Bikes of Seven Serpents: Quick Bite! 2024

Marc Pantscharowitsch

Age: 31

Cap number: 75

Location: Wien

Bike: Sour Bicycles Purple Haze

Key items of kit: K-lite dynamo light with SON Hub. Setup and Service by lovely Radplatz in Wien.

Hannah Ghazi-Idrissi

Age: 27

Cap number: 39

Location: Innsbruck, Austria

Bike: 3T Exploro Ultra

Key items of kit: 3T Exploro Ultra with GRX Di2 Apidura Expedition Frame and Saddle Pack Apidura Race Top Tube Among other things, a full rain kit from Albion (ZOA Shell) - i'm traumatized from last years 7 Serpents

Niccolò Girardi

Age: 41

Cap number: 40

Location: Vicenza, Italy

Bike: 3T Exploro 2020, SRAM Force 40T / 11-42, Fulcrum Rapid Red 3, Selle San Marco Ground, Pirelli Cinturato M 650bx50m.

Key items of kit: Miss Grape Cluster 13 and Internode 4, Exposure lights Toro, Salomon active skin with a lot of “paninetti”.

Johannes Burger

Age: 31

Cap number: 11

Location: Austria

Bike: Nuroad C:62 Pro. Mostly original parts. Shimano GRX RD-RX812, Direct Mount, 11-Speed. 40:11-46t. Schwalbe G-One Allround Kevlar 40m.

Key items of kit: Ortlieb Seat-Pack 16,5 L, Ortlieb FRAME-PACK RC TOPTUBE 4L.

Joachim Schwarz

Age: 51

Cap number: 104

Location: Graz, Austria

Bike: Bombtrack Hook Ext 2022

Key items of kit: Ortlieb, Apidura and Restrap Bags.

Sebastian Günnemann

Age: 31

Cap number: 45

Location: Lingen (Ems) - Germany

Bike: Canyon Grail CF SL 7 Carbon which weighs 9.11 KG. Schwalbe G-One Bite 40 mm and Shimano GRX RX600 11s.

Key items of kit: Aevor Frame Bag Large Proof Black 4.5L, Red Cycling Products Sattelstütztasche 12l. 2 Water Bottles, Wahoo Element Bolt V2 and Cateye Light System.

Hydration Vest USWE-Rush 8L and helmet lights Lezyne Lite Drive 1200+.

Marco Intemann

Age: 33

Cap number: 52

Location: Bremen, Germany

Bike: Canyon Grizl, Frame Size: XL, Sram 1by mullet drivetrain with GX AXS derailleur, 40T chain ring and 10-50 cassette, DT Swiss GRC1400 whees with 45mm Schwalbe G One RS tyres.

Key items of kit: Apidura Saddlebag 17L and 4L Framebag. Lights: Lupine SL Minimax AF.

Tino Klimas

Age: 37

Cap number: 58

Location: Berlin, Germany

Bike: Moots Titanium MTB

Key items of kit: Lightweight frame, brain fork and wheel sets. Might be old scool. But this thing is a beast.

Cathrin Beubler

Cap number: 51

Location: Graz, Austria

Bike: Cannondale Topstone Alu, Shimano GRX, Hunt Wheels 650B Schwalbe G-one R 45mm.

Key items of kit: Set of Apidura bags, sleeping bag and mat, Gamin Edge 540.

Mathieu Decouttere

Age: 33

Cap number: 22

Location: Hove, Belgium

Bike: I'll be riding my steel Bellé GRAR tuned with Chris King components, Shimano GRX RX810 gearing with 38T in front, 11x42 in the back. Wheels are DT Swiss GR531 with a SP dynamo, Donnelly EMP tires 47mm.

Key items of kit: Lights are Sinewave Beacon 2 and Exposure in the back. Don't need to charge my GPS as I'm using my Garmin Edge 1040 solar. Another Gloworm on the helmet. Bags: custom Witslingers full framebag with a 1,5L bladder in, Witslingers toptube and a Tailfin Aero pack. Sleepingkit is from Sea to Summit.

Michael Grünert

Age: 56

Location: Herne, Germany

Bike: Super lightweight 2024 Trek Supercaliber with SRAM AXS XX1. 32 chainring at the front and a 10/52 cassette. Yes, the bike is a little bit more on the comfort side and likely not necessary for the terrain. But I’ve got a ticket for the Badlands this year and the Seven Serpents serving as a test for bikes and gear, because almost everything is new stuff. For tires, I rely on fast rolling Wolfpack Race/Speed at the front/rear. Both are set up tubeless. Rims are a Duke Lucky Jack (rear) and an older Fun Works with a SON Dynamo hub at the front. Front light is a Supernova M99 DY Pro.

Key items of kit: A swiss made Frame Bag from Capricorn along with a saddle bag for my sleeping kit and a Top tube bag for some food and my electronics. Both bags are from Cyclite. The SON Dynamo powers an APPCON 3000 charger that has a small power bank included. That provides enough power to charge my mobile phone, head lamp and the Garmin Edge 1040. In power save mode the Garmin has a battery lifetime of more than 80 hours (self-tested) when it is fully loaded. The sleeping kit includes a Tyvek floor sheet, a Therm-a-Rest Neoair pad and a Sea to Summit SP0 sleeping bag. Because I don’t like too much weight on my bike and because I am a backpack child I am carrying a backpack where I have enough space for water and other stuff.

Bastian Völkl

Age: 28

Cap number: 115

Location: Bayreuth, Germany

Bike: Time ADHX with Lilienthal GX wheels and Continental Terra Speed tires measuring 38 mm in width. Drivetrain is Shiamno GRX Di2 2x11 with 48/31 in the front and 11-40 in the back.

Key items of kit: Cyclite bags (Frame Bag, Top Tube Bag and Saddle Bag Small); Lupine lights (Rotlicht max and SL Nano AF); USWE Race 2.0 Hydration pack.; Deda Parabolica Aero Bars.

Dennis Ulm

Age: 43

Cap number: 110

Location: Kempten (Allgäu), Germany

Bike: I’m riding a 2020 Brother Mehteh with 1x12 SRAM Rival/Force (42/10-50), Zipp 303s Wheelset and Schwalbe G One RS 40mm tires.

Key items of kit: For my whole stuff I use a set of Apidura Racing Series Bags.

Alessandro Giordo

Age: 38

Cap number: 130

Location: London, UK

Bike: Vitus SRS-1 Substance 2021, steel gravel bike with 47c 650b carbon rims from Parcour and a e-thirteen 9-46 cassette with SRAM Apex 1x 40t chainring. Teravail Rutland front and WTB Venture back for more grip and less rolling resistance.

Key items of kit: Restrap 14L Saddle Bag, Podsac front handlebar bag and Restrap frame bag and top-tube bag. A pocket rocket and gas stove and pans are essential for those days in the wild.

Nunziella Salluce - Bike Challenge

Age: 33

Cap number: 130

Location: London, UK

Bike: Vitus VRS-1 Substance 2021 alloy bike with 650b alloy wheels, Teravail Rutland front and WTB Venture back, both 47c.

Key items of kit: Topeak 6L Saddlebag, 10L Topeak Handlebar bag, a small Restrap frame bag and a Wizard Works Stem bag for all the snacks. All sleeping gear in the front and clothes in the back, with food and essentials in the frame and top bags.

Johannes Zeck

Age: 31

Cap number: 148

Location: Germany

Bike: Pure Brothers Steel Frame 58cm with Shimano GRX 2x10 drivetrain and Shimano GRX hydraulic brakes, Graff Aluminium rims, Schwalbe G R One 45mm tires, Deda dropbars and stem, an Ergon saddle and Radon aero bar.

Key items of kit: Topeak bikepacking bags (saddle bags, bar bag, and frame bag), a Wahoo Element Roam bike computer, and a Sigma Front light.

Marco Schicker

Age: 41

Cap number: 102

Location: Feldkirch, Austria

Bike: Salsa Cutthroat, SRAM 1x12 AXS drivetrain and Hope calipers. Wheels are Aerycs (carbon, back) and Pancho (aluminum, front) with Mezcal tires 29x2.25.

Key items of kit: Bags are a wild mix of custom framebag (Gramm), saddlebag and top tube (Apidura), aerobag (Cyclite) and food pouches. I run a dynamo setup with elite front and rear light. Most likely neither the lightest nor the fastest one, but pretty indestructible.

Marco Domanowski

Age: 37

Cap number: 24

Location: 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.

Christopher Rißmann

Age: 35

Cap number: 132

Location: Berlin, Germany

Bike: For this year's edition of the Seven Serpents Quick Bite, I'm going to ride my newly built bike for the first time! The base is a Bombtrack Beyond +2. I've equipped it with Hunt Race XC 29-inch wheels, although it originally has a 650b frame. The only thing I had to change is the SID SL Ultimate Fork. The groupset is SRAM GX Eagle, and the brakes are Shimano SLX. I've opted for a mixed Vittoria setup of 2.1 Barzo in the front for extra grip and 2.25 Mezcal in the back for better rolling. For comfort and ergonomics, I've chosen an Ergon SM Pro saddle and SQ Labs 710 grips to ensure comfort for the longest time possible.

Key items of kit: My bag setup is a mix of different brands. The aero pack and down tube are Tailfin. The full-frame Restrap bag, a small Topeak top tube bag, and a food pouch by Blackburn complete the ensemble. Illuminating my nights will be a Supernova M99 DY Pro powered by a SON 28 Dynamo, while cars will be attracted by Exposure Lights Blaze MKII. For the first time, I will use a dynamo-powered USB charger - the Fahrradlader v3.1 combined with a pass-through battery pack. My sleeping setup includes a basic lightweight Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad, a trusty Carinthia sleeping bag, and a budget SOL Escape Bivy. I am certainly overpacked because I'm heading to the Accursed Race in Albania right after the race finish.

David Skorjanc

Age: 35

Cap number: 143

Location: Gorizia, Italy

Bike: Scott Spark RC and Shimano XTR groupset.

Key items of kit: Bags are a mix of: Givi Adventure Climb handlebar bag, custom Kickingdonkey full frame bag, Kickingdonkey tank bag, Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR. Lights by Ravemen, Garmin for navigation.

Hannes Macherhammer

Age: 53

Cap number: 69

Location: Engerwitzdorf, Austria

Bike: BMC URS 01 Three 2022: SRAM Rival AXS GX, 36T 10-52T. Tires: Schwalbe front G-One R (45m-622), back G-One RS (45m-622).

Key items of kit: Bags are a mixture of Topeak (seat bag, frame), Cyclite (top tube and handlebar), and Blackburn (Outpost Carryall). Lights: Front Lezyne 1800i and Rear BBB CYCLING BLS-167.

Johanna Wildmoser

Age: 31

Cap number: 118

Location: Teufen, Switzerland

Bike: I ride a Trek Checkpoint SL 5 with a Shimano GRX RX600 2x11 groupset with a SRAM PG1130 11-36t cassette. The tires are 650B x 50, a pair of Schwalbe G-One Bite (the most fitting model for a race called “Quick Bite!” am I right?). They are mounted on a pair of Hunt Bikes’ 650B Carbon Adventure wheels. All tubeless, of course. Nothing fancy as far as the clip-on aerobars go: just a pair of cheap aluminum ones from Decathlon!

Key items of kit: I use a mix of brands as far as bags go. Saddlebag and partial frame bag are from Apidura, from their racing collection. My top tube bag is the Mag Tank from Revelate Design and at the front dangles a Lil Presto from Wizard Works. I’m bringing two sets of lights: a main set and a spare one. My main light is a Lezyne 1000XL and it’s accompanying rear light. My spare is my Petzl Actik Core Headlamp and some random little rear light. My sleeping (or let’s say, “resting”) system consists of both 800-fill down jacket and down pants and a Thermarest NeoAir XLite (a very short one on which the feet don’t fit). Not the most comfy and my feet will be cold… but it works in a pinch. My lucky item is a little cake-shaped reflector that will be dangling from my saddle bag… I got it at my very first bikepacking event so it’s definitely a lucky charm! I’ll also be using my old trail running hydration vest from Salomon, an Advanced Skin 8 (no need to buy a new one just for riding bikes, am I right?) — I want to be sure to carry extra water with me and the vest will allow me to carry up to an extra 1.5L which is highly appreciated. It’ll also allow me to carry many, many snacks!

Iason Polymeros

Age: 31

Cap number: 93

Location: London, United Kingdom

Bike: Trek Checkpoint ALR5 2022, 650B Arkane Wheelworks wheels (a local wheel builder) with 47mm Teravail Rutland at Front and 47mm Teravail Cannonball at Rear with a Win Wing 2 Mudguard, GRX 810 front and rear derailleur with 46/30 Chainrings and 11-34 Cassette.

Key items of kit: Bags: Alpkit Big Papa 17L, Apidura Expedition Full Frame Pack 7.5L, Restrap Toptube Bag 0.8L and Restrap Small Handlebar bag 14L. Lights: Exposure TraceR at Rear, Giro Roc Loc 5 LED Light on Helmet and Bikil 2400 Lumen Front Light. Sleeping Setup: Alpkit Cloudbase Sleeping Mat, Alpkit Pipedream 400 Sleeping Bag, Exped Ultra Pillow, Alpkit Hunka XL Bivvy Bag. Navigation: Hammerhead Karoo 2 and Garmin Forerunner 455 Solar. My Lucky item: ALL THE FOOD and my Greek Flag Stickers!

Alessandro Grisotto

Age: 57

Cap number: 89

Location: Conegliano Veneto

Bike: Steel frame Omnium Cargo V3, wheels DT Swiss new model tubeless ready U663, Valves Chris King Peaty's MK2, rear hub DT Swiss 350 and front Son 28 dynamo. Tires are Schwalbe Rocket Ron 29" and 20". Groupset Shimano Deore XT with gear ratio 32 x 10-51t and cranks 170mm. Pedals Shimano XTR, saddle Selle Italia Novus Endurance, Thomson handlebars, seatube and stem. Wolf Tooth spacers. Knobs and innerbarends SQ Lab. Extensions Vap Cycling Butterfly 3.

Key items of kit: Handlebar bag Vap Cycling Armadillo. Frame bag self produced. Cycle computer Garmin eTrex 32X. Cycle computer Garmin Edge Explore 2. Dynamo light Supernova E3 Pure 3.

Patrick Hoffmann

Age: 34

Cap number: 132

Location: Berlin, Germany

Bike: Rose Backroad GRX600. Tufo Thundero HD 44 Tires on CR1600 DTSWISS rims, 38T Garbaruk Chain ring + 11-46T Cassette.

Key items of kit: Frame and top tube bag by Apidura, Topeak saddle bag with sleeping system: Western Mountaineering FLYLITE sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite pad + Alpkit Hunka XL bivvy, Lupine nano frontlight, Redshift suspension stem.

Markus Brehm

Age: 45

Cap number: 10

Location: Weikersheim, Germany

Bike: NS Bikes RAG+, Shimano GRX 12 Speed mech. Groupset, 10-51, Mavic Allroad S with Specialized Tracer Pro 42 mm Tubeless, Easton EC90 Cranks with Garbaruk 42 t, Shimano XTR Pedals, Easton EC70 AX Bar, Zipp Stem, Selle San Marco Seat.

Key items of kit: Miss Grape Cluster 7 and Internode 5, Restrap Race Toptube Long, Keego Bottles, Wahoo, Sigma Lighting, Tubolito Spare Tubes, Opinel Knife, USWE Zulo Hipbag.

Barbara

Age: 310

Cap number: 21

Location: Graz

Bike: Specialized Diverge Comp named "Flux" equipped with Shimano GRX R810 2x11 11-34T gearing, Pathfinder Pro 2BR tires with tan sidewall, sized 700x42. Features Future Shock 2.0 with damper for enhanced comfort, along with a Body Geometry Power Sport saddle for ergonomic support. Completing the setup are TIME pedals.

Key items of kit: Revelate Top Tube for power bank and food, Frame bag for small first-aid kit, arm and leg warmers, personal hygiene, Saddlebag for sleeping system and extra clothes. Little backpack for hydration bladder, personal, and security stuff. Repair items in the hollow down tube of the bike. Lezyne lights and Garmin navigation

Jens Wirf

Age: 40

Cap number: 120

Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Bike: Orbea Terra M30 with GRX 1x 36T x 11-42, Zipp 303s, Continental Terra speed 45mm, Profile Design AR45 aero bars with 30mm riser. Ergon allroad gravel finishing kit.

Key items of kit: Tailfin aeropack with quilt and shield bivy from Cumulus, Thermarest NeoAir short and layers + rain gear from Rapha. Frame bag is almost entirely bars and gels and a large pump. Top tube bags contain electronics and misc body care. Lezyne lights and bottle cages. The downtube compartment is full of spares, hope to never open. System weight is 15kg without food/water.

Matthew Falconer

Age: 45

Cap number: 29

Location: Surrey

Bike: Curve Steel GXR aka Kevin of Steel, with Shimano mechanical GRX 40x11/42, Curve 700x45 G4T carbon wheels, with Vittoria Mezcal tubeless 700x44.

Key items of kit: Apidura frame, seat pack, fork packs and top tube bags. Apidura hydration vest. Bivvy with silk liner for emergencies, credit card for hotels. Exposure MaxxD headlight that I don’t expect to use too much, with a power bank for back up. Hopefully not going to need the rain gear as much as last year's Seven Serpents (🙏), but it’s all in the bags!

Markus Kollroser

Age: 48

Cap number: 61

Location: Austria

Bike: Conway GRV

Key items of kit: Apidura and Topeak bikepacks.

Paul Vierus

Age: 32

Cap number: 152

Location: Cologne, Germany

Bike: Ali Express Gravel Frame Super Deluxe, DTSwiss C1850, Venturemax V2, Panaracer Gravelking SK 43mm.

Key items of kit: I rely on bags from Ortlieb and Restrap.

Matthias Hausmann

Age: 35

Cap number: 48

Location: Ingolstadt

Bike: Mondraker Podium RR SL, SRAM XX1 34x10-50t, Mavic Crossmax SL Umtimate and Schwalbe Tires 50-622 G-One Bite.

Key items of kit: Apidura Race Top Tube Bag (2L), Ride and Get Lost custom Frame Bag. Front Light: Lupine Piko R4. Back Light: Knog Blinder. Helm Lamp: Fenix HM65R.

Carsten Krüger

Cap number: 64

Location: Berlin, Germany

Bike: Focus Mares AL 105. Handmade wheels by Komponentix.

Key items of kit: Mix of Apidura and Topeak bags. Cumulus Lite Line 300 sleeping bag.

Lorenzo

Age: 41

Cap number: 55100

Location: Lucca, Italy

Bike: Genesis Croix De Fer 50

Key items of kit: Miss Grape bikepacks

Checchia Lorenzo

Age: 41

Cap number: 15

Location: Lucca, Italy

Bike: Genesis Croix De Fer 50

Key items of kit: Miss Grape bikepacks

Retus

Age: 29

Cap number: 141

Location: Zürich, Switzerland

Bike: My Bike is a 3T Exploro Pro with a SRAM mullet 11s mechanical Rival/Eagle GX drivetrain, that allows me to have up to 52t cassettes, right now i drive a 38t chainring and a 11-46t cassette. It also features a Quarq single sided Powermeter. The wheels are not worth to mention but are 27.5" x 2.00 that bite into the ground with Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M.

Key items of kit: All of the bags are from Ortlieb while not being super lightweight they are for sure robust and trustworthy. A substantial part of the kit is taken by the sleeping system and a 2l water bladder in the frame bag. The sleeping bag and bivy are in the front while the rest is in the back. Additionally I use Topeaks Wishbone to stabilise the Saddle bag and add two additional bottles. In the bottle holder of the frame is a box with repair stuff.

Alessandro Lattuada

Age: 45

Location: Italy

Bike: OPEN Wi.De, Wheels Hunt 27.5, tires René Herse Umtanum Ridge. Groupset Shimano GRX with Garbaruk cassette 11-50 and wolftooth 36T. Stem Red SHIFT titanium. CF Allroad Pro Carbon Setback seatpost.

Key items of kit: White bags are from Cordel and black ones from Gramm.

Predrag Spasojevic

Age: 32

Cap number: 124

Location: Stuttgart, Germany

Bike: Wilier Jena, SRAM GX Eagle AXS with 10-52 Garbaruk cassette. Redshift Shockstop stem. Ritchey WCS Venturemax 44 handlebar. Canyon VCLS seatpost. Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 45 tires and DT Swiss GRC1400 wheels.

Key items of kit: Restrap Race bag set, Lezyne Lights and Garmin Edge Explore 2 bike computer.

Tobias Callister

Age: 26

Cap number: 13

Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland

Bike: Canyon Grizl 7 XL, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M (45mm), Drivetrain 11-42T cassette and 46x30 chainrings.

Key items of kit: Apidura Expedition Fork Pack (under aerobars) (3L), Canyon Framebag (4.5L), Canyon Top Tube bag (1L), Ortlieb Seatpack (11L)

Sleeping gear (inside Aeropack): Mountain Equipment "Transalp" Sleeping Bag (Comfort Limit 10°), Sea To Summit "Ultralight" Sleeping Pad. Samsung Powerbank 20,000 mAh and Garmin Edge 840.

Malte Itgen

Age: 29

Cap number: 53

Location: Germany

Bike: Canyon Grail CF SL8

Key items of kit: Custom 3D spacers to ditch the doubledecker-handlebars in favour of an aero handlebar in a lower position.

Lupine MiniMax 10kmAh to ride through the night comfortably.

Jan Drbušek

Age: 36

Cap number: 137

Location: Czech Republic

Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1by

Key items of kit: Frame pack hydration bladder, lots of food.

Simon Räder

Age: 43

Cap number: 87

Location: Rosenheim - Germany

Bike: Canyon Inflite. SRAM Axe Rival 30/43x10-36. Tufo Thundero 44mm front / Tufo Speedero 40mm rear.

Key items of kit: Cyclite Bags, Lupine SL Minimax AF and Garmin with radar backlight.

Benjamin Vogel

Age: 38

Cap number: 151a

Location: Germany

Bike: Frame: Ritchey Outback V2 and some Ritchey parts. Groupset: Shimano GRX 820 1x12. Wheelset: Dt Swiss GRC 1400 Spline. Tires: Pirelli Cinturato RC X.

Key items of kit: Tailfin Framebag and AeroPack Alloy. Lupine light and Garmin Edge 840.

Kasia Szomborg

Age: 37

Cap number: 16

Location: Berlin

Bike: 8bar Drachenberg. Wheels DT Swiss XR 1700 and suspension fork: DT Swiss F 232 One 100 mm. Groupset: Shimano Deore XT 12 speed. Suspension seatpost: BBB Action post with Specialized Mimic saddle. Steering bar + stem: 8bar. Grips: SQlab.

Key items of kit: Tyres: Schwalbe Racing Ralph/Thunder Burt.

Giorgio Emanuel

Age: 43

Cap number: 164

Location: Villafalletto, Italia

Bike: Canyon Grail, wheels DT Swiss. Copertone tubeles Pirelli Cinturato 700x40 Freni e cambio Gruppo Shimano GRX. Pacco pignoni Shimano 10-34t.

Key items of kit: Borsa Sottosella DPV, borsa telaio Miss Grape. Luce Lezyne 1800. Sacco a pelo Ferrino Duvet 600.

Elisa Roux

Age: 34

Cap number: 164

Location: Villafalletto, Italia

Bike: Canyon Grail, cerchi DT Swiss, copertone Schwalbe 40m. Freni e Cambio Shimano GRX.

Key items of kit: Borsa sottosella Evoc, borsa sotto telaio Miss Grape , luci Lezyne 1600, mini materassino e sacco a pelo Ferrino duvet 450.

Luca Cortinovis

Age: 38

Cap number: 18

Location: Italy

Bike: Rose Backroad with Shimano GRX 810 1x11 40t x 11-46t. DT Swiss HG 1800 Spline 650B. Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 45.

Key items of kit: Agu Venture Bags.

Cornelia Kleemann

Age: 29

Cap number: 134

Location: Berlin

Bike: Titan GRVL 900 Triban

Key items of kit: Ortlieb Framepack 3l, Lezyne Top Tube Pack 1l and Ortlieb Backroller 16,5l.

Leonie Stüken

Age: 29

Cap number: 134

Location: Allgäu, Germany

Bike: Specialized Crux Pro, with 42mm tires, SRAM Rival with mountainbike cassette

Key items of kit: Ortlieb Backroller 16,5liter + Ortlieb Framepack 3liter + Lezyne top tube pack 1liter + Evoc Trail backpack 6liter.

Christoph Quiring

Age: 31

Cap number: 152

Bike: Ali Express delüx gravel Frame Specialized. 1x12 SRAM Force eTap AXS

Key items of kit: Ortlieb Front loader and Ortlieb seatpack. Completly Black.

Marcus Nicolson

Age: 33

Cap number: 08

Location: Shetland

Bike: Pelago Stavanger with modified GRX groupset - 36t chainring to save my knees on the steep climbs. K-lite dynamo lights so the bears can see me coming!

Key items of kit: Straight cut bags made by Ross in Edinburgh. Testing out the new smaller size top tube bag and will be using small seat pack and stem bag.

Riding in Albion kit with a bladder in the cargo vest to stay hydrated. All available pockets are stuffed with snacks.

Special item is homemade porridge bread stuffed with dates and nuts that I made before jumping on the train.

Lightweight sleeping kit for the few hours I’ll likely have to wait before the ferry on Mon morning.

Navigating with a Garmin eTrex that I hope has dried out after the torrential rain on Further Scotland last October!

Antoni Grau

Age: 36

Cap number: 160

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Bike: Guava Spot Force

Key items of kit: Topeak back loader and 226ers bar bag 2.0

Tobias Sigmund

Age: 43

Cap number: 142

Location: Vienna, Austria

Bike: Stevens Prestige 2021 Size 61 with Fulcrum Racing wheelset, swapped tires for 45mm Schwalbe G-One Ultra Bite. Shimano GRX 2x11-spd drivetrain & hydraulic GRX flatmount disc brakes. Crankset 46-30, Casette 11-42.

Key items of kit: Ortlieb Seat-Pack 16.5l, Ortlieb Frame-Pack 4l, Apidura TopTube-Pack 2l, 7Roads Stem Bag, Lupine lights & Bontrager back-up lights, Element Bolt for navigation

Christoph

Age: 39

Cap number: 68

Location: Samerberg, Germany

Bike: Einhorn 350 carbon gravel seven serpents - custom made for the race.

Porsche 1959 auratium green paint looks speedy even when going slow, Tune/Bike Ahead Composites Custom Wheels with 1075g, SRAM Transmission with absoluteBLACK Oval 36t and 10-52t pizza cutter cassette, integrated Deda cockpit

Key items of kit: Full Cyclite bags, Lumonite Compass light.

Manuela Böhm

Age: 32

Cap number: 121

Location: Hannover, Germany

Bike: Canyon Grizl AL 7, Shimano GRX RX810 / RX600 parts, 2x11 drivetrain, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 45 mm.

Key items of kit: Ortlieb handlebar bag, selfmade frame and seat pack, ultralight hydrophobic down sleeping bag, inflatable mat, emergency bivy

Sandro

Age: 41

Cap number: 126

Location: Varese

Bike: 3t exploro ultra

Key items of kit: kit bikepacking ortlieb

Zsolt

Cap number: 157

Location: Szombathely, Hungary

Bike: Riverside GCR, a carbon gravel bike with SRAM Rival AXS from Decathlon.

Key items of kit: Comfort is key, that’s why I’m running the Redshift ShockStop stem and the Ergon VCLS seatpost.

Jürgen Jacob

Age: 54

Cap number: 54

Location: Munich, Germany

Bike: Einhorn #348 Carbon Gravel

Key items of kit: Carbon frame made to measure in Italy Looking faster than the rider 1x12 SRAM Apex drive train with absolute black oval chain ring Tune/Reserve Racing Carbon wheels with 45mm Tufo tyres

Kasey Tea

Age: 35

Cap number: 107

Location: Colorado, USA

Bike: Kona Libre.

Key items of kit: 46-30 paired with 40 tooth rear cassette with wolf tooth derailer hanger for those steep inclines and being weighted down with bike bags. Maxie’s rambler 47b to cruise down the chunky stuff.

Simon Pearce

Age: 45

Cap number: 149

Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia

Bike: Bockstein Mauerweg

Key items of kit: Transmission: SRAM Force XPLR AXS. Wheels: Hunt Carbon Gravel X-Wide. Bags: Apidura Expedition.

Stefano Gaffarelli

Age: 35

Cap number: 33100

Location: Udine

Bike: Pinarello Grevil F

Key items of kit: Gravel with two givi adevnture bags

Federico Rosso

Age: 52

Cap number: 91

Location: Udine

Bike: Cinelli King Zideco

Key items of kit: Apidura bikepacks

Alessandro Savio

Age: 49

Cap number: 95

Location: Udine, Italia

Bike: Cinelli Hobobootleg Geo

Key items of kit: Miss Grape, Apidura and Brn

Hauke Gathmann

Age: 31

Cap number: 36

Location: Munich, Germany

Bike: Niner RLT9, SRAM Force XPLR

Key items of kit: Seatpack, Framebag, Hydration West, Aero Bars

Kevin

Age: 30

Cap number: 47

Location: Munich, Germany

Bike: Cube Nuroad C:62 Race

Key items of kit: Ortlieb 16L Saddle Bag, AGU Frame Bag, Cyclite Top Tube Bag, Decathlon Food Pouch, Profile Design Aero Bars and Apidura Hydration Vest.

Moritz

Age: 22

Cap number: 150

Location: Germany

Bike: Cube Nuroad WS C:62 Pro with 1x GRX Groupset and tubeless Schwalbe G One Bite Tires

Key items of kit: Double snack pouch to keep up with the fueling

Tim

Age: 23

Cap number: 150

Location: Germany

Bike: Cube Nuroad Race -2022. GRX810 2x11 with Schwalbe G-one Bite 45mm tubeless.

Key items of kit: 2x Decathlon food pouch, Restrap top tube bag, Topeak frame bag (wouldn’t recommend), Apidura seat bag. Sigma front and rear lights + head lamp. Camelbak 2l.

Klaus Rainer

Age: 46

Cap number: 88

Location: Austria

Bike: KTM X-Strada

Key items of kit: Orlieb, Keego and Gummibär

Davide Bergamini

Age: 51

Cap number: 55

Location: Finale Emilia

Bike: De Rosa Hera

Key items of kit: lightness