Rigs of the 2023 Hunt 1000

The Hunt 1000 is a bikepacking route that links Melbourne to Canberra and traverses some of Australia’s most beautiful high country. The route incorporates amazing campsites and historic alpine huts, provides a limited number of resupply points, and mixes in several challenging hike-a-bikes and creek crossings. The route changes each year to create a new adventure and showcase new trails. For 2023, we’ve heard it’s even more remote with new terrain and additional hike-a-bike segments, and riders can expect lots of literal and figurative ups and downs.

There are more than 100 riders registered to participate in this year’s Hunt 1000, and with their help, we’ve collected bike and gear details for over half the field. As always, riders will be aiming for a grand completion, rather than a grand depart, on Saturday December 2nd in Canberra. Some riders are already out on route, and the fastest riders will take off next week, just a few days ahead of the finish—all with the plan of congregating at the finish to celebrate. Scroll through and get a good look at everyone’s rig and then head over to the 2023 Hunt 1000 event page to follow along live.

Daniel Alvarez

Age 28 / Bowen Mountain, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: 2022 Norco Torrent S1 converted to a bikepacking rig, running a 140mm suspension corrected carbon Seido fork, 29 x 2.5″ Teravail Ehlines front and rear, PRO Aero bars and Shimano’s XT 12-speed drivetrain and Stans Flow S1 hoops.
BAGS: Main triangle is a Custom bag made by Framework Designs, PRO Discovery bags for the rest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep in the Sea to Summit Telos TR2 bikepacking tent.

Natalie Anderson

Age 40 / Long Beach, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt 1000 on a GT Helion that goes by the name Frankie. The bike has 120mm travel fork and 110mm travel rear shock. The drivetrain is 1×11 with a 32T chainring x 11-46T cassette. Trying to fit everything onto a 27.5″ small dually makes things interesting!
BAGS: There is a mix of bags & racks including a Salsa cradle and handlebar roll with Revelate Designs Egress pocket on the front. Aeroe Spider Rack with bag on the rear, Blackburn cages with Gorilla bags on the forks with a homemade top tube and frame bag – Thanks Dane. The frame bag will house a Apidura water bladder, which is a recent addition.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Nemo Hornet 2P for plenty of space as my shelter along with an Mountain Designs sleeping bag and Sea To Summit mat. I’ll also be carrying a Garmin Edge 530 for navigation. Lollies are found in several bags on the bike in case of emergency!

Bernhard Andersson

Age 22 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’m riding a Focus Atlas with 29×2.2” Rene Hearse Fleecer Ridge tires and a modified 1×11 drivetrain.
BAGS: My kit consists of ageing Moosetreks bags (saddle bag, frame bag, and handlebar bag), as well as a bunch of dry bags strapped to Blackburn cages on my forks and to my pannier rack. And to stay in line with Melbourne fashion, I have recently acquired a Crumpler Steamed Bun.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Recently acquired a Dynamo hub which I’m super excited about. I’ve got a Klite and charger to go with it as well.

David Bailetti

Age 41 / Monbulk, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: Felt Breed 20. Sram Force 1×11 32×11-42T drivetrain. Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tyre 700x45mm tubeless set up. Dyno hub with K-lite. Curve G4T 700c wheelset.
BAGS: Revelate full frame bag. Zefal seat post and handle bar bag. Curve rocket pouch fork bags. Skingrowsback feeder bags out in front away from those knees on those big climbs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin Inreach Mini 2. Moon Dance 2 Tent. Sea to Summit sleeping mat. Grayl water filtration.

Jeremiah Bain

Age 38 / Queenbeyan, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Salsa Cutthroat with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ rear and 2.35″ front tires, a SRAM Eagle 10-52T cassette with 32T chainring, and EIE wheels with a SON Dynamo hub up front. Other modifications include a Thomson TI seat post and a Chris King rear hub.
BAGS: Bike Bag Dude front roll and Revelate Designs for everything else.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Revelate Spinelock and a kLite Micro charger that’s not even available yet. THANK YOU KERRY!

Mike Beck

Age 49 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: For the Hunt 1000 I’ll be riding my new Pipedream A.L.I.C.E. It’s set up with some nice custom wheels with Stans Crest rims, DT240 rear and SON dynamo front hub. Tyres are Maxxis Ikons (2.35″ front, 2.2″ rear). Gearing is 1×12 with a 36T oval ring on Rotor cranks up the front, SRAM AXS Eagle at the back with a 10-52T cassette. The dynamo is plumbed into a kLite dual USB charger that powers my Garmin Explore 2 computer for nav.
BAGS: I’ve got a custom Stingray framebag from Alpkit which leaves room for a vertical waterbottle on the seat tube. An Apidura backcountry seatpack and top tube bag. Stem bags are by 7Roads. Bar and fork dry bags are by Mountain Laurel Designs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Some clothing I’ve recently added to my setup and really love are the OMM rotor pants/vest and the peaked merino hat from Rapha.

David Bourke

Age 50 / Wollongong, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: 2019 Cutthroat, carbon rims with DT240 and SON front hub. Well and truly showing my age running 2x XT/Ultegra. Redshift stem to save the hands, candy pedals, Thompson seat post.
BAGS: A mix of Bike Bag Dude including a front roll and gas tank and Revelate Designs Cutthroat framebag, seatbag and feedbags. Fork mounted bottles, running a Camelbak for the first time in years to keep supplies and Garmin inReach handy.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ve retired my bivy and have gone with a Lanshan tent for extra shelter and comfort as I’m expecting rain. Western Mountaineering sleeping bag and insulated Sea to Summit mat if it gets cold in the high country. I retired the eTrex after many years and went with a Garmin 1030 and phone for navigation.

Keryn Bowden

Age 36 / Shellharbour, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: Behold… The Donna (aka Giant Revolt), my gravel adventure sidekick and hike-a-bike afficionado, ready for any terrain! Suspension? Who needs suspension when you’ve got slug plugs and a good sense of humor? Shimano GRX 2x drivetrain, and 40mm Pirelli Cinturato M tubeless tyres because why float on air when you can feel every bump and pothole of the adventure!
BAGS: I’ve got my trusty Restrap frame bag, Topeak toptube bag, and Topeak saddle bag. Oh, and can’t forget my 32L Caribee Trek backpack for all my essentials, including those precious GoPro batteries for the blooper reels, starring yours truly. Staying hydrated with 2x bidons and a 3L bladder, with a Sawyer Squeeze for water filtering.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Gear upgrades? You bet! Added a Profile Design neosonic aerobar and Selle Italia saddle for extra comfort on those elusive flats (fingers crossed, right?) and an Aeroe spider rack for added snack storage. Plus, my luxury item: an ultralight, ultra-snuggly Exped pillow for those deluxe roadside siestas. Ready to roll!

Les Brown

Age 51 / Blacklion, County Cavan (Ireland)

BIKE: Santa Cruz Highball CC with Rockshox SID Ultimate, Farr Bar gravel drop bars, Syntace stem and seat post, Sramano XTR/XX1/Red AXS mullet drive train (10-51T). Middleburn cranks with Sheffield Steel 32T chainring and Hope stainless steel bottom bracket. Juin Tech R1 hybrid brakes with 160mm rotors.
BAGS: Tailfin rack with mini panniers, Tailfin fuel tank, Restrap feed bags and frame bag plus Decathlon dry bag strapped on top the Tailfin rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 9th Wave 4-Shore beach racing/enduro rims on SON/DT Swiss hubs. Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 2.2”. 3L Crank Tank hydration with water filter add on when needed. Dynamo powered elctronics setup comprises of pass-through power bank charged via K-Lite and hard wired to Garmin 1040, with USB C out cable for charging phone/headphones. Alpkit Elan hooped bivi and 3-season Primaloft Gold sleeping bag.

Miles Burns

Age 29 / Queanbeyan, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: On loan from the the Bungendore bike museum, I am riding Harry’s legendary Hunt 29er. You might have seen it (and him) on the welcome page of the Hunt 1000 website, this is a true relic from the golden age of bikepacking (circa 2016).
BAGS: Running an Ortlieb saddlebag “The Sackophagus” and a Carradice Long Flap on the front.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: First time on a Brooks saddle and loving it. Without a doubt the biggest highlight though is all the gear and knowledge that Murray and Harry have accumulated over the years, I wouldn’t have been able to enter this event without their help.

Conor Butler

Age 32 / Naarm / Melbourne (Australia)

BIKE: 2019 spec Surly Midnight Special with Seido RGT fork, Mason x Hunt 4 Season Disc Wheelset and 2.35” Vittoria Mezcals. Lots of change to the stock drivetrain: Sunrace 11-50T cassette, Rival 1 derailleur with Garbaruk derailleur cage and pulley wheels, Wolf Tooth 36T chainring. Juin Tech GT-F mechanically actuated hydraulic brakes.
BAGS: Ortlieb fork and frame bags, a Topeak Backloader, Crumpler Steamed Bun feed bags, a Restrap bar bag, a Tailfin top tube pack and tools in a bottle on the downtube. I’ll also use a 2L hydration vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nothing too special except perhaps my Arc’teryx Cerium jacket which I love (but also hope not to need too often).

Mark Clinton

Age 31 / Sydney, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: Each morning I’ll be throwing my leg over my trusty Canyon Grizl AL7 with GRX 2x 46/30T, 11-40T, Ritchey Venturemax bars, Hunt 35 Carbon wheels, and Maxxis Rambler 50mm tyres.
BAGS: A series of off-the-shelf Apidura and Ortileb bags and Sea to Summit dry bags on the forks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Attaquer adventure cargo bibs and its buttery smooth chamois.

Josh Cockle

Age 26 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Curve Kevin of Steel sporting 27.5×2.2″ Vittoria Mezcal tyres. I assume that anything my 10-52T cassette can’t get me up I’ll be walking/crawling.
BAGS: Frameworks Designs frame bag, Revelate Designs Spinelock saddle bag, two feed bags, a handlebar roll housing my tent, two Blackburn Cargo Cages for dry bags mounted to the fork, and a @botched.bikes dual bottle cage adaptor.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be sleeping in a 2P not-so-ultralight Naturehike tent mounted between my bars. My whole sleep system comes from Alton Goods, including the mat liner which is a big highlight. A special mention to the @botched.bikes bottle cage adaptor, my Katadyn Befree water filter, and to the rigidity of the Revelate Spinelock.

David Collins

Age 36 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt 1000 on my 2019 all-black Soma Wolverine. I’m running a mixed tyre combo, with a 2.25” Schwalbe Hurricane Performance on the front, and the largest width tyre I can stuff in between the narrow chainstays, which sadly is only a 2.0” WTB Ranger. I’ll be running a 38T chainring
with a 1×11 SRAM rival drivetrain, and I’ve kitted the bike out with some sweet aerobars as well.
BAGS: I’m a big fan of my full-frame XL Revelate framebag in the big triangle, with a 3L Apidura bladder inside at the base. I can stuff a heap of heavy stuff in this. I am also running a Revelate harness with a 13L Ortlieb dry bag up front, and a Restrap 14L saddle bag out back.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m carrying a cheapo ultralight tent, and a Sea to Summit sleeping bag and pillow. I hope to use all of these as little as possible by grabbing a shower and a real pillow at any accommodation I come across.

James Connolly

Age 27 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt 1000 on my 2022 Kona Unit X with 29 x 2.4″ Maxxis Recon Race tires set up tubeless. Most of the bike is stock with the addition of a Brooks C17, Ergon grips, and some 800mm wide moto bars off a Suzuki dirt bike, super heavy, super comfy.
BAGS: I’ll be running the Hungry Smorgasbord handlebar bag, Hungry feed bags, a Hungry Big Lunch hip pack (not pictured), an Oveja Negra frame bag, a Swift Industries Ollie seatpack, and two Sea to Summit 5L dry bags on the fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Botched Bikes Dragonfly dual bottlecage adapter helping me run extra bottles on the down tube, my super warm Neve Gear quilt, and the shoelace attaching my feed bags.

Mark Farrugia

Age 53 / St Leonards, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding through the Australian Alps on a Trek X-Cal 9 modified with carbon touring forks. The cockpit is kitted-out with SQLab grips, inner barends and FARR aerobars. I’ll be relying on a 10-51/30T drivetrain to tackle the vertical and a set of Maxxis Ikons to get me back down. I was worried about not using a frame bag, but I managed to fit three 1L water bottles, tools/spares/tubes, and a downtube bag around a tight triangle.
BAGS: Apidura top tube, downtube, saddle, feed and handlebar bags. Sea to Summit dry bags on the forks (to be packed with food on route).
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be sleeping in an OR Alpine Acentshell Bivy with an Sea to Summit Etherlight XT mat and a Mont Helium 450 sleeping bag. For the remote sections, I’ve got a Steripen to filter water and home-cooked dehydrated meals. I’ll also be carrying a water bag which doubles up as a shower.

Jacqui Fetchet

Age 33 / Gerringong, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be cruising through the High Country on my electric blue Curve Kevin of Steel – aka Neptune because she always leads me to water. She’s a work horse with a wide set Curve Walmer handlebars for balance and locking in for the long haul, and a SRAM Rival 40T 11-speed derailleur and shifter—so I’ll definitely be doing some hike-a-bike on the punchier bits—tubeless Maxxis Reaver 700x45C for chewing the dirt, Fizik saddle cushioned by my lilac Rapha bibs, and hydraulic disc brakes to get through the sketchy downhills.
BAGS: Riding by vibe with a motley collection: a weathered Ortlieb handlebar bag borrowed from Rachel, Ortlieb tail bag borrowed from Emily, Apidura frame bag for my Camelbak, pair of Bike Bag Dude Great Forking Bags in grey, and a pair of Skin Grows Back feed bags for accessible snacking and hydration—the black one a secret Santa gift from Oli. Thank you crew for the loans and gifting!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Here for the glamping between the dust, sweat, and tears. An inflatable pillow, eye mask and new Exped Ultra 5R (thanks mum and dad) for sleeping deep beneath the stars, Teva Hurricanes for socks and sandals in camp life, Cotopaxi bumbag for keeping all the essentials close (inspired by Taryn), SPF 50+ chapstick for windblown lips, an A5 Moleskine journal for story writing before bed and crystallized ginger and Cliff bars for life to keep me going up the hills. Oh and Aussie Butt Cream – you know why.

Dallas Hamilton

Age 42 / Rosanna, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Curve GMX+ with a dyno-hubbed Curve 29er, carbon Dirt Hoops, 1×12 GX 10-52T with an oval 28T ring up front, K-lite front and rear lighting/charging, Curve 800mm Remlaw bars, and Farr arm rests.
BAGS: Frame bags by Terra Rosa; Apidura front and rear; Curve Rocket Pooch fork bags.

Brendan Hancox

Age 26 / Sydney, Eora, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: Genesis Longitude 2016, steel frame, alu fork, 29″ wheels with 2.34/2.4″ tyres, 2×10 drivetrain, Confucius bars, SON dynamo, and a Cane Creek eeSilk suspension seatpost.
BAGS: Mostly Tailfin and Alpkit, plus a fork-mounted dry bag from Decathlon and a Wolf Tooth dry bag for my tools/spares on the downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I think the suspension seatpost will be an ass-saver for this trip. I also really like the Tailfin aeropack as a seatpack alternative–it has a big capacity which I’ll mostly use for food, doesn’t wobble, and can be packed easily without the hassle that usually comes with seat packs. Lastly, I want to shout out to my 2x homies!

Simon Heppleston

Age 44 / Montmorency, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: Kona Unit X with 2.6″ Vittoria Mezcals on a Hunt dynamo wheelset, 28T x 11-51T gearing, Loop Cycles titanium loop bars up front, and Specialized Power saddle.
BAGS: Custom Terra Rosa Gear frame bag, Apidura front roll and seat pack, Revelate top tube bag and feedbag, plus another Wizard Works feedbag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Enlightened Equipment Convert bag with Sea to Summit Ether Light XT mat for sleeping and Helinox Chair One for relaxing.

Rohan Hunt

Age 29 / Queanbeyan, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Salsa Cutthroat built up with Curve’s carbon Dirt Hoops, a SRAM AXS drivetrain 34/10-50T, and kLite Ultra light and USB charger.
BAGS: I’ll be using the Apidura Racing top tube, half frame, and saddle bags to carry all my food, clothes and gadgets. Shout out to Hungry for the munches and ZeroG Gear For my front roll. I’ll fill those up with my sleep kit and all the bits and pieces you want accessible on the go!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ve done the Hunt 1000 three times now, always with a full camera set up and swag of lenses, usually shooting 1000 photos or more. This year I’m going to take 27 shot disposable camera just for something different. Other notable highlights include my Outdoor Research Helium rain jacket and pants and Attaquer all day bibs!

Hans-Jørgen Jahr

Age 48 / Naarm, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: This year I’ll be riding my Stribe Hubble with a Trek 1120 fork, Pirelli Scorpion XC H 2.4 on DT rims with a DT Swiss 350 and a SP dynamo hub. SRAM GX drivetrain and Shimano XT brakes. Ergon seat and grips. Ibis stem and handlebars.
BAGS: Revelate Terrapin 16L, Ortlieb 6L frame bag, Revelate Mag Tank, Revelate Sweet Roll (in a custom made CF harness), 2x Nalgene Silo 1.5L in converted Gorrilla Cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Happy to have my sleeping gear roll (Revelate Sweet Roll) off my handlebars and mounted on top of the fork instead. This was made possible by the mounting brackets on the crown of the 1120 fork providing a mounting place for a custom-made carbon fiber harness to strap it to. Also happy with my hydration setup consisting of two 1.5L Silos hooked up to a Hardside kit (the bottles are also connected to each other, so the water level stays equal in the two). I always look forward to spending time with my Terra Rosa Gear (Tyvek Sleeping Cover and Tarp) and hoping for some rain this year, so I can use my ultralight (129.6g!) custom pull over rain jacket from Terra Rosa Gear.

Brian John

Age 57 / Warrandyte, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: Rocky Mountain Vertex 990 that was gathering dust until I needed a bikepacking rig. It has a mix of SRAM 2×10 and Shimano bits and pieces, Alpkit Confucius handlebars with a loop to strap stuff to. I have just put on a Maxxis Ardent on the front for a bit of extra grip on the steep mountain descents and an Icon on the rear. Front squish is taken care of by 100mm Rockshox fork.
BAGS: Revelate handlebar roll, Tailfin rack and bags on the rear, and Ortlieb frame bag. There are four recycled plastic tubs strapped to Blackburn cages on the front that have an added bonus of helping float the bike on river crossings.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nemo tent, Sea to Summit sleeping mat, MSR stove, and a massive 30-year-old mega-puffer down jacket that I hope I get to use because it is heavy and takes up a lot of space. I run very cold and need all of the help I can get.

James Johnson

Age 29 / Brunswick, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: Salsa Cutthroat setup with a flat bar and Ergon cork grips for maxo relaxo and some aero bar rests (no bars) for lots of hand positions. I’m running a mullet drivetrain, 30T chainring with an 11-speed 11-51T Deore cassette and derailleur, XT brake levers paired to GRX 810 Calipers, and the crowd favourite Vittoria Mezcals 2.3″ front and rear.
BAGS: Salsa Anything Cradle paired with a Kmart dry bag, a Tumbleweed mini pannier rack with one Ortlieb pannier and a 15L dry bag on top. I have my Sea to Summit tent strapped in their own bags onto the forks with Salsa anything cages, 2x Feedbags, and 2x top tube bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A brand new sleep setup featuring a Neve Gear Ultralight quilt, the S2S Telos TR2 bikepacking tent, a sit pad for me bum, and have Kyle’s slippers strapped to my down tube for camp; thanks Kyle.

Rhys Jones

Age 40 / Brisbane, Queensland (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be slowly plugging away at the Hunt on my Bombtrack Beyond Advance 2020. Just switched the chainring to a 30T and threw on some new 29 x 2.8″ shoes for the ride. Sticking with the Jones bars for comfort.
BAGS: I’m running a mix of Blackburn and Bike Bag Dude bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love the custom BBD bags to maximize every nook and cranny for space and the BBD and Blackburn kit is all built super tough.

Jack Keogh

Age 29 / Canberra (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Hunt Bikes Landcruiser V2 on the Hunt this year, and I’m doing my best to be as light as possible! It’s currently setup with AXS drivetrain, dynamo hub system, and Maxxis Ikon 2.2″ tyres.
BAGS: Front roll with dry bag, Hungry feed bags, Apidura top tube bag, and POC hydro pack
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A current gear highlight would have to be my saddle. I’ve struggled for years to find something that doesn’t destroy the butt and I think I’ve finally nailed it! For anyone interested it’s the Ergon ST Core Evo.

Lin Lo

Age 36 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: Specialized Chisel, Velo Orange crazy bar, Absolute Black oval chainring 30T, Ergon grips, Ergon SMC saddle, Maxxis Ikon tyres.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Saltyroll handlebar bag, Egress pocket bag, Ranger frame bag, Mag-tank too tube bag, Joey downtube bag, Aeroe Spider rear rack and dry bag. Wolf Tooth B-Rad roll top bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: DD Hamock Magic carpet is a lightweight picnic blanket that allow me to sit down for lunch anywhere and even a mid ride nap. Two hot sauce bottles to spice up boring food.

Tony Lopes

Age 35 / Sydney, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt on my Crust NaughtyBoi. The cockpit features Hunter Smooth Move Bars, inner and outer bar ends, and a shorty stem to assist with maximum viewing enjoyment. It has 2.8 inches of nibble all round and I swapped in a new 28T chainring for uphill life.
BAGS: My bag setup is something of an intercontinental smorgasbord that I’ve cobbled together over the years: Miss Grape, Cedaero, Wizard Works, and JPacks all get a sniff, with the pièce de resistance being the homegrown and now modified Hungry Big Lunch.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My 13-year-old down quilt which has lost so many feathers that at this point I’m considering it ultralight! Garmin eTrex for navigation and a SAFA ‘Pray for Speed’ sticker to channel some prowess on the descents.

Matiya Marovich

Age 35 / Naarm/Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’m riding an All-City Gorilla Monsoon with fresh Vittoria Mezcals in 27.5 x 2.35″. It’s set up with a 1x Force AXS/GX Eagle mullet drivetrain with a 30T chainring and 11-50T cassette, carbon wheels and seatpost, and Ritchey Venture Max Bars, which are really comfy.
BAGS: A mix of Hungry, Roadrunner, Wizard Works, and Oveja Negra bags in shades of olive + multi-cam. I’ve also got some Sea to Summit dry bags strapped to Manything cages.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Snowpeak double-walled cup and Tetra-drip really makes the morning coffee a nice moment.

Louis McGowan

Age 25 / Fitzroy North, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the HUNT 1000 on my Specialized Chisel Comp. I haven’t named it yet, but maybe I’ll come up with one on the ride. It is running a 1×12 SLX drivetrain with a 32T on the front and 10-51T on the back ready to grind up some hills. The Deore brakes will hopefully be bringing the 29 x 2.25″ Schwalbe Racing Ralphs to a graceful hault. The cockpit features a Renthal Fatbar, SQlab Innerbarends and some cushy Ergon grips.
BAGS: Revelate Rifter frame bag, Revelate feed bags, Ortlieb QR saddle bag (not pictured) and a Topeak front loader.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The rig has a few creature comforts to make the ride as enjoyable as possible. The Rockshox SID Ultimate fork takes the sting out of rough terrain and makes descents very fun. The Sea To Summit Flame IV sleeping bag with a silk liner always keeps me warm. 1.35kg of Tailwind in the feed bags helps to keep the pedals turning. And of course a @botched.bikes dragonfly bottle cage mount to maximize hydration capabilities.

Keith Munro

Age 36 / Ōtautahi, Aotearoa (New Zealand)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a recently purchased Specialized Chisel for the Hunt 1000, which is mostly kitted out with older or second hand parts that have stood the test of time: DT Swiss wheels, Maxxis tyres, Shimano 1×11 drivetrain with an 11-46T cassette and 28T chainring (on account of all the climbing), Shimano SLX brakes, Specialized Power saddle, and Salsa Bend bars with Ergon grips. Three 1L water bottles are in various locations.
BAGS: Homemade full frame bag, top tube bag and 2x feed bags, Ortlieb seat pack and a 13L Big River dry bag in a very old Wildcat harness. I’ll also use a Salsa anything cage with a DIY bag for additional food storage.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: ZPacks Plexamid tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad, and Enlightened Equipment quilt for a cosy night’s sleep.

Chris Napier

Age 37 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my custom made ‘Kudu’ by Auren bikes. This rig has been built for bikepacking and heavy duty commuting. It features a unique truss titanium fork with heaps of storage options, DT Swiss 29er wheels with 2.6-inch tires, SQLab flat bars, belt drive, and Rohloff Speedhub gearbox. The only change I’ve made to the bike since the 2022 Hunt is changing the grips to Ergon GP2 grips to allow for an alternate hand positioning.
BAGS: My setup includes a Bike Bag Dude frame bag, fork bags, feed bag, and top tube bag. I’m also using an Alpkit saddle bag. I used these bags last year in the Hunt and they worked so well I haven’t changed a thing!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin Edge 830 for navigation, MagicShine Monteer 6500S Zeus V2 front light for any night riding (and as an extra battery bank), and a Sea to Summit ultralight pillow to try and get some decent sleep along the way.

Benjamin Nekvapil

Age 19 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: 2022 Bombtrack Hook EXT frame with a bunch of nice parts. These include Hope/Spank wheels fitted with 27.5×2.1 Mezcals, a Garbaruk/GRX 1×11 groupset with a 36t oval chainring and an 11-50t cassette, as well as a Thomson 125mm dropper (to match the stem) connected to my left shifter. I also have the Redshirt Sports Kitchen Sink Bars for a variety of hand positions.
BAGS: If you couldn’t tell, I’m pretty brand loyal. I have Apidura bags on the frame, bars, fork, top tube, stem, and I have the dropper post specific saddle bag with their adaptor as well. Not pictured here is my Frameworks Designs middle management hip pack which is carrying all the essentials I want close at hand.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: At night I’ll be kept warm by my XL Mont Zodiac 350, and keeping me dry will be my Mont Mondance 1 tent. I also recently bought the Garmin inreach messenger as well as the edge 840 solar. I’m very impressed with their respective functionality and most of all the awesome battery life!

Fortunat Nienhaus

Age 20 / Coffs Harbour, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Kona Unit X with a full kLite dynamo set, Brooks saddle, a lot of gears, and 2.6″ Maxxis Recon tires.
BAGS: I like Aussie made things so I’m running a Hungry framebag and handlebar bag. And for my panniers I went shopping at Framework Designs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A lot of biltong and dried pineapple rings. Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20F quilt to keep me toasty in the cold. Arcteryx Beta LT and Atom LT to keep me dry in the rain and warm during the cold morning hours.

Seb Nieuwesteeg

Age 38 / Maffra, Gunaikurnai Country, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Commencal Meta HT with a Rockshox Pike 160mm fork, SRAM 1×11 Drivetrain with 30T chainring, Fox Transfer dropper post, Maxxis Ardent 2.4” tyres front and rear mounted on 650B Hope tech DH wheels with Pro 4 hubs. It’s fitted with Shimano XT Brakes with 203mm rotors front and rear for the stopping, an Ergon saddle and grips, and SQlab thumb holds on Raceface SixC Carbon 820mm bars.
BAGS: Mostly Revelate Designs apart from some homemade feed bags on the bars and a down tube bag for Nalgene bottle. Harness with roll bag, Egress pocket, Gas tank and Jerrycan top tube bags, Ranger frame bag and Nano Panniers mounted on Old Man Mountain Divide rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Durston Gear X Mid Pro 2 tent will serve as my shelter. I’ll be laying on a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite and wrapped up in a Western Mountaineering Megalite sleeping bag to keep me toasty warm on those cool mountain nights.

Paul O’Brien

Age 55 / Sydney (Australia)

BIKE: I will be riding the Hunt 1000 on a 2021 Surly Krampus 29er with Shimano XT 1×12, Jones bar, Brooks c17 saddle, and Maxxis Rekon 2.4” tyres.
BAGS: Custom frame bag and top tube bag by the Bike Bag Dude (BBD), a Topeak front handlebar roll looks after my sleep system, and a 7L drybag on rear rack covers the rest of my kit. 2x2L Nalgene on front fork cages looks after most water needs. Wahoo for nav. Garmin inReach for safety.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My bike is my happy place!

Luke O’Keeffe

Age 44 / Canberra (Australia)

BIKE: Revel El Jefe with a RockShox SID, SRAM AXS X0, Curve Dirt Hoops with SP Dynamo on Vittoria Mezcals, SQLAB cockpit, Brooks C17, and Hope flats for the contact points.
BAGS: My favourite bags are the framebag and big lunch from Hungry. Revelate and Rockgeist round out everything else. Tailfin Suspension Fork mounts and cages to help keep the weight off the handlebars.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Copper Spur for shelter along the Therm-a-Rest Mat and Quilt.

Drew O’Shea

Age 51 / Gold Coast, Queensland (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a 2017 Specialized Stumpjumper. The bike is ‘off the shelf’ stock standard and I have fitted Schwalbe Johnny Watts 27.5 x 2.8″ front and rear for the trip. Navigation will be via a Garmin 530 with phone as a back up and I will also carry a Garmin Inreach Mini 2. I’m relying on a power bank for recharging so will have to manage devices carefully.
BAGS: Tailfin mounts on the forks hold a 1.5L camelback bottle and 3x 5L Miss Grape waterproof bags. I will also be using a Oveja Negra Chuckbucket, Topeak freeloader, Miss Grape bud, Miss Grape Tendril, Revelate frame bag, and Oveja Negra Gearjammer.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My gear highlights will be a Mont Moondance 1p FN tent with a Mont Helium 450 sleeping bag and Nemo Tensor Alpine sleeping mat. Cooking will be via a MSR Pocket Rocket and an MSR Titanium kettle which nests an 8oz gas canister nicely–it will also triple up as a pot, bowl, and cup. Same setup as last year besides a car windscreen heat reflector that is great to insulate the tent.

Jacques Peskens

South Africa

BIKE: Yeti Arc hardtail set up with Maxxis Rekon 2.4” front and Rekon race 2.4” rear.
BAGS: Mixed variety. Still a work in progress. Fitted with a Tailfin Alloy bike rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 (non-bikepacking version). Crank Brothers speed lace flat pedal shoes.

Chris Schuehle

Age 33 / Des Moines, Iowa (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the 2023 Hunt 1000 on a 2017 Salsa Woodsmoke (shout out to Chain and Spoke in DSM for getting her ready). The bike has two new Mezcal 2.6″ tires, 1×11 drivetrain, Whiskey Parts wheels, and new Salsa Firestarter fork.
BAGS: My bag set up consists of a Rogue Panda frame bag and top tube bag, Swift Industries Zeitgeist handlebar bag, and Tailfin rack with mini panniers. My large water bottles are mounted to the fork with smaller bottles on the handlebars in feed bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Shelter/sleeping will be my Big Agnes Copper Spur 2p tent, Katabatic quilt, and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir. I will also be carrying a small cook set, full size multitool, and a Kitsbow Icon wool shirt.

Oliver Snijders

Age 29 / Mount Beauty, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my 2023 Esker Japhy, rolling on Hunt wheels with 2.6″ Maxxis Rekons. The 28T chainring and 51T cassette is luxury for those steep chunky fire roads.
BAGS: I’m rocking a mix of brands, with Oveja Negra frame bag that sits snug in the large Japhy. A Swift industries Ollie seat pack, Revelate handlebar harness and a few DIY stem bags. I’ll also be swinging a Dakine Hot Laps 5l, mainly housing a camera but also with an extra 2L bladder if needed.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Elise and I will be sharing a 3p Big Agnes Tigerwall paired with a fat Big Agnes sleeping pad for max comfort. A Katydine Befree for easy filtration. I’m also carrying a Redington 3-weight fly rod and a few of my favourite hoppers for those High Country trout that you simply cannot ride past.

Lachlan Stevens

Age 37 / Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I will be riding the Hunt on a 2018 Bombtrack Hook Ext running a Mechanical 1×11 setup with a GRX rear derailleur, 11-46T Sunrace Cassette, 30T Wolf Tooth chainring, and 105 shifters and calipers. Bars are Pro Discover 44cm/20deg flare. Will be rolling on Easton EA70AX 650b wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25/2.1″ front and rear.
BAGS: I am running a mixture of Apidura and Revelate Designs bags. At the back is a 16L Revelate Spinelock saddle pack. On the frame is a 4.5L frame bag thats sized almost perfectly for my Bombtrack as well as a 1L Apidura racing top tube bag. On the bars is a Revelate harness holding a dry bag and a Revelate Egress pouch. On the forks are Blackburn cages with two Sea to Summit 5L dry bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m not running anything special but really love my Revelate Designs Egress pouch as it integrates so well onto he harness with plenty of easy to access storage for snacks and ride kit. Otherwise l really just love this bike… so many good memories riding with family and mates and can’t wait to add the Hunt to its palmarès.

Robbie Storey

Age 38 / Beaumaris, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: Prova Mostro Custom Titanium, ENVE Adventure Fork, Ritchey Flared Adventure bars matched with Ritchey Aluminium stem, Prova titanium Seat Post topped with Specialised Romin Evo Saddle, SRAM Force AXS with Eagle rear mech and 10-50T cassette, 30T chainring, Shimano XT SPD Pedals, Hunt 35 Gravel Carbon Gravel Wheels X-Wide wrapped in Vittoria Mezcal 2.25 front, 2.1 rear tubeless, 2 x Tubilto tubes carried as backup, 160mm rotors front and back, 3 x King Titanium cages, 2 x King Titanium Manything cages with Voile straps on the forks.
BAGS: Apidura throughout: top tube, bento box, saddle pack, front roll, and snack pouch. 2 x Sea to Summit dry bags on the forks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping Kit Big Agnes Flycreek UL tent, Big Agnes UL sleeping mat, Mont Helium Bag, and Sea to Summit pillow. Light, warm, quick to setup and pack up.

Jimmy Sutherland

Age 50 / Canberra (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding, often walking my trusty ’03 Kona Explosif. Graced with a surly ECR fork, Thompson stem/seatpost combo, Brooks C17 saddle, Sim Works Get Around bar, Shimano XT and Deore 10 speed gearing, Maxxis Ikon tyres and a set of 27.5 wheels built by yours truly.
BAGS: A bit of a mix going on here: Ortlieb frame bag seems to fit well in the diamond, Topeak top tube and saddle bag, Restrap bar bag. Nothing fancy just a bunch of bags that do the job.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A recent purchase of a Macpac bivvy bag will hopefully keep me dry of a night and my Garmin might save me from getting lost. I’ve got a couple of 1L water bottles on the fork legs and an additional water bottle underneath the down tube to keep me hydrated.

Hamish Swanson

Age 28 / Brisbane (Australia)

BIKE: Grand Canyon 8 hardtail was a recent purchase after using a Norco Search gravel bike for previous adventures. My upgrades include XT brakes, Ergon saddle, and an extra rack mount for a big Nalgene.
BAGS: Ortlieb handlebar roll, accessory bag and saddle bag, plus a Blackburn frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m a strong believer in a good sleep equalling more kilometers and more fun. My Mont Moondance 1 tent, Nemo Astro long/wide matt, Nemo Fillo pillow, Mont Zodiac sleeping bag, silk liner and my Manta sleep mask keeps me very happy whatever the conditions. I also have this little rechargeable lamp with a soft orange colour which I like to use around camp so you can see the stars and minimize blinding your mates with a head torch.

Michael Tempany

Age 45 / Brisbane, Queensland (Australia)

BIKE: The bike is a Wondercross Wanderer Titanium frameset with an ENVE Adventure Fork and DT Swiss HX491 rims laced to DT350 hubs, shod with Vittoria Mezcal tyres, 2.25″ front and 2.1″ rear. Gearing is a SRAM mullet setup with Force shifters, GX derailleur, 32T chainring and 10-52T rear. Zipp handlebar with Redshift stem for some added comfort. Garmin Edge 530 for navigation.
BAGS: I’ve gone with a Tailfin alloy rack with a 20L Sea to Summit dry bag for clothes, with tent (Zempire Atom) strapped on top. I have 2x Topeak Versacages mounted either side of the rack, with 2x Sea to Summit 5L dry bags holding my sleeping mat (Zempire MonstaMat) and sleeping bag (Sea to Summit Treeline). Aussie-made custom Bike Bag Dude frame bag and top tube bag for food, spares and quick-access essentials.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: After running low on water on a recent ride, I wanted to make sure I had plenty of reserves for the Hunt. Up front I’ve got 2×1.9L Klean Kanteens strapped to 2x Topeak Versacages, along with 2x Titanium King Cages with 2×0.9L bottles. Including my Katadyn filter, I can carry up to 6.6L of water.

David Thomson

Age 63 / Seattle, Washington (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt 1000 on a 2019 XL Salsa Cutthroat. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, a modified 1×11 drivetrain with a 30T chainring (I’m old now) and my trusty Brooks B-17 saddle (with almost 10,000 miles on it).
BAGS: The centerpiece of my bag setup is an extra large sized Salsa Frame bag. I am also running a Revelate Terrapin seat pack, Mag Tank top tube bag, and a Salsa EXP series anything handle bar bag. Three 1L bottles will be mounted to the fork and downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Z-packs Altaplex tent will serve as my shelter along with a Z-packs 10 degree sleeping bag. Although this set-up is not particularly unusual, this rig is a warrior having already completed the Great Divide, Western Wildlands, Tour Aotearoa, X-WA, and numerous other routes featured on Bikepacking.com.

Thomas Vidler

Age 23 / Newcastle, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: I have been gravel racing on the ARC8 Eero, and now it is set up to take on a quick Hunt 1000. This feels like the gravel equivalent of doing Paris Roubaix on a TT bike, except I’ve filled it out with 50mm overland tyres, an oversized cage to get away with a 51T cassette, and an SP dynamo hub paired with the best: kLite.
BAGS: I am using the robust and modular Tailfin system, with the aluminium rack carrying the 20L Trunk Top bag full of my sleep and cook gear, and two 5L cargo cage bags providing space for food and clothes. All of my spares and tools are found in the 1.7L downtube pack, and my daily food and water fills the inner triangle and top tube. I am also using the Osprey 7L backpack with 2.5L bladder, the Lifestraw Peak Squeeze for filtration, and an extra 1L.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m super happy with my light and compact sleep setup: the Black Diamond Twilight Bivy, Therm-a-Rest mat, and Sea to Summit sleeping bag. This is also my first time using a dynamo and I’ve already been loving the photons and electrons in training.

Jonathan Waghorn

Geelong, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be pushing my Surly Grappler as it came: Teravail Ehline, 27.5 x 2.5″, microSHIFT 11-48T with 32T up front.
BAGS: My bags are a few I’ve made and a few I’ve bought. Tailfin cargo cages up front with Sea to Summit dry bags. DIY handlebar roll, feed bag, half frame bag and the rear dry bag which is strapped down on a Topeak rack. Blackburn top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping will be in a 1-person tent 0-degree bag and mat. My show piece is my Vietnamese coffee maker to get me going when things get grim.

Fin Wardman

Age 22 / North Sydney, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Hunt1000 on a 2021 Trek Checkpoint Alr5. I’ve squeezed in a pair of 50mm Maxxis Ramblers which make the bike a lot of fun offroad. The bike also has a Wolf Tooth Goatlink which has allowed me to run a 42T cassette with my 30/46T front chainrings (this will be needed). I’ve popped some aerobars on the bike as well which also serve as my front rack. The Topeak Versacages on the forks are also fantastic at lugging heaps of gear.
BAGS: I’m running a Bontrager half frame bag which fits nicely into the big 61cm frame. I am also using a 17L Apidura Backcountry Seatpack absolutely stuffed to the brim, as well as an Apidura Long Top Tube Bag which is great. I’ll be strapping some STS dry bags to my handlebars and cargo cages. I’ll be running 3 X 1 litre Nalgene Bottles as well as two Bontrager bidons in my feed bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My ONE Planet Goondie 1 tent is fantastic. It keeps me nice and warm and dry. My Shimano XC5 shoes are also super comfortable, and I am running a midfoot cleat setup to help with my Achilles tendinopathy.

Murray Watson

Age 32 / Bungendore, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: This is my Niner Sir 9—which I’ve had since 2016—with a Cotic fork. The frame has had some repairs as well as some frame mods over the years to make it better suited to bikepacking. It’s now sporting a mixed XT/XTR Shimano 12-speed drivetrain, hand-built XTR/Speeder Carbon wheels, some Thomson and Soma bits and topped off with a Gilles Berthoud saddle.
BAGS: The bags are also a motley mix: Ortlieb on the front, Terra Rosa Gear on the frame, and an old Hunt saddlebag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The major parts of my sleep kit are Terra Rosa Gear. Evan has helped me out with lots of stuff over the years. I’m using a TRG tarp and one of his old down sleeping bags. Beautifully made, lightweight and durable!

Robbie Danger Webb

Age 28 / Aotearoa (New Zealand)

BIKE: I’m riding my extra small Salsa Fargo. You’ll notice my fit is pretty unusual, I’m built with long legs and a short reach. It has a Rohloff, a SON dynamo, and a Moné fork. I recently repaired it after noticing heaps of the paint had chipped off, so that’s why the paint’s looking fun. I have Ritchey Corralitos bars with the Rohloff shifter mounted under the stem.
BAGS: I’ve got a homemade frame bag, all the other bags are from Road Runner. I love the pink and yellow panniers. However, the bees seem to mistake my bike for a flower.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Got all the regular teeny tiny camping and cooking gear. My best piece of gear is my Ricoh GRIII camera. I’m a transmasculine adventure cyclist, and the first non-binary person on the Hunt 1000 (thanks Dan for adding more gender options!). I try to tell my story often because trans visibility is power.

Courtney White

Age 25 / Canberra, ACT (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (and likely pushing… a lot) a Kona Sutra LTD, with SRAM Rival set up and Maxxis Rekon 2.25″. Cassette and chain ring have been upgraded to assist the chicken legs with all that vert.
BAGS: The philosophy is simple, simple, simple. Generic harness and dry bag for the front roll, with feed bags and Rockgeist Mr. Fusion seat pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I am a huge fan of my Specialised Rime 2.0 cycling shoes which are perfect for on and off the bike. Also, the hottest tip for the ladies is carrying a Kula cloth to save the number of wet wipes you’ll need to pack in and out.

Mathew Whitbread

Age 32 / Sydney, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: Drop bar Curve GMX + Titanium. Running SRAM Rival AXS with a 10-50T cassette. Redshift shockstop suspension post. Curve Carbon Dirthoops (29″) for wheels with Vittoria Mezcals 2.35″ for tyres. SON dynamo hub with kLite lights.
BAGS: Apidura/Skin grows back bags. Tailfin rack with Tailfin bags on the back.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m bringing a lightweight chair for hanging out as I plan to spend some time chilling on the course/at the campgrounds.

John Winterburn

Age 45 / Officer, Victoria (Australia)

BIKE: I’m riding, and sometimes walking, my Tumbleweed Prospector. The bike features 135mm spaced forks, a pair of Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.6″ tires, a Rohloff Speedhub rear and SON 28 135mm Dynamo front hub. Upfront is a Jones H-Loop Bar and down low is a Shimano XT Crankset.
BAGS: The Prospector runs an ensemble of Rockgeist Bags including a Dr Jones handlebar bag, a Microwave pannier set and custom frame bag all setup on Tumbleweed’s own front and rear rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Brooks B17 carved saddle combined with 29″ tubeless wheels makes for an amazing smooth ride, even over tough conditions.

Paul Wyatt

Age 50 / Gold Coast, Queensland (Australia)

BIKE: My trusted Brumby is a Surly Ogre built up in the drought of covid parts of old and new 1×11 30T x 11-46T on 29″ DT Swiss hoops, Maxxis Forester front 2.6″, Maxxis Crossmark II 2.1″ rear, Deity Composite pedals to grip Crocs, BB7 Brakes, massive Soma Dream riser 780mm bars, Ergon grips, and a vintage Selle Italia gel Flow Max that is really past its expiry date but am to scared to change.
BAGS: Bags are a ongoing story; I currently have a mix of handmade top tube and half frame bag. The Restrap 14L saddle bag is awesome. feedbags x1 Blackburn, x1 hand made. 5L Sealine Blackburn mounted fork bags and a Tumbleweed t-rack with a chopped down milk crate works as a junk draw for easy access to food, drying rack, and clothing layers.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin eTrex 22x for navigation plus phone/RWGPS for the bigger picture with a 10000mah, Garmin Spot 4. Vango 2p tent luxury under 2kg. Klymit matt and Sea to Summit inflatable pillow and 1-degree sleeping bag, lights out! And a rubber pot scraper, game changer.

Wil Wylie

Age 43 / Melbourne (Australia)

BIKE: Apart from an upgraded chainring and ergo grips, every aspect of my Canyon Exsteed CF 7 is stock, but it’s been an absolute thoroughbred through training.
BAGS: I’m running a Revelate frame bag that fits perfectly on this bike and is seemingly bottomless! I’ve opted for an Aeroe spider rack supporting two dry bags out the rear for this event in replacement of my saddle bag which makes things a little heavier but more enjoyable for the longer ride. Up front I have a 15L Ortlieb handlebar bag and feed bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Down booties to keep my feet warm at night! Sour coke bottles, which can come out during emergencies. Limited to one per day.

Aaron Williams

Age 47 / Newcastle, NSW (Australia)

BIKE: Bombtrack Beyond+ with SRAM NX drivetrain, Code R brakes, SON 28 Dyno hub with KLite lights. Tumbleweed T-Rack at the back and a Jack the Bike rack at the front, Specialized Grid tires 2.6 x 27.5″ front and rear, Abosolute Black Oval chainring, Bike Yoke saddle.
BAGS: Bike Bag Dude bar roll, Apidura fork bags, Bedrock frame bag, Skin Grows Back and Oveja Negra top tube bags, Treadlite Stache bags feed pouches.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: KLite lights and SON Dyno hub to keep my charged up and my 3L Cranktank to keep my water stocked up and sitting nice on low on the bike.