Rigs of the 2025 Tor Divide
The second edition of the Tor Divide brings together a diverse mix of riders and setups—from ultralight racers willing to embrace a bit of discomfort for a fast finish, to those taking a more relaxed approach and soaking up the entire weekend.
There’s no right or wrong way to enjoy the Tor Divide routes, just as there’s no single “perfect” bike for the event… or is there? We’ll let you be the judge. What we do know is, we can’t wait to see the riders and their rigs out on the trails.
The ride kicks off on the morning of 17 May, and you’ll be able to follow the action live via the OpenTracking - Tor Divide page.
Jason Piper
Hertfordshire
Bike: Riding the Peak Gravel route hopefully in one day on my 2022 Specialized Crux. Two deviations from stock - I'm running 44mm Mezcals for extra cushion/confidence and I've replaced the 40T chainring for a 36T as an easy way to get some extra gears without having to go for a mullet setup.
Bags: Tailfin Rack Top Bag, Frame Bag, Top Tube Bag, and Handlebar bag distribute the weight nicely and gives me lots of room to stash extra stuff (i.e. food). Topeak escape pod for bike tools and side-loading bottle cages complete the setup.
Gear highlights Some nice gadgets to keep me well lit, on route, and on pace: Outbound Lighting Trail Evo Light, Garmin Varia Rear Light/Radar, Garmin 530, and Garmin power meter pedals. Goretex Paclite jacket and a random unbranded down jacket in case of inclement weather. I'm carrying a complete sleep setup (more as a shakedown for longer rides, as I'm not planning on using it) which is a Sea To Summit Spark -1C sleeping bag paired with a Soloist tent, Cloud Base mat, and pillow all from Alpkit.
Eloise Lindenberg
West Yorkshire
BIKE: A newly acquired Nordest Sardinha 2 frameset. Finished with an assortment of bits from under the bench and previous bikepacking setups, some of them 20 years old this year. 11 speed 1 x 1-50 gearing. 29" WTB Rangers, 2.4 out back, 2.6 up front. My well-travelled and comfy as Brooks B17 saddle, with an old KS eTen 100mm dropper for Saturday's rufty-tufty bits.
BAGS: Trip-proven Alpkit and Restrap frame bags for water and food; drybags front and rear for bivvi kit.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My 20 year old XT chainset and Hope Mono Mini's. So chuffed to have them rolling and being useful once more. And the On One Geoff bars - riding those while sat on that B17 makes me feel like I'm cruising in a 1960's Chevy truck, elbow out the window and going nice places all day long. No beating that.
Harry Barden
Bike: Brother BigBro with rockshox Sid front bounce. Running sram gx eagle on hope fortus30 wheels with Vittoria mezcal rubbers. Trp spyke mechanical brakes.
Bags: Alpkit frame bag for extra layers, surplus snacks and creams (sun/arse). Decathlon feed bags. Restrap dry bag sans harness up front for sleep kit and down jacket. Bumbag for quick layer and valuables.
Gear Highlights: Will be running dynamo lights for the first time. Because of a faulty front light having to be sent back I've not had the chance to test over distance and I've just watched a YouTube video that has freaked me out about drag... eeeeek.
Edd Hunt
Dorset
Bike: Canyon Exceed CFR Team. Rockshox SID SL Ultimate fork, Sram AXS X01 gears, XX1 cranks (34t), Shimano XTR brakes, E*Thirteen 9-50t cassette. Hunt Proven Carbon Race XC wheels with 2.25" Vittoria Mezcal tyres. Ergon grips and SQLab inner bar ends for comfort, Ultimate USE aero bars for speed on any easy bits. Powerful Magicshine front light and Exposure Boost rear
Bags: Tailfin 3L frame bag, 2.2L top tube bag & 1.7L downtube pack mounted on seat post (can get off the back of the saddle on tricky descents without a seat bag in the way). Small Velocio Hydration vest with 1.5L bladder for water/electrolytes and minimal space for extra food, 950ml bottle on seat tube for carb mix. Topeak Escape Pod bottle for tools and spares.
Gear Highlights: Lightweight setup, hoping to complete without sleep if I can manage it - hotel if it's not going well! Rain jacket, insulated jacket and other bits in the frame bag, top tube bag mostly rammed with food plus battery pack/cables. Emergency bivy, leg warmers and long gloves in the rear. Old faithful Wahoo Roam V1 for navigation.
Lee Bryan
Staffordshire
Bike: My bike is a Marin Gestalt XR with a few upgrades including Mavic Allroad wheels and a Redshift Shockstop stem which is a godsend. Schwalbe G-One Ultrabites 50mm to provide plenty of grip.
Bags: My bags are all Podsacs as I'm relatively new to bikepacking and these are like a great first time purchase. Used them a couple of times so far and I've been impressed.
Highlights: A couple of gear highlights for me come from Sea To Summit. Their inflatable pillow which packs down really tiny and their Reactor Extreme sleeping bag liner. Both new additions for me so I'm looking forward to trying them out.
See you at Bamford! 🤙🏻
Paul Furness
North Yorkshire
Bike: Frame, Bare Ape Templeton (2024 pre production test frame, forks & cockpit) size XL. Wheels, Token 45mm carbon shod with 47mm Panaracer Gravel King SK's set up tubeless. SRAM group set running 1x11 with 11-46 cassette and 36 tooth chainring.
Bags: Carnac bottle cage tool pack for all the usual spares.
Zefal full top tube bag for extra snacks & food, power bank, cables, head torch, lock, racing spoon, ibuprofen tablets.
Podsacs frame bag for emergency bivi, down jacket, leg warmers, extra base layer, hat & gloves. Extra spares such as tape, cable ties, set of brake pads, pump.
Gear Highlights: For the Tor Divide Gravel I'll use a 10ltr hydration vest with my main food, 3ltrs of water, phone, waterproof top and bits like sachets of electrolytes, emergency cash.
Neil Phillips
County Durham
Bike: 2025 Ritchey Outback
Bags: Saddle pack is the Altura Vortex 17l, top tube is the Altura Top Tube Pack, and Apidura Fork bags. Sleep system is in the saddle bag, pork growler and snacks in top tube bag and clothes in fork packs. As minimum as I can get it.
Gear Highlights: Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent. Fab tent, pitches in a few minutes, lightweight and loads of features. Closely followed by the saddle pack. Its replaced my trusty Ortlieb QR as my go to saddle pack due to its versatility. Can fit on any saddle rail (the Ortlieb cannot), no sway and good size. Sensibly priced too.
Chris Thompson
North Yorkshire
Bike: For the 2025 Tor Divide I will be riding a fully rigid Ti Cotic Sodamax fitted with a Pace RC33 carbon fork. The drivetrain is by SRAM complimented with a DT Swiss XRC wheelset shod with 2.6 Vittoria Mezcal tyres. The cockpit is comprised of a Roost Ti handlebar & Rev grips and SQ labs inner bar ends.
Bags: Cargo equipment ... Tailfin carbon aero pack, Miss Grape Ilcoso harness system, Alpkit frame bags and 2 x 750ml Elite Fly bottles take care of hydration/nutrition.
Gear Highlights: My sleeping system is made up of a Nemo Dragonfly 1 bikepack, SEATOSUMMIT Spark Pro sleeping bag with Exped 3R sleeping mat with tech support from Hammerhead Karoo & Exposure Toro .
Chris O’Connell
West Midlands
Bike: Temple Adventure Disc
Bags: Tailfin aero pack and pannier. Tailfi top tube push. Attacus bar bag.
Gear Highlights: No favourites here, I love all my gear equally!
Jim Sutherland
Cairngorms National Park
Bike: KONA CinderCone 1990 frame rescued from the skip in 2022 which is running a 3 x 9 Deore XT drivetrain with a 22-32-44 Stronglight chainring and a 11-36 cassette. Rather predictably I have a pair of 2.2" Vittoria Mezcals to replace the Terravail Sparwoods that I have trashed. These are slowed down with some TRP Spyre brakes on SORA shifters. My TorDivide setup will also include a CaneCreek eSilk courtesy of Ian at Auldearn Bikes.
Bags: Last year at The TorDivide I had too much kit and the same earlier this month on Source to Sea so...
Experimenting with Wildcat gear half frame bag for essentials - Knog lights, repair kit, first aid, snacks and bivvy with silk liner.
Waterproof jacket rolled up and in a Tailfin pouch on the seatpost.
Gear Highlights: my trusty Albion burner which with arm warmers can feel like a whole extra layer!
Kev Croft
N E Lincolnshire.
Bike: Planet X Tempest with Campagnolo Ekar groupset. Pacenti Forza wheels with Specialised Crossroads 700x38 tyres. Brooks Cambium saddle with matching bar tape. Garmin 840 solar. Plazma Strix Dual 700 Lumen Front Bike Light.
Bags: A mixture of Alpkit bikepacking gear.
Gear highlights: Alpkit Soloist tent, 3 season sleeping bag and Alpkit inflatable sleeping mat.
Paul Cant
N E Lincolnshire.
Bike: 2024 Scott Spark Carbon XC bike. Tyres are 29x2.4 Maxxis Rekon Race. Fox 32 rhythm forks with rear shock inside frame 😎 Lights are Exposure. Garmin 830 gps. Drivetrain is Sram NX 32 x 10-44 casette. Ergon grips and inner bar ends for hand comfort.
Bags: Restrap race top tube and saddle set (for aesthetics purposes, not performance) Toptube pack for tools and snacks. Saddle pack for sleep system/down jacket. Fox 2L hydration pack will be worn on my back.
Gear highlights: Scott Twinlock system for the many climbs and descents
Mark Hodgson
Bike: Salsa cutthroat 1 x 11 (60cm)
Dt Swiss xrc 1501 wheelset
Bags: Mix of apidura bags & cedaro frame bag
Gear highlights: Brooks b17 saddle
Alex Saunders
Notts
Bike: 26 Inch Islabike Crieg. 8 Speed Microsoft Acolyte, Tektro brakes, 26 tooth chainring, 11-40 cassette. Vittroia Mezcale XC Trail 2.1 tyres setup tubeless Rockshox fork 80mm travel.
Bags: Restrap Top tube and feedbags, Ortlieb QR Saddleback and modified Pod sacks front roll bag (clothes and sleeping kit) , Camelbak with 2L water bladder, 0.75L Bottle.
Gear highlights: Alpkit lights, Iphone for Navigation with battery back up. Merino/tencel top for overnight warmth
Laura Woods
Derbyshire
Bike: Cannondale Topstone (2023) — known as Bert...running 11-speed Shimano GRX with an 11–46 cassette. Tyres are 45mm Schwalbe G-One Overlanders — part of the Tor Divide bursary chosen for comfort and the mixed terrain ahead.
Bags: Apidura bags front and rear carry sleeping kit and spare layers. A Tailfin top tube bag holds mostly snacks & some electronics, with tools stashed in a canister mounted in the bottle cage.
Gear highlights: CIOVITA bib shorts dishing out sofa-level comfort. And a dinner plate cassette which can help keep the legs spinning when the climbs kick in.
James Mclearie
London/Chesterfield
Bike: This is my Specialized Chisel mountain bike, built on the Satin Organic Brushed frameset. It’s outfitted with a Fox 34 Float SC Factory fork for a smooth and responsive ride. The drivetrain is full SRAM X01. I’m running DT Swiss XRC 1501 Boost carbon wheels (29”), paired with Vittoria Mezcal tires and Vittoria XC airliners for added durability and traction. Stopping power comes from Magura MT Trail Sport brakes with matching Magura disc rotors. Other key components include an Ergon seatpost, Thomson carbon handlebars, Vision TriMax carbon stem, XT pedals, Ergon inner bar ends and a Specialized saddle. It’s a lightweight, race-ready setup that balances speed, control, and comfort.
Bags: Salomon Active Skin 8 for carrying mandatory kit, food and water.
Mission workshop Tool roll which carries all the necessities and more.
Gear highlights: Albion Kit has comfort and pockets for days!
Richard Gale
Richmond, N Yorks
Bike: Specialized Epic EVO Comp running SRAM Eagle 12 speed with 34T Absolute Black chainring and 10-52 cassette. SID select forks & Zipp 1Zero HiTop carbon wheels.
Bags: Tailfin bags throughout, lightweight set up shown, carrying minimal kit. This may change for the event adding a carbon Tailfin Aeropack.
Light: Exposure Toro
Nav: Wahoo Element Roam.
Gear highlights: Haglofs LIM synthetic insulated jacked. Marmot Plasma down sleeping bag. Saddle Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Ti.
Arno van Mourik
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Bike: Canyon Grizl CF SLX 8 Trail (2023) Frame 2XL, SRAM Force XPLR AXS with a 36T chainring and 12-speed 10-44 Cassette.
Front suspension, Rock Shox Rudy with 30mm travel and the original Reynolds wheels with Schwalbe G-One 45mm tyres, not tubeless yet…..
Bags: a very diverse combo, Aeroe handlebar cradle with drybag for all my sleeping gear. Canyon top tube for sunscreen (hope we will need it) and other small stuff. Apidura 6,5L frame bag, spare tubes, pump, first aid kit and lots of food! A Restrap down tube bag for spare parts & tools and at the rear the Tailfin Aeropack with tent and any layer of clothing that might be needed.
Gear highlights: Restrap hydration vest - water & food, also great place to store light rain/wind jacket. Canvas Cargo Bibs with easy phone storage in side pockets. Navigation with Wahoo Ace. Power bank just in case for the electronics . Lights 2x front & rear and headlamp. Shokz headset for music motivation!
Robert Prue
Nottinghamshire
Bike: Trek Checkpoint ALR Driftless
GRX 810 groupset, Hunt alloy gravel race wheels shod with specialized pathfinder pro tyres 42 mm,11/42 cassette, Redshift kitchen sink handlebar and cruise control grips
Bags: Bontrager frame bag for tools spares, phone,keys. Restrap 7ltr seat pack for clothing. Restrap top tube bag for snacks/food. Restrap bar bag for lights power bank cables and extra food.
Gear highlights: Garmin explore 2. Exposure lights. Merino socks. Styrkr for hydration
Simon Mowles
Nottingham/East Midlands
Bike: 2023 Specialized Crux Expert kitted out with a combination of SRAM Red AXS and GX AXS and running a 38 chainring with a 10-52 cassette. Hopefully that'll help on the climbs. For comfort I'm running super wide Zipp 303 XPLR wheels with some fast rolling Specialized Terra and Pathfinder tyres.
Bags: Tailfin throughout. Same set up as I used on The Perfidious Albion last year so I know they work well for me. Top tube bag will likely be stuffed with jelly babies.
Gear highlights: Exposure Toro front light, Garmin 1040 and my faithful old Iron Maiden bandana.
Andrew Lingham
Bike: Here's my Sonder Broken Road Ti running SRAM GX Eagle, a Santa Cruz Reserve 30 wheelset, shod with the usual battered old 2.25 Mezcals.
I've added a Confucius bar and fat grips for comfort and for suspension, it's a Rockshox SID SL and Redshift seatpost. Lighting will be by Exposure.
Bags: Bags are a mix of Aipdura and Restrap.
Gear highlights: I'm traveling light, packing the bare minimum and at the last minute..I may even oil the chain, what could possibly go wrong..
Jeremy Mahot
Hampshire, originally from France
Bike: Eddie (Scott scale 920 2020 edition) so far Eddie has completed
2 king Alfred way (including 1 in one stint)
1 yorshire divide
1 "nearly" double ridgeway
1 bike transalp
1 Alpen tour trophy
I am running a SRAM 12 speed drivetrain (32 in front, 10/51 rear) with AXS Derailleur . Wheels are crossmax SLS with Vitoria Barzo front, and Mezcal rear.
Bags: Rhinowalk top tube bag for snack and electronics, and a rhinowalk 13 litres saddle bag for spare parts plus change of clothes and bivvy/sleeping bag combo. A litre rawvelo bottle with a 750 ml bottles also to include Carbs drinks. I will also carry a camel back with 3 litres of fresh water.
Gear highlights: Exposure 3000 lumen lights, plus a trek headlights on helmet.
Tim Roberts
England
Bike: Trek Supercaliber
Bags: All of my bags are made by my good friend Steve Moatt of Moatt Sails in Portland, he can make you anything!
I have a new seatbag on that I will be testing in The Peaks.
Gear highlights: Not sure I have a gear highlight but I have a very nice Evoc enduro bum bag and my Hope brakes are fantastic.
Roz Osborne
Cornwall
Bike: Vitus Rapide FS CRX mountain bike, size small. I am riding flat pedals and mainly use the aero bars to hang kit off!
Bags: mixture, Ortileb frame bag which was a really good off the shelf option that fitted my small full sus frame without forking out lots of £££ for bespoke made. Restrap top tube bag, Decathlon stem bags full of chocolate. My own dry bag and handlebar mount at the front and an Aeroe spider rack with my own dry bag at the back. I wanted a saddle bag but due to my height and full sus – there wasn't enough clearance above the back wheel.
Gear highlights: I am really impressed with my lighting system, I think it will give me some courage at night. I am running a Klite Ultra MTB off a dynamo hub, with a back up helmet mounted Exposure Joystick. I am loaded up excessively for the Tor as I am testing out all the gear for a longer event in August. (Silk Road Mountain Race)
Barry Clay
North Lincolnshire
Bike: Scott 930 Hard tail
Bags: a mix: Rapha handle bar bag (loaded with tools, power bank, lock, inner tubes). Tailfin Toptube bag with snacks. Restrap race saddle bag with layers.
Gear highlights: Salomon vest for more water and snacks.
Thomas Peoples
Wilmslow, Cheshire
Bike: Orro Terra C, Zipp 303S. It's running an 11-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain with a 36T Wolf tooth chainring an SunRace 11-46 cassette. Tyres are Specialized Pathfinder Pro 35mm with inserts.
Bags: Rapha throughout. Mandatory kit that isn't on my bike is all on the handlebar bag, as I'm aiming for no sleep til Bamford. Luchos blocks in the top tube bag, Tupperware snacks and energy powder in the frame bag, as I'm going plastic free for this one.
Gear highlights: Rapha explore kit, shoes and POC gravel helmet. A simple set of Leyzne lights and Ass-Savers for if it's wet. Spares bottle on the downtube, strapped in for safety.
Claire Sharpe
Bristol
Bike: Canyon Exceed CF8 with SRAM Eagle AXS Transmission, FOX 32 Step-cast Fork, DW Swiss XRC 1700 wheels with Maxxis Ikon EXO MaxxSpeed tyres. I just popped on the Ergon GA3 grips for a little added wrist support as well.
Bags: My Tailfin Aeropack is just so solid on all terrain, so it seemed like a no-brainer for my sleep system and layers. I'll keep all my tools in my Tailfin Downtube pack, they're well protected from the elements and easy to access when I need them. I'm finishing off the set with a Tailfin Top Tube Bag for snacks.
Gear highlights: Salomon Trail Vest - it feels like wearing a hug and means I can easily drink water when the ground gets a bit lumpy. It's so stretchy and strong you can pack it out with food as well.
Albion Burner - so small there's no reason not to pack it really! When you do get a bit chilly it's so handy and warms you up in no time.
Hot Cross Buns - they're essential enough that I consider them part of my kit. 😂
Dom Bowen
Dorset
Bike: Sonder Frontier - Custom home build with versatility and technical riding in mind. 100mm Rockshox Reba RL on the front and 175mm dropper post on the back, 1x12 Deore and Sonder Confucius bar. Tyres are Specialized Fast Track T5s, obviously tan walls because everybody knows tan walls make you faster...
Bags: Alpkit throughout; Koala 13L seat pack for layers/tarp/medkit, Possum half frame bag for quick access items/power bank/lock, 2x fuel pods onto the top tube for all of the available snacks and 20L double ended bar drybag for sleep kit.
Gear highlights: Tail pack is stabilised with the Alpkit exo-rail which allows me to just use one buckle on the seat tube and use more of my dropper travel. Flexi-cable from the power bank in the frame bag to the bars so that battery life is never a problem. Aeroe Spider front cradle so the bar bag is rock solid and doesn't foul the cables. Sleepkit is a bivvy setup which is fully assembled (and deflated) and rolled up as a oner in the bar bag for a quick couple of hours when the legs stop. Front and rear Moon lights plus one on the helmet for riding into the night.
Pete Osborne
South Yorkshire
Bike: Sonder Camino Ti V3 (2023). I'm running a SRAM Apex XPLR 12 speed groupset with a 11-44 Casssette and a single 38t chainring up front. I'm running a set of Goodyear Connector 700c x 45 on a Sonder's Alpha Dynamo wheelset
Bags: I'm running a full set of Restrap bags, including their Bar bag, bolt on top tube bag and saddle bag. My sleeping bag will be on the bars with my spare kit in the saddle bag. My food and spare will be in the frame and top tube bags. Hydration will be taken care of with a pair of Peaty's fidlock bottles.
Gear highlights: I'll be using a range of Rapha riding kit to suit the conditions with a Harrier Lomond insulated trail jacket stored in the saddle bag in case the temperature drops overnight. I'm planning on traveling fairly light so will be sleeping in an Alpkit sleeping bag inside a Hunka bivvy bag. For lights I'm running a set of Exposure lights powered by the Dynamo hub so I wont have to worry about the batteries lasting. Finally for navigation I'm using a Garmin Edge 840 solar.
Andrew Cullen
Scotland
Bike: Fairlight holt - Renthal bars, Halo wheels and Schwalbe Ralph and Ray.
Bags: Apidura/tailfin
Gear highlights: Light sleep kit for a nice nap in the peaks somewhere. Will also have an extra bottle and hydration vest for some extra juice. Spares, tools, first aid and food in frame bag.
Matthew Eastwood
Bike: Trusty,bombproof Ribble CGR frame. Hunt 4 Seasons Gravel wheels with Schwalbe G-One Overland tyres (40mm). Double chain-set (50/36) and I fully intend to use the big ring. No suspension because I obviously like being uncomfortable.
Bags: Restrap frame bag, Alpkit bar bag and top tube bag (mainly for snacks). Altura saddle bag for bivvy + warm clothes.
Gear highlights: Nothing too fancy but the Alpkit Pipedream 200 sleeping bag is very cosy.
James Gawne
Berkshire
Bike: Surly Krampus, custom build: 30t White Industries crankset with SRAM GX eagle 10-52 cassette; pike 120mm fork; 2.6” Mezcals.
Bags: Custom framebag from the Bike Bag Dude in Australia, Apidura seat pack and bar bag. Chaff bag for a small bottle and a 2L Klean Kanteen under the downtube.
Gear highlights: I’m not really into the whole sleeping under hedge thing, so I’ll be using my Big Agnes Copper Spur tent for a bit of luxury.
Chris Rowlands
Carmarthenshire
Bike: Dolan GXC (2021) - 2x11 Shimano GRX 46/30 11-34, Hunt 4 Season All-roads with 40mm Hutchinson Touaregs. Fingers crossed that gearing is low enough!
Bags: Tailfin alloy rack with Cargo Top Bag (Alpkit Elan Bivvy, Alpkit Cloud Base mat, 10,000mAh Power bank, Gerber Multitool, Gore waterproof jacket, Arm/leg warmers, Gloves). Tailfin long top tube bag (food), Apidura 14L Expedition Handlebar bar (Alpkit Pipedream 400 Sleeping Bag, Rab Primaloft Jacket), Lifeline Tool Bottle (Tube, Tubeless plugs, Multitool, etc, etc).
Gear highlights: Garmin 540 Solar & Exposure Strada RS / Tracer / Link Plus.
Julian Clarke
Oxfordshire
Bike: Trek Procaliber 2015/16? Highly compromised from original spec, only original parts frame and seat post (like Trigger's broom). Normally running Vittoria Mezcal but had a puncture and delivery problem.
Bags: Rear "Restrap" Contains sleeping bag, Bivvy extra T-shirt. Front "Restrap". Clothing layers and trousers (actual trousers I'm a bikepacker not a M.A.M.I.L.). Frame Bag "Blackburn". Tools, first aid, waterproof jacket, pump, waterproof phone bag, bike lock, suncream, Swiss Army knife, cash and card. Handle Bar Insert Bag "Surly Moloko". Power bank and charger cables (silly to have the extra bag but location is practical). Bum Bag "Montane". Food, water (water can be swapped to fork cadges).
Gear highlights: "Trowel" attached in trowel bag underside down tube. (Because, you know!)
Jack Davey
West Yorkshire
Bike: Cannondale Topstone, running a 2x11 drivetrain with a mixture of shimano ultegra, grx810 and SLX groupset components rolling on ERE gravel wheels wrapped in vittoria terreno dry 45mm tyres.
Bags: Keeping it local with the best bags from the wonderful guys at restrap in Leeds. A minimal setup using their bolt on toptube bag and race series frame bag
Gear highlights: A full compliment of tools from the team at VELO-TOOL. Hoping I won't have to use them but knowing I've got what I need in a compact kit means I can focus on the riding. Particular favourite is the frame mounted co2 inflator.
Marie Convery
Greater Manchester
Bike: Cotic Solaris Max 2018 Frame. Shimano Deore XT 11 speed 11-46, Superstar 32T chain ring in Gold with matching pedimano SLX Breaks, Raceface cranks from the back of the garage , Hunt XC Wide wheels with 2.10 Maxis Aspens, Rock Shock Sid Select up front
Bags: Restrap Bar bag for Alpkit balany jacket and food. Probably jam sandwiches. Restrap full frame bag for tools and water , Alpkit stem bags for phone and snacks on the move. Ortlieb classic panniers for everything else on a Aeroe Spider Rack.
Gear highlights: Kit highlight is my massive 650 fill mountain equipment Helium sleeping bag. I get cold really easily so I never camp without it , even though it's a bit hard to carry.
Charlie Loftus
Cambridgeshire
Bike: This is my Gloria All Road. I've built her up with a Fox 32 TC fork, DT Swiss ER 1600 wheelset and an 11 speed GRX 810 groupset. There's an 11-51 Deore cassette on the back made possible with a derailleur cage swap. The Brooks C15 carved saddle, while heavy, makes for long days in the saddle a breeze.
Bags: Rocking a nearly exclusive Tailfin setup, with the bar bag holding my sleep kit and frame bag holding essentials. I've got my bivvy nicely stowed away in a Retrap downtube bag.
Gear highlights: The Hunka XL bivvy along with a poncho tarp makes a perfect shelter, especially on those clear nights.
Craig McDowell
South Yorkshire
Bike: Cannondale Topstone. Pretty much the only thing that hasn’t been upgraded here apart from frame and fork is the headset. 11 speed GRX, 2x because I just love front derailleurs. Just Riding Along wheels rocking 45mm G One Overlands. Redshift stem to take the hits to the wrists, Ergon seatpost to do the same for the bum.
Bags: Accidentally put together a matching set of Restrap bags thanks to the whims of the 2nd hand bag market. The little frame bag is actually designed to fit my Cotic Jeht but it bodged on nicely here and is providing much needed extra snack storage. Blackburn cargo cages on the forks. Sleeping kit in saddle bag and fork bags. Layers and electronics in bar bag. Snacks everywhere else.
Gear highlights: Got my trusty old Garmin 530 to tell me where to go and record where I’ve been. Nighttime warmth provided by a v packable but very toasty Criterion Ultralight bag. Outdoor Research bivvy to keep the dew off.
Jamie Hoare
Bristol Town
Bike: The sled! Vitus Rapide 29 VR 2022, stock with the additions on inserts, Shimano brakes, 170 dropper, short stem, wide riser bars, SRAM Gx 30t Chainring 10-52 cassette, Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.35, bull horns
Bags: Tailfin handlebar bag, which I couldn't be happier with! All my sleeping gear and warm layers are in there with snacks easy to get to in the pockets. Alpkit frame bag, with tools and bits a pieces, water bottle and food in. And lastly a hydration vest with more water and snacks. Going light this year!
Gear highlights: Definitely the Tailfin setup! Couldn't be happier with it. Along with Kits homemade flapjack!
Toby Vye
Cheshire
Bike: Kinesis Tripster AT Plus. Shimano 12spd GRX for crawling up hills. Vittoria Mezcal 29x 2.25 for crawling over hills. Dropper for crawling downhills.
Bags: Mostly Alpkit bits and pieces. Sleeping kit in the bar bag - down jacket, silk liner and bivvy bag should suffice given the temps. Spare layers in the frame bag, Wizard Works saddle pack for spares/tubes/etc. Snacks in the top tube bags.
Gear highlights: Exposure Maxx-D if it gets too warm to sleep, and the temptation to ride in the cool becomes too much. Tried and trusted Bikefast bottles to raise spirits. Kit will be a mixture of stuff used on a recent trip down the Rhine, hoping for similar conditions!
Simon Charlton
Bike: Specialized S-Works Epic Hard Tail. Factory Stock including SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS Rear Derailleur, SRAM 10-52 Rear Cassette and 34T Chainring, QUARQ Powermeter, 29x2.35 Tubeless Roval Control Wheels with Specialized Fast Track on the front and Renegades on the rear
Bags: Alpkit Deluge Top Tube Bag for Powerbank, Pump and Spares
Gear Highlights: Rapha Brevet Bibs and Jersey with pockets for SIS gels and bars and Hammerhead Karoo 2 for navigation This is my first off road ride at this distance, so I've replaced the bar grips with Ergon GP3s for comfort.
Daniel Gauld
Bolton
Bike: Shand Stoater steel frame with Hope headset and Bottom Bracket. Charge Spoon saddle, DT 650b wheels with Schwalbe G One Rs 45mm tubeless. Cues 1x11 drivetrain Cues hydraulic brakes. Ergon GP3 grips.
Bags: Tailfin and Ortlieb
Sleeping System is 3/4 Decathlon mat, Alpkit Hunka Bivvie and Pipedream 400
Gear Highlights: Bike is a new build and Cues has added wide range of gears and future option to switch to drops when the new road shifters are released in July. Son lighting powered by Nexus Dynamo.
Callum Heed
Blackpool, Lancashire
Bike: Sonder Dial - XL frame, RockShox Recon 120mm fork, Sonder Nova Wheelset, 29x2.35 Hutchinson Kraken Tyres, SRAM Eagle NX 12 Speed groupset, Shimano XT brakes.
Bags: Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rear rack - Rogov Industries Small dry panniers, Ortlieb dry bag, Topeak FrontLoader, Alpkit TopTube bag.
Gear Highlights: OEX Chimera sleeping bag, so warm and comfy!
Alpkit Soloist 1 man Bikepacking/Backpacking tent (At 6ft2, it's hard to find a lightweight tent that I'll fit in 😂)
Daniel Bannister
Bike: Bike: trek Checkpoint with Lauf fork. Exposure lights and 500mm front tyre/45mm rear - both Hutchinson.
Bags: Apidura frame bag l, restrap top tube bag and I'll wear an Albion vest with 3l water andy goretex jacket. Squashy bottle for drink mix too in the frame bag.
Gear highlights Most food will be the squashed leftovers from the dales divide. All kit in the frame bag with bivvy etc in rear.
Ben Oakshott
Essex
Bike: A repurposed alu Boardman hybrid, with expanded 44-34 chainrings and 11-42 cassette, so I should run out of gears at both ends equally. DT Swiss 650bs replace the old 700s, with a Schwalbe G-One Allround 1.5" squeezing into the narrow chainstays at the rear. A G-One Ultrabrite Evo 2" on the front in Suntour NTX forks should soak up some of the Broken Road, with a well worn in Brooks saddle to help with the rest. Handlebars benefit from Spirgrips for the "flat" bits. The bell is original...
Bags: An assortment of bags from around the garage, with the Rockbros top bag holding chargers and food, a Highlander Blackthorn 1 snug on the bars in a Rhinowalk, other sleep gear (Silentnight mat, Aegismax bag) stashed in a Homper pannier on a Topeak rack, along with - hopefully - the sun cream!
Gareth Evans
North Yorkshire
Bike: I'll be riding the 200KM Gravel route on a Sonder Camino Al. The bike is a custom build with SRAM Rival 22/GX Drivetrain with a Shimano GRX 2x (!) Chainset, Mason X Hunt Adventure Sport 650 wheels, with Hutchinson Touareg tyres. Hope finishing kit, TRP HY/RD brakes and a Redshift ShockStop Stem.
Bags: Bags are a mix of Alpkit Bar / Frame / Seatpack, Tailfin top Tube bag and Podsacs fork packs.
Gear highlights Sleep system is Alpkit Pipedream 400 Sleeping bag, Alpkit Cloudbase Mat. Weather looks good I'll go with a Bivvy bag – Normally would use an Alpkit Soloist.
Nick Tapsell
Sussex
Bike: Chiru Divider, Sid 120 Forks, Hunt Proven Wheels with Vittoria Barzo and Pirreli Scorpion tyres. Sram Axs 10-52 with 32T chainring. Dropper post and Brooks Cambrian Saddle
Bags: Revelate Design frame bag, Bedrock designs seat pack
Gear highlights: Highlight is the Chiru Divider frame and Hunt wheels set, plus framebag full for snacks.
Jonny Hyde
Stockport
Bike: Sonder Broken Road ST - the only change since buying it is switching out the grips for Ergon GA3s and adding SQlabs inner bar ends for some extra hand positions. Running Shimano Deore throughout, x1 up front with an 11-52 cassette.
Bags: Tailfin throughout, AP20 plus top tube, frame and handlebar bags.
Gear highlights: Nothing particularly exciting to note gear wise, mainly relying on a combination of Alpkit / Decathlon bits
Tom Moss Owen
North Wales
Bike: Bike is a 2022 cannondale scalpel fs carbon. Full shimano xt 1x12 groupset with 10-51 cassette and 34 tooth absolute oval chainring. Fox float rear shock and fox 32 stepcast fork giving a comfy 100mm travel both ends. Fitted with cannondale carbon hollowgram rims and hope pro 5 hubs. Continental raceking tyres in 2.2 with a lovely tan wall.
Bags: Bags is a mixed affair, with an altura 7l seat dropper bag, top peak top tube bag, evoc handlebar feed bag. I am also using a alpkit 14l dry bag with aeroe handlebar craddle. 2 bottles all day long with this.
Gear highlights: Will be riding in madison roam bibs, top and gilet. Trusty 5ten shoes. Wahoo roam v2 to show me where I am going and some A+ aliexpress lights.
Richard Lake
Lincolnshire
Bike: Nukeproof Factory Factory. It's running an 11-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain with a 36T A/B oval chain ring and Sunrace MX8 11–46 cassette. Schwalbe tyres front and rear at 45mm, front is a G-One Ultra Bite and on the reat a G-One Overland.
For added comfort, I've fitted a Redshift ShockStop suspension seatpost, suspension stem and quick release aero bars should I need them,
Bags: Tailfin rack and aeropack, and cargo cage should I fancy mounting some pringles on there. And finally a top tube bag from Craft Cadence. All snacks in the top tube bags, bare minimum mandatory kit in the aeropack plus a bit of real food, spare water bottle with carb mix from Styrkr.
Gear highlights: Not planning on sleeping outside if I can help it, but carrying a insulated jacket and rain jacket from Albion shoved into a small dry bag that could act as a pillow. Alpkit bivvy bag, emergency foil bivvy, fleece back warmer and neck/buff. Lighting I use a Toro MK13 from Exposure Lights, a powerful helmet light from Trustfire and a battery rear light from CatEye. For navigation I will be using the Coros Dura.
Casey Virasami
London
Bike: Felt Breed 20 (2019)
Bags: To the rear and on the frame we have the Tailfin aeropack (for stuff), long top tube bag (for snacks) and their smallest frame bag (for tools). To the front we have my trusty fly creek UL2 tent.
Gear highlights: Kobo e-reader
Fynn
London
Bike: Specialized Diverge (2024), almost stock, always dirty! Sram 40T chainring paired to 10/52T cassette for the hills and my weak legs. Current ditch finders of choice are Hutchinson Caracal Race 40mm, quick but slippery in dry loose gravel. These are mounted on brilliant Monitor Wheels from Just Riding Along. I've upgraded the brakes to Hope RX4+, because stopping before the ditch is important.
Bags: Tailfin mostly, aiming for a single non-sleep approach, so travelling light with a hydration vest holding emergency gear. Whilst not a bag, the diverge in this guise has a party trick of downtube storage, all my tools/tube and emergency food are in there. The frame bag then holds waterproof, spare sram battery and food. Food is made up from my favourites by KMC, OTE, Luchos and a honey based gel.
Gear highlights: Constant movement is the plan on `The Peak Gravel`route, so no sleeping gear. Exposure joystick light just in case.
