Bikes of the Bright Midnight 2024

Luisa Werner

Age: 29

Cap number: 101

Location: Grenoble, France

Bike: Rose Backroad

Key items of kit: Tires: Specialized Rhombus 47C Bags: Ortlieb Framebag, Ortlieb Saddle Bag, Matchy Handlbar Bag, Cyclite Frame Bag Light: Supernova M99 Mini Gear Ratio: 11-34, 11-speed 2x Aerobars: Deda Parabolica Sleeping Bag: Seatosummit Flame 6 degree comfort Matress: Thermarest Neoair x-light

Johann Kristan

Age: 32

Cap number: 40

Location: Germany

Bike: Rose Backroad from 2022 (carbon frame) with GRX600 (40T chainring with a 11-42 cassette). I added Carl Z carbon wheels with Pirelli Cinturato RC tyres (45mm) and Profile Design aerobars with a Supernova battery light for the night. Bags are all Apidura.

Key items of kit: A light inflatable sleeping pad and pillow (!) from Exped and a UL sleeping bag from Cummulus are there for resting. I have my food pouches full of “Katjes” (vegan candy). Other than that just some repair stuff and warm clothing.

Hallvard Kolltveit

Age: 34

Cap number: 19

Location: Oslo, Norway

Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SL 6 AXS

• 404 Firecrest (overkill yes, but it's my best set available atm)
• 40mm Schwalbe G-One (R on the front, RS on the rear)
• Sram Apex AXS (1-by, 36t & 10-44t)

Key items of kit: Canyon frame, top and saddle bags. Profile design aero bars w/Sram blips. Black Diamond hydration vest with collapsible bottles.

Tobias Obermann

Age: 32

Cap number: 150

Location: Trondheim, Norway

Bike: Cube Nuroad SLT

Key items of kit: Apidura, 4l frame bag Apidura, 2l top tube bag 16l saddle bag 2x 0.7l water bottles Aerobars

Marco Hoeksema

Age: 43

Cap number: 101

Location: Appingedam (Groningen)

Bike: Canyon Grail CFR. Sram red 1x12 (42-10/44) Schwalbe G one R tires 40mm

Key items of kit: Apidura 7ltr saddle bag, 4ltr frame pack, 1,8 ltr down tube bag and 1,5 ltr top tube bag from Restrap. In the saddle bag some bad weather clothing, frame bag for electronics, personal care and food, top tube bag mostly for food. Down tube bag for some spares like innertubes etc.

Alex Larsen

Age: 44

Cap number: 108

Location: Denmark/Copenhagen

Bike: OPEN UP 2018

• Roval Terra wheel set
• Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H, 40mm
• SRAM X0 Eagle AXS 10/52T
• Absoluteblack Oval chainring 36T
• Ergon CF Allroad seatpost
• Specialized saddel
• Redshift Titanium suspension stem
• PRO Discover Carbon handlebar
• Force1 shifters and breaks
• Some aerobar that are not shown on picture
• Horseshoe stem for good luck

Key items of kit: Bags:

• Tailfin carbon rack with Rockgeist cubenfiber drybag
• GRAM custom made half frame bag
• Bikebagdude toptube bag
• Bikebagdude aerobar bag (Not shown on picture)

Sleepsystem:

• Borah gear cubenfiber bivy
• Borrowed cubenfiber Tarptent for the rainy rests
• Downpants and downjacket

Misc:

• Fenix BC26R rechargeable frontlight
• Fenix BC05R rechargeable taillight
• 2x 10000 Nitecore carbon battery banks
• Extra battery for the shifter
• Goretex raingear
• Veloccio bibs
• Some mix of Rapha and 7mesh tops and extra layers
• Waterproof sucks instead of shoe cover
• Personal hygiene stuff incl baby wipes

My goal is to survive the entire route, within or out the timeframe as I have had 2 month with a funky knee. Many times decided if I should cancel, but I would regret not giving it a go and hope for the best.

Ali ELAMRANI JOUTEI

Age: 35

Cap number: CAP61

Location: France

Bike: I will be riding the THE BRIGHT MIDNIGHT on my Canyon GRZ SLX 8. The bike features DT SWISS carbon Wheels with SON dynamo, Hutchinson Touareg tires 40mm, EKAR Group (42T front) Classified cassette 13v (11-36T rear) with XTR pedals. Selle Ideale Saddle. Profile Design Aerobars, Sinewave Beacon v2 front light, and Specialized out back.

Key items of kit: Apidura Frame Pack, Restrap top tube packs and SmallTailfin Saddle BAG Matelas and bivy for sleeping! Garmin 1040 Solar!

Christian Paulus

Age: 44

Cap number: 31

Location: Limbach Germany

Bike: Wilier Rafe SL

Key items of kit: Tailfin Rack,Sram Mullet,SonDynamo, Apidura Frame Bag,Cyclide AeroBag,ProfileDesign Aerobar

Viggo Vea

Age: 51

Cap number: 37

Location: Norway

Bike: Frame:Carbonda 696, Shimano mullet drivetrain 2x10, tiagra shifters and krankset, 46/32 chainrings, 10/40 cassette. Tires are Pirelli cinturato gravel H in 40mm.

Key items of kit: The Sp-dynamo powers a Sinewave beacon headlight. There's a long Apidura toptube bag, and a small Aliexpress framebag. A bit controversial, I use a Kootu trunkbag on my Tailfin rack. Its a more flexible solutions which has a lot of space and is fast to open and close. I'm riding with a sleeping bag and a pad. No bivvy here... They are a bit exposed to the weather :)

Andrew Turner

Age: 57

Cap number: 115

Location: Bishop's Stortford, UK

Bike: Curve GXR Singlespeed - the same bike that has carried me to the finish of Bikepacking Trans Germany (2nd singlespeed finisher in 2019) and Italy Divide (1st singlespeed in 2022). Switched to Vittoria Terrano Dry tyres 47mm for The Bright Midnight, hoping for the holy grail of comfort and fast rolling. Gearing is 34 x16. Selle Anatomica X2 saddle.

Key items of kit: A mixture of bags from Tailfin, Oveja Negra, and Apidura. The front light and usb charger are my trusted k-lite setup. I'm aiming to travel light, a range of clothing for warmth and for keeping me dry. Sleeping under a roof each night is the plan, but will carry an emergency bivvy.

Nerijus

Age: 38

Cap number: 65

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania

Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SL8 suspension 1by Cassette: 11-51 11s Crank: 38T Tires: 50 mm Shwalbe G-One Overland 365

Key items of kit: Tailfin AeroPack Canyon Midloader and Top Tube Bag Tarka Top Tube bag Custom made S-Works Aerobars

Hristos Fleturis

Age: 32

Cap number: 80

Location: Salzburg, Austria

Bike: Finna Landscape Steel Gravel

Key items of kit: Riding my sturdy and reliable steel frame from Finna for this. On the heavier side but it’s my go to adventure bike and the one I love riding the most. Have a 38t Wolftooth chainring and a 10-50 Garbaruk cassette to get things going nice and easy for the climbs and cruisy speeds on the flats. All bags are from Restrap: frame bag, top tube, harness saddle bag and harness front bag. All supported by a Salomon backpack for water and snacks + Gloworm external battery front light.

Knut Ole Oddan

Age: 43

Cap number: 70

Location: Norway, Kyrksæterøra

Bike: Canyon Grizl 1× Grx 40t front and Grx 52t in the rear.

Key items of kit: Aero spider rear rack and front mount. Ortlieb frame pack and ortlieb top tube pack. Blackburn dry bag for the front

Wahoo element roam computer Lezyne rechargeable front light, and a garmin varia rear light OR helium bivy, naturehike sleeping bag. SeatoSummit pad.

No lucky item..My first ultra race, so learning by doing😅

Yuliana Casas

Age: 38

Cap number: 20

Location: UAE

Bike: Tera Basso

Key items of kit: 36-11/40 Apidura Saddle Bag Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 40

Wojciech Nogalski

Age: 43

Cap number: 30

Location: Kraków, Poland

Bike: Rondo Ruut CF custom build:

• Shimano GRX Di2, Garbaruk oval chain-ring 38t x 11-42 casette, Shimano XT pedals
• Evanlite New Gravel carbon wheels
• Specialized S-Works Pathfinder 42mm tires + Orange Seal
• Pro Missile aerobars

Key items of kit: Clothes:

• Assoss Mille GTC Kiespanzer bibs
• Ale cycling REV1 Artika shirt + Ale cycling technical shirt underneath
• JMP rain jacket
• JMP gillet
• Eroe arm warmers, Northwave leg warmers
• Endura Nemo II gloves
• Velotoze shoe protectors
• Abus rain cap
• Buff

Bags + bottles:

• Restrap Framebag 4.5L
• Restrap Top Tube Race bag 1.5L
• Topeak 6L saddle bag
• 2 x Elite 950ml bottles, 2 x Salomon 500ml softflask

Elecronics + miscs:

• Garmin 1040 Solar
• InPeak powermeter
• HJC Ibex 2.0 helmet
• Rudy Project Cutline photocromatic sunglasses
• Anker 20'000 powerbank, Anker Nano 20W charger, cables
• Multitool, tire levers, tube and tire patches, tire plugs
• 2 x Tubolito spare tubes
• Emergency blanket
• First aid kit
• sun cream, mini-tooth brush

Lights:

• Mactronic Scream 3.1, 3 x 18'600 batteries, Bontrager Flare as backup
• Magicshine SeeMee 3.0 rear light

Food (taking most of the space):

• Precision Fuel: Carb Drink, Chews, Gels
• Maurten: Drink Mix 320 CAF, Solid 160
• a couple of sandwiches

Berber Heerschop

Age: 32

Cap number: 55

Location: Utrecht, NL

Bike: Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 AXS - aka Tommie

Key items of kit: -

Vadym Tiroshko

Age: 30

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Bike: Yellow Rocket Of the original Scott, only a frame and a seat post are left. Recently updated to GRX, 1x38T and 11x46. Panaracer Gravelking X1 40mm, Brooks C13 saddle, Profile Design aerobars.

Key items of kit: Haribo large lifesaver pack, Evoc saddle rocket, Brooks frame bags, USWE vest. I'm ready to resist the rain, hunt the bivy spots, and annoy all my friends with a week of beautiful cycling insta stories. Podcasts downloaded, new playlists created. Donate to a drone for the defenders of Ukraine! ✊

Thomas Egrelius

Age: 50

Cap number: 92

Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Bike: Kona Rove LTD with FSA 650b wheelset equipped with Conti Terra Trail 47mm tyres. 2x11 drivetrain with 30/48t crank and a maxed out 11-40 rear for the climbs :)

Key items of kit: Bags from Apidura. Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 for cozy sleepovers. The lovely Hammerhead Karoo 2 for navigation. Still trying to not pack too much... 😁

Tobias Callister

Age: 26

Cap number: 26

Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland

Bike: Canyon Grizl 7 XL, Pirelli Cinturato All Road (40mm), 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), Tailfin AeroPack Carbon (18L) Sleeping gear (inside fork pack): Mountain Equipment "Transalp" Sleeping Bag (Comfort Limit 10°), Sea To Summit "Ultralight" Sleeping Pad. Garmin Edge 840.

Thomas Marx

Cap number: 24

Location: Germany

Bike: Cannondale Scalpel HT 36 Chainring 10-51 Cassette

Key items of kit: Tailfin / Decathlon Mix

Robin Feder

Age: 37

Cap number: 22

Location: Kiel, Germany

Bike: Rose Backroad in XL SRAM Rival AXS XPLR 40x10-44 Prime Carbon Wheels 44mm Tufo Thundero 40mm in the front for grip Tufo Speedero 40mm in the back for speed 3T/Profile Design Aerobars with 70mm spacers for comfort. SQLab Saddle, Wahoo Elemnt Bolt for Navigation. 38cm "wide" Ritchey bars with 3mm bar tape.

Key items of kit: Restrap Aero Race Aerobar bag with clothes. Primaloft jacket and and down vest, full rain gear, neopren gloves, merino layers.

Restrap Adventure top tube bag for snacks and quick access to tubeless plugs.

Custom Frame bag with electronics, toiletries, first aid kit and tools.

Alpkit Saddle bag with sleeping system. SeatoSummit Ember 1 Quilt, Silken liner, therm-a-rest sleeping mat, emergency bivvy and ultralight pillow. USWE Trail Vest with 2l bladder and space for food. Full weight 15,5kg without water

Philipp Böckmann

Age: 27

Location: Münster (GER)

Bike: Bombtrack hook ext

Key items of kit: easy gearing 36 - 11/51 bluetooth speaker stove+coffee

Joe R

Age: 33

Cap number: 15

Location: London, UK

Bike: SW Crux built up by Bespoke on Force 1x and Zipp 303S with Schwalbe G1Rs and swapped out shorter stem

Key items of kit: Tailfin aero pack + frame bag with sleep kit (alpkit bivvy, thermarest, OMM mountain raid bag). Exposure lights. First Ultra and very nervous about the Norwegian weather, so gore tex waterproof trousers, montbell down anorak and the emergency Arcteryx Alpha shell! Otherwise all albion kit.

Håkon Røe

Age: 26

Location: Trondheim, Norway

Bike: Scott Speedster gravel 30 (Alu) Framesize 52 (not much room for bags!) Shimano GRX 10spd with 46x30T in front and 11-34T in the back

Key items of kit: I'm using Woho Xtouring frame, top-tube and saddlebags. First time doing this, so hope I didnt pack too light hehe...

Knog plus front and tail lights, looking forward to the sketchy dark tunnell down to Eikesdalen!

For sleeping I brought a compact silk "bed sheet bag?" since im sleeping in cabins. (DNT and the likes)

Also brought a small emergency bivvy juuuust incase ;)

Joachim

Age: 34

Cap number: 18

Location: Copenhagen

Bike: I will be riding my BENBEN Titanium gravel bike, with 45 mm Panaracer Gravelking X1+, SRAM red AXS eTap 10-44 in the back and a 42 chainring in the front. Specialized Power pro mirror saddle will take care of my comfort on the long bumpy descents. Also running a bar/aerobar combo from zipp. Stuff will be carried in a mix of Apidura and custom bags.

Key items of kit: I’m looking forward to try my new Supply Vest from Carrie Gere. Fits a lot of bips and bops and makes it possible for me to carry 3 liters of water when needed.

Violette Neza

Age: 23

Cap number: 114

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Bike: Legend's bike Trek carbon fiber.

Key items of kit: Albion jersey, Limar helmet and sunglasses and Talfin bags.

Nicolau Prats Coma

Age: 29

Cap number: 86

Location: Salzburg, Austria

Bike: Rose Backroad Limited

Key items of kit: Sram Force eTap AXS, Tailfin Aeropack, Restrap frame and top tube bags, Lezyne lights, Schwalbe G-One R

Krzysztof Miszewski

Age: 43

Cap number: 153A

Location: Gdansk, Poland

Bike: 3T Racemax Exploro on Zipp 303s wheelset, Sram Force AXS, 10-36 cassette.

Key items of kit: Tailfin rack + top bag for clothes & sleeping bag (Cumulus X-Lite 400). Apidura frame bag for spares and the rest of the sleeping equipment (Outdor Research Helium bivy + Robens Vapour mat). Apidura top tube bag for snacks and electronics. Apidura hydration vest.

Beata Jarmołowicz

Age: 54

Cap number: 153B

Location: Gdańsk, Poland

Bike: 3T Exploro Racemax Force AXS 2X Wheels: Zipp 303 S Tires: Pirelli Cinturato GRAVEL Hard Terrain Classic 40x700c Saddle: Ergon SMC Women

Key items of kit: Bags: mainly Ortlieb Sleeping mat: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Lamp: Fenix BC26R plus Nutrition: Camelback Chase 1,5 l + Fidlock Twist bottle 0,8 l like an emergency.

Moritz Bachmann

Age: 30

Cap number: 3

Location: Oslo

Bike: Standert Erdgeschoss

Key items of kit: SRAM Rival AXS 10-44 cassette SRAM Force Powermeter Crank with Alugear chainring 36t Zipp Service Course cockpit and seatpost Fizik Venta Argo saddle Dt Swiss 1600 650b wheels Pirelli Cinturato 50mm Bags Apidura, Pro, Ortlieb