Bikes of The Wild West Country 2023

Marcus Adey

Name: Marcus Adey

Age: 62

Cap number: 23

Location: Cirencester, UK

Bike: Reilly Gradient with Shimano GRX 810. 2x set up. Dia-Comp ENE Bar end friction shifter for front derailleur. Wheels: Zolla Odessa 35mm, Gravel wheels. Tires: Panaracer Gravelking + 700/38 TLC. Profile aero bars. Saddle: Ergon SR men Pro. Pedals: Hope Gravity.

Key items of kit: Sleep system: Hotels for first two stages. Then, as and when, “Audax hotel” for third stage.

Bags: Camelback hydration pack, Tailfin AeroPack, Apidura Racing 1/2 Frame bag, Apidura Backcountry Food Pouch and Tailfin top tube bag.

Lights: Front, Cateye Volt 800 & Klarus XT21X Pro 4400. Front and rear, Seesense iCon2. Rear, Exposure Tracer, “REAKT”.

Bell: Spurcycle.

Kitty Dennis

Name: Kitty Dennis

Age: 27

Cap number: 17

Location: Cumbria, UK

Bike: Bowman Weald with some spicy Stayer wheels and dynamo. Got a 50/34 chainset with an 11-34 cassette, still wish it was smaller.

Key items of kit: My Apidura racing packs - streamlined, faff-free and keep my stuff dry. An Outdoor Research Helium Bivy - sleep in style. Sea to Summit FMI bag, I hope it keeps me toasty in the cold weather. A Wahoo Elemnt Roam. Lots of lights.

Rupert Robinson

Name: Rupert Robinson

Age: 51

Cap number: 37

Location: Brighton

Bike: Kinesis Aithein Disc

Key items of kit: Reynolds Wheels & ISM Saddle

Maria Hernandez

Name: Maria Hernandez

Age: 35

Cap number: 25

Location: London

Bike: Cervelo Asperita with apex 1x42 chainring 11-42 . 700x32mm continental 4 season tyres. Double wraped handlebar fizik tape. Fizik luce saddle. Garmin edge 830.

Key items of kit: Mix and match of bags that I found on sale - Apidura, Topeak, wiggle and decathlon. Three water bottles. Bivy and sleeping bag. Rice cakes and Percy pigs. Many downloaded podcasts and 2 external batteries.

Phil Weaver

Name: Phil Weaver

Age: 61

Cap number: 36

Location: Ludlow, Shropshire

Bike: I'll be riding an Enigma Etape GRX 1x - 42T up front, 11-42 at the back. Hunt 35 Carbon Aero wheels with Pirelli Cinturato Velo 700x35 tubeless tyres for a blend of fast rolling, comfort and puncture protection. Profile tribars for comfort more than speed. Prologo Scratch M5 PAS saddle. Ritchey bars, stem, seatpost.

Key items of kit: Bags - a mix of Apidura and Ortlieb, with a tool bottle under the down tube.

Sleep system - Alpkit Elan hooped bivvy, Cloudbase mat and Sea to Summit Extreme sleeping bag liner. Backed up with a Mountain Equipment micofleece top and Columbia ultralight trousers. No sleeping bag this time as it's due to be mild-ish and the clothing plus liner offer similar warmth. It's also versatile and compact. Hoping to sleep indoors on night two, but will book it on the fly as won't know in advance how far along the route I'll be.

Electronics - Garmin Edge 530 GPS with phone/RideWithGPS as backup. 2 x 10,000mha power banks. Fenix BC26R front light with spare rechargeable battery. Spare front light - L&M Rando 500. Rear lights - AAA battery powered Niterider Cherry Bomb 100 plus Cateye 450lm rechargeable. A couple of charging cables and an Anker double USB plug.

Kit - mix of Albion (bibs, Zoa waterproof over-trousers just in case) and Rapha (Brevet jersey, merino undershirt). Gore waterproof jacket. Giro lightweight gloves. Buff.

Plus spares, tools, toiletries.

Hayden Fisher

Name: Hayden Fisher

Age: 27

Location: Salisbury, UK

Bike: Canyon ultimate CF SL, Shimano 105 50/34 11-34, Hunt 34 aero wide, Conti GP5000 28 mm

Key items of kit: Apidura frame and top tube bag, Exposure TraceR lights, Lezyne 1800i + infinite light power pack, Garmin edge 1030

Lisa Dunne

Name: Lisa Dunne

Age: 46

Cap number: 22

Location: Wells, Somerset

Bike: Cannondale, Topstone Gravel Bike

Key items of kit: GP 5000, 32mm TR Apidura saddle pack and handlebars bag. Profile Tri-Bars

Sam Davidson

Name: Sam Davidson

Age: 32

Location: Bristol

Bike: Enigma Escape shod in orange bling. Exposure light canon on the front giving me 2000 unnecessary lumens. Wide comfy tyres for those west country bumps & aero bars for sleeping on!

40 upfront & 46 on the back will hopefully see the knees back in one piece. Porlock hill be damned!

Key items of kit: Tailfin carrying full waterproofs, bivvy bag, Pro Plus and a sense of humour (which could be misplaced along the way).

Frame bag carrying warm kit & 20 snickers bars. For some reason the bike still weights a ton.

Calvin Friedman

Name: Calvin Friedman

Age: 35

Cap number: 4

Location: Kent

Bike: Boardman SLR

Key items of kit: Drivetrain: Ultegra di2, 50-34 chainset, 11-40 mtb cassette with Wolftooth extender to work with the Ultegra derailleur (easier gear the better for the steep gradients).

Lighting: Exposure Strada RS main light, Exposure Sirius backup, Exposure trace front and rear for daytime visibility.

Wheelset: Zipp 303s with the new Pirelli Race TLR. Setup tubeless.

Bags: Restrap frame pack with electronics, tools, food. Restrap rear pack with additional layers, RAB down jacket. Apidura top tube pack just for food. I can get around 6 hours worth in there. I hate carrying food in my jersey pockets.

Clothing: Albion pocket bibs (I can't do without pockets now), Lecol Jersey and gilet. Goretex Shakedry jacket.

Extras: Dynaplug repair tool and co2 in my back pocket for rapid tubeless repairs if needed. Profile Designs aerobars with risers.

Simon Vale

Name: Simon Vale

Age: 44

Location: Kidderminster

Bike: Fairlight Secan Rolling on Hunt four season wheelset, 28mm Schwable One tyres. Shimano Ultegra 2 x 11 (50/34 40/11) Enve Bar stem combo Brooks C17 saddle Bags consist of Tailfin & Restrap

Key items of kit: Garmin 1030 for navigation Lezyne front & rear lights Looks wet outside so staying in B&b

Nick Livermore

Name: Nick Livermore

Age: 32

Cap number: 31

Location: Bristol, UK

Bike: I'll be riding my no fuss, trusty workhorse; a Cannondale CAAD12. 50/34 up front, 11-30 on the back. GP5000 25mm.

Key items of kit: I'm going super light, opting for small handlebar and top tube bags.

Most important are my two Lezyne 1300XL front lights, and powerbank that should keep me going for hours.

Otherwise, the bags will be full of food, a rain jacket, and a few essentials (chain link, tooth brush etc...).

Christopher "Kit" White

Name: Christopher "Kit" White

Age: 29

Location: Yeovil, Somerset

Bike: Brother Kepler 50cm, GRX-810 groupset, custom DCR 700c wheelset with Son 28 front hub, Thomson stem and seatpost, Brooks C17 saddle, 28mm Marathon Plus tyres, TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes, 105 levers, Cane Creek 110 headset, Hope bottom bracket, PDW muguards (weather depending!)

Key items of kit: Apidura 7l racer saddle bag, Wizard Works 2.5l bar bag, Tailfin 0.7l top tube bag, Exposure Revo front light, 2 x Exposure TraceR rear lights, and a jar of peanut butter for a plant-powered pick-me-up!

Jan Punter

Name: Jan Punter

Age: 52

Cap number: 13

Location: Nottingham

Bike: Laverack R Jack

Key items of kit: Set up with 52/34 and 11-32 I hope I have the right gearing and leg combination to tackle the steep climbs of the Wild West Country route. Although I’ve done some epic rides in the past, this is going to be on a different level again so I’m just a tad daunted. To not go completely TCR-like I’ve booked a few B&Bs and am hoping to complete the route over three days.

Helen Langridge

Name: Helen Langridge

Age: 34

Cap number: 10

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Bike: Enigma Etape with DCR wheels and a SON dynamo powering a SON front and rear light. Got a 46-30T chainset and a 11-40 cassette that should help me get up some of the hills. This year I'll ride with SPDs so I can walk up the rest. Ritchey handlebars and Profile Design tri-bars.

Key items of kit: An Apidura seat pack, top tube bag and food pouches with a custom Straight Cut Design frame bag.

Sleep system: Alpkit Elan bivvy voile-d to the handlebars, Thermarest Neoair Uberlite pad and Hyperion 0C bag. Plus an inflatable pillow and a FlexTail pump to get it all inflated.

Electronics: My Garmin 1030 is getting old it barely holds a day's battery so it'll be powered by my dynamo in the day and I have two Iniu 10,000mAh power banks for my phone and the rest. Backup front light is an Exposure Strada and an unknown brand backup rear light.

Clothing: Albion cargo bib shorts, Stolen Goat second pair. Some merino baggy fit top and Stolen Goat leg warmers. Rab Xenair Alpine insulated jacket, Fox waterproof jacket while my Gore jacket is being repaired!

Plus toiletries, cables, small first aid kit, sun lotion (manifesting) and repair kit.

Not pictured is my Rapha hip pack that's 100% storage for food.

Stuart Gillett

Name: Stuart Gillett

Age: 48

Location: Bath

Bike: Cannondale CAAD 12 disc, Hunt 35mm wheels, compact shimano group set and carbon Stryke tribars.

Key items of kit: Element bolt, battery pack, warm clothes and as little else as possible

Mike Langridge

Name: Mike Langridge

Age: 36

Cap number: 26

Location: Edinburgh

Bike: Specialized Roubaix 2018

Key items of kit: Mullet gearing on the bike -48/32 x 11-40 (which is a bit touch and go!).

Alpkit Elan bivvy, Rab Neutrino sleeping bag and Thermarest insulated mat.

New 50mm custom wheels with sondelux dynamo but not light yet because it’s stuck in the post, so I’ve borrowed a thumping big exposure light with 24h run time and two back up lights.

Mix of baggage - Tailfin & Apidura mostly, and an Evoc hip pack with bladder.

Plenty of layering options including a Patagonia Micropuff jacket as I’m always super cold after a long ride.

Tim Bishop

Name: Tim Bishop

Age: 50

Location: Caerleon

Bike: KTM Revelator Prime, Shimano Tiagra front 50/33/30 Rear 32/10, Mavic KSYRIUM Pro Exalith wheels

Key items of kit: Bags: Front bars, frame above & below are all Oxford Aqua Evo. Rear bag is a Roswheel Attack. Sleeping system is an old Army issue bivy bag with softy jacket & trousers

Nick Hodgson

Name: Nick Hodgson

Age: 51

Cap number: 30

Location: Bath

Bike: Cannondale Topstone

Key items of kit: Cloud base roll mat, so I can sleep anywhere. Also 30 - 40 lowest gear so I hopefully don’t need to walk up any hills!

Tim Bishop

Name: Tim Bishop

Age: 50

Cap number: 50

Location: Caerleon, Wales

Bike: KTM Revelator Prime. Gearing Shimano Tiagra front 50/33/30, rear 32/10, Mavic KSYRIUM Pro Exalith wheels.

Key items of kit: Bags: Handle Bar, above and below bags are all Oxford Aqua Evo and the rear is Roswheel Attack. Sleeping system is an old Army issue bivy bag with summer sleeping bag.

Simone Schmieder

Name: Simone Schmieder

Age: 32

Cap number: 40

Location: London, UK

Bike: Pearson on-and-on aero gravel bike, Shimano GRX groupset: 46/30 chainset and 11-34 cassette.

Key items of kit: Apidura saddle, frame and top bags, mud guards, Exposure lights, superlight fluffy jacket and Gore ultralight raincoat. Garmin Edge 530. Hoping to get up the hills and down the other side!

Alex Napier

Name: Alex Napier

Age: 49

Cap number: 01

Location: Arundel, West Sussex

Bike: Open UP, sram XPLR, Strada carbon 45mm wheels, tubeless conti`s, USE clip on aero bars.

Key items of kit: Lindt chocolate balls, 2x front and 2x rear Exposure lights and battery pack, Garmin Edge 1030 plus, Restrap race top tube bag, Lifeline frame bag, Zefal saddle bag, Galibier down gilet, arm and leg warmers, Gore-tex jacket and dynaplugs.

Pete Newing

Name: Pete Newing

Age: 55

Cap number: 34

Location: Somerset UK

Bike: OPEN WI.DE, SRAM Force eTap AXS Mullet 1x Groupset (40 chainring and 10-50 cassette), ENVE AG25 wheels with 40mm Schwalbe G-One allroad tyres.

Key items of kit: Tailfin rack and Top Bag: Alpkit - Bivvy bag, cloudbase sleeping mat and sleeping bag. Spare base layer, shorts and socks. Toothbrush and toothpaste. Headlamp.

Apidura Frame Bag: food, pump, powerbank and plug.

Tailfin top tube bag: Spare lights and Garmin. Powerbank and leads.

Will use jersey pockets for rain jacket/rain socks, full gloves.

Garmin Edge 530, Exposure lights front and back, 2 x cages and bottles and tool bottle.

Patrick Turpin

Name: Patrick Turpin

Age: 35

Location: London

Bike: Ritchey Road Logic with Shimano Ultegra Mechanical Groupset.

Key items of kit: Apidura bags. Tennis ball (for DIY butt massage).

Werdah Hussain

Name: Werdah Hussain

Age: 32

Cap number: 45

Location: London, UK

Bike: Dedacciai Nerissimo

Key items of kit: Bar bag: Apidura 7l. Frame bag: Lifeline. Top tube bag: Topeak. Saddle bag: Restrap 14l.

Will Ward

Name: Will Ward

Age: 34

Cap number: 46

Location: Bath, UK

Bike: Enigma Escape with Hunt 4 season wheels with SON dynamo. 1x 40t / 11-42t GRX mechanical. Conti GP5000S TR. Design ergo flip aerobars. Trusty Brooks saddle. Easton finishing kit.

Key items of kit: Bags a mix of Restrap and Apidura x Rapha. Sleep system upfront with OR hooped bivy, inflatable mat and Alpkit sleeping bag. Snacks, courtesy of Veloforte, and electronics in the middle. Toiletries and extra clothing in the rear. Tools in the keg under the downtube.

Garmin 830 for navigation backed-up by my phone. Front and rear Exposure lights running off the dynamo with back-up from a battery powered Exposure Strada and Tracr. 2x 10,000mAh power banks for charging.

Kit mostly from Albion, with the notable exception of a Gore-tex shakedry.

Sam Davies

Name: Sam Davies

Age: 29

Cap number: 37

Location: London, UK

Bike: Fairlight Secan with shiny Shimano GRX with 48/31-32/11 for the hills - SON dynamo for the nights.

Key items of kit: Wheels from Arkane Wheelworks. Bags from Restrap.

Jonny Packham

Name: Jonny Packham

Age: 45

Cap number: 16

Location: Cornwall, UK

Bike: Mason Bokeh with Shimano GRX Di2 31/40t x 11-40t.

Key items of kit: Bivi with sleeping bag, mat and tarp for comfy wild camping. Tailfin with longer top stay for easy access. Other bags are Apidura and Restrap. All the tech in the frame bag. Couldn’t quite fit in the kitchen sink…

Trystan Sanders

Name: Trystan Sanders

Age: 30

Cap number: 44

Location: Exeter, UK

Bike: Ribble Gravel AL with Shimano GRX600, 1-by 40-42 gearing, 700c Vittoria Zaffiro Pro V G2.0 32mm tyres.

Key items of kit: AlpKit Frame and top tube bags, Arkel 14L saddle pack.