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Bikes Of The Alps Divide 2025
5 September, 2025
Olly Webb
Age: 29
Cap number: 89
Location: Reading, UK.
Bike: Specialized Chisel - 1x12 SLX drivetrain, XT brakes, DT Swiss rear wheel and stock Shimano front wheel with 2.35 Mezcal's. 100mm Judy Gold Fork.
Key items of kit: Full bag setup from Tailfin. Sleep kit - Bivvy bag, 0c Sleeping bag, insulated pad, inflatable pillow and emergency blanket ground sheet. Clothing - Full waterproofs, 2x Bib shorts, T-shirt, Merino long sleeve, Insulated Gilet, Insulated jacket, Down jacket , 2x Gloves, 2x Socks, Buff and Leg warmers. Other - Exposure Maxx-D, Wahoo Elemnt and standard tools and first aid kit etc. Nutrition - Hydration vest for water, bottle for carbs, home made drink mix (Sugar + Electrolyte), 2x dehydrated meals and French baguette.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Aluminium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Martin McShane
Age: 68
Location: Shireoaks
Bike: Scott Spark Full suspension
Key items of kit: Tailfin - front bag, top tube, half frame and aeropack. Restrap food pouches
Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Dan Kelly
Age: 38
Cap number: 41
Location: Meylan, France
Bike: Titanium Revel, El Jefe. We Are One carbon hoops on i9 Hydra's. Enve bars and stem. Fox 34 120mm. PNW components dropper. Green accents throughout.
Key items of kit: Custome frame specific and top tube bag by Dispersed Bikpacking - simply the best around (thanks Andrew). Saddle pack by Wayward Riders, simple reliable and classic deisgn / ease of use. Front roll designed and made by me which has withstood thousands of kilometers of riding.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Sebastien Glatigny
Age: 32
Cap number: 26
Location: Denmark
Bike: Olsen Tiger Rohloff hub FOX 32 Step-Cast 29" 100mm
Key items of kit: 7R Bags - Handlebar bag Restrap - Custom made frame bag Decathlon - Top tube bag Revelate Design - Terrapine Saddlebag
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Campbell Davidson
Age: 38
Cap number: 102
Location: Strathblane, Scotland
Bike: Norco Revolver HT 2017
Key items of kit: My old skool hardtail has had a makeover and received some love ahead of the Alps Divide:
120mm SID Ultimate fork Alp Kit Confucious Handlebar 11 speed 1x drive train (42T cassette, 30T chainring…lets hope I’m not wishing for more gears…) Apidura saddle bag (dropper compatible, 6l) Revelate designs sweet roll handlebar bag (small) 2x Decathlon feedbags either side of stem Decathlon makeshift top tube bag (likely getting my replaced for the trip with full length top tube bag) Riding a Montane Gecko VP+ 20l running vest Lighting - 2x Exposure Diablos, Tracer Front & Rear Navigation - Garmin Edge 530 (Fenix 6 watch as backup) Sleeping - Cumulus 350 down quilt, Therma-rest Neoair pad, Alpkit Hunka XL bivvy bag, Sea to Summit micro pillow (luxury!) Charging - 2x10k ma power banks Rubber - will have Barzo 2.25 Front and Mezcal 2.1 Rear, XC Trail versions (if they arrive in time!)
Looking forward to getting onto the trail :)
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Indi Jakob
Age: 29
Cap number: 38
Location: Switzerland
Bike: Veloheld Iron 2022 Steel frame, Fox 32 Step-Cast 100mm fork, Scope R 2.0 Boost wheelset, SRAM mechanical drivetrain 28 x 10-52 (mix of X01, GX, and NX), Shimano XTR 4-piston brakes, Ultradynamico Mars Robusto tires, SQ-Lab 710 S grips with Spirgrip inner bar ends, cane creek eesilk+ seatpost and Selle italia Flite Boost TM Superflow saddle
Key items of kit: Bags: Restrap top tube and saddle bag, Revelate Designs frame bag, Tailfin downtube bag, Black Diamond vest, and 2x Blue Lug stem pouches Lights: Lupine SL Nano, Silva Free 1200, Exposure Lights Trace MK3 + TraceR Tech/Power: Coros Dura and Apex, 26,800mAh power bank Sleeping: Sea to Summit Spark 2, Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X-Lite Clothing: Mostly a mix of Albion and Gore Foodstock: Styrkr gels, rice bars, and carbo-mix Gear Highlights: Freshly serviced fork by Outdoor X, Scope wheelset with Ultradynamico tires, Spirgrips inner bar ends and Excel sheet containing shops, refuges, and other useful resources along the route, including opening hours and more
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Krzysztof Sienkiewicz
Age: 34
Cap number: 71
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Bike: A carbon hardtail Rockrider Race 900 converted into a drop bar mtb.
Key items of kit: Drop bars, SRAM AXS (Apex levers plus GX Eagle derailleur), Restrap Race bags plus a Decathlon frame one.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: Yes
Vincent Stuer
Age: 26
Cap number: 78
Location: Lokeren, Belgium
Bike: Curve Uprock V2
A mix of XX1 drivetrain and XTR brakes, aluminium reserve wheels mounted with vittoria mezcal 2.4 tires.
For the cockpit I’ve got a carbon canecreek eesilk+ seatpost, thomson stem and sq lab carbon bars.
Bags are a mix of tailfin, apidura and a full frame bag from Tijmen at witslingers.
Key items of kit: Not pictured is a apidura hydration backpack, with plenty of room for road snacks and kit including a 7mesh skypilot jacket and pair of 7mesh thunderpant making sure I stay dry.
Also the blips in the middle of the handlebar are super handy for shifting while on the bars or inner bar ends.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: Yes
Hannes Dossche
Age: 27
Cap number: 17
Location: Ghent - Belgium
Bike: - Surly Karate Monkey
- Fox 32 100mm fork
- Continental RaceKing Protection 29x2.2 tyres
- Mix of Sram Eagle 1x12 parts. 28T chainring <3
- Avid BB7 Mechanical Disc Brakes
- Kona Wah Wah Flat Pedals + Trailrunning shoes
- WTB Volt Saddle
Key items of kit: - Dosh Gear Frame Bag, Long Cockpit Bag and Bucket Bags
- Riverside Seat Pack
- Coros Dura GPS
- Ergon Grips + Inner bar ends
- Redshift Quick Release Aero Bars
- Sol Escape Bivvy
- Rab Ultrasphere 4.5 Sleeping Mat
- Cumulus 350 Quilt
- 2x Fenix BC26R headlight (1 on bike, 1 on helmet) + 2x extra battery
- Full Rain kit incl. jacket, pants, overmitts, shoecovers
- Rab Sunhoody for riding <3
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Rachel Fox
Age: 39
Cap number: 23
Location: Edinburgh
Bike: Mason Raw, Son Dynamo Hub paired with Sinewave Beacon light and usb charger. SRAM AXS, 30T 10-52 Eagle cassette, 2.25 Vittoria tyres Barzo on the front, Mezcal on the back. Profile Design T3 aerobars
Key items of kit: Old Man Mountain Rack and ortlieb drybag on the back, homemade frame bag (from an old waterproof!). Decathlon btwin 2l micro panniers for all the snacks. Restrap toptube and bottle bag. Sleeping system: HMG mid1 tent, Nemo short Sleeping pad and Western Mountainineerg quilt + extra layers for warmth. Luxury item - mini pump for the thermarest
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: Yes
Lynne Diamond Davies
Location: Peebles
Bike: Pipedream Cycles Sirius S6 Ti
Key items of kit: Poca Bags custom frame bag, Tailfin aeropack, Tailfin top tube bag. Exposure Toro light, Exposure boost rear light. Miss Grape handlebar cradle and bag. Thermarest quilt and mat. X-Mid tent. Wahoo Roam.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Electronic shifting: No
cédric aubert
Location: Sallanches
Bike: Specialized Epic Evo Expert
Key items of kit: THE BIKE Full-sus Epic Evo 110 travel front and 100 travel frame. SRAM GX T-TYPE AXS drivetrain with a 10–52 cassette and 32T chainring, Shimano XTR brakes and Deda carbon aero extensions.
LIGHTS & ELECTRONICS Bookman 1500 lumens front light, Petzl Actik 800 lumens, Garmin 1040 Solar for navigation, and a SON dynamo hub paired with a K-Lite system to keep everything running. Power setup includes two powerbanks with a combined capacity of 30,000 mAh.
BAGS & CARRYING SYSTEM Apidura Frame bag: 4L Apidura bag: 5L Restrap Top tube bag : 2L Tailfin downtube bag: 3L The North Face HydraVest
SLEEPING SYSTEM Millet Trilogy bivy Sea to Summit spark 1 Sea to Summit inflatable marres
Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: Yes
Josep Maria Cabanas
Age: 53
Cap number: 9
Location: Les Masies de Voltrega (SPAIN)
Bike: Niner RTL 9 Steel 29" Wheels with WTB Venture Road Plus 50cm, Son dynamo + Supernova lights an SRAM Eagle groupset 30/10-52T.
Key items of kit: Bags, I have assembled a group of bags Restrap, Race top tube bag, two Race stem bag, Race frame bag, Race sadlle bag and two Dry-Bag Light Orlieb.
Frame type: Gravel
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 45-50mm
Electronic shifting: No
DEBROUCKE
Age: 42
Cap number: 16
Location: Grenoble
Bike: CHIRU Highlander
Key items of kit: Miss grape bags : handlebar, frame 4L, and saddle 13L. Restrap race 2.5L top tube. Fork suspension, the FOS 34 120mm stepcast factory Wheels : DUKE carbon rim with BERDs spoke. ERASE hub at the rear, SON 28 hub at the front. About the light, I will have a Klamp EXR1600 plus a Sinewave beacon as additionnal light and output for charging electronics. In terms of tire, Vittoria with the well know 2'25 Mezcal at rear and a Sierra 2'4 at front
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: Yes
ReiRey
Age: 40
Cap number: 62
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona USA
Bike: Pivot Shadow Cat
Key items of kit: 27.5’s Rekon 2.4 front, Ikon 2.0 rear rear, 12spd Sram eagle cassette, 30 T Sram chain ring, 165mm carbon race face cranks BAGS: Rogue Panda Ridgeline with elevated light bar (choice!), Rogue Panda Ripsey V2, Rogue Panda custom top tub, Rogue Panda Custom center frame bag, Rogue Panda Chuck Bucket GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Shout out to Rogue Panda crew in Flagstaff AZ!
Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 650b (27.5")
Tyre width: 25-29mm
Electronic shifting: No
Sabrina Sonda
Age: 53
Cap number: 74
Location: Australia
Bike: 3T Ultra
Key items of kit: Apidura front bag Apidura frame pack Tailfin Aeropack Tailfin top tube pack
Frame type: Gravel
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 650b (27.5")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Jasper
Age: 40
Cap number: 107
Location: Netherlands
Bike: Giant XTC, 100mm Rockshox frond suspention. Dropbar electronic shifting from Sram Axs combined with GX derailleur. 32t at the front and 10-52 in the back. Schwalbe Racing Ray and Racing Ralf 2,35 keep it all on the road.
Key items of kit: I’ll be sleeping in all Exped (mat, sleeping bag and bivy). Will bring a no name tarp fore just in case. Made a framebag, a stearbag and a carrier to fit the bike. Hopefully a 20.000mh powerbank and a tiny solarpanel will be enough to charge my phone, lights and headphone.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: Yes
Han H
Age: 40
Cap number: 36
Location: Netherlands
Bike: 2016 Kona Raijin Ti - FOX32 fork - and various other bits and bobs
Key items of kit: swimming pants (never go without)
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Max Hill
Age: 26
Cap number: 34
Location: France
Bike: My bike is a custom Hill Frameworks frame built with ultra racing in mind, with a custom rack and bag set. I've built quite a few ultra frames for riders doing the Tour Divide and Atlas Mountain Race, so I thought it was about time I got one together for myself and did an ultra. The bags I made as well from XPAC VX21.
The rest of the build is a mixture of xt and Deore bits for cost effectiveness, a DTSwiss alloy wheelset and a Hope headset and seatclamp.
www.hillframeworks.com
Key items of kit: Im a big fan of the rack so you can avoid a swaying saddle bag, and add extra bottle cage locations when running a full framebag.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Stéphanie Quadranti
Age: 28
Cap number: 60
Location: Cotignac, France
Bike: Hill Frameworks Ultra Hardtail - Steel MTB
I’m riding a steel hardtail built by my boyfriend, Max. It’s a Hill Frameworks "Alps Divide Special" with matching custom bags and custom rack :)
My setup is simple and solid. The star of the show (after the frame and bags) is my Hope 155mm crankset - it's been a revolutionary discovery for me and my short legs!
I’m excited to take this very blurple bike for a long roll through the Alps :)
Key items of kit: - Custom frame bags made by my boyfriend, Max - using an old 1970s heavy duty sewing machine!
- Restrap Race Hydration Vest to maximise water storage space
- Aero bars I bought for my first ever road time trial, cut down to fit and to double up as a handlebar bag mount
- Hairbands to keep all the small pieces of kit together in my bags (a very underrated solution!)
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Simone Eder
Cap number: 19
Location: Austria
Bike: Cannondale Scalpel HT with a Lefty fork, way too heavvy wheels, XT groupset and brakes, a 32 Gabaruk oval chainring and a 10-51 cassette
Key items of kit: Well dressed by Albion and fully equipped with a range of Tailfin bags. Good weather protection will be key for this time in the Alps.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Jim Higgins
Age: 51
Cap number: 33
Location: Scotland
Bike: Mason Raw
Key items of kit: I will be riding my trusty Mason Raw with Sram AXS electronic spinning a 52t cassette and 30t Absolute Black oval chainring. It will be hilly in the Alps! I'll be rolling on 28x2.35 Mezcals.
Bags are from Tailfin, Straightcut Designs and Revelate.
My luxury item is my Ultamid 1 tent (it might rain 😬) but I'm going light with my Spark 1 sleeping bag (I might regret that).
I'm starting heavy, packing many carbs (Precision Chews and Tailwind), but that means more incentive to fuel and lighten the load!
Exposure 6 Pack lighting up the way.
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: Yes
Steve Owens
Age: 39
Cap number: 101
Location: Scotland
Bike: Cube Reaction GTC Race
Key items of kit: Bags: Apidura expedition saddle bag - 14L Canyon handlebar bag - 2L Topeak Frontloader - 12L Camelback Chase backpack - 8L Tailfin downtube pack - 1.7L
Key items: Garmin 530 Exposure Diablo x2 Sea to Summit ember ultralight quilt Sea to Summit Aeros ultralight pillow Thermarest Neoair NXT pad Alpkit Hunka XL bivy
Optional: Legs, hopefully they show up for the party 🙃
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Jade Saskia Simpson-Field
Age: 34
Cap number: 21
Location: Leeds
Bike: I'll be riding my Cube full sus, with flat pedals and a toxic Barbie pink chainring. Race rekon tires and a mix of Ortlieb, Wizard Works, Restrap, Revelate and Tailfin bags.
Key items of kit: I'll be snug in my Nemo tent with my S2S spark 3 sleeping bag, fleecy PJs and pillow. Hoping for some snow even though I'll be in my sandals!
Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Conor O'Brian
Age: 32
Cap number: 53
Location: BOULDER
Bike: My day job is acting as the General Manager for Mike's Bikes in Boulder, Colorado. In my spare time, I partake in long-distance off-road cycling races and events. I'm excited to take on the Alps Divide - my longest ride yet - aboard my 56cm Moots RSL, adjusted from race mode to adventure mode!
Key items of kit: - 60mm suspension fork
- Tires: Maxxis Rambler 50mm (front); Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 45mm (rear)
- SRAM Force AXS; 38t, 11-44t.
- Restrap bikepacking race bags + hydration vest
Frame type: Gravel
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 45-50mm
Electronic shifting: Yes
Lucie
Cap number: 69
Location: Sainte Foy Tarentaise, France
Bike: I’ll be riding a Cotic Solaris with a SID fork, Shimano Deore brakes, Hunt wheels & Vittoria Mezcal tyres with Ergon saddle & grips.
Key items of kit: Mix of Miss Grape & Tailfin bags plus a running vest with water bladder and tons of space for snacks. Hopefully enough layers to keep me warm and a poncho to use to help my waterproofs keep me dry plus as a tarp for my bivvy set up. Using Magicshine lights front & rear plus a Garmin Edge 830
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Harry Whiles
Age: 28
Location: Dorset UK
Bike: Lapierre XR
Key items of kit: Thermarest Hyperion sleeping bag paired with OR Helium bivvy to keep warm in any weather.
Frame type: MTB - Full Suspension
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Adam Clark
Age: 32
Cap number: 11
Bike: BMC Urs LT one
Key items of kit: Running a son Dynamo with klite lighting kit. The bike is equipped with sram electronic groupset with 38, 10-52 gearing. Cyclite aerobar bag housing the full sleep kit and saddle pack for clothing layers. USB hub for charging devices inside the Apidura framebag and quick grab wet weather gear. Top tube bag for snacks. The tyres are 40 mm challenge getaway, hoping these are sufficient for the route but limited by frame clearance.
Frame type: Gravel
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 40-44mm
Tim von Glahn
Age: 34
Cap number: 88
Location: Gernany
Bike: Sauvage LaForêt equipped with RockShox SID, Shimano shifting, custom wheels and Vittoria Mezcal tires
Key items of kit: Cyclone front roll, Revelate Designs seat bag, Bohemia Outdoor custom frame bag, sleeping set up: Cumulus quilt, Exped mat, bivvy
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Titanium
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
Carl Hopps
Age: 38
Location: Leeds
Bike: Fairlight Holt 2.0, mix of Shimano 12-speed (30T ring), Hope Fortus 26 Pro5 Wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 2.35 Tyres, Crank Brothers Highline Dropper Post, Brooks Cambium C15 Saddle, Sonder Aspect Carbon Bars, Ergon GA3 Grips. Exposure Toro lighting the way.
Key items of kit: Restrap Race Range bags containing, Sea to Summit Spark 2 sleeping bag, Alpkit Bivvy Bag, Klymit X Frame Mat, Sea To Summit Aeros Pillow. Led Lenser H8R Headtorch. Mountain Equipment Saltoro Waterproof. Fresh Specialized Recon shoes for this race!
Frame type: Hardtail - Front Suspension
Frame material: Steel
Wheel size: 700c (29")
Tyre width: 50mm+
Electronic shifting: No
