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Bikes of Seven Serpents 2024
11 May, 2024
A set-route race between seven checkpoints from Slovenia through Croatia and its islands finishing in Trieste, Italy along a mix of gravel and secondary roads. Last year's event was hampered by pre-event rain and mud, but the forecast this year looks much more pleasant. On the cards are 850km with 16,000m of climbing, a handful of which will be done on foot.
The 98 solo riders and 13 pairs tackle this gravel race starting at 7am on Sunday the 12th May, you can follow along with veteran Marcus Nicolson's .
Nils Opgenorth
Age: 28
Cap number: 50
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SLX with a SRAM Mullet Rival eTap GX Eagle AXS groupset. A 10-52t cassette in the back and a 40t chainring in the front. DT Swiss GRC1400 wheels with Specialized Pathfinder Pro 47mm tires. Canyon shock-absorbing seatpost and a Brooks C15 saddle.
Key items of kit: In terms of sleeping gear I tried to stay fairly minimal with an emergency bivy, sleeping pad and a down jacket. Exposure Lights - MaXx D MK13, which should hopefully bright up the trails more than enough :)
Louison Bangerter
Age: 29
Cap number: 6
Location: Saint-Légier, Switzerland
Bike: Sauvage La Piste Titanium frame, carbon fork with a mix of Campagnolo Ekar and Ekar GT (38 x 10-48t). Duke baccara carbon wheels with a front dynamo (Son 28) hub. Specialized 47mm tyres (rhombus at the front and trigger at the back). Ass saver to keep me dry in muddy conditions.
Key items of kit: Custom Akao Design framebag to store clothes and sleeping system (inflatable mattress, bivy bag, and inflatable pillow for extra comfort). Restrap top tube bag for easy access to key items (Swiss Army knife against wild bears!). Restrap food pouch for the sweets, and Evadict hydration vest with a capacity of 2.5 liters.
Maya Christofori
Age: 32
Cap number: 7
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bike: 8bar TI Drachenberg
Key items of kit: Custom bike bags from Gramm Tourpacking.
Rainer Huber
Age: 47
Cap number: 39
Location: Mengkofen, Germany
Bike: Scott Spark RC, SRAM GX Eagle AXS, Wheels Syncros Silverton, Schwalbe Racing Ray & Ralph tires, 34t x 10-52t.
Key items of kit: Profile Design Aero-Extensions, Cyclite Handlebar Aero Bag, Topeak Backloader, Lupine SL Mono. This is my first time doing something like this and I hope I don't have my equipment set up completely wrong.
Stef Claes
Age: 25
Cap number: 113a
Location: Lommel, Belgium
Bike: I’ll be riding the Pastel gravel bike, made in Salzburg. The bike features a fresh pair of Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires 700x45mm, a 40T front chainring and a 10-52T SRAM Eagle cassette in the back. The front wheel features a SON dynamo hub connected to a kLite front light.
Key items of kit: Bags: I’m running a Tailfin in the back, Apidura top tube & frame bag.
Stefan Urleb
Age: 43
Cap number: 75
Location: Austria
Bike: Simplon Razorblade III SL
Key items of kit: Apidura: Saddlebag 9 lt, Framebag 3 lt, Aerobarbag 2 lt Cyclite Top tube Bag 1l. Hydration Back for Food and Water.
Gernot Siebenhofer
Age: 38
Cap number: 67
Location: Murau, Austria
Bike: Specialized Diverge, Shimano GRX 810. Garmin Rally Pedals. Spatialized Tracer Pro 700x47c Tires
Key items of kit: SON Dynamo. Supernova M99 DY Pro and Supernova Airstream light system. Ortlieb Bags.
Daniele Gambarotto
Age: 43
Cap number: 34
Location: Treviso - Italy
Bike: 3T Exploro Racemax with Shimano GRX 1x12v groupset.
Key items of kit: Miss Grape Bag full kit and complete Assos Cycling apparel.
Oliver
Age: 43
Cap number: 65
Location: Salzburg, Austria
Bike: Specialized Crux with Shimano GRX 12 40/10-44
Key items of kit: Supernova lights. Garmin 830. Saddlebag Apidura 9l incl. Sleeping bag/mattress, 2x food pouch Apidura/Cyclite, Cyclite frame bag and top tube bag, Apidura Hydration bag incl. 2l water + 2l on the bike. 16 kg race ready.
Helge Meyer
Age: 44
Cap number: 116
Location: Earth (Germany)
Bike: I pair the Seven Serpents with a Curve gmx+, powered by an Ingrid 32T crank and 9/50T ethirteen cassette. Shimano XT gears and brakes. It rolls on a Hunt dynamo wheel set with Vittoria Mezcal 2.35.
Key items of kit: The key element is the frame bag from the legendary Witslingers, it eats up pretty much all of my equipment. Especially my food containers and Holy Fats. Minimal sleeping set and indispensable Aeropress set are distributed between Restrap bag and S2S drybag of the butterfly. Tailfin toptubebag swallows electronics and power bank. Hydration vest from Apidura.
Klite provides light at the front and rear as well as a Lupine red light. The cockpit is from SQLab with VAP cycling Butterfly 3. Navigation with Garmin Edge and smartphone as backup.
Jos Voorbraak
Cap number: 87
Location: Eersel, Netherlands
Bike: Vannicholas Rowtag titanium bike, 2x12 SRAM etap, DT Swiss 240 hubs, DT Swiss XR331 rims, 3T stem, seat post and bar.
Key items of kit: Lupine piko light, Revelate Designs framebag, cargo bags and top tube bag, Tailfinn Aeropack, Pirelli 45mm tires, Sella saddle and time paddle.
Stephen LaDyne
Age: 53
Cap number: 97
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Bike: Open U.P. with 2x GRX. Hunt Wheels with Tufo 44c Swampero / 40c Thundero tubeless. Apidura bags. Roval Terra seatpost. Wahoo GPS. Garmin radar. Knog Blinder 900.
Key items of kit: Wooden fork/comb. Power bank. Mini clothes line. Foolish thirst for adventure!
Ralph Bergner
Age: 32
Cap number: 10
Location: Kehl, Germany
Bike: Raymon HardRay Nine 6.0 and tyres 40c. Handle bars Pro 45°.
Key items of kit: Saddlebag Ortlieb, frame bag Rockbros, sleeping bag+sleeping pad Forclaz (Decathlon) and Wahoo.
Bastian Mensing
Age: 36
Cap number: 114
Location: Fritzens, Austria
Bike: 1of1 G.01 - Lakes ‘n’ Knödel Edition. Shimano GRX 40t x 11-44t.
Key items of kit: Bags: CYCLITE TopTube Large, Frame Bag Large, Food Pouch, Saddle Bag, Race BackPack. Liquid: 2x KEEGO 0.75l and 1.75l Bladder.
Martin Groth
Cap number: 95
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: Cotic Solaris Max frame and probably the longest rigid fork in the galaxy (Trek 1120)! Tune wheels keep on turnin…
Benedict Baumann
Age: 27
Cap number: 117
Location: Bad Aibling, Germany
Bike: Kona Rove LTD steel frame self built with DT Swiss GR1600 wheels and WTB Riddler 45c tires. For gearing I use the Shimano GRX 820 with a 40 tooth chainring and a 10-51t cassette.
Key items of kit: A mix of Ortlieb and AGU bags. Using a Salsa Cowchipper handlebar with a 24° flare and width of 420mm to get a good handle. For navigation, I use Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. An additional bottle of water on the bottom of the frame. Power banks, lights, etc. for sure! ;-)
Christoph
Age: 45
Cap number: 88
Location: Bremen, Germany
Bike: After last year's experience, I will be taking my mountain bike to Ljubljana. Comfort is king. Cervelo ZHT-5 with Mezcals with 2.25.
Key items of kit: Lights from Lupine, a power bank with quick charger. I'm not sure yet whether I'll pack my sleeping kit. Tailfin Aeropack and a small top tube bag from Apidura.
Alessandro Poletti
Age: 32
Cap number: 45
Location: Bergamo, Italy
Bike: Bergamont Grandurance 8, Grx 1x11 with 36t chainring from Wolftooth Comp, Syncros Capital 1.0 X40 carbon wheelset with Pirelli Cinturato Mixed 45mm.
Key items of kit: Syncros bags set, Lezine Light set, Wahoo Roam.
Clemens Peti Melms
Age: 34
Cap number: 93
Location: Kaltland, Germany
Bike: Ridley Kanzo Adventure, SRAM Rival x GX mullet, Schwalbe Thunder Burt 29", Supernova B54 light, Deda aerobars and Elite.
Key items of kit: Tailfin frame bag and Cyclite top tube bag.
Johannes Seitz
Age: 27
Cap number: 111
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Bike: Canyon Grizl, my tyres are the Schwalbe G one Overland 50s which are more like 47 mm wide.
Key items of kit: The Handlebar bag might be the most interesting setup on my bike. It is from Stuttgart based bike bag manufacturer @fo.goods and has a custom mount for my light, the knog blinder 900. The setup is held in place with the sixtysix - a steel pipe that is mounted to the handlebar. In this bag will be the sleeping bag, pillow, toothbrush etc.
Additionally my saddle bag from Ortlieb contains all clothing and my isolation mat. I have two jackets with me, one shell and one down jacket, a few spare tools, batteries, cables. Max and I split the tools and emergency equipment that we carry.
I have the Canyon aero frame pack which contains additional stuff like a pump and the powerbanks and my top tube bag from Canyon which contains snacks and one powerbank which is charging my Wahoo or my light.
Looking forward to go on to the journey with my buddy and roommate Max.
Ride hard, drink soft!
Kathrin Springet
Age: 44
Cap number: 69
Location: Munich, Germany
Bike: Sonder Camino Ti with SRAM Rival, Newmen Evolution SL wheels, Panaracer GravelKing SK+ 700Cx50, Garbaruk freewheel, and SQ-Lab 614 saddle.
Key items of kit: Evoc Handlebar Pack Boa 5L, Evoc Seat Pack Boa 8L, customized Evoc Frame Pack, Evoc Multi Holster, Apidura Expedition Top Tube Pack, and Keego Bottle.
Tobias Reischle
Age: 50
Cap number: 59
Location: Munich, German
Bike: Curve GXR (AKA Kevin) 56 with Campagnolo Ekar, NEWMEN SL XR 25 wheels, and Panaracer GravelKing SK 700x43 tires.
Key items of kit: Evoc Seat Pack Boa WP 8L, customised Evoc Frame Pack WP M, Evoc Multi Holster, and Specialized 2x0.75 bottle.
Max Zorn
Age: 29
Cap number: 111
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Bike: I'm riding a Canyon Grail - the one with the double decker cockpit. I upgraded the wheelset to the 40mm Allroad BASIC Gravel wheels by LEEZE, equipped with tubeless Schwalbe G-ONE RS 45-622 (that measure 42mm irl and barely fit in the frame). Groupset is a mix of 2x GRX 800 in the rear and 600 in the front. I did change the cassette to a 11-40 which works surprisingly well and, together with the 46/30T crankset, will hopefully provide enough gearing for the steeper climbs and the tired legs. The chain is hot waxed, which I hope will last a while before I have to apply lube during the race.
Key items of kit: The bike's cockpit and missing attachement points pose a bit of a challenge for finding the right bags. I chose to not use any handlebar bag, as I always find the positioning and handling awkward with the double decker cockpit. Instead, I went with the Tailfin AeroPack Alloy, where I'll carry my sleeping setup (Sea-to-Summit Spark II sleeping bag, a bivy, and a lightweight pad), as well as spare clothes. I also use an Ortlieb frame bag and a Tailfin top tube bag for what I need during the day (snacks, battery packs, armlings, etc.) and some larger items (pump, spokes, straps...). My tools are stored in a locally made bag by fO.goods. For lighting, I use Knog Blinder front and rear lights, and a Black Diamond headlamp. I 3D-printed an attachment for my front light, so it mounts directly to the Wahoo. Apart from my water bottles, I'll be using a USWE hydration vest with a 2L bladder, which should bring me through the remote areas. The lucky item will prolly be a bear bell that a fellow serpent gave me for my birthday.
Franz
Age: 62
Cap number: 70
Location: Vienna, Austria
Bike: Cannondale Hardtail (1997) with Shimano XTR 3x9
Key items of kit: Riverside saddle bag (Decathlon), 7Roads custom frame bag (7rbags.com) and Fenix lights.
Marco Ricci
Age: 28
Cap number: 60
Location: Milan, Italy
Bike: Bergamont Grandurance Expert, Shimano grx 2x10, Pirelli Cinturato gravel M 700x50.
Key items of kit: Syncros saddle pack, Syncros frame pack, Apidura backcountry top tube, Apidura downtube pack, Syncros Nanaimo 1200 front light + a little nobrand aerobar not so useful. Apidura backcountry backpack + 2l hydration pack.
Daniel Sommer
Age: 49
Cap number: 68
Location: Switzerland
Bike: MTB GT
Key items of kit: Sleeping bag, Rucksack and stuff sack.
Michael Kneip
Cap number: 110
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bike: Kocmo Daytona X robust titanium frame, 1x12 SRAM AXS (44 - 10/52) and DT Swiss carbon wheels with Tufo 48 tyres
Key items of kit: Accessories: Restrap Frame Bag/Top Tube Bag, Cyclite Food Pouch, Tailfin Aero Pack, SON Dyno and Light, and Lupine Pico Headlight.
Ariane
Age: 50
Cap number: 110
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bike: SOUR purple haze with SRAM Force AXS 38 and 10-52, Duke handbuilt wheels by velo.local, 48mm Tufo Thundero
Key items of kit: Bags: Restrap Frame Bag for electronics and food, Stem Bag for more 1 bottle, everything remaining in the Tailfin Aeropack. Restrap Harness for all those hike-a-bike parts
Light: Lupine SL Nano with 2 battery packs and Lupine rear light
Enrico
Age: 51
Cap number: 118
Location: Switzerland
Bike: Specialized Diverge
Key items of kit: Apidura
