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Bikes of Seven Serpents: Illyrian Loop 2024
10 September, 2024
Illyrian Loop is an unsupported bikepacking event of about 550 kilometres that will take place in Albania. The route will go through gravel and secondary roads in the most scenic routes of north Albania including reservoirs, forests and cultural heritage and historical sites.
It's never easy packing for an inaugural event so have a scroll below to see what the riders think they will need.
Race organiser and racer will be providing the commentary for this inaugural edition so follow along here.
Tobias Klemet
Age: 41
Cap number: 18
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Bike: Rondo Bogan Steel Frame + Twintip Carbon Fork/ Hunt Wheelset/ Easton Cranks/ Garbaruk Casette & Chainring,/ SRAM Force Derailleur, Brakes, STI's/ Repente Saddle/ Basic Seatpost/ Vecnum Suspension Stem/ Ritchey Venturemax Carbon Bar/ Lizard Skins Bartape/ Schwalbe Rocket Ron & Thunderburt 29 x 2.25 Tires/Crankbrothers Pedals/ SON Dynamo & Lights
Key items of kit: 2 Apidura Food Pouches/ Apidura Top tube Bag/ ACE Framebag 5.5l/ Camelbag Hydration Backpack/ 2 Bottles/ 1 Toolbox
Mathias Kirsten
Age: 53
Cap number: 17
Location: Bonn, Germany
Bike: Eddy Merckx Strasbourg C (2024), SRAM Apex 1x12, 38x10-50, LightBicycle Rims WG-44, 700x50 Schwalbe G-One Bite tubeless, Ritchey VentureMax handlebar, Syntace Clip XXS, EggBeater pedals, SelleAnatomica X2.
Key items of kit: Lights: Lupine Nano SL + Lezyne Strip Drive Pro, Black Diamond 500-R headlamp. Apidura packs: Frame, Saddle, Handelbar + Accessory bag, Cargo Cages Sleep system: Cumulus X-Lite 200, Thermarest Neoair Uberlite, Hilleberg Tarp 5, MSR Footprint/Ground patch. Camelbak Chase MTB 1.5l drinking vest. Navigation: Wahoo Elemnt Bolt + Smartphone as backup, first aid kit.
Eoghan Kieran
Age: 50
Cap number: 16
Location: Ireland
Bike: Specialized Epic Evo, full suspension because I prefer comfort.
Key items of kit: Apidura top bar bag for all electronics, chain lube etc…small frame bag for tools, Dynaplug and other repair stuff. Ortlieb seat post bag for sleeping kit, raincoat and first aid. Son hub with KLite, allows charging of battery pack during the day and great lights for nighttime. Profile design Tri bsrs which house my computer, tracker and front lights.
Nicky McCool
Age: 30
Cap number: 21
Location: London (but from NZ!)
Bike: I’ll be riding my Kona Sutra LTD 2022
Key items of kit: Bags - a mix of my bulletproof Ortliebs and Geosimna top tube bag. Also wearing a Salomon hydration vest. Lights - Lezyne and head torch. Sleep system: RAB sleeping mat and Cocoon Thermolite liner. TBC on my tent—keeping an eye on the forecast...
SpitTheKid
Age: 44
Cap number: 34
Location: Nuremberg, Germany
Bike: Orbea Terra and SRAM XX1 Mullet
Key items of kit: Ortlieb Bags
Joel Temple
Age: 31
Cap number: 36
Location: Prishtina, Kosovo
Bike: Ventum GS1. Mix n match SRAM AXS groupset with 48/35 front and 10-36 rear, Hunt gravel race wheels, Pirelli Cinturato H tires with Tannus tire inserts.
Key items of kit: 3L USWE pack to minimize water stops, Castelli merino wool jersey (favorite piece of kit), Arc'teryx Beta AR in case of nasty weather, and some spare camping bits and bobs. Bontrager headlight, Garmin Varia tail light, Wahoo Bolt.
Giulio Scalzotto
Age: 36
Cap number: 31
Location: Bassano del Grappa, Italy
Bike: Cicli Bonanno - Gonzalo 29”
Key items of kit: Custom Framebag hand built from Rusjan and the saddle bag too. Front suspension from Fox 34 100mm. Custom frame from Niccolo Bonanno, in the Cicli Bonanno head quarter in Berlin DE. Navigation is gonna be on a trustworthy Wahoo Roam and the nights brighten up with Fenix BC26r and HM65 on the helmet.
Vittoria Mezcal 2,25”x29” on Hunt wheels.
Sebastiano Frandino
Age: 26
Cap number: 12
Location: Winterthur, Switzerland
Bike: OPEN UP
Key items of kit: Restrap frame bag and top tube bag. SRAM Mullet setup 42-10/52, SON dynamo hub with Klite light system paired with headlamp for the night. SOL emergency bivvy and inflatable pillow as sleeping system. Tires are Tufo Thundero 44mm in the front and 40mm in the rear cause that’s all I can fit in this frame :) hydration vest for water and a extra food.
Fabio Motta
Age: 26
Cap number: 23
Location: Vienna, Austria
Bike: Specialized Diverge
Key items of kit: Frame bag, top tube bag, tool bottle, camelback vest with storage space, maybe a deybag tied to the saddle (TBD). 48/31 crank, 11-34 cassette. 40mm Pirelli Cinturato RC tires.
Lucas
Age: 34
Cap number: 8
Location: Switzerland
Bike: Frame: Zurigo by Dreier Cycles, wheels: Boyd CCC 650b rims with Hope Pro4/SON hubs, tires: Rene Herse 48mm, seatpost and handlebar: Beast, saddle: Bjorn Setka.
Key items of kit: Bags: Restrap, AGU, Kicking Donkey, and Aliexpress. Dynamo charger and Supernova lights.
