Rigs of the 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) (2024)

Since the inaugural event in 2018, the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the world of ultra-distance bikepacking. Each year, riders from across the globe flock to Kyrgyzstan to tackle the 1,938-kilometer route, following gravel, doubletrack, and old Soviet roads. For the first time since the second grand depart in 2019, the SRMR returns to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, for the start of the race. The first big challenge will be Kegeti Pass at 3,805 meters in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountain range, just over 100 kilometers into the race.

The 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with 188 riders lining up at the grand depart. There are 35 nationalities represented, with 148 riders racing solo and another 40 riders in the pairs category. There are 164 men and 24 women racing, with strong fields in both categories. The race takes off tomorrow evening at 10 p.m. local time.

With the help of this year’s participants, we gathered details on nearly 100 rigs that will be taking on the race’s 2024 edition. We included details on each rider’s bike, bags, and other highlights, as well as their age and hometown. Check them out below, and then head to the 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race Tracker to follow along live.

Brian Alder

Age 59 / Takaka (New Zealand)

BIKE: Once again, I’ll be riding my Santa Cruz Chameleon C, with Fox SC 34 fork, Shimano XT brakes, and drivetrain, Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Son dynamo with kLite lights. New for this setup is a Cane Creek eeSilk+ seatpost to try to smooth out the Kyrgyz washboard.
BAGS: A suite of trusted Apidura bags that have been with me for nearly a decade, plus a custom frame bag from a mate back home.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m taking a Terra Nova tent, a Cumulus sleeping bag, a foam pad for sleeping, and a 7Mesh Sky Pilot jacket that is just the bomb. My view of the world will be enhanced by eyewear from Julbo.

Josh Ames

Age 32 / London (United Kingdom)

BIKE: Specialized Epic Comp.
BAGS: A real mixed bag of Tailfin, Revelate, Ortlieb, and Bike Bag Dude (BBD) from Australia. Surprisingly they all match reasonably well! I’m pretty chuffed that my Tailfin frame bag fits perfectly, albeit upside down.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This is my first full sus MTB and I’m hoping it will pay off for this notorious route. Also I’ll be bringing my mascot Cam the Chameleon, who has travelled over 15,000km with me from Townsville, Australia.

Lars Tefre Baade

Age 47 / Oslo (Norway)

BIKE: Belle GRAR, Handmade custom steel made by Enrico Bellé (Barcelona), it’s the perfect setup for Norwegian woods and mountains summer and winter. G23 ENVE wheels, Easton crank and Shimano GRX (12s), Wahoo ELMNT Computer, Enve parts.
BAGS: Full Tailfin set up.

Angel Ballesteros

Age 39 / Madrid (Spain)

BIKE: I will be riding SRMR 2024 on a Marin Headlands 2 with many upgrades from factory. A single 30T XTR crankset with XT touring pedals, 51T cassette from Garbaruk and modified GRX derailleur with Garbaruk cage and pulleys. XTR M9000 wheel set with front hub replaced for a SON Dynamo powering a Supernova m99 light set and a B+M usb outlet on custom wiring. Tyres are Rene Herse Oracle 48 front and Manastash 44 rear endurance plus casing, running tubeless for the time. The stock fork has been replaced by a FOX 32TC 50mm travel suspension with a 180mm disc. Rear disc remains 160mm, while both are Shimano ice discs with SwissStop brake shoes.
BAGS: My setup is a mix of custom and off the shelf bags. The eye catching bags are from a Greek indi manufacturer ENABags. The co*ckpit area is composed of quick access bags, such as a modded toptube bag with magnetic lid, a feed bag and, (my personal favourite) a roll top stem bag for my camera. The custom framebag is bolted in place and it allows me to optimize the space and fit two big water bottles because I sweat a lot. Last but not least is my Saddlebag Overnight, also from ENABags, with the super stable Carradice Bagman QR support!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Camp minima superlight will be my shelter, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad, Rab ascent 700 XL sleeping bag. USWE Outlander Pro for hydration and a Garmin 1040 Solar for navigation. One 20,000 mAh powerbank, a Petzl headlamp, and my light Olympus MJU II with two B&W film cartridges to remember some epic moments.

Martino Basilisco

Age 27 / Milano (Italy)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Merida BigNine900, equipped with Shimano XT with a 32T cog, 10-51 cassette, and Pirelli Scorpion XC tires.
BAGS: Apidura backcountry frame bag, Apidura Expedition front bag and rear, two Decathlon Buds, Miss Grape Node 2h.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Pantani sticker on the front bars. Alé alé alé!

Cristian Batista

Age 32 / Cadiz (Spain)

BIKE: Canyon Lux CF7 equipped with full XT, 32T chainring, Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tyres, and a pair of Reynols carbon wheels.
BAGS: Apidura saddle, frame and pouch bags, an un-branded front roll, and a light Silva 10L vest for the ‘food’.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Exposure light Zenith and Toro for the darkest times. Wahoo Elemnt Roam for navigation. A Sea to Summit sleeping bag to keep me toasty, Alpkit Bivy, and Nemo sleeping pad.

Gokay Biyik

Age 39 / Giresun (Turkey)

BIKE: I’ll be riding Cinelli Hobootleg Geo, steel frame with a rigid carbon fork, have no suspension to keep a fair level of underbiking. I upgraded 2×10 drivetrain to more capable mullet setup, GRX812 rear derailleur with 11-46T cassette, and a Deore front derailleur with 26-36T chainring. Bike will roll on a pair of 2.25” WTB Ranger tires with stock aluminium wheels.
BAGS: All bags are from Turkish brand Pack2Ride, total capacity of almost 35L which gives me plenty of space for food. A dry handlebar bag for sleep system, a saddlebag for clothes and food, two small top tube bags for electronics and hydration, and a frame bag for more food and a power bank. With Rhinowalk saddle mount, I can carry 1L bottles on both sides of my saddlebag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Old and trusted NorthFace Assault bivy, Marmot down sleeping bag, and Forclaz air mattress will be my home for the days on the altitude again. I’ll use 24K Anker 737 power bank, which recharge itself in less than hour, so I can charge my Garmin inReach messenger, Edge 540, and Decathlon FL940 front light.

Sven Bohmert

Age 31 / Frankfurt (Germany)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR on a self-made steel frame. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.35” tires on custom wheels from Aumer.92 with a SON Dynamo and a modified Shimano GRX 2×11 with GoatLink to run a 11-46T cassette. The resulting gear range is 648% (ratio 0.67-4.36). Handlebar, stem, and seatpost are carbon manufactured by Beast Components in Dresden, Germany.
BAGS: It’s a combination of Ortlieb for seat pack, frame bag and handlebar, and Apidura for top tube and food bags. A Seat to Summit dry bag is mounted left and right on the fork for sleeping bag and cooking equipment.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Lupine Blika headlamp to turn night into day. A classic MSR Hubba Hubbs will provide shelter in combination of a Nordisk Balance 600 sleeping bag and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mat.

Abhirup Bose

Age 34 / Kolkata (India)

BIKE: I will be using a Giant XTC SLR with Hunt Race XC wheelset, Maxxis Rekon Race 2.25″ tires. It runs on a standard Shimano 12-speed drivetrain with 30T chainring up front. I have a Prime Primevera clip on aerobar and a self-made aerobar bridge made out of CPVC pipe.
BAGS: I will run a locally-made frame bag. It’s made by Our Slug Life. The rest of the bags are of the Apidura expedition series. Water bottles will be in the handlebar and downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will use a Gipfel bivy tent along with an old down sleeping bag. I will use a Garmin EDGE 540 primarily for navigation.

Benjamin Carrell

Age 61 / Christchurch (New Zealand)

BIKE: Trek Supercaliber on 2.35″ Maxxis Ardent Race tyres, 1×11, 51-10T, 30T, running a SON dynamo with kLite lighting system.
BAGS: Mostly Revelate Designs bags with a custom-made Stealth frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin 1040 Solar, back up with Android phone, Durston tent, Spark 2 sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Matthieu Caulier

Age 35 / Nantes (France)

BIKE: I will ride a Surly Karate Monkey with a RockShox SID Ultimate fork. It has a 1×11 Shimano XT drivetrain with a 32T chaining, Hope Tech 3 brakes, and a Shutter Precision dynamo hub wired to a Plug 6 Plus charger. I’m rolling on Spank rims with Minion SS tires. My lights will be Busch + Müller IQ-100l. This setup was put together will help from a little shop in Nantes, “La Poule Noire”.
BAGS: I have custom bags made by Compackt bags, made specifically for this race. The bag under the saddle will rest on a Tumbleweed T-Rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My bags, a custom saddle made by “My Saddle,” and my sleeping gear; Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1, Valandre duvet, and Sea to Summit air mat.

Mathew Cerutty

Age 37 / Tasmania (Australia)

BIKE: I will be on my ever trusty 2017 Trek Superfly, which has been somewhat completely overhauled for the SRMR by my team mate Adrian. It has a SRAM drivetrain with 10-50/32T, SRAM Stealth brakes, Dt Swiss wheels with dynamo and kLite setup, the ever bombproof Maxxis Icons.
BAGS: Tailfin rack and pannier, Revelate Designs framebag, Revelate Designs harness and front pocket.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Tailfin is a standout addition, such a high quality product and the dynamo headlight/charging situation is a game changer for me. I have opted for a Sea to Summit single person tent setup with my Mont -6 sleeping bag to combat the high altitude cold nights. For tools and repairs, I have a team mate who is a bike mechanic by trade.

Almond Edgar David Chismorie

Age 26 / Alba Iulia (Romania)

BIKE: I’ll ride the new released Specialized Chisel full suspension bike that arrived 8 days before the race start. Other components include 2.25″ Maxxis Ikons, Selle Italia Superflow saddle, 32T chainring, and aerobars with a 3D printed mount for front light.
BAGS: Apidura 17L saddle bag and top tube bag, too late for a custom frame bag, and an Acepac handlebar bag. Trying to fit everything is a bit hard, I would probably take more bags next time.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Mountain Hardware 0-degree sleeping bag and a small Ferrino tent for sleeping out more often, two power banks, a Salomon Hydration Vest, food for three days, and the support of my local community.

Ben Chorba

Age 22 / Chesterfield, New Jersey (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Marin Bobcat Trail 4. The bike has an aluminum frame, SR/Suntour XCM HLO-DS Front fork, and a 32T crankset with a 11-46T cassette.
BAGS: All my bags are Amazon finds and been adjusted to fit the bike.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Kitchen wash gloves acting as my waterproof gloves and neoprene socks.

Jay Corry

Age 39 / Sydney (Australia)

BIKE: For my first race ever, I will be riding a 2023 Canyon Grizl. I have added a Rockshox Rudy 40mm suspension fork, which isn’t much travel but hopefully will help a little. I’ve also got a Redshift ShockStop suspension seatpost. I am running a 1×12 Mechanical Shimano GRX groupset with a 10-51T cassette on the back, but I have changed the crankset to a SRAM to make it easier to get a 30T chainring on the front. A SON 28 Dynamo will power my light and keep my things charged. I have upgraded the stock wheels to a Hunt 35 carbon gravel wheel set and running 2.0″ Maxxis Ikons on both the front and back. This is the max clearance that the bike can take, I would have loved to have a slightly wider tyre but such is life. I have also got some Profile Design aero bars attached for extra comfort.
BAGS: Predominantly running Apidura bags with the exception of the Tailfin rear rack and a Revelate Designs Jerry can bag under the saddle. I have also strapped some Sea to Summit bags to the sides of the rear rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Hyperlite Mid 1 tent along with a Sea to Summit mat and Mont Sleeping bag should keep me pretty comfy if the weather turns. A Garmin Edge 1040 should hopefully keep me riding in the right direction.

Charlie Coquillard

Age 32 / Sydney, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: Polygon Tambora G7 with Fox Float AX 32 & GX Mountain bike 12-speed groupset. I much prefer riding drop bars with aerobars on long distances, so I’ve made this gravel bike as “Hadrtaily” as I could. 580mm Spank bars, full SRAM Eagle groupset with a 38T cog, a 50mm travel Fox 32 at the front as well as Maxxis Rambler 45mm/50mm tires to smooth out some of the Kyrgyz roads and add some grip. I’ve also added a Crank Tank to carry water, which is much more practical than a bunch of water bottles, in my experience.
BAGS: It’s kitted out with a mixed bag of bags from Restrap, Sea to Summit, and Amazon. The rear bag contains my clothes, the left fork bag has all the camping essentials, the right fork bag has all of my wet weather gear, and the front loader has my sleeping bag, all the meds and misc, as well as dried food and big carbs gel. The frame bag is reserved for daily snacks, tools, and spare parts.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Crank Tank is a game changer from a hydration and space-saving perspective. The 600g, 1 pole tent from Six Moon Design has to be a highlight as it’s an amazing shelter that takes a very limited amount of space.

Jake Cullen

Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: After finishing SRMR two years ago on a gravel bike and feeling very beat up, I bought this 2022 BMC Twostroke knowing I wanted to go back and be less beat up. I’ve got it built with a Sid SL Ultimate fork, GX Eagle AXS, and XT Brakes. I’ll be rolling on some We Are One Convergence rims laced to a SP dynamo up front and an I9 hub in the rear, and wrapped in Reneherse Fleecer Ridge Tires with Tannus inserts. To keep comfortable up front I’ve got some Salsa Rustler carbon bars cut down to 620mm, SQlabs Inner barends, and aerobars with Leap Components blip shifters at the ends.
BAGS: Mostly Apidura with a well loved Expedition 9L saddle bag, a backcountry long top tube bag, a backcountry rear top tube bag, a backcountry 1L frame bag, and an Expedition Downtube bag for all my spares. Up front I have a Salsa Anything Cradle with a Salsa EXP dry bag and accessory bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m bringing the same two Bivo Duo bottles I raced with in 2022, they’re still going strong and ready for another lap of Kyrgyzstan. I’ll also be using the same Albion Zoa Rain and Insulated jackets I brought last time as they performed flawlessly. I’ll be sleeping in an OR Helium Bivvy with a Sea To Summit Spark II sleeping bag, and a Rab Ultrasphere 4.5 mat. My current favorite piece of gear is my Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack that has enough room for many day’s worth of instant noodles and Snickers, 2L of water in the bladder, and two big bottles of Sultan Chai on the sides.

Annie Dunlap

Age 25 / Aldie, Virginia (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Canyon Grand Canyon 7. The bike has most of its original components including the SRAM SX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain and 11-50T cassette. Some modifications include the Redshift quick release aero bars (with risers) and Ergon GP3 touring grips.
BAGS: The bike’s bag highlight is a custom frame bag from Straight Cut Designs (thanks, Ross!) along with two feed bags up front. I am running a Cyclelite handlebar roll bag and Old Man Mountain’s Divide rack. Rockgeist’s Microwave Panniers and top tube bags round out my setup.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using a Garmin 1030 plus for navigation. My sleep setup includes the Eureka one man bivvy/tent, Kelty Cosmic 20 down sleeping bag, and Kymit Static V sleeping pad. My light setup is the Bookman 1500 lumen light, with four rechargeable back up batteries. I’ll be relying on 2x 20mAh power banks supported by a solar panel charger in the back. Nathan 2L hydration, one electrolyte bottle in a feedbag, and a downtube 1.5L Nalgene will keep me moving through heat.

Jade Saskia Simpson-Field

Age 32 / Leeds (United Kingdom)

BIKE: I’m riding a Cube AMS ONE11 TM full sus. It’s quite a boring grey and green. Set up with a 10-51T cassette and 30T ring, SON dynamo with a KLite ultra V2 light and Alpkit Confucius bars. I’ve gone with Rekon Race tires for better rolling on the gravel, and of course flat pedals for my sandals.
BAGS: Restrap custom full frame bag and race top tube bag, plus a hike-a-bike harness (probably to be unused but we shall see!). Wizard Works stem pouches. Revelate Designs Salty Roll and front pouch bags on a Salsa Anything Cradle. Ortleib QR seatpost bag. Tailfin 3L downtube bag. Then I’ve got Salsa Anything Cages on my forks for extra water carrying capacity, and a backpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be snug in my pyjamas and Sea to Summit Flame 4 sleeping bag, inside my Nemo Hornet Elite tent every night. Taking a small stove, pillow, and tiny electric pump for my sleeping mat as luxury items. Sawyer mini filter, merino hat, and an extensive first aid kit are essentials.

Jono Freeman

Age 31 / Bushwick, New York (USA)

BIKE: If it ain’t broke, fix it ’til it is! A ’23 Santa Cruz Highball running a very similar setup to last year with a couple important changes. 20mm more disc in the front, two more pistons on the calipers, and a sick recycled fender by Trash Gear Co to keep the fork serviceable.
BAGS: A full set of Revelate Designs bags and a custom Rogue Panda framebag that will be stuffed to the brim with Tandyr nan and coffee cookies.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This year, unlike the last, I’ve brought some actual bikepacking experience for more tangible stressors and I’ve traded a sticker of Erin for the real thing! Instead of bothering her over satellite message, I can yell behind me and get my reply that much faster. Oh, and a Nemo Hornet Osmo 2P tent to fit us both.

Michael Gaffey

Age 49 / Boston, Massachusetts (USA)

BIKE: Seven Sola S hardtail mostly XTR with Fox 32 step-cast suspension fork, Envy flat bar, Whisky No.9 36w Rims with Mezcal XC trail tires 29 x 2.35″ (2.25″ rear), SON Dynamo hub, rear DT Swiss hub 180, 1×12, 30T chainring, 11-51T cassette, Redshift suspension seat post, Selle Italia SLR Superflow saddle and Exposure Revo light.
BAGS: CamelBak Chase 8 Vest (2L bladder), Topeak frontloader handlebar bag, Bontrager top tube bag (Sinewave Revolution charger), Moosetreks stem feed bags, Ortlieb frame 6L (3L bladder, pump) and 16.5L seat bag (sleeping kit).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Ti frame.

Raphael Gassmann

Age 34 / Lucerne (Switzerland)

BIKE: Specialized Epic World Cup, 30T chainring paired with SRAM Eagle 10-52T cassette, carbon crankset, SQlab inner barends, Ergon grips, Zipp Vuka aerobars with Satellite shifters, Supernova front and rear lights, Klite switch paired with Sinewave Cycles USB charger, SON dynamo hub, Vittoria Mezcal tubeless 2.35″.
BAGS: Dispersed handlebar roll, Choike Jumbo stem bags, Restrap top tube (long 2L), Bicicaja custom frame bag ‘The Hermit’, Apidura saddle bag 9L and down tube bag 1.2L. Dynafit trail running vest with 2L bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A larger titanium spoon to get the last bit of peanut butter out of the bottom of every jar. Pen and paper so I can sketch on every pass, I’ve promised to soak up the pure nature around me.

Gala Giannini

Age 27 / Milano (Italy)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Lee Cougan Rampage 428 equipped with Shimano XT 32T x 10-51T, Hunt wheels with Pirelli tires.
BAGS: All from Miss Grape: il coso + trunk 8L, internode custom frame bag, cluster 7L saddle bag, big node, two buds.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A very lightweight tent and a very heavy honey jar.

Stanislav Gorbachevskii

Age 40 / Sochi (Russia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a bike made by the new Russian bicycle brand DAUTOV Bros, the model MS-1 29″. The frame is made of TORAYCA HM T800 carbon. The bike features RockShox Reba RL Solo Air OneLoc Suspension Fork, Shimano Deore M6100 Groupset 1×12 speed, Shimano Deore brakes and Specialized Renegade 29 x 2.3″ tires.
BAGS: Two types of bags: feed, tank and handlebar bags by VELOHOROSHO, and a custom full frame bag and a saddle bag by Alexander AS_CLOTHES.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 3F UL GEAR LanShan 1 pro tent, Kailas Trek 300 down sleeping bag, and Ferrino Air Light mat. Cooking kit consists of Toaks titanium 750ml cup and BRS-3000T titanium gas stove. For navigation, I’ll be using Coros Vertix watches and iPhone 13 pro.

Donato Gugliotta

Age 45 / Bologna (Italy)

BIKE: I’ll ride the SRMR with the beautiful Surly Karate Monkey hardtail with a suspension fork, steel frame, and 29″ wheels. The bike features 1×12 SRAM Eagle AXS with 30T chainring on the front and 10-52T cassette at the rear, Hunt wheels with a SON Dynamo where Supernova M99 Dy Pro Light and the Sinawave Revolution are connected in parallel, and Pirelli Gravel Mixed terrain tyres.
BAGS: Top tube, frame bag, handlebar bag, saddle and fork bags, mixed brands.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent, Sea To Summit Spark Sp III sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite pad, Garmin Edge 1040 solar.

Ivan Gumbin

Age 27 / Moscow (Russia)

BIKE: Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 3, tested at several events in the UK, Rock Shox SID SL Ultimate 100mm fork, Shimano XT/SLX/Cannondale Hollowgram transmission, 30T х 10-51T, Shimano Deore/XT brakes, custom wheels by Keep Pedaling Manchester with Hope Pro 5/SON28 hubs, Sapim Spokes and DT Swiss XM421 rims. Continental Race King Protection 2.2″ tires with Vittoria XC Light inserts. Sine Wave Beacon light. A special detail of the build is my “Palka” handmade carbon handlebar from Bjorn Cycles. Ergon GS3 grips, Spirgrips, and Deda Elementi aerobars for extra comfort.
BAGS: Bespoke frame bag from Restrap, saddle and handlebar bags from Apidura, top tube bag from Tailfin and two food pouches from Apidura. Handlebar bag: Zpacks Hexamid tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir NXT Lite sleeping mat, Therm-a-Rest Corus quilt, pillow, liner and SOL emergency bivy. Saddle bag: mainly for closing that mostly consists of Rapha MTB collection items. Frame bag: mainly for food, but also for repair, first aid and hygiene kits. Fuel tank: snacks and electronics. Food pouches: snacks and quick items.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Down socks and my Katadyn filter.

Bahadır Gungor

Age 36 / Goteborg (Sweden)

BIKE: Brother Cycles Big Bro frame, Nordest Kutxo fork, Curve Walmer bars, SRAM AXS Force/X01, E13 Helix 9-50T cassette, Absolute black 28T chainring, Hope RX4+ calipers and rotors, wheels are WTB CZR i30’s (28h) laced with Sapim CX ray’s to a DT350 in the back and a SP Dynamo in the front. Tires are 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcal. kLite kit for lighting and charging.
BAGS: Custom THLP framebag, Revelate Designs Spinelock seatbag, Mountain Feedbags, handlebar harness and Mag-Tank top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This time around, I’m bringing a warm and cozy sleep system consisting of an Enlightened Equipment Apex Revelation quilt, Outdoor Research Alpine bivy, and Rab booties.

Lena Halvari

Age 49 / Kalmar (Sweden)

BIKE: I ‘ll be riding SRMR on a 2016 S-Works Era, full suspension with SRAM XX1, 30T/10-40T. Roval Control SL back wheel and DT Swiss M462 front wheel with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ Tubeless. In the front, I have a SP PD-8x dynamo hub connected to Sinewave Revolution USB outlet for loading my Linocell Solar Powerbank 20,000mAh. I have also an aerobar PRO Missile S-Bend and flat handlebars together with Grip Shift and PRO Anatomic Ergo Bar Ends.
BAGS: In the front I have a Blackburn Outpost 14L. On the forks I have two Newboler 7L. In the back I use a Topeak Tetrarack M2 HD together with a Ortlieb Drybag 22L. Other small bags on the bike is a Colombus Dry Bag 1L, Restrap Top Tube 1L, and two Fjällräven/Specialized Snack Bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For a tent I’m using a MSR Freelite 1 V3 as I’m riding in a pair. I sleep on a Sea To Summit Ultralight pad and Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight L pillow together with Marmot Trestles Elite sleeping bag. To light up the nights I use a Magicshine MJ902ES together with a Silva Trail Speed 5 headlamp. To navigate I’ll use a Garmin Epic 1040 Solar. For water purification I use a Katadyn Vario. I’m bringing a Primus Lite XL stove and a Salomon XA25 backpack with Camelback water bladder and soft flasks.

Kodi Hodgen

Age 34 / Exshaw, Alberta (Canada)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the SRMR on my Salsa Cutthroat. It’s been set up as a hardtail with 100mm of suspension up front, 1×12 with 30T chainring and a 52T granny gear. Running Maxxis Ikon tires, 2.35” and 2.2”, front and rear. Redshift Endurance seatpost for keeping the bumps at bay, and some aerobars for harpooning my fellow bikepackers.
BAGS: Custom Rockgeist frame bag, Tailfin Aeropack and toptube bag, Relevate Designs Pitchfork harness and tool bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: OR Helium Bivy, kLite lighting system, Son 28 dynamo hub.

Carl Hopps

Age 37 / Leeds (United Kingdom)

BIKE: Fairlight Holt 29er, Rockshox SID 110mm fork, Shimano XT groupset, changed to a 30t chainring for this event Hope Fortus 26 with Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Brook Cambium C15, Sonder Confucius handlebars, Ergon GS3 grips, Exposure lights and Restrap bags.
BAGS: Restrap Race Range 7L saddle bag, Full custom frame bag, X2 Race stem bags. 14L bar bag/food pouch, Reverse top tube, and Race top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This is the most gear I’ve taken on a race so it required moving the bottles to the forks using some Tailfin Sus fork mounts. I’ll be taking a tent which I don’t usually do, a Naturehike 1-person. I’m wearing quite a few Albion bits and probably my Decathlon vented shirt for those hotter days.

Charlotte Inman

Age 39 / United Kingdom

BIKE: I’ll be riding a very fun Ghost Lector Hardtail for my first bikepacking race, with SID Ultimate front suspension for the descents and a spinny SRAM Eagle XX drivetrain AXS shifting to help with the climbs.
BAGS: A mix of my old faithful Revelate Designs frame bag and front harness, trusty waterproof Ortlieb saddle bag and fork bags to keep the important stuff dry, and lovely custom What Happened Outdoors stem bags and front roll.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A cosy Rab Mythic 600 sleeping bag for cold nights, solid 7Mesh waterproofs for wet weather, and an Anker solar charger to keep my Hammerhead Karoo and Exposure lights charged in the sunshine.

Mikolaj Jakubowski

Age 33 / Krakow (Poland)

BIKE: I’ll be riding an almost stock Canyon Exceed SLX. I mounted a smaller chainring to have 30×10-52T gearing. co*ckpit has Ergon GS1 grips and Profile design aerobar. Tires are a must-have Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″.
BAGS: I have a mix of what I had lying around. On the front I have Revelate Designs Saltyroll and Polecat with sleeping kit and rain gear. The frame bag was custom made by Capricorn Bags for my gravel bike, but fits this one just fine. Top tube and saddle bag, which I borrowed from my wife, are from Apidura. I have a total capacity of about 45L, so that I can carry plenty of food in between resupplies.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have a combination of what everybody has. Nordisk Lofoten tent, Sea to Summit Spark III sleeping bag and Therm-a-Rest mattress. Inflatable pillow for comfort. I opted for batteries instead of a dynamo hub, I’ll carry 2 powerbanks. BBB Strike Duo 2000 will light my way during the dark.

Marcin Kepka

Age 43 / Gdansk (Poland)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on an Ibis DV9 with Continental Race King Protection tires and a 1×12 SRAM GX drivetrain. A SON dynamo hub will power my kLite light in front and charge my electronics.
BAGS: It’s a mix of everything really. Tailfin Aeropack in the back, Revelate Designs Ranger frame bag, and a Restrap top tube bag. This time I removed everything from the co*ckpit so we’ll see how aero it will make me.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For a shelter I’ll use OR Helium bivy, a Cumulus X-Lite 400 sleeping bag, and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping pad. For navigation I’ll have a Garmin 1040.

Lukas Klement

Age 29 / Kourim (Czech Republic)

BIKE: I’m riding a custom-made bike with drop bars and Equator wheels. Fenix lights.
BAGS: Apidura bags, saddle bag for sleeping set. Custom frame bag by AZ. Top tube bag for electronics. Apidura backpack for water and food. Bottle on handlebar. Down tube bag for repair and first aid.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Edgar Power for energy supplement.

Moritz Kneuer

Age 24 / Germany

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Canyon Exceed CF 6. I’m using a SON Dynamo to power my light and navigation devices. I’ve also attached Profile Design Aero Bars for extra comfort.
BAGS: In terms of bags I’ve got a bit of everything. I’m using an Ortlieb seat post bag, Apidura frame and handle bar bag, and a Tailfin top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I can’t wait for the extra comfort I’ll get while sleeping from my travel pillow.

Maxim Lapchuk

Age 42 / Moscow (Russia)

BIKE: My second SRMR will be ridden on a Trek Procaliber 9.6. A lightweight carbon hardtail with the unique advantage of a trail-smoothing IsoSpeed decoupler. The bike features Mavic Crossmax Elite wheels and Vittoria Mezcal 2.1” tires, an 11-46T cassette with 26/36T chainrings. My modified co*ckpit has three hand positions and a Profile Design Airstrike II aerobar.
BAGS: My Zefal aerobar bag holds my tent and a mat. The top and down tube bags from Apidura for electronics and cables, my food supplements, and spare parts. A Rapha 2.5L frame bag for everyday items and an Apidura saddle bag for my sleeping bag and dry clothes.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This time, I was mainly thinking about how to reduce the weight of the equipment. I’m using a new Six Moon Designs Lunar solo tent (700g) and waterproof Giro gloves, shoe covers, and socks with a membrane.

Marika Latsone

Age 38 / Liepaja (Latvia)

BIKE: This is my trusty blue Canyon Grand Canyon 7 with a pretty basic setup, mostly stock components, Maxxis Rekon Race 29 x 2.25” tires, a Shutter Precision dynamo up front. My hands very likely wouldn’t survive those rocky roads without Ergon grips.
BAGS: Most of my bags are from the excellent Revelate Designs. I also have a couple of Restrap bags and two Alpkit drybags. Since I don’t quite like saddle bags, I got an Ortlieb Quick rack to carry a dry bag with my sleep kit and some extra packs of noodles.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A seagull t-shirt, cinnamon toothpaste, my favourite Finnish jelly candies and a little, green extraterrestrial specimen I found on the road in Morocco that (hopefully) won’t let me sleep too much. Oh, and a small notebook with a master plan and for writing down some notes on the way.

Cat Magill

Age 44 / Edinburgh (Scotland)

BIKE: I’m riding my titanium Titus El Viajero, which has taken me to every ultra I’ve participated in so far. I upgraded my wheels this year, and the bling bronze Hope Pro 5 hubs make me happy just to look at them!
BAGS: Big thanks to my coach for loaning me some swish Tailfin goods to complement my Aeropack. I’ve also got Restrap stem and top-tube bags and an Ortlieb frame bag, front roll and accessory pack to stuff with food.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 7mesh Horizon Jersey for the boiling hot afternoons; Pedaled Alpha jacket for the frosty mountain passes; and 7Mesh Skypilot waterproof jacket for the thunderstorms. Snuggling up at night in my cozy Rab Neutrino 400 sleeping bag and hoping it doesn’t drop to -10C or I might have to sleep in my waterproofs (a tried and tested way to stay warm…).

Patrick Majerle

Age 37 / Ravensburg (Germany)

BIKE: For the Silk Road Mountain Race, I will ride a SCOTT Scale RC Team Issue with a SRAM X01 AXS EAGLE 1×12 Drivetrain (32T chainring and a 10-52T cassette). The front tire is a Maxxis Rekon Race and back tire is a Maxxis Rekon with a bit more grip for the loose terrain as a tubeless set-up on DT Swiss wheels. The SON Dynamo Hub supplies me with electricity for my front light Edelux II and the Busch + Müller e-werk helps me charge my electronic devices while pedalling. ZIPP Vuka Aerobars will get me through tough headwinds.
BAGS: I use a AGU Seat-Pack for my OR bivy, the Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag and the Therm-a-Rest air mattress. The other bags are from Apidura. In the bar roll I carry my clothes and all the rest is stored in the frame bags. I also wear a Apidura Hydration Vest with a 2L capacity for water as well as two bottles for extra water and a water filter.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My highlight is the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 which will guide me through the route and give me (hopefully) good data about my riding.

Dmitriy Makarov

Age 33 / Stepnogorsk (Kazakhstan)

BIKE: Canyon Exceed CFR LTD. Unlike SRMR 2023, the handlebar has been replaced with a Ritchey drop bar and the brakes/shifters have been changed to SRAM Rival AXS. The stock MAXXIS tires already finished SRMR 2023 I believe they can cross the finish line one more time.
BAGS: Old and jammed bags from Apidura. Everything is good, except for the zippers, which require regular maintenance and lubrication. Otherwise everything will jam at the most inopportune moment. Nevertheless, they are lightweight and waterproof, as well as resistance to damage. This year, I gave up the downtube bag for a more comfortable grip during hike a bike moments. This will be the fourth SRMR for these five year old bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: If my frame breaks in half, I have a Tailfin strap.

Kevin Massicotte

Age 33 / Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

BIKE: Revel Ranger with a Shimano XT/XTR 12-speed build. 34T front chainring with a 10-51T cassette. I built the wheels myself with a SON 28 dynamo hub and DT Swiss 240 rear hub, Sapim CX-Ray spokes, and Revel RW27 carbon rims. Both wheels have Hope 6-bolt rotors (180/160mm) which can be easily removed to replace a broken spoke. Fresh Vittoria Mezcal 2.4″ tires with Tubolight inserts and lots of Stan’s race sealant. Supernova DY Pro front light and E3 tail light. Wahoo Elemnt Bolt for navigation mounted to Vision Trimax carbon clip-on aerobars.
BAGS: Miss Grape custom frame bag, Big Node top tube bag and a pair of Bud stem bags. Apidura backcountry rear top tube bag and backcountry backpack with a 2L bladder. Ortlieb seat bag and handlebar-mounted accessory pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Custom Cululus X Lite 300 sleeping bag, Big Agnes Zoom UL mat. Taking a bivy instead of a tent to not miss out on the beautiful stars at night. Kodak Ektar H35 film camera with a roll of Portra 400 and Superia X-Tra 400 for the memories.

Sergei Mazurin

Age 47 / Ridder (Kazakhstan)

BIKE: Giant XTC Advanced 29, DT Swiss XM 481, SQlab 610 Ergolux active 2.0 saddle, DT Swiss 350 Classic MTB Boost wheels, Shutter Precision Dynamo, modified 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T Shimano SLX crank.
BAGS: ACEPAC frame bag, ACEPAC seat bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Naturehike tent serves as my shelter along with a Naturehike sleeping bag and air mat. I will also carry a Garmin eTrex 22 for navigation.

Daniel Meyes

Age 46 / Zurich (Switzerland)

BIKE: I will be riding the SRMR on a Salsa El Mariachi TI equipped with a Shimano XT 2×12 drivetrain (36/26T with an 11-45T cassette) and XTR disc brakes. The bike features Roval Control SL carbon rims paired with Specialized Ground Control 29 x 2.35″ tires. It also includes a Thomson seat post, stem, and handlebar, a Chris King bottom bracket and headset, and XTR pedals with cleats. For additional comfort and control, I’ve added an aerobar from Syntace and some bar ends, as well as a Chromag saddle.
BAGS: Primarily from Revelate Designs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m particularly fond of my Cumulus X-Lite 300 sleeping bag. My lighting system is from Lupine, which turns night into day. I’ll also be carrying a SOL emergency bivy and a Nordisk Ven 2.5 sleeping pad. As I am riding with a partner, we will also bring a Zpacks Triplex Classic tent.

Adrian Mcculloch

Age 48 / Forth, Tasmania (Australia)

BIKE: What remains of a Bombtrack Cale. It has a Shimano 1×12 drivetrain and brakes in a mix of SLX and XT. The wheelset I built, (luckily I work in a bike shop!) is a custom 27.5″ DT Swiss with 2.6″ Maxxis Rekon tyres on 40mm wide rims. A son dynamo hub charges everything and powers my Klite. Up front is a set of Pro missile bars and those beautiful blue SID ultimate with 120mm of travel.
BAGS: The frame bag and front roll are Revelate Designs, top tube and down tube bags are Apidura, and a couple of Sea to Summit dry bags to keep everything together. There is a carryall cage mounted both sides of the rear rack so I can carry an extra 4 liters of water if needed.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be sleeping under the fly of a Nemo Hornet tent and using a lightweight bivvy bag in combination for more warmth. A -5° One Planet sleeping bag and a down jacket and vest will keep me warm on the cold nights. I’m taking a Jetboil stove on this trip so I can hopefully cook some decent food. Wet weather gear will be a Patagonia GoreTex coat and lightweight waterproof trousers, which I hope not to use.

Henry Merk

Age 35 / Bavaria (Germany)

BIKE: Pivot Mach 4 SL with Fox 34 Fork/Float DPS Damper, DT Swiss XRC 1200 wheelset, Vitorria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Shimano XT M8100 groupset.
BAGS: A mix of bags from Revelate Designs, Rogue Panda, and Tailfin.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Wahoo Roam for navigation, Bolt as backup.

Matt Mihelcic

Age 22 / Gold Coast, Queensland (Australia)

BIKE: The gravel bike that could. A yellow wrapped Lauf Seigla rolling on 29 x 2.2″ Race Kings with plenty of clearance. It’s nicknamed ‘Banana Peel’ because the wrap is coming off, but thankfully that’s hidden by the accessories. Up front, the co*ckpit consists of Lauf’s carbon Smoothie bars with Zipp Vuka armchairs. A Profile Design TT bottle cage and an AliExpress head unit mount integrate a bottle, Quad Lock, Wahoo, and KLite right where you need them. The KLite runs off a SON dynamo hub, with custom wiring to incorporate a SON rear light. I found a fastener called Well Nuts, which allowed me to mount the tail light into the end of the Tailfin rack. I swapped the cranks for shorter 165mm MTB cranks, which widened the Q-factor but provided an easy way to mount a 32T chainring. The rest of the groupset is Apex AXS with a 10-44T cassette.
BAGS: The bags are centred around my favourite piece, the custom frame bag. Built in my home country by the Bike Bag Dude, it continues to impress me with its durability and waterproofing. Even after a pressure wash. I also love the Restrap Race collection, supporting their top tube and TT-bar bags. I’m also experimenting with a unique mounting position of the Tailfin rack under my top tube. This is intended to bring the weight forward and help eliminate any wobbles in the frame.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: There are two Dawn to Dusk Bear Hug cage mounts strapped to the down tube with Looney Bins from Arundel screwed in. In combination with the spare bottle cages mounted to the forks, they work great for holding storage bottles or bulky food such as cans or even oranges. Although my custom 3D-printed fork mounts have held up to the test, I try to keep these empty when I can, as they noticeably affect the handling. Hidden in the bags is my Big Sky Revolution bikepacking-specific 1.5P tent and a Sea to Summit Ascent 1 sleeping bag.

Tim Millikin

Age 39 / Reading (United Kingdom)

BIKE: I’m riding my first ever ultra aboard my trusty 2020 Salsa Fargo. I have swapped the traditional drop bars for a Richey Kyote flat bar to give me better stability on the long descents. The shifting is done by Shimano XT 2×11 with a 24/34T crank set and an 11-42T cassette. Hunt wheels and 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tyres keep the bike moving.
BAGS: Apidura front roll, saddle pack, frame bag, and tool roll hold everything to the bike along with two Blackburn Outpost feed bags for snacks. My sleeping bag and tent are mounted to the forks using Salsa Anything Cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My left hand 2x shifter is a Shimano Deore Thumb shifter which has accompanied me on a three year around the world bike tour, the Kenya Bike Odyssey route and has survived being hit by a car in El Salvador. It’s a lucky omen and indestructible. Sleeping kit is made up of Therm-a-Rest Parsec -6 bag and Nano air mat all inside a lightweight and comfortable Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent.

Krzysztof Milosz

Age 34 / Gdansk (Poland)

BIKE: 2023 Giant Anthem Adv 2.
BAGS: Tailfin Aerobag, Topeak Frontloader, JackPack top tube bag and frame bag, Pedaled hydration vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: SLX 32/10-51T, Evanlite Carbon wheels with SON28 hub, Pirelli Scorpion 2.2″ TLR, SUPERNOVA M99 DY Pro, B&M e-werk charger.

Emma Missale

Age 27 / Copenhagen (Denmark)

BIKE: My baby digital Lavander Orbea Alma H30 with FOX 32 suspension fork. Self-laced Wizard Wheels carbon rims with Hope Pro5 rear hub and Son Dynamo front hub connected to Son front light, Supernova rear light and Sinewave junction box. Tire choice is Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4″. Brakes are Hope Tech4x2 and Transmission a mix of SRAM AXS XO 12-speed 11-52T and SRAM XX1 crankset. This time running Aarn 32T black chainring. Other small bits are Thomson seat post and stem, Brooks C13 (158mm) carved saddle, and SQLab grips and bar ends.
BAGS: Bags are mainly Brooks scape; saddle bag, handlebar bag, top tube and two feed pouches. The frame bag is a custom handmade one from THLP, so that it fits my tiny frame.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Pretty stoked about the Aeon Li Tarptent, Sea to Summit Spark II sleeping bag and half size mat. Accessories wise my Radar EV with photochromic lenses and Looseendapparel fingerless gloves.

Graham Muir

Age 53 / Steamboat Springs, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Titus TI Silk road frame, Hope V4 brakes, Enve 730 rims with Hope rear hub SON 28 dynamo front. Vittoria Mezcals 2.35″ tires, Fox 34 front fork 100mm with bar remote, Redshift seat post, Selle SMP saddle, Race face 165mm cranks, XT spd/flat pedals, kLite adventure front light and charging system.
BAGS: Frame bag and top tube from JPAKS, rear Tailfin rack with 1 litre bottles and loaded with Jay Petervary-designed top bag. Front Revelate Designs harness and Salty roll with two feed bags. Tailfin down tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system includes a MSR advance pro tent and Big Agnes Sleeping bag.

Joe Nation

Age 34 / Christchurch (New Zealand)

BIKE: This is a test frame for Fara, DT Swiss wheels, Son Dynamo, KLite front and rear, Redshift Suspension Seatpost, Ritchey Dropbars, 100mm RockShox SID, SRAM XX derailleur, 165mm Raceface Cranks, Sigeyi powermeter, 32T Chainring, Maxxis Ikon 2.35″ tyres, Profile design aero bars and Prologo saddle.
BAGS: Carbon Tailfin aeropack, Restrap toptube bag, frame bag, aerobar mount with Sea To Summit dry bag, also carrying an ultra vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Wide high volume tyres and Redshift seatpost for removing that washboard vibration.

David Nicholls

Age 37 / London (United Kingdom)

BIKE: A 2021 Trek Supercaliber with 100mm of travel on the front and 60mm on the back. Shifting is Eagle AXS, with 30T on the front and 10-50T on the back to deal with all the climbs. A SON dynamo hub will power my Sinewave Beacon light and plethora of electronics. I’ll be rolling on stock Bontrager rims and the ubiquitous Mezcals 29 x 2.25″, though the Trail version with super strong sidewalls after issues in previous races.
BAGS: Apidura saddle pack and excellent long top tube bag. Revelate feed bags and Alpkit dry bag outfront strapped to the immense Mission Control deck from Drj0n, which also mounts my Garmin and light.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Tried and tested RAB 200 Neutrino bag with a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite in a RAB storm bivi bag hopefully keeping out the rain. Navigation will come from the Garmin Edge 1030+ and I will carry 1.5L bladder, waterproofs and more snacks in my trusty Pedaled Odyssey Hydration Vest. Waxed chain (using Silca Secret Chain Blend) topped up with Silca Super Secret Wax. Exposure Diablo headlight for the helmet.

Filip Ondrich

Age 23 / Borek, Jihocesky Kraj (Czech Republic)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Canyon Exceed CF 7 with a Jones H Bar handlebars and SON dynamo hub.
BAGS: I am going with full Tailfin bags, except for my custom frame bag which is from Witslingers.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleeping system includes a Durston lightweight tent, Alpkit sleeping bag and Big Agnes sleeping pad. I love this setup because it all fits into my front loader and is really easy to set up and pack up.

Maria Orlova

Age 30 / Moscow (Russia)

BIKE: Superior XP929, carbon frame hardtail. Slightly modified for the race with a Neutrino 30T chainring, Shimano Deore XT brakes and rear derailleur, Pirelli Scorpion Trail M 2.4″ tires, Van Rysel aerobar. I bought the bike specifically for this race, but while I was riding it, I fell in love with mountain biking.
BAGS: I love my Sarmatian frame bag, made of Dyneema Ultra with taped seams. Columbus saddle bag, Acepac handlebar, Sacra feed bags, Velohorosho top tube, won at my last gravel race.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m bringing a lot of warm clothes, a waterproof jacket and pants, three pairs of gloves. I’m sharing a sleep kit with my racing partner. Naturehike VIK 2, Naturehike Ultralight 5.8 R mat, Naturehike CW400 sleeping bag. I’m taking a tent because we are traveling in pairs, and its weight and volume are not so significant when split between two people. I’m also bringing a Fire Maple FMS X1 cook system.

Kasimir Orlowski

Age 33 / Laveno, Varese (Italy)

BIKE: I will ride my Mosaic MT-2 with SRAM XX T-Type (30/52T) and Beast XC dynamo wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires. To brighten up the dark hours I will run a klite Bikepacker 2.
BAGS: To carry all the gear and food I will use bags from Tailfin. My sleeping system is in the handlebar bag from Miss Grape.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Redshift suspension seatpost and a Reform custom molded saddle to smooth the ride and save my butt (hopefully!).

Yuji Otsuka

Kanagawa (Japan)

BIKE: Monoral Bikes GR, DEORE XT M8050 Di2 3x drivetrain.
BAGS: Ortlieb fork pack and back roller, Ride On bar bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Redshift ShockStop Stem and Seatpost, SON dynamo hub and Busch + Muller light.

Jongha Pak

Age 43 / Seoul (South Korea)

BIKE: Alpha bike RAPTOR SL 29, Hutchinson Taipan 29 × 2.25” tires, Shimano XT 1×12 (10-51T), 32T chainring, XT hydraulic disc brake 4P, front SON Dynamo H28 Spoke 32H hub, DT SWISS XR 391 29″ front, Mavic Crossmax 29″ rear, Sinewave Cycles Beacon 2 light.
BAGS: ORTLIEB Frame-Pack RC 4L, Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR 13L, Ortlieb Toptube-bag 1.5L, Salsa EXP Series Anything Cradle system, Starus Optima Dome Single Tent 1.5.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir xLite, Montane Alps 300 (800fp) sleeping bag, Wahoo Elemnt Roam 2 for navigation.

Lars Pedersen

Age 54 / Kalmar (Sweden)

BIKE: I’ll be riding SRMR on a 2015 S-Works Epic, full suspension with Shimano XTR 36/26T/11-40T. Roval Control SL rear wheel and DT Swiss M462 front wheel with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ Tubeless. In the front I have a SP PD-8x dynamo hub connected to Sinewave Revolution USB outlet for loading my Linocell Solar Powerbank 20,000 mAh. I have also an aerobar PRO Missile S-Bend and Contec Grip Tour Deluxe handlebars together with CloseTheGap Ergo my Ride.
BAGS: In the front I have a Blackburn Outpost 14L. On the forks I have two Newboler 7L. In the back I’m using a Topeak Tetrarack M2 HD together with a Ortlieb Drybag 22L. Other small bags on the bike include a Colombus Dry Bag 1L, Restrap Top Tube 1L, Topeck Aero Wedge, and two Fjällräven/Specialized Snack Bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For my tent I’m using a MSR Freelite 1 V3 as I ride in a pair. I sleep on a Sea To Summit Ultralight sleeping pad and Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight L pillow together with Marmot Trestles Elite sleeping bag. To light up the nights I use a Magicshine MJ902ES together with a headlamp Silva Trail Speed 5. To navigate I’ll use a Garmin Epic 1040 Solar. For water purification I use a Katadyn Vario. I’m bringing a Primus Lite XL stove and a Salomon XA35 backpack with Camelback water bladder and soft flasks.

Neza Peterca

Age 36 / Slovenia

BIKE: Ghost Lector World Cup 30. Together with the guys from Loose Cycles, we made some changes to the factory build. The main thing was tuning up the “dashboard” with aero bars and SQLab innerbarends and saddle, with some custom carbo bridge to hold my light and Garmin. We also opted to go old school with mechanical shifting since you never know what happens in the high plateaus of Kyrgyzstan. I named the bike Saiga – the weird-looking high steppe antelope that is known for traveling large distances during their migrations.
BAGS: What Happened
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I never found aerobars on MTB handlebars aesthetically appealing, but I think in combination with What Happened top tube bag, everything is at hand and in the right place.

Erin Poland

Age 33 / Bushwick, New York (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my trusted Dr Pepper, a 2023 Cannondale Scalpel! She’s got a women’s specific power saddle and a shiny new pair of Mezcal shoes!
BAGS: The centerpiece of my bike is a Revelate Designs framebag that I’ve used on every tour and that my husband Jono took last year on SRMR. I got a Tailfin downtube pack to add some much needed storage for the long stretches with little re-supply. I also have my Rogue Panda top tube and saddle bags, and two snack bags from Blue Lug and Roadrunner to keep the snacking going all ride long!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My pink and blue dynamo light!

Jan Pollers

Age 56 / Leuven (Belgium)

BIKE: Niner Air 9 RDO, a Jones H bar, and Mezcal 2.25″ tires. Duke wheels with a SON dynamo hub and Klite light.
BAGS: Mix of Ortlieb and Apidura.

Bart Pombreu

Age 44 / Antwerp (Belgium)

BIKE: I will be riding the SRMR on a 2024 Orbea Oiz M-Pro, nicknamed ‘El burro morado con un poco de oro’ or ‘buro’ in short. Featuring Vittoria Mezcals, 2.25″ rear, 2.35″ front tyre. I will be relying on a 20k powerbank and charging when opportunity arises, as I decided not to install a dynamo.
BAGS: Tailfin Aeropack and top tube bag, custom made framebag from Miss Grape, four cages for Salsa drybags plus extra water bottles, 15L backpack with 2L Camelbak.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nemo Hornet Osmo 1-person tent and a bunch of the usual stuff that will hopefully get me to the finish beers!

Andrew Poynter

Age 35 / Launceston, Tasmania (Australia)

BIKE: Curve Kevin of Steel with Ritchey Beacon bars and Fox 32 Factory 50mm forks for some softness up front. Rolling on Curve carbon rims with 47mm Pirelli Cinturato tires. Combining this beautiful bike with a mongrel mix of Shimano GRX, SRAM Eagle and Campagnolo Ekar. A Cane Creek Thudbuster seat post is supporting a well travelled Brooks B17.
BAGS: Revelate Terrapin down back and Revelate Harness/Saltyroll up front, a Rockgeist 52Hz frame bag to be filled with snacks, a Bike Bag Dude top tube bag, and Sea to Summit dry bags on Salsa Carry Anything cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: kLite with Son dynamo to keep the path ahead well lit. However, hoping to avoid too much darkness; I’m going to Kyrgyzstan to see the mountains! Will be sleeping comfortably on a Nemo Tensor mat, beneath a Neve Gear Warratah quilt, inside an MSR Hubba Hubba 1.

Alexander Price

Age 43 / Mons (Belgium)

BIKE: Cube C62 Reaction Race, bought specifically for the SRMR. Components are mostly stock, including the Shimano XT Deore 1×12 drivetrain, 32T chainring and 11-52T cassette. I changed to a Brooks C17 saddle and went with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge endurance tyres for durability and smooth rolling. Ergon GS3 grips and Selco clip on aero bars also added.
BAGS: My focus has been on having the capacity to carry the bulky items required for SRMR, such as sleeping bag, but keeping weight off the handlebars. Aeroe Spider rear rack with two Decathlon Riverside bags, bespoke frame bag made in the UK by Alpkit, Ortlieb top tube bag with magnetic closure, a couple of stem bags to carry food through the remote sections, and Restrap Aero Race handlebar bag also made in the UK.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m using plenty of my ski mountaineering kit, including a MSR Access 2 tent, Snugpak Softie 6 sleeping bag, Alpkit Hukka bivvy bag, Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping mat. Norrona Goretex jacket and trousers to cover any conditions. Garmin Edge 1040 solar for navigation, Fenix front light, MSR Pocket Rocket for hot drinks and freeze dried meals, Apidura frame pack hydration bladder for extra water capacity, Nitecore and Anker power banks.

Olmighti Quillao

Age 43 / Squamish, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: I’ll be going old school riding a 2004 Cannondale F700 CAAD4 with Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain with a 30T chainring and 10-51T cassette, handbuilt (by me) Stans Crest MK3 wheels on a DT Swiss 240 rear hub and a SON28 Dynamo front with Sapim CX-Ray spokes, Maxxis 26 x 2.25″ Ardent tires and a Thomson Titanium 12° handlebar. The setup weighs 55.6lbs fully loaded.
BAGS: Revelate 16L Spinelock saddle bag, Apidura Racing 1L Top Tube Bag, Backcountry 1L Rear Top Tube and 6L Full Frame Bag and a Salsa Anything Cradle with a 12L Top Loading Bag + 2.5 Accessory Pouch.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Western Mountaineering Ultralite -7°C sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest Uberlite sleeping pad, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 tent, Sinewave Beacon 2 for light and charging duties, 10,000mAh Iniu battery pack, Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V1 and Gamin Fenix 5X for navigation and pacing, MSR Trailshot Filter and Pristine Water Treatment to quench thirst anytime, anywhere!

Eloi Renaudin

Age 32 / Le Pré-Saint-Gervais, Paris (France)

BIKE: Breezer Lightning, SID fork, Hunt wheels, Maxxis Ardent tires.
BAGS: Ortlieb, Riverside, Apidura, Tailfin suspension fork mounts.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nothing special, maybe that front bag net, to put food or stuff away very fast.

Pierre Lorin de Reure

Age 31 / Paris (France)

BIKE: Canyon Neuron CF 9, full carbon with DT Swiss carbon wheels and full XT group set. Equipped with a Fox 34 Performance Elite fork offering 140mm travel. Tires are Schwalbe Racing Ralph and Racing Ray, both 29 x 2.25″, mounted tubeless. I chose this full-suspension setup to tackle the tough terrain with maximum comfort and safety. I’m using Crankbrothers Mallet E pedals paired with Specialized Rime 2.0 shoes, and my saddle is a Brooks c17 carved.
BAGS: Decathlon saddle and handlebar bags, with an extra pocket added to the handlebar bag for additional storage, and finally two small Decathlon frame bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: As you can see, as a proud Frenchman, I’m sticking with Decathlon gear, hence a Decathlon sleeping bag rated for 0°C and Decathlon sleeping mat with an R-value of 5.4 for warmth and comfort. The only exception is the Naturehike Cloud Wing 2 tent, because I think this brand is the best value for money you can find.

John Roe

Age 60 / South Wales

BIKE: I’ll be riding the #SRMR2024 on my titanium Sonder Broken Road. The bike has a pair of tubeless Maxxis Ikon 2.35” tyres and a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed (10-50T) groupset fitted with a 30T chainring. There’s a SON Dynamo up front and a Hope hub on the rear. I also have Jones H-Bars fitted for comfort as well as to give me more co*ckpit space.
BAGS: I have a Tailfin AeroPack to the rear and have an Alpkit Bar Bag out front as well as a mixture of Top Tube bags that I’ve picked up over time. Additionally, I’ve a pair of Tailfin cargo cages fitted to the forks and a tool bottle fitted under the downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My Brooks C17 saddle along with my kLite powered by the dynamo that’s complimented by a helmet mounted Fenix HM61R. I’ll also have my eTrex 32x as backup for my Garmin Edge 1040.

Peter Rosewall

Age 36 / Dubai, UAE (UK)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR 2024 on my Canyon Lux Trail CF9, The bike features Hunt wheels shod with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tyres and a SON dynamo hub up front. To light my way, I have fitted K-lite front and rear. Other than that, it’s pretty standard.
BAGS: All off the shelf and nothing fancy, Zefal all over with a Zefal Z Adenture R saddle bag, Zefal Z Adventure F10 handle bar bag and Zefal top tube bag. I bought them just for training as they were cheap but they have turned out to be very good quality and reliable so stuck with them.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Outdoor Research Helium bivy, Sea to Summit Spark SPIII sleeping bag. Specialized Rime 2.0 MTB shoes which have proven themselves very reliable in the Dubai Sand but how well they will cope in the cooler climates of Kyrgyzstan we shall see. For Navigation I’ll be using my Garmin Edge 1040 Solar.

Alden Roth

Age 30 / Charles Town, West Virginia (USA)

BIKE: I’m riding a 2022 Specialized Fuse 27.5″ Hardtail. I upgraded the tires to 2.2″ Umtanum Ridge Endurance Pluses from René Herse, swapped the stock flat bar for the Surly Corner Bar and added aero bars, and switched to mechanical disc brakes after the stock hydraulic brakes started to fail. I upgraded the stock 1×9 drivetrain with the Box Two Prime 11-50T cassette and upgraded the dropper post with an E13 Vario Infinite 180mm. I also added a Velogical Rim Dynamo generator to power my electronics.
BAGS: My favorite part of my bag setup is the Spider Rear Rack from Aeroe, where I have two 8L bags and one 11L bag. I’m used to having big panniers at the back of the bike, so I much prefer this set up from Aeroe than having a big saddle bag. I have an Apidura full frame bag, large top tube bag and two fork packs, Bedrock Bags water bottle storage on the downtube, and the Revelate aero bar bag. I have two feed bags from Fish-Ski Designs, as well as their 6-pack Bevvy Carrier. I’m really concerned about carrying enough liquids during the long stretches without resupply, and I think the Bevvy Carrier is gonna be perfect to avoid dehydration.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: From my short lived triathlon career, I have more bottle cages mounted to my seat to top off my liquid storage. I’ve got an Insta 360 mounted to my aerobars for easy filming and a Quadlock wireless charger to keep my phone topped off. I have a Lunar Solo tent from Six Moon Designs and a Nemo inflatable sleeping pad.

RJ Sauer

Age 50 / North Vancouver, BC (Canada)

BIKE: I will be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a 2019 Salsa Timberjack with a pair of Vittoria Mezacal 2.25″ tires and a 1×12 drivetrain with a 34T chainring. I attached a Fred Bar to help fit my Redshift aero bars.
BAGS: Pretty much all of my bags are Revelate Designs. Over the years, their stuff has just been so reliable and I keep going back to them time and time again. No gimmicks, it just works. Only additions were the Tailfin downtube pack for all the miscellaneous I hope I don’t need.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My most important kit was supplied by my 6 year old Oliver, which includes a “fixer” hot wheels car with miniature wrench tool, a ghost white, iron-on decorative beads spare tire (not to scale), friendship bracelet and the request for “stunts” along the course. As for clothing, Ollie’s wouldn’t fit me so I opted for the next best thing… 7Mesh! Love their kit. For navigation I’m stick with the old faithful, the Garmin eTrex along with the back up of two iPhones not to mention the route etched in my brain (less reliable).

Marie-Pierre Savard

Age 39 / Montréal, Québec (Canada)

BIKE: I’m racing the SRMR on a Panorama Cycle Taïga hardtail, a steel bike that offers the fun and performance of a hardtail with long-distance off-road adventure capabilities. The drivetrain is Shimano 1×12, with a 32T chainring (10-51T) and SRAM LEVEL hydraulic brakes. I also opted for comfort with a Fox 34 SC front suspension, Jones H-Loop handlebars and Ergon grips. To get me rolling I worked closely with Station 210 – Atelier de Roues in Quebec, who hand-built me a set of wheels tailored for the SRMR with Astral rims, a SON dynamo hub at the front and a HOPE hub in back. They also fitted us with a Klite lighting and charging system and a set of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge endurance tires.
BAGS: It’s impossible not to love the custom frame bag made by Atwater Atelier. For me, it was non-negotiable to have a custom bag that maximizes all available space in the frame for my electronics, first aid, toiletry and sundry items. My mechanical kit is housed in the Atwater top tube bag. My tent and rain clothes tuck into the 15L Arkel Rollerpack handlebar bag, doted with the Memento Cycles decaleur instead of the original Arkel aluminum hanger. And hanging from my saddle, a 15L Arkel Seatpacker will hold my sleeping bag and mat. On the fork, because of the Old Mountain Axle Pack, I can fit two Dom 5L dry bags for cookware, food and clothes. On my back, I’ll have a Decathlon 10 L running bag with a 2L water capacity.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I am proud to say that most of the elements on my bike come from Canadian companies: the Panorama Cycle bike, the Arkel and Atwater bags and technical clothing from Brava Endurance and 7mesh. For my sleep kit, I use a MEC Delphinus 0C sleeping bag with liner and a head-to-toe merino outfit to keep me warm and dry at night. The tent is a Naturehike Cloud Up 1 and the sleeping pad, a Klymit Static V Lite. And so as not to get lost, I’ll have my Garmin 530, which is old but reliable, just like me!

Andreas Tvedt Segrov

Age 43 / Oslo (Norway)

BIKE: Scott Scale 920, SRAM GX Eagle 12s-peed drivetrain, FOX 32 100mm fork, Ergon SM Pro seat on a Cane Creek eeSilk suspension post. Ergon GP2 handlebars and Profile Design aerobars on risers.
BAGS: Mostly Tailfin apart from an Ortlib frame bag and a Topeak handlebar bag. Drinking water in my Arcteryx Norvan 14 drinking vest containing a 3L bladder. I added an extra 1.5L bladder in there for longer stretches. Swapped one of the chest bottles with a Karadyn Befree 0.6L water purifying filter.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A lightweight Lifesystems wind shelter to protect me from really bad weather and the elements during breaks. Heat patches for hands and feet.

Benedikt Stratmann

Age 33 / Dortmund, NRW (Germany)

BIKE: I will be riding the SRMR on my Trek Procaliber 9.8. I modified it some places to be more suitable for the event. Among the changes I made are: a 1×12 drivetrain with 30T in the front and 10-51T in the back, a SON dynamo hub with a kLite lighting/charging system and a SQlab saddle as well as a riser bar with aero bars and Ergon grips for comfort. The tires are 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals.
BAGS: The two main bags are an Ortlieb seat pack and an Ortlieb handlebar pack. Additionally I have a Blackburn frame bag and an Apidura top tube bag. I will also carry a small running vest for additional water and snacks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For my sleeping kit I will use a light MSR tent, an Exped mat, and a Robens sleeping bag with a -9 degree comfort temperature. In case of bad weather I will use a full rain kit including a Mammut rain jacket and waterproof socks as well as warm clothes mostly by Adidas Terrex. In general I packed a little extra. Better be safe than sorry.

Claire Stevens

Age 49 / Wadawurrung Country, Geelong (Australia)

BIKE: Curve Cycling GMX+ with 29″ Curve Dirt Hoops and 2.35″ Mezcals. Curve Walmer drop bars. SRAM Mullet set-up: Eagle AXS with 2024 Red levers and brakes. SP dynamo and kLite system.
BAGS: My frame bag was custom made by Terra Rosa Designs in Naarm/Melbourne. I have Ortlieb fork packs fitted to the latest edition of the Curve Seek 430 fork. The Revelate Designs Terrapin 14L saddle bag was chosen because a detachable dry bag is easier to throw my sleep kit into. No bar bag because I need all that wide Walmer bar room for activities!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Outdoor Research Helium bivy, sleeping bag rated to -10C, and Therm-a-Rest NXT mat.

Becky S

Age 22 / London (United Kingdom)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Specialized Epic Comp Hardtail with Specialized Renegade and Fast Trak 29 x 2.35″ tyres, 34T chainring and 10-52T cassette. Lastly, I’ll be using Ergon GP3 grips with TT bars.
BAGS: For bags, I’ll be using an awesome Tailfin setup, starting with the Aeropack combined with carbon arches, as well as their 1.9L wedge frame bag and 1.7L downtube bag for spares and repairs, 1.1L top tube bag for essentials, 10L fork bags for tent and cook kit / food and the Apidura Handlebar bag for sleep system and food pouches for all my snacks! As you can see, I’m taking enough to be comfortable and more focused riding the route, instead of racing it.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using the Big Agnes Copper Spur bikepacking tent for my shelter, along with a -6 degree Enlightened Equipment quilt, and Therm-a-Rest Neoair Mat. The main highlight is a lot of chocolate!

Evgeny Shekhirev

Age 41 / Moscow (Russia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my GT Zaskar Pro bike. My bike is equipped with new Schwalbe NOBBY NIC 26 x 2.25″ tires, a Suntuor fork, and a new SRAM 3×9 drivetrain (44/22T in front and 12/36T cassette).
BAGS: A Topeak fame bag, a seat bag and handlebar bag, a smartphone bag on the frame, two 750ml bottles. An inflatable mat and part of the tent will be attached to the fork. I also plan to take a 2L hydration bladder in a backpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A single-person Freetime RAID LITE 1 DLS tent, a Freetime sleeping bag, and an inflatable Sea To Summit mat. I’ll navigate with a Garmin 840.

Hannah Simon

Age 26 / Austin, Texas (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be ripping my fabulous custom Ti Chumba Sendero for the Silk Road Mountain Race. It’s decked out with a Cane Creek HELM fork (set up at 120mm, adjustable to 160mm) and suspension seat post for all them bumpy roads. Wheels equipped with a SON28 front hub, Industry Nine SOLiX rear hub, Industry Nine carbon rims and 2.2″ Durable Teravail Rutland tires. I added an Old Man Mountain rack to get the weight off the front end for this race. Rear Racks are IN. 1×12 GX AXS with a 32T chainring and 50T cassette. She Stout.
BAGS: All over, all-time South City Stitchworks handmade, super tough, absolutely gorgeous bags. I am a full-length-top-tube-bag believer. There’s nothing handy-er. These bags were flawless throughout the Atlas Mountain Race, with a couple tweaks we are DIALED for this one. Re: tweaks: one-hand closure on the feed bags and internal routing for the kLite dynamo wiring.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I am totally jazzed about my kLite Adventure dynamo light and charging set up. I’ve got the front and rear light rigged as well as a USB charging port. The kit comes with a switch to prioritize either a brighter light or a faster charge. It all fits nicely together on my super light out-front mount from Jefe.bike.

Sorachi Sakai

Age 22 / Hokkaido (Japan)

BIKE: My bike is a Singular Peregrine. I like the 29 x 2.3″ tires, the SON hub dynamo, and the Sinewave Beacon. This is my first real gravel bike and touring machine. I use Microshift and Shimano XT for the derailleurs.
BAGS: My setup is Fairweather from Blue Lug bike shop in Tokyo. Four stem bags on the DH bars, a full frame bag in a custom color and size, a 6L seat bag, and a Mont-Bell top tube bag. The cargo cages on the front forks hold water while riding.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My home is a Naturehike freestanding tent, a closed cell mat, and a down sleeping bag from the Japanese brand “Takemo”. My goal is to be the first Japanese person to complete the course (probably) while enjoying the mountains and scenery of Kyrgyzstan.

Max-Robert Salzer

Age 31 / Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany)

BIKE: Cube Reaction GTC Eagle 2017, Shimano-Sram-Budget-Performance-Mix, 1×12 with 30T steel chainring. Newmen/Acros Backwheel, Carbon Frontwheel with Shutter Precision dynamo, SON front light, Busch & Müller rear light, Continental Race King 2.2″ tires, SQLab 612 saddle.
BAGS: Tailfin AeroRack Alu, Ortlieb fork bags, Caspsuled Framebag, tent and sleeping bag under the barsso I can use the standard bottle cages in the frame and one on the Tailfin system.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I like the co*ckpit with the ability to mount a tent and sleeping bag under the bars. One fork bag at the front, the other on the Tailfin system for weight compensation. The lighting system is also a mix of SON, Shutter precision and Busch & Müller parts. Sea to Summit Spark Sleeping Bag, Nemo Bikepacking Tent, and Exped Hyper 1R sleeping mat for the night. The bike is normally used for marathon races without bags, so everything is designed with racing in mind.

Patrick Staubach

Age 30 / Weimar (Germany)

BIKE: A Canyon Exceed CF SLX with SRAM GX Eagle AXS, Maxxis Ikon Exo 2.35″ in the back and 2.2″ Continental Race King in the front. Together with the flexible seat post and a Brooks Cambium C15, I hope it provides a reasonably comfortable ride.
BAGS: Ortlieb, from back to front.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A power meter, which I hope will allow me to maintain a more consistent and efficient pace.

Mona Stockhecke

Age 40 / Zurich (Switzerland)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) on a 2023 Specialized Epic Evo Pro with Syntace handlebars.
BAGS: I use several Revelate Design bags and three water bottles will be mounted in the frame and downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Cumulus X-Lite 400 is my absolute favorite piece on this trip—a sleeping bag that never leaves you cold. Additionally, I’ll take a Sol emergency bivy and a Sea to Summit Uberlite air mattress. As I am riding as pair, we also take a Zpacks Triplex Classic tent.

Claude Stutz

Age 60 / Cernay, Alsace (France)

BIKE: Will be riding SRMR on a 2022 Cube C:620 hardtail with 2.2″ Continental Race King, 1×11 drivetrain with 30T chainring, classic SON dynamo.
BAGS: Bags are all Ortlieb, an Apidura 3L bladder fits in the frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Nordisk Lofoten tent, Sea to Summit air mat and sleeping bag, and MSR UL stove.

Jan Erik Svendsen

Age 43 / Oslo (Norway)

BIKE: I’ll be riding SRMR on a F/Gravel, Fara is a Norwegian brand who makes beautiful and great adventure bikes. It has a carbon frame and wheels, with a 50mm Maxxis Rambler TL tire in the front and 45mm out back. Pro Discover handlebar with a 30° flare, Redshift drop bar grips and suspension stem for more comfortable riding, and aerobars which includes extra mounts for my GoPro and a 1500 Bookman front light.
BAGS: Tailfin AeroPack and two 10l pannier bags, also down tube and top tube bags from Tailfin. Apidura frame bag, and Restrap aerobag for sleeping bag. Will use a hydration vest for the drinking system and to carry extra food when resupplying.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Overall, I’m very happy with my Fara gravel bike, Tailfin system and handlebar set up, to make my ride as comfortable as it`s possible in Kyrgyzstan mountains. I’m riding in a pair, and we will bring a Jetboil and some Drytech food to be sure we have a hot meal when needed. Maybe we have brought some extra unnecessary kilos, but better safe than sorry.

John Paul Lopez Taberdo

Age 41 / Geelong, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’m going for the award for the ‘ultimate party pace rig’ at the SRMR! To keep up my record for the last rider to finish, I’m riding an old-school Merida Big Nine alloy hardtail 29er with e-Thirteen trail wheels, Maxxis Recon Race 2.35″ tyres, 120mm Manitou forks, a Shimano drivetrain, and Pro aero bars and bar ends. It’s nothing special, but the bike has ridden enough ultra-endurance bikepacking events in Australia to be reliable enough for the Silk Road…I hope!
BAGS: A mixed-bag-of-bags… Ortlieb frame bag, Apidura top tube bag, Restrap feed bags, Topeak front roll bag, Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rack, Apidura Expedition fork bags, Restrap dry bag, Pro tool canister, and Lezyne Powercages and a Minoura Jetboil carrier mounted on Zefal Gizmo cage adaptors.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: With up to 7 litres of water storage, I should be the least dehydrated rider in the race! Also, with at 30T chainring and a 50T lowest sprocket, it’s going to be party pace up all the big mountains!

Nick Tapsell

Age 53 / Brighton (United Kingdom)

BIKE: No-name hardtail, SID 120mm fork, USE suspension post. Son Hub and Sinewave Beacon 2.
BAGS: Tailfinn Aeropack, Restrap frame bag, Revalate Designs handlebar roll, Miss Grape Ilcoso front bar rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Zpacks Plex solo tent, Rab sleeping bag, Rab Down jacket and waterproof gear.

Jeff Taylor

Age 60 / Haute Cabin, Vermont (USA)

BIKE: Blacksheep Hightlight, Mountain Tourer.
BAGS: Mix of Dispersed, JPaks, Porcelain Rocket, and Tailfin.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system consists of an MSR Pro Bivy and Western Mountaineering Flylite bag. Shimano XT PD T-8000 touring pedals, Berthoud, saddle, Sinewave Beacon light with Fenix LD 30 helmet lamp. Saloman Vest for hydration and extra storage.

Temir Tenizbaev

Age 39 / Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Specialized Chisel with mostly stock components. Upgrades include a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, a Truvativ carbon handlebar and aluminum aerobars, a Fi’zik Terra Aidon X5 saddle and Ergon grips.
BAGS: I will mostly use custom-made bags sewn by a friend Alex Mata with the handlebar bag harness attached to the aerobars. The only mass-produced bag is Revelate Designs Spinelock Saddle Bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: All my electronics including the lights will be charged from a 30k power bank. I will carry a Naturehike tent, sleeping bag, and a sleeping mat.

Andrei Tereskin

Age 35 / Novocherkassk (Russia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Sonder Broken Road. It has a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with a 30T chainring and 10-52T cassette. SQLab 612 saddle, Ergon GS3 grips, Spirgrips, and RideFarr aero bolt-on. I’ll be running same Rene Herse Fleeceer Ridge Endurance tires as I used last year.
BAGS: I have a mix of bags from different manufacturers: Tailfin in the back, Apidura and Tailfin on the top tube, custom ultra800 framebag made by Sarmatian Bags and Nerpa harness with a Revelate ultra200 dry bag in the front + feedbag from Revelate.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Zpacks Plex Solo dyneema tent together with a Featherstone quilt and Therm-a-Rest xlite pad will be my sleep system and shelter. For lighting and charging I’ll be using kLite combined with SON 28 dynamo hub.

Galym Torgautov

Age 50 / Shymkent (Kazakhstan)

BIKE: My bike for SRMR 2024 is a 2015 Canyon Lux. It’s running a SRAM Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, Fox suspension, Chinese carbon wheels laced with Mezcals. I have Shigura brakes, Ergon grips, and a WTB Volt saddle.
BAGS: My bags are a combo of Tailfin, Sarmatian, and Nerpa and I was glad to get Andy’s harness from Wayward Riders just in time for the event.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleep setup is a classic for SRMR, consisting of an OR Helium bivy and Therm-a-Rest Neo xLite pad. I’ve been testing the Keg spirit burner system with success and I’ll be taking it with me for the race.

Nursultan Turarbekov

Age 30 / Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Surly Karate Monkey with rigid fork, Shimano Deore 1х11, 30T chainring, and Vittoria Mezcal 29 х 2.35″ tires.
BAGS: My bag setup is mostly custom MASEY BIKEPACK waterproof bags handmade in Belarus except the handlebar bag is Vaude.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MSR FreeLite 1-person UL Tent, Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag, and an Apidura hydration pack.

Maarten Vanhaverbeke

Age 39 / Brakel, Flemish Ardennes (Belgium)

BIKE: Can’t believe I am in Kyrgyzstan for my third Mountain Race this year after Atlas and Hellenic. Anyways, the bicycle? As always, I’m riding my Mason InSearchOf. Ritchey Beacon drop bars, a SWS Wheels hand-built wheelset (SON/DT240), René Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, those new new SRAM Red shifters, XX1 derailleur, Shimano XT crankset, XTR 10-51 cassette, Wolf Tooth 32T chainring, RockShox SID fork, Syntace XXS aerobars, and Leap Components blip holders. I’m a bicycle mechanic, I could go on forever.
BAGS: Revelate Designs feedbags, Spinelock seat bag and Rifter framebag. Tailfin top tube pack. Miss Grape ILCOSO handlebar bag mount with a 7L Revelate Pronghorn drybag. Apidura downtube pack supported by a King Cage Many Thing Cage. Camelbak Chase 4 hydration vest with a 2L Hydrapak bladder and inline filter. Second 1.5L bladder in the framebag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nordisk Lofoten tent, Cumulus X-Lite 400 sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite mattress, KLite lights and charger, Lucifer Z2Mini helmet light. Garmin Edge 1040 Solar for navigation, Edge 530 as backup. Inreach tracker.

Ruben Verhelst

Age 31 / Gent (Belgium)

BIKE: Jaegher Typhoon custom handmade stainless steel adventure bike with custom paint job (handmade drawings with pencil directly on the frame).
BAGS: Mostly Tailfin bags with a VAP handlebar bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Zpacks tent for more comfort compared to a bivvy. My Garmin 1040 will be powered by the sun (hopefully) and a SON dynamo hub.

Dennis Vink

Age 22 / Fair Lawn, New Jersey (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding on my Panorama Taiga bike with a Marzochi Bomber Z2 front fork. It’s an all steel frame and has a PG-1230 11-50T cassette. Shout out to Panorama as I partnered with them for this adventure and will be putting their great bike to work.
BAGS: To be honest, I found most of my bags on Amazon and I’m glad to say so. Was on a tight budget as I’m a student. My saddle bag is the Topeak BackLoader 15L which I love so far.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Acquired some neoprene socks after watching them used in past SRMR events. My Big Agnes Shield 2 Tent is great. And can’t forget large rubber yellow kitchen gloves to protect my hands from the adverse conditions.

Mel Webb

Age 28 / Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my trusty 2023 Cannondale Scalpel HT, size small. Components include SRAM AXS, 10-52T cassette, 28T purple Raceface chainring and Raceface carbon Era cranks. Wheels are Raceface Arc rims, laced with an SP dynamo hub at the front, and purple Raceface Vault hub in the rear, wrapped in 2.25” Maxxis Rekkon Race EXO tires and filled with Orange Seal. Fork is a Fox 32 stepcast. I’m running Deore brakes with Galfer pads. co*ckpit is built around some Salsa bend bars, with Profile Designs aero bars on 70mm risers, SQ labs inner bar ends and Ergon grips. Saddle is a Fizik Vento Argo R3 Adaptive paired with a Redshift Shocktop PRO Endurance Suspension seat post for extra comfort.
BAGS: I’m running nearly all Tailfin bags which have been a game changer on my small bike. The carbon Aero Pack has my spare clothing and food, while the 5L panniers have items I’ll need to access during the day like warm layers and electronics and plenty of extra space for food. My repair kit is in a Tailfin down tube bag. Tailfin top tube bag for more snacks and camera. Salsa anything cradle holds a salsa dry bag with my sleep kit — RAB Ultrasphere 4.5 sleeping pad, Therm-a-Rest Vesper -6°C quilt and Outdoor Research Helium bivvy — as well as my Albion rain jacket and insulated jacket. I’m also wearing a Salomon ADV Skin 12L vest for water, snacks and miscellaneous items.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Kit from Albion keeps me stylish, comfy, and protected from the elements. The Coros DURA has the best battery life I’ve experienced with a navigation device. My husband Jake surprised me with a Supernova rear dynamo light before we left and I’m so excited to have one less thing to charge.

Rufus Wenlock

Age 36 / Christchurch (New Zealand)

BIKE: The frame is self-built and designed, the second version of a bikepacking prototype. It’s running on 29 x 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcals, a 120mm Sid Ultimate fork, Shimano 1×12 drivetrain with an oval 32T, Hayes Dominion brakes with 180mm rotors and a Redshift Pro suspension post.
BAGS: I’m running a pair of Tailfin top tube bags and a home made dry bag harness for under the saddle. Main framebag is also a home made job. The last piece of the kit is an Ultraspire Zygos 5.0 hydration vest with alllll the pockets.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll have a total water capacity of 4.5 litres. My sleep system is a Sea to Summit -1 sleeping bag, SOL Escape bivy and a Sea to Summit Eitherlight XT sleeping mat.

Angus Young

Age 28 / Blandford Forum, Dorset (England)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my gorgeous Mason Cycles Macro prototype which has been anodized in a stunning bronze. Wheels are the Hunt Beyond Carbon Dynamo shod with Vittoria Mezcal trail tyres. Finishing kit from Ultimate Components.
BAGS: The bags are a full Restrap Race Range and I’ll also be using the hydration pack. I’ve got plenty of space in the all so I can load up on snacks for the long sections.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Clothing is all from Gore, vital kit for Kyrgyzstan is a full set of waterproofs and you can’t beat GORE-TEX sleep system is the tried and tested OR bivvy, Therm-a-Rest Uberlite, and a Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag.

Artis Zugs

Age 42 / Riga (Latvia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding The Silk Road Mountain Race on an old Scott coffee bike. Nothing serious, just a daily ride for fans. Custom wheels with an Extralite hub, Son dynamo hub, Berdspokes, Rideporte rims, Cushcore XC, Rene Herse 55mm endurance +. Magicshine 8000 front light, Nitecore nu50, nu05.
BAGS: Modified Apidura bags. I’m creative and patient. I knew my needs for equipment, had my vision how it should look like and made it happen. Handmade.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Free mind, happiness and empty legs.

Check out the 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race Tracker page for updates and to follow along on the live tracking map, and stay tuned in for more event coverage. Find it here.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...