismans
Age: 51
Location: Helmond, the Netherlands
Cap number: 79
Your bike: I’m riding a Surly Midnight Special, with ‘good old’ Dura Ace triple cranks, TRP Hylex brakes, DT Swiss RR521 700c rims, Nitto M-1 Rivendeel front- and Tubus Cosmo rear carrier, Profile Design aerobar and Gilles Berthoud ‘Aspin’ saddle. Bags a little bit of everything (Ortlieb, Revelate Designs, Restrap and last but not least a Kriega US-5 Drypack motorbag). More specs on: https://www.marcwismans.nl/surly/
Your key items of kit: Favorite piece of clothing is my lightweight Sportful windstopper. I really don’t have any other secrets. I stay calm, don’t let anyone rush me, drink coffee and cycle!
Auke Jongbloed
Age: 52
Location: Vlaardingen, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Cap number: 9
Your bike: My weapon of choice will be my Giant Propel Advanced 2 Disc, Shimano 105 group set, Continental 5000 on DT Swiss P1800 wheels. A great bike for here in Holland where the roads are flat and fast so aero is the keyword. I will navigate with my Garmin 830 and got a spear Garmin 820.
Your key items of kit: I have a custom Frame bag build by Detour in Arnhem, Netherlands. It will hold my water in a platypus water bag, food, and power banks. My Tailfin Trunk bag will hold my stuff I will not need to have at hand all the time. Depending on the weather I will carry a bivvy bag, a light sleeping bag, and a tarp to minimize time finding a place to sleep.
Ruurdje Procee
Age: 32
Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Cap number: 104
Your bike: I'm riding a 2019 Cube Cross Race Pro and for this race I've changed the knobby tires for smooth road ones.
Your key items of kit: Although I've been on smaller bikepacking trips with this kit, I'm planning to stay in hotels. Since this is my first bikepacking race, I feel this will already be a challenge without the extra weight. The small bags carry tools, rain coat, snacks and a knife to put chocolate on my bread. The rest of the stuff is in the saddle bag.
Sven Cappuyns
Age: 40
Location: Belgium
Cap number: 24
Your bike: J.Guillem frame, Stealth Wheels, Restrap packs, Knog lights and Casco helmet.
Your key items of kit: Band of Climbers clothing
