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Bikes of TransAtlantic Way 2024

8 August, 2024

This fixed route road race along the Wild Atlantic Way on the west coast of Ireland returns for 2023. An original of the UK's bikepacking scene, the TAW is well known for its ferry crossings, out-and-back peninsulas and Irish charm.

Take a look below to see how riders have equipped themselves for this lap of Ireland's rugged west coast with plenty of climbing, inclement weather and mandatory rest periods.

You can follow along with the race commentary here.

Paul Lockyer

Age: 59

Location: Podington, England

Bike: Kinesis Tripster ATR with Profile Design bars on a Fred Bar, Kinesis FendOff guards, Shimano GRX 48-31/34-11, and Vittoria Corsa Graphene 2.0 tires on Mavic Ksyrium Allroad rims.

Key items of kit: Tailfin Aeropack for kit on the back, Ortlieb frame pack for quick access, and bar bag for sleep system—Sierra Designs bivvy, Thermarest mat, and Alpkit bag. Exposure lights with a couple of power banks, and an orange cargo net on the back for easy tucking of loose kit mid-ride.

Gemma Adelaar

Age: 43

Location: The Netherlands

Bike: Ridley Grifn with a Shimano 105 Di2 groupset and Continental GP 4 Season 32mm tires.

Key items of kit: Ortlieb/Restrap bags.

Ken van Someren

Age: 53

Location: A Brit living in Sligo, Ireland

Bike: Giant Defy with Di2 Ultegra GRX mix

Key items of kit: Mudguards - it's gonna be wet! Various bags, most importantly bar food pouches. Lightweight bivvy kit, heavyweight powerbank.

Stuart Campbell

Age: 40

Location: Scotland

Bike: Sonder Sedona, Brooks Cambium bar-tape & C17 saddle; Schwalbe Marathon Plus 40mm tyres

Key items of kit: Assorted bags, lights & other kit.

Harald Rinner

Age: 51

Location: Ybbs an der Donau, Austria

Bike: Trek Checkpoint

Key items of kit: Lenkertasche von Cyclite, Oberrohrtasche von Apidura, Satteltasche von Topeak, Seitenlaufdynamo Velogical mit Lichtanlage von Supernova, Zelt von Ventour - benötigt kein gestänge wird über das Fahrrad gespannt.

Ryan Simpson

Age: 40

Location: Northern Ireland

Bike: Kinesis Tripster AT

Key items of kit: Scribe Wheels, Apidura top tube and frame bag, Rack with big Lomo drybag at rear. Sleep system: Mountain Equipment down bag & Terra Nova Jupiter hooped bivi.

Ross McBrearty

Age: 29

Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Bike: Time AHD21

Key items of kit: Apidura bags or Profile Design aero bars.

Timo Klok

Age: 41

Location: Utrecht, Netherlands

Bike: Genesis Croix de Fer (steel), Shimano Tiagra groupset, DT Swiss R500db wheels with 35mm Panaracer Gravelkings.

Key items of kit: Ortlieb saddlebag + framebag. Restrap frontbag + top tube bag. (Possibly with BBB aerobars).

Filippo Ciucciomei

Age: 35

Cap number: TBC

Location: London

Bike: Tomac Montezuma frameset, Hunt 40 wheels, 35mm Pirelli P-zero tyres, SRAM Rival/Shimano GRX mixed groupset.

Key items of kit: Mix of different bags, dry bag at the front, saddle bag, and frame bag. Will most likely add a pouch and/or a small top tube bag for food and electronics. Profile Design raised aero bars for extra comfort.

Shane Courtney

Age: 53

Location: Knocknaboula, Loughill, Co. Limerick, Ireland.

Bike: BMC TeamMachine with HUNT SuperDura Dynamo Front Wheel.

Key items of kit: Apidura Tail Pack & Toptube Bag. Odds & Ends ...

Mark Harding

Age: 51

Location: Bridgwater, Somerset, UK

Bike: Boardman ADV8.9, Hunt 4 Season Wheels, Mixture of Simano GRX & Tiagra 11-52 & 36/52, Crank brothers Egg Beater pedals, Cane Creek Thudbuster seatpost.

Key items of kit: Pod sacs Seat pack. frame pack, Stem bottle bag x2, handlebar bag. Toepeak top tube bag. Rockbros top tube bag.