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Bikes of the Great British Divide 2024

14 August, 2024

Tim Skilton

Age: 58

Cap number: #17

Location: Málaga Spain

Bike: Angel Pro Gravel

Key items of kit: Fizik, Grx Di2, Shwalbe, Stages, Restrap, Chapt3, Transparent Bike, Poc, Quoc, Rudy Project, Redshift Kitchen sink, Garmin, Wahoo, Ergon, Elite, Zipp

Steve Coombs

Age: 56

Cap number: 5

Location: Corby, UK.

Bike: It’s a Hong Fu frame I built up. It’s running XT 12 speed group set and Mezcals running on wheels I built with DT XR391 rims and a SON dynamo. My Dynamo feeds a K-Lite lamp and a Cycle2Charge USB converter.

Key items of kit: My luggage is carried in a Tailfin Aeropack and a mishmash of other bags. To protect from the midge I am bringing my Terra Nova Solar Elite tent. As sleep comfort is important to me I am bringing a Neoair Mat and a Sea2Summit Spark2 sleeping bag.

Elliot Gowland

Age: 52

Cap number: Elliot

Location: Durham

Bike: Trek Procaliber, Group set is a bit of a mish mash, shifting is SRAM AXIS XO1, chainset SRAM GX and brakes are SRAM Ultimate. Forks are Rock Shox Reba and wheels are Bontrager Comp Carbon. I'm also running a dropper post, the saddle is the superb Flite Boost XC.

I am using the Aeroe bike racking system front and rear, although a little heavy it keeps everything in place no matter how rough the terrain.

Key items of kit: I don't intend on riding through the night and camping every night so I'm hopefully going to get some good sleep in my Alpkit Soloist tent. I'll be sleeping on a Rab mat which is not super light but is very comfortable. Sleeping bag is just a cheap affair from the Mountain Warehouse which packs down pretty small and is only 800g. Clothing for the wet weather are shells from Gore, top and full length bottoms both Gore tex. I will also have a light weight puffer from Alpkit and also one full set of cycling kit which I plan to rotate with the kit I start in. I will be carrying my food on my back in my Ultimate Direction running vest while the water will be on the bike.

Jon Large

Age: 56

Cap number: Jon

Location: Helmsley

Bike: Specialized Epic Evo. SRAM GX. Fast trak 2.35 tyres.

Key items of kit: Wahoo Roam. Tailfin rack and top tube bags. Adipura feedbags. Son dynamo and Exposure lights. MLD Cricket tarp and Solo bivy. PHD Wafer half bag.

Laura Darvell

Age: 34

Location: East Anglia England

Bike: Sonder Camino Ti. Shimano GRX 12-51, Hope 30T (for all the hills) jockeys, cranks and BB with One Up flat pedals. Redshift Topshelf handlebar, grips, tape, aero bars, suspension stem and seatpost. RockShox ruby Xplr 40mm suspension fork. Wheels: Rear Hope pro 5, Front Sonder Alpha dynamo to keep everything charged. Tyres Pirelli Cinturato M 50’s.

Key items of kit: Bags are a mix of Apidura, Tailfin, Restrap and decathlon. Carrying my MSR tent, Rab mat, Sea to summit bag and pillow, toolkit, power banks and lots of food. Salomon women’s running vest to carry water and other bits and bobs.

Seth Bolton

Age: 20

Cap number: Seth

Location: Innerleithen, Scottish Borders

Bike: Scott Scale, Sram GX Eagle Drivetrain, Magura MT8 SL Brakes, Son Dynamo/Dt Swiss+Industry Nine/Reserve wheels, Clip on mini aero bars.

Key items of kit: Frame and Top tube bag made by me, Tailfin Aeropack, K-lite Light+Charging, Bivvy with Primaloft Jacket and Trousers, Loads of extra space in snack pods and lucky Car keys, don't know why I brought them with me on the train so hopefully they bring some luck and aren't entirely useless!